Santhana Prapthirasthu: Flat & Forgettable
The team behind Santhana Prapthirasthu garnered attention through quirky and entertaining promotions, which helped the film gain visibility despite lacking big stars. Chandini Chowdary’s recent work also added to the buzz. But does the film justify the curiosity? Let’s take a closer look.
Story
Chaitanya (Vikranth), a software employee in Hyderabad, falls for Kalyani (Chandini Chowdary) from Warangal, and the two get married. Six months into their marriage, Kalyani’s father Eswar joins them under the pretext of staying close to his daughter. However, behind her back, he warns Chaitanya that he plans to break the marriage within three months and take Kalyani home.
Amidst this tension, Chaitanya discovers he has a low sperm count. Determined to make his wife pregnant within 100 days, he enrolls in a wellness center. Meanwhile, his meddlesome father-in-law does everything possible to disrupt the couple’s privacy. Whether Chaitanya can succeed in his mission forms the rest of the story.
Performances
- Vikranth gives a decent performance, portraying a soft-spoken middle-class guy convincingly.
- Chandini Chowdary fits her role well and performs with sincerity, though the pair’s on-screen chemistry isn’t particularly strong.
- Tharun Bhascker slips into his usual mischievous-comical style, familiar but fun in parts.
- Vennela Kishore and Abhinav Gomatam evoke a few laughs, though the humor remains limited.
- The rest of the cast is adequate in their brief roles.
Technical Aspects
Technically, the film remains modest.
- Cinematography – serviceable, nothing striking.
- Editing – plain and direct.
- Dialogues – a few amusing lines, but largely predictable.
- Music – unremarkable and easily forgettable.
Highlights
- A handful of funny dialogues
- Some lighthearted moments
Drawbacks
- Outdated storytelling
- Flat screenplay
- No strong emotional or comedic hook
Analysis
A small film with fresh faces needs strong writing or a unique storytelling style to stand out. Santhana Prapthirasthu banks heavily on its unusual subject — the hero’s fertility issue — but the execution doesn’t match the potential.
The first half wanders through routine romance and unnecessary scenes, delaying the actual conflict. By the time the film reaches its core point, the energy has dipped.
The second half centers on Chaitanya’s 100-day challenge and the constant interference of his father-in-law. Although these ideas could have delivered solid humor, the writing fails to build comic momentum. Situations are set up well, but the humor doesn’t land. Director Sanjeev Reddy creates opportunities but doesn’t capitalize on them.
Ultimately, the film’s core concept is overshadowed by outdated narration and weak comedic timing.
Bottom Line:
A promising idea, but dull execution — the film fails to engage.
