BOTTOM LINE
Sincere, But Tedious
OUR RATING
2.25/5
CENSOR
U/A, 2h 34m
What Is the Film About?
Anni Manchi Sakunamule is about two families headed by Prasad (Rajendra Prasad) and Sudhakar (Naresh), who are at loggerheads. It is a dispute related to the coffee estate which they inherited from their great grandfathers. Rishi (Santosh Soban) and Arya (Malvika Nair) are kids of their respective families, and they don’t have any issues among themselves.
How the two families eventually get together is the movie’s basic together. Do the kids also develop any issues, and did they find love, is the subplot.
Performances
Santosh Sobhan gets another part that suits him perfectly age-wise. It lends to a relatability as an audience. However, Anni Manchi Sakunamule is the kind of role that exposes the weaknesses, unlike other parts in similar spaces.
The characterisation is tricky here, and that’s the challenge of it. Rishi is the kind of role that appears passive on the surface, but a lot goes on internally, which comes out in due course of the narrative elevating the character. Santosh Soban fails to register on the passive side of the personality as he appears lost among the crowd. The intensity (even while looking casual) necessary for such parts is missing.
Santosh Soban is comparatively better in the second half, doing okay in a couple of emotional scenes. Anni Manchi Sakunamule is, in the end, a learning experience for the upcoming actor.
Malvika Nair is in the zone. She has a strong, well-defined part which she goes about with confidence. The styling as an urban woman is spot on, which helps her in the screen presence.
Analysis
Nandini Reddy of Ala Modalaindi and Oh! Baby fame directs Anni Manchi Sakunamule. She has picked a slice-of-life family drama set in a picturesque location. The idea is to get the feel-good vibe going.
The opening of Anni Manchi Sakunamule shows the hangover of a pre-pandemic blockbuster. It is also seen in the setting, but these issues do not change the outcome. They are alright and provide a good take-off, but simultaneously set a feeling of lack of newness.
Pretty soon, the way things proceed, it is clear that Anni Manchi Sakunamule hardly offers anything new. The families, the characters they inhabit and the issues all give a dejavu feeling. Still, the narrative works as there are moments that provide fun or the actors do their routine that work.
Despite the routineness, most of the first half feels watchable due to the actors and some fun moments. However, the pre-interval and interval bring down the effect to a degree and set boredom instead. The interval bang, in particular, looks tedious. It reaches a predictable end after a lot of laborious sequences.
The second half starts with a feeling that despite so many characters, hardly anyone or any characterisation registers. The same is continued immediately, but soon we see some emotional moments highlighting different actors.
Predictability of performance aside, the other major issue here with the narrative is the inorganic emotional moments. They are well-acted and sincerely shot but still look unconvincing. It is more to do with the cinematic (or artificialness) execution of the whole thing (Ram and heroine track for example).
The realisation of the heroine (w.r.t the hero), the family drama, the change of hearts, the ending, everything lacks the organic progress emotionally. The mashup song, for example, looks inserted into the narrative to get some comedy. Similarly, other blocks feel placed to go with the cinematic flow rather than progress organically, keeping the characters in mind. The love track between the lead pair is a significant problem this way. The emotions, therefore, come across as way more melodramatic than they ought to be.
The production values are Grand for the lead pair and also, the scale of the film they made. But the makers did all that to make the world so glossy and with a solid supporting. The kind of spending they did reveals their passion towards cinema but sadly it did not end up giving a fruitful result.
Overall, Anni Manchi Sakunamule is sincerely made but boring. Parts of it do engage, and some sequences, despite the issue, might hold appeal, but it’s for a limited set and lacks universalness. With the right expectations, genre in mind and lots of patience, one can try Anni Manchi Sakunamule.
Performances by Others Actors
The supporting cast for Anni Manchi Sakunamule is good. We have a lot of experienced artists playing critical roles in the two families in dispute. The problem is the advantage also turns out to be a disappointment simultaneously.
Everyone does the required with ease and command. And that’s where the problem also lies. We have the likes of Rajendra Prasad, Naresh, Rao Ramesh, Urvashi, Gauthami, Sowkar Janaki etc., playing vital roles. The utter predictability associated with their performances is the central issue. We have seen the actors do the same for ages. It is mainly an issue when the writing doesn’t offer them anything new or the character is too routine. The emotional scenes, therefore, lack freshness as everything looks done to death acting-wise. Gauthami has good run time, but is wasted in an inconsequential role lacking power and presence.
Vennela Kishore, in a brief appearance, shows the difference but he goes missing in the second half. It is routine, and we have seen him do the same many times. And yet the character works because of the element of freshness writing and presentation-wise. Vasuki of Tholi Prema fame appears after a long time in Telugu, but she doesn’t get anything memorable.
Music and Other Departments?
Mickey J Mayer provides the music for the movie. It is right down his alley, as there is ample scope for melodies and a soothing yet emotional background score. However, he didn’t make the impact as desired, as only the title song works to an extent. The BGM is okay, but it could have been a lot better.
Sunny Kurapati and Richard Prasad do a decent job with the visuals. The scenic locations help the cinematographers, but work still needs to be done to capture them, which is what they do. The editing could have been better. Junaid’s job is alright. The production values are neat. The setting for the fictitious world shows the backing given to get the right feel for the subject. The writing is decent in parts.
Highlights?
Setting
Production Values
Few Feel-Good Blocks
Solid Supporting Cast
Drawbacks?
Thin and Dated Storyline
Extensive Lag in Key Sequences
Cinematic Execution of Critical Moments
Did I Enjoy It?
Yes, in parts
Will You Recommend It?
Yes, but with huge reservations
Final Report:
Anni Manchi Sakunamule has a simple story that reaches a predictable end with a mix of appealing and boring moments in between. It is sincerely made and likely to resonate with a minority, provided the right expectations are set.
First Half Report:
Anni Manchi Shakunamule is a slice-of-life plex-style drama depending heavily on writing and small moments. Parts of it bore where as there are engaging bits as well. The second half is critical now.
— Anni Manchi Sakunamule started with conflicts arising between two families. Stay tuned for the first half report.
Cast: Santosh Soban, Malvika Nair, Rajendra Prasad, Rao Ramesh, Naresh, Gauthami, Sowcar Janaki, Vasuki, Vennela Kishore, Ramya Subramanian, Anju Alva Naik, Oorvasi, Ashwin Kumar and others.
Directed by Nandini Reddy
Produced by Swapna Cinema and Mitra Vinda Movies
Producer: Priyanka Dutt
Music: Mickey J Meyer
DOP: Sunny Kurapati & Richard Prasad
Editor: Junaid
Dialogue Writer: Lakshmi Bhupala
Screenplay Writer: Dawood
Anni Manchi Sakunamule Movie Review by M9News
