Santhana Prapthirasthu Review

Vikranth, who made his debut with Spark Life, returns with a romantic comedy alongside Chandini Chowdary. Director Sanjeev Reddy takes up his second telugu film after ABCD, and the team promoted this project quite actively. The question was whether the film could offer a pleasant and engaging experience.

Setup:

Chaitanya, played by Vikranth, is a software employee who falls instantly for Kalyani, played by Chandini Chowdary. Their romance moves quickly, but Kalyani’s father Eshwarao (Muralidhar Goud) stands in the way. The couple marries against his wishes, hoping that the arrival of a child will soften his stance. When Chaitanya learns that he is diagnosed with fertility issues, their plans stall, and the story follows how they navigate this setback and try to win her father’s acceptance.

Technicalities:

Ajay Arasada’s background score works well and lifts a few scenes. His Telusa Nee Kosame song is the best among the tracks. Sunil Kashyap’s other songs pass by without making much of an impression. The cinematography keeps things pleasant but doesn’t add anything special. Editing could have been tighter, as many scenes feel stretched. The production design sticks to a straightforward, mid-range rom-com style.

Performances:

Vikranth improves from his first film but still finds it tough to handle the deeper emotional moments. Chandini does her part neatly, though her role doesn’t offer much freshness. Muralidhar Goud suits the father’s role well and brings some seriousness when needed. Vennela Kishore, Tharun Bhascker, Abhinav Gomatam and Jeevan support the film in their usual style. Kishore adds timely humour in the second half and helps the flow.

Positives:

1. Few laughs
2. Good background score

Negatives:

1. Very predictable story
2. Some forced comedy
3. Uneven performance
4. ⁠Songs

Analysis:

Santhana Prapthirasthu touches on fertility issues, but the theme never becomes the film’s emotional core. Instead, it surfaces mainly at the end as a message rather than an integral part of the storytelling.

The film opens with comedy that aims for everyday relatability, but the later writing feels forced, and the humour rarely lands with genuine ease. As the story unfolds, the predictability becomes more noticeable, and the pacing slows. The chemistry between the leads doesn’t fully ignite, partly due to the uneven performance from the male lead.

Tharun Bhascker’s role feels underutilised, especially considering what he can bring to the table. On the other hand, Vennela Kishore keeps the second half afloat with well-timed moments. Some filmmaking choices appear rushed or less refined. For instance, the AI-generated childhood portions stand out as an avoidable shortcut when simple live-action shots could have worked better.

Overall, the film struggles to engage consistently. The storytelling feels familiar, the emotional arcs lack depth, and the humour doesn’t rise above the standard template. A few supporting performances and the background score offer brief relief, but the film doesn’t sustain its promise.

Bottomline: Predictable.

Rating: 2.25/5