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
Venkatesh, in his 75th film, collaborates with Sailesh Kolanu of HIT fame for the action drama Saindhav. Featuring an ensemble cast, including Nawazuddin Siddiqui in his Tollywood debut, the movie promises a unique storyline. Let’s delve into the details.
Story:
Set in the fictional city of Chandraprastha, the film revolves around Saindhav Koneru (Venkatesh), a crane operator in the customs department. When his daughter Gayathri is diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), Saindhav embarks on a mission to secure a 17-crore injection. The narrative unfolds 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, carrying the film with his screen presence and impactful action scenes.
The last half-hour is engaging, featuring intense action sequences and showcasing Venkatesh’s action avatar.
The Bujjikondave song adds appeal to the film.
Nawazuddin Siddiqui introduces humor, bringing laughter in certain scenes.
The movie aims to create awareness about SMA and NGOs working on genetic diseases.
Minus Points:
Despite a promising concept, the director fails to create an interesting narrative, resulting in a flat screenplay.
Poor world-building and a slow, unexciting first half-hour contribute to dull moments.
Talented actors like Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Andrea Jeremiah, and others are underutilized with weak characterizations.
Logical errors in the story impact the overall coherence.
The background score by Santosh Narayanan lacks impact and fails to enhance the action sequences.
Technical Aspects:
Solid production values and impressive depiction of the fictional city by cinematographer S.Manikandan.
The art direction team is commendable in creating a convincing setting.
Editing is decent, while the background score fails to complement the action sequences.
Sailesh Kolanu’s direction, though presenting Venkatesh well, falls short in handling other characters and delivering a gripping narrative.
Verdict:
Saindhav possesses a commendable concept but falters in execution. Venkatesh’s stellar performance and the last half-hour salvage the film to some extent. However, the underwhelming narrative, weak characterizations, and a lackluster background score hinder its overall impact. Recommended for those who appreciate Venkatesh’s acting, but it’s advised to temper expectations.