#Syed, #Ariyana and #Harika memories in the house #BiggBossTelugu4 today at 10 PM

Phanindra Narsetti, who earned a strong following with his short films, made his feature directorial debut with Manu in 2018, but it didn’t click at the box office. After a gap of seven years, he returns with 8 Vasantalu, produced by Mythri Movie Makers. Mad fame Ananthika Sanilkumar shines in the lead role, with music by Hesham Abdul Wahab and cinematography by Vishwanath Reddy making a strong visual and musical impression. But does this film mark Phanindra Narsetti’s breakthrough as a feature film director? Let’s find out.

Storyline

The story revolves around Shuddhi Ayodhya (Ananthika Sanilkumar), an independent and strong-willed woman, who first finds herself falling in love with an NRI boy visiting Ooty. Their relationship ends due to unexpected circumstances, prompting Shuddhi to move on and fall in love again — this time with Sanjay, a Telugu poet. Will their relationship have a happy ending? What is the story behind Sanjay? How do their paths intertwine? These questions form the rest of the story.

Performances

Ananthika shines as Shuddhi, delivering a captivating performance that showcases both her beauty and acting range. Hanu Reddy, as the charming NRI boy, delivers a natural performance with a strong emotional connect. However, Ravitheja Duggirala as Sanjay is miscast. The role required a seasoned actor, and Ravitheja’s limited acting experience and dialogue delivery fail to do justice to the character. The supporting roles, especially the actress playing Shuddhi’s mother, felt underwhelming and weakened the overall emotional impact.

Technical Aspects

Hesham Abdul Wahab’s music is one of the biggest highlights, with songs and background score elevating the viewing experience — especially in the Kashmir episode. Vishwanath Reddy’s cinematography captures the beauty of Ooty, Kashmir, and Varanasi with precision and charm. Editing by Shashank Mali, however, could have been tighter, especially in the second half. The production values by Mythri Movie Makers, strong in the first half, lose their sheen later, making the second half feel more like a TV serial than a feature film.

Positives:

• Ananthika & Hanu Reddy’s performances
• Soulful music and cinematography
• A few meaningful dialogues

Negatives:

• Miscasting of the second male lead and supporting roles
• Inconsistency in character arcs
• Preachy, melodramatic tone in the second half
• Subpar production values post interval
• Overly poetic dialogues that hamper relatability

Final Thoughts

While 8 Vasantalu shines in its first half with captivating performances, beautiful visuals, and meaningful moments, it struggles in its second half due to miscasting, inconsistently developed character arcs, and an overtly preachy tone. Director Phanindra Narsetti will have to wait for another opportunity to register his first hit as a feature film director.

Bottom Line: 8 Vasantalu – Partly shines.