Surya's saturday

Overboiled, Overcooked and Overdone Vigilante fare! My IMDb rating 6.5/10

'Saripodhaa Sanivaaram' (2024) is Nani Garu's second collaboration with director Vivek Athreya Garu after 'Ante Sundaraniki' (2022).

'Ante Sundariniki' was a nice rom-com but failed commercially. This must have prompted the duo to go for a mass masala entertainer this time.

Some actors draw you to theaters just with their screen presence. Nani Garu is one such actor. You just want to watch him do his thing!

Right from the film's announcement to its promotions and release, Nani Garu created an interest for the film thro' out its journey and managed to sustain the euphoria for it.

'Saripodhaa Sanivaaram' starts of well but the film loses its voice and steam immediately after the break. It meanders and meanders to a dreary, routine, outdated and clichéd climax reminiscent of vigilante films of 1980s, 1990s! The 2nd half really tests your patience.

The film's lengthy run-time of 2hr 54 min makes it a painful watch! For a Nani Garu's film this run-time is unacceptable!

What were they thinking?

PLUSES: Concept of channelizing Hero's anger on a saturday (just once per week) and thus turning him into a vigilante is a good point.

Catchy film title. Piques your interest.

Nani, S. J. Suryah and Sai Kumar Garu Jakes Bejoy Garu's Background Score.

Fight sequences.

Cinematography and Editing are okay.

MINUSES: Routine vigilante story, preachy.

Convoluted screenplay, drag.

Needless sister sentiment.

Redundant fights.

Murali Sharma Garu is a miscast.

Lengthy run-time.

Audience will disconnect in the 2nd half.

Nani mania is real! So even though this film is pretty average, it will do well in South India and overseas both in theaters and OTT.

But, i dont think the Hindi version will do well in the Hindi-belt. It's gonna die in theaters! It might do well on OTT hopefully.

Out n out masala action movie. Story revolves around a man trying to fight for the weaker sections of the society by hitting goons on every Saturday as promised to his mother. Story isn't anything new n movie is very long n climax isn't upto the mark. Also storyline looks very outdated n there's absolutely no law n order. Available in Netflix in all South Indian languages including Hindi. My ratings 5/10!

Out n out masala action movie. Story revolves around a man trying to fight for the weaker sections of the society by hitting goons on every Saturday as promised to his mother. Story isn't anything new n movie is very long n climax isn't upto the mark. Also storyline looks very outdated n there's absolutely no law n order. Available in Netflix in all South Indian languages including Hindi. My ratings 5/10!

Positives:

Story: Vivek Athreya's visionary screenplay, a breath of fresh air in Indian cinema, deserves immense praise. The film's captivating narrative introduces a unique superhero concept that initially captivates the audience.

Cinematography: The visually stunning cinematography, with its impressive camera work, smoky mass entries, and high-quality visuals, creates a visually engaging experience.

Acting: The powerhouse performances from the talented cast are beyond reproach. Their acting skills shine through, elevating the film.

Dialogues: The film's witty and impactful one-liners are a highlight, adding a touch of mass appeal.

Areas for Improvement:

Direction: While the script was solid, the film's pacing suffered due to excessive filler scenes, particularly in the second half, which veered into predictable mass cinema territory.

Promotional Material: It's puzzling why certain elements shown in the posters and promotional material were absent from the final cut, despite the film's lengthy runtime.

Music: Although Jake Bejoy's background score was a strong asset, its random placement and overuse occasionally diluted its impact.

Saripodha Sanivaaram delivers a fast-paced and engaging story that keeps you on the edge of your seat. The screenplay is well-crafted, ensuring the plot moves swiftly without feeling rushed. While the movie excels in delivering thrills and excitement, there is still some room for improvement, preventing it from reaching its full potential.

The performances are solid, with the cast bringing their characters to life convincingly. The cinematography is visually appealing, capturing the essence of the story effectively. The action sequences are well-executed, providing plenty of adrenaline-pumping moments.

However, the movie could benefit from a deeper exploration of its characters and themes. Some plot points feel underdeveloped, leaving the audience wanting more. Additionally, the pacing could be slightly adjusted in certain scenes to allow for a more impactful emotional connection.

Overall, Saripodha Sanivaaram is an enjoyable action-packed movie with a captivating story. While it falls short of perfection, it still delivers a thrilling cinematic experience that will leave you entertained.

First and foremost it's a straightforward HERO SAVING THE DAY story, with a little twist, even the screenplay too, predictable, but it keeps you engaged and entertained, most important thing for a commercial movie. Heroism, elevations, fights, emotions, recalls, meta references, all landed well.

For Nani, more than acting wise, it's his screen presence as a mass hero that stands out, SJ Suryah pulled off such roles in the past with ease and this is nothing new, terrific, rest all did their parts.

Technically nothing to complain, fights could have been better, BGM by Jake's Bejoy is superb and elevates the movie to a different level Coming to Vivek Athreya, looks like he wanted to tap the commercial director inside him and scored well, screenplay could have been better, something he's really good, writing felt at many places, especially the second half.