Sundarakanda Movie Review: Light Comedy, Predictable Story

Premiere Snapshot

Sundarakanda arrived in theatres today with moderate expectations. The promotional content hinted at a clean, fun entertainer, banking on Satya’s comedy and Nara Rohit’s presence to pull in family audiences.

Plot in a Nutshell

Siddharth has everything in life, yet he keeps turning down marriage proposals because no woman matches the five qualities he wants in a partner. One day he meets Aira, a college girl who sparks his interest. Curious to know if she could be the right one, he follows her journey and eventually proposes. Aira is unsure about the age gap but accepts his proposal. When everything starts to settle, an unexpected truth comes out, revealing why Siddharth stayed single for so long and how Vaishnav is connected to his story.

Performances to Remember

Nara Rohith steps away from his intense roles like in Bhairavam and takes on a lighter shade here, which actually suits him well. He carries the part with ease, though there are moments where you feel he could have pushed it further. Satya once again proves his worth with his sharp timing and natural humor, bringing the much-needed liveliness to the film. As Rohith himself mentioned during promotions, Satya’s contribution lifts the film in several places. Virti Vaghani gets a role with good depth and she makes it count. Sridevi Vijaykumar brings both grace and presence to her role and delivers it with conviction. Abhinav Gomatam does justice within the scope of his character, but the character itself does not have much to offer.

Moments to Watch For

The twist at the interval works well, especially if you go in with an open mind and without judging it through the lens of Nara Rohith’s past flops. It shifts the story’s pace and sets up the second half with renewed interest. Director Venkatesh Nimmalapudi keeps the momentum steady around this point, making sure the reveal holds its weight.

Where it Fails

While the film manages to keep some level of engagement, the first half has a few stretched portions that slow things down. Certain scenes drag longer than they should, testing the audience’s patience, though not for too long. At times, it feels like the director leaned more on humor than the required emotional depth. The central conflict also takes its own time to come into focus. Music is another weak link, with a few tracks feeling out of place and even interrupting the viewing flow.

Verdict and Rewatch Value

Sundarakanda comes across as a decent watch and offers a refreshing change from the usual tone of recent Telugu releases. The film leans heavily on its twist and Satya’s comedy to keep things going. On the downside, the story feels predictable at times, with a few stretched and unnecessary scenes slowing the pace. It works as a simple, light watch for the day but does not offer much to return to. One-time watch.

Rating: 2.75/5