Sundarakanda Review: A rom-com that banks on its twist

What’s it about?

Siddharth Pinnamaneni (Nara Rohith) has crossed the so-called marriageable age but remains single. His past carries a bittersweet chapter as he once fell in love with Vaishnavi (Sridevi Vijaykumar), a senior student during his school days, which eventually led to his expulsion.

Years later, Siddharth becomes a successful professional, financially well-settled. Despite his parents presenting him with several alliances, he rejects them all. His reasoning is unusual. He wants a wife who embodies five specific qualities, the same ones he once admired in his school-time crush Vaishnavi, such as being kindhearted or not getting swayed by trivial gestures like chocolates.

On his way to Vizag for a friend’s wedding, Siddharth meets Aira (Vriti Vaghani), a much younger college student, and immediately sees glimpses of those very traits. Determined to know her better, he tracks her down and even joins her college as a lecturer. Eventually, he finds all the five qualities in her and proposes. Aira accepts his love despite the considerable age gap.

Aira, however, has her own emotional struggles. With divorced parents, she lives with her mother. The final challenge for Siddharth is to win over Aira’s mother and convince her of their union. What happens when he finally faces her forms the crux of the story.

Analysis

“Sundarakanda” marks something of a comeback for Nara Rohith in lead roles, after a considerable gap barring his politically-loaded outing “Pratinidhi 2.” For his return, he has chosen a story that hinges on an intriguing twist. While Bollywood and Malayalam cinema have explored similar themes before, this is perhaps the first time a mainstream Telugu film has attempted such a plot.

Debutant director Venkatesh Nimmalapudi leans heavily on the interval bang, to the extent that the opening stretch feel comparatively lighter. The first thirty to forty minutes give off a sketchy impression, but once the narrative shifts gears, he manages to pull the audience into the story and sustains interest until the pre-climax.

The interval twist, combined with Satya’s humorous episodes, ensures that the film offers a fair share of entertainment. For keen observers, the twist may not be hard to predict, but for general audiences it should land as a surprise, placed effectively at the right moment.

The director has also penned some sharp dialogues that stand out in places, though his tendency to stretch scenes dilutes the impact of the core point. The second half, too, suffers from unevenness, with the drama lacking the desired intensity. The sequences between Nara Rohith and Sridevi Vijaykumar, in particular, could have been handled with more emotional depth. Even so, the film wraps up neatly with a convincing end.

Despite these shortcomings, “Sundarakanda” benefits from its fun moments and, above all, its central twist.

Nara Rohith, once criticised for his lack of fitness, has clearly taken the feedback seriously. After a gap and a complete makeover, he returns looking refreshed, fitter, and more stylish than before. The role of a man who has crossed the conventional marriageable age suits him well, and he plays it with ease. Sridevi Vijaykumar is elegant and graceful in her part, while debutante Vriti Vaghani makes a passable impression as the college-going heroine. Satya contributes with lighthearted comedy, and Vasuki impresses as Rohith’s sister.

On the technical front, there isn’t much to highlight, as the film sticks to functional execution without aiming for standout craft.

Bottom-line: “Sundarakanda” is a rom-com with a sprinkling of fun moments and a solid twist. Its comedy and lighthearted tone give it some fun vibe, but the uneven storytelling and weak drama stop it from becoming fully engaging. Watch it mainly for the twist and the lighter moments.

Rating: 3/5

By J

Movie: Sundarakanda
Cast: Nara Rohith, Sridevi Vijay Kumar, Vriti Vaghani, Naresh Vijaya Krishna, Vasuki Anand,  Satya, Abhinav Gomatham, and others
Music: Leon James
DOP: Pradeesh M Varma
Editor: Rohan Chillale
Production Designer: Rajesh Pentakota
Producers: Santhosh Chinnapolla, Gowtham Reddy, Rakesh Mahankalli
Written and Directed by: Venkatesh Nimmalapudi
Release Date: August 27, 2025