Exploring the Intricacies of ‘Saripodhaa Sanivaaram’
Saripodhaa Sanivaaram : Nani collaborates once more with Vivek in his newest venture,
Saripodhaa Sanivaaram, after their previous work together in the romantic comedy Ante Sundaraniki.
This latest project features Priyanka Mohan as the female protagonist.
The film also stars Tamil actor SJ Suryah as the antagonist, with Abhirami,
Aditi Balan, Sai Kumar, Murali Sharma, Ajay, Supreeth, and others enriching the ensemble cast.
The soundtrack is composed by Jakes Bejoy,
with additional musical contributions from Murali G, and editing by Karthika Srinivas.
The narrative centers on Surya, a man plagued by uncontrollable anger,
who assumes the role of a vigilante, delivering justice strictly on Saturdays,
in fulfillment of a promise to his mother. His path inevitably clashes with a relentless policeman,
leading to fierce confrontations.
The unfolding events are best experienced in cinemas.
Venky observes that Saripodhaa Sanivaaram is an action drama that offers moments of brilliance but also suffers from being drawn out and overly predictable.
The film’s opening, intermission, climax, and several intense face-offs between Nani and SJ Suryah are executed superbly.
However, the monotonous pacing and the routine, foreseeable screenplay disrupt the film’s rhythm,
making it feel excessively lengthy.
Despite these drawbacks, the film’s characters,
particularly SJ Suryah’s, stand out. Nani comfortably delivers a performance that fits him like a glove.
The background score is effective in action sequences,
making the film a decent watch despite its imperfections.
Vivek Athreya steps out of his usual comfort zone with this film,
which lacks the lightheartedness and entertainment typical of his previous works.
Instead, he aims to craft a savior-themed action drama, succeeding only partially.
A more dynamic narrative and a distinct screenplay could have elevated the film further.
The first half is passable, with a well-executed introduction sequence that justifies the title,
along with some impactful scenes featuring SJ Suryah and the intermission block.
However, the middle sections feel dragged and flat, though they set the stage well for the second half.
Harsha praises the film as a “B L O C K B U S T E R,” with Nani delivering as expected and SJ Suryah’s role being irreplaceable.
Vivek Athreya’s direction is commendable, and Jakes Bejoy’s music is a significant highlight.
While the film’s length has been criticized, Harsha views it as a minor flaw,
emphasizing the action scenes, music, and the cast’s screen presence as major strengths.
Rating: 3.5/5.
TSuriya247 describes Saripodhaa Sanivaaram as a commercial action drama with a strong beginning and end,
with solid performances by Nani and a powerful background score by Jakes Bejoy, making it worth watching. Rating: 3.25.
Ruchika Singh finds the first half of the film compelling,
with a simple yet well-told story by Vivek Athreya and a superb screenplay, though she notes a few dragged-out sequences.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.
Dhanusoffl_ considers the film a standard commercial-format movie with added value through the unique Saturday fight concept.
The lead performances are excellent, and the high-octane sequences, cinematography, and editing are praiseworthy.
The background score by Jakes Bejoy is a standout feature.
Rating: 3.5/5.
THEPANIPURI acknowledges the flat narration and routine story,
but appreciates the performances of Nani and SJ Suryah, as well as the background music. Rating: 2.5/5.
Rohit Venkataraman compares his experience watching Saripodhaa Sanivaaram to watching Oppenheimer,
noting the lack of an intermission in cinemas as a challenge for long films.
Saripodhaa Sanivaaram follows Surya (Nani), known for his violent outbursts against injustice,
who promises his dying mother to restrain his anger, allowing himself to release it only on Saturdays.
As Surya takes on Dayanand (SJ Surya),
a notorious CI, the film delves into an intricate tangle involving Surya,
Dayanand, and Dayanand’s brother Koormanand (Murali Sharma), with Charulatha (Priyanka Mohan) adding to the narrative.
Vivek Athreya, typically known for class films like Mental Madhilo, Brochevarevarura,
and Ante Sundaraniki, steps into the mass film arena with Saripodhaa Sanivaaram.
Nani, usually seen in family-centric roles,
stars in this mass entertainer,
raising unique expectations.
Nani’s introductory scenes are well-crafted, though the pacing slows before the antagonist,
Dayanand, enters, reigniting the momentum.
The film remains engaging up to the interval,
with the post-interval block being particularly racy and smart.
The pre-climax, however, drags a bit, though the film concludes satisfactorily with a strong climax.
The filmmakers wisely avoided unnecessary songs, item numbers,
or romantic tracks, including only one montage song.
The 160-minute action drama is devoid of duets,
with Vivek Athreya cleverly using Murali Sharma’s character’s misjudgments to both entertain and drive the story forward.
The chapter titles— “Introduction,” “Twist,” “Conflict,” “Interval,” “Post Interval,” and “Ending”—add an intriguing layer to the narrative.
Vivek’s wit shines in certain scenes.
The film’s casting is one of its highlights, with each actor excelling in their roles.
Nani, SJ Surya, Murali Sharma, Saikumar,
and Priyanka Mohan appear comfortable and seem to thoroughly enjoy performing in the key scenes.
SJ Surya might have benefited from more screen time,
while Jakes Bejoy’s background score adds to the film’s appeal.
Murali’s cinematography is commendable.
On the downside, the film contains a few dull moments in the first half,
with some predictable elements, and could benefit from trimming about 15 minutes,
particularly around the pre-climax.
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Positives:
- Unique storyline
- Nani’s mass avatar and strong performance
- SJ Surya’s outstanding portrayal
- Vivek Athreya’s direction and clever screenplay
- Impressive background score
- Well-developed key characters
Negatives:
- Lengthy runtime
- Predictable scenes in the first half
- Flat narration and pre-climax drag
Verdict:
Saripodhaa Sanivaram is not your typical action film.
While the first half is average,
the second half grips with a unique storyline.
Nani and SJ Surya shine with standout performances in this face-off themed film.
Vivek Athreya delivers a smart screenplay with wit and action,
though the film suffers from a lengthy runtime that occasionally results in flat storytelling.
Overall, it’s a watchable action drama worth a try.