Sundarakanda Review: Twist Works, Drama Fails

After experimenting with character roles, Nara Rohith makes a full-fledged comeback as a lead in Sundarakanda. The trailer teased an unconventional age-gap romance, raising curiosity. But does the film manage to live up to the intrigue?

Story

Siddharth (Nara Rohith) has wealth, comfort, and everything in life — except marriage. He refuses to settle down until he finds a partner with five specific qualities. His search unexpectedly leads him to Eira (Vriti Vaghani), a carefree college student from Vizag, who has all those traits.

But here lies the conflict — she’s much younger than him. Having once been in love with an older woman, Siddharth now finds himself drawn to someone far younger. Can such a relationship sustain itself without complications?

Performances

Nara Rohith is convincing as Siddharth. The role plays to his strengths, and he carries it with ease.

Sridevi Vijaykumar adds elegance and does justice to her part.

Vriti Vaghani, as the young heroine, is decent though not impactful.

Satya provides solid comedy, while Vasuki makes an impression as the sister.

On the weaker side, Abhinav Gomatam is wasted, Naresh repeats his routine, and Ajay as well as VTV Ganesh are underused.

Technical Aspects

• Music (Leon James): Pleasant but forgettable. No song stands out.
• Dialogues: Some witty one-liners, reminiscent of Trivikram’s earlier films, elevate the narrative.
• Editing: A major drawback. Many stretched portions could have been trimmed.
• Action: Forced into the narrative. The film would have been better without fights.

Highlights

• Interval twist
• Comedy portions in the second half
• Engaging dialogues

Drawbacks

• Overstretched first half
• Seemantham episode feels out of place
• Abrupt climax with weak emotional impact
• Lack of catchy songs and sharp editing

Analysis

The film draws faint inspiration from Raghavendra Rao’s Sundarakanda, but with a twist — here, it’s the hero who falls for a younger student. The core idea is bold and interesting, and the “twist” does leave an impact.

However, director Venkatesh Nimmalapudi treats the story in a conventional, rom-com style rather than exploring its depth. The narrative takes too long to settle — from pelli choopulu scenes to an unnecessary fight sequence, the first hour tests patience.

The film picks up once the story shifts to Vizag. The college backdrop, Satya’s comedy, and the airport-to-interval stretch breathe life into the proceedings. The second half continues the fun, with comedy working well. But whenever the film leans on emotions, it stumbles — the Seemantham track and climax conflict feel forced and lack conviction.

Music and editing, two crucial aspects for a rom-com, let the film down. Yet, the humor ensures that the film doesn’t sink completely.

Verdict

Sundarakanda has an engaging central twist and some genuinely funny moments. But its dragged narration, avoidable detours, and weak emotional payoff stop it from being memorable.

Bottom Line: A passable rom-com that entertains in parts but fails to rise above average.