Starring: Rakshit Shetty, Rukmini Vasanth, Avinash, Sharath Lohitashwa, Achyutha Kumar, Pavitra Lokesh, Ramesh Indira, Gopal Krishna Deshpande and others
Director: Hemanth M Rao
Producer: Rakshit Shetty
Music Director: Charan Raj
Rakshit Shetty’s Telugu-dubbed film, Sapta Sagaralu Dhaati – Side B, a sequel to Sapta Sagaralu Dhaari – Side A, hit the screens today. Check out our review to know how it is.
Story:
Upon his release from prison, Manu (Rakshit Shetty) aspires to reconnect with Priya (Rukmini Vasanth). Witnessing her married life, he is determined to rectify things for her. Along his journey, he encounters Surbhi (Chaitra J Achar), a prostitute. What unfolds next? Does Manu achieve his objectives? How does Surbhi intertwine with his life? Do Manu and Priya eventually cross paths? The movie unravels these answers.
Plus Points:
Continuing seamlessly from the first part, the sequel focuses on bringing happiness to loved ones and orchestrating essential changes in silence.
Rakshit Shetty delivers a compelling performance, adeptly portraying pain, grief, and helplessness.
Chaitra J Achar excels in her role as Surbhi, a prostitute with dreams, delivering poignant dialogues, especially in scenes with Rakshit Shetty.
Gopal Krishna Deshpande’s portrayal of Gopal is satisfactory, and the remaining cast members fulfill their roles competently.
Minus Points:
While the story is simple, the 147-minute duration, akin to the first part, feels stretched. Director Hemanth M Rao could have quickened the pace in the first half, but the second half is well-executed.
Characters played by Ramesh Indira and Achyuth Kumar deserved more screen time. The Priya character is okay but lacks more screen presence, despite being central to the plot.
Although the climax is well-narrated, Priya’s storyline requires a proper justification. Repetitiveness in the first half contributes to moments of boredom.
Expectations of a lovebird reunion may disappoint some viewers. The film’s slow pace remains a drawback.
Technical Aspects:
Hemanth M Rao and Gundu Shetty present a somewhat improved second part with heartfelt dialogues, but the slow pace hinders the screenplay. As a director, Hemanth could have done a better job to make SSD – Side B a better emotional fare.
Composer Charan Raj enhances the soulful narrative with light-hearted music. Improved editing could have made a lot of difference. The decent production values and cinematography are the add-ons. The dubbing is also impressive.
Verdict:
On the whole, Sapta Sagaralu Dhaati – Side B is an okayish emotional drama with a sluggish narration. Despite commendable performances from Rakshit Shetty, Rukmini Vasanth, and Chaithra J Achar, the film grapples with slow pacing. The second installment falls short of impressing compared to its predecessor, making it challenging for many viewers to connect with the story.