Hyderabad, India – The festive jingle of Sankranti is brought alive this year by the dashing, innovative filmmaker Anil Ravipudi, who directed the much hyped and finally released “Sankranthiki Vasthunam” with the legacy Daggubati actor Venkatesh for the second time. Its release date falls at January 14, 2025, and the movie has become a must-watch mega event. It is festive and fun, and holds promises of family drama, comedy, and a crime-thriller package.
Plot and Storyline: Sankranthiki Vasthunam
“With Sankranthiki Vasthunam”, such as the title suggests, it is about a lay-off cop, ACP YD Raju, played by Venkatesh, who lost in a kidnapping case, but suddenly finds the reappearance of an ex-girlfriend, Meenakshi, who sought his help, unfortunately triggering the jealousy of his wife, Bhagyalakshmi, played by Aishwarya Rajesh. Amidst this war of the three, much comic-drama has followed with love, trust, and family as the backdrop of crime-solving.
Ravipudi spices the simple story with his unique brand of humor. This is not a ‘new’ film, but it does very well in what it aims to do: to entertain. The first half is light on comedy-what with the good timing of Venkatesh and the rapo of the leading pair. The second half again maintains the comic momentum but adds more weight with the drama; critics have praised its emotional quotient and condemned it for being slow.
Performances:
Victory Venkatesh this time really offers a real feast for the audience. He just continues to prove why he’s called “Victory Venkatesh” as he fits so best into both action and comedy like a glove that the audience really go behind his character. Meenakshi Chaudhary and Aishwarya Rajesh play important roles in the movie and add different layers to it. However, Aishwarya’s merit has always be in bringing out the complexities of a wife’s suspicion and love.
Music and Technical Aspects:
Brings to the picture the music score by Bheem Ceciroleo who instantly makes hits of songs like Godari Gattu adding to the jubilant ambience of the movie. Sameer Reddy’s photogenic eye captures the essence of both the countryside and city life very beautifully in the visual imagination of the movie. Editing by Tammiraju keeps the film running well, but some believe the second half could be cut further for better pacing.
Reception and Rating:
Mixed to positive reviews have accompanied the movie ever since its release. The social media buzz is alive with conversations, more so on X, by people who praise it for pure entertainment and family viewing. With an average rating of around 3 out of 5 stars, some critics describe it as “A harmless festive family entertainer” or “Engaging first half but routine story.”
Box Office Performance:
Bookings ahead of time for the movie “Sankranthiki Vasthunam” have been superb, with records of sold-out shows in the Telugu-speaking states, especially Hyderabad, indicating a blockbuster opening for the film. The film proved ideal for Sankranti release, promotional blitzkrieg and the star power of Venkatesh were obvious elements leading to the film’s eventual success at the box office.
Conclusion:
If Sankranti Vasthunna doesn’t change the face of Telugu cinema, it is at least a festival entertainer. Anil Ravipudi knows what works for a Sankranti release: the right mix of laughter, emotions, and some action. This film is the right fit for family audiences during the festival season; it does tick all the boxes. Those looking for a change in narrative style might not find it appealing.
Rating: 3/5
