Starring: Venkatesh, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Shraddha Srinath, Andrea Jeremiah, Ruhani Sharma, Jisshu Sengupta, Arya, and others
Director: Sailesh Kolanu
Producer: Venkat Boyanapalli
Music Director: Santosh Narayan
In his 75th film, Venkatesh collaborates with Sailesh Kolanu, known for HIT, in the action drama Saindhav. The movie, boasting an ensemble cast including Nawazuddin Siddiqui in his Tollywood debut, sets out with a promise of a distinctive storyline. Let’s dive into the details.
Story:
Set in the fictional city of Chandraprastha, the film follows Saindhav Koneru (Venkatesh), a crane operator in the customs department. The plot takes a twist when Saindhav’s daughter, Gayathri, is diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), leading him on a mission to secure a 17-crore injection. The narrative unravels the connection between Saindhav and Mitra (Mukesh Rishi), the leader of a cartel dealing in drugs and weapons.
Plus Points:
Venkatesh delivers a compelling performance, elevating the film with his screen presence and impactful action scenes.
The last half-hour is engaging, featuring intense action sequences and showcasing Venkatesh’s prowess in action avatars.
The inclusion of the Bujjikondave song adds appeal to the overall cinematic experience.
Nawazuddin Siddiqui injects humor, creating moments of laughter in certain scenes.
The film aims to create awareness about SMA and the efforts of NGOs working on genetic diseases.
Minus Points:
Despite a promising concept, the director fails to weave an interesting narrative, resulting in a flat screenplay.
Weak world-building and a slow, unexciting first half-hour contribute to moments of dullness.
Talented actors like Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Andrea Jeremiah, and others are underutilized with poorly defined characterizations.
Logical errors in the story impact the overall coherence.
Santosh Narayanan’s background score lacks impact, failing to enhance the intensity of the action sequences.
Technical Aspects:
Solid production values with an impressive depiction of the fictional city by cinematographer S. Manikandan.
The art direction team deserves commendation for creating a convincing setting.
Decent editing, though the background score fails to complement the intensity of the action sequences.
Sailesh Kolanu’s direction, while presenting Venkatesh effectively, falls short in handling other characters and delivering a gripping narrative.
Verdict:
Saindhav holds a commendable concept, but its execution falters. Venkatesh’s stellar performance and the gripping last half-hour rescue the film to some extent. However, the underwhelming narrative, weak characterizations, and lackluster background score hinder its overall impact. Recommended for those who appreciate Venkatesh’s acting, but it’s advised to temper expectations.
