Santhana Prapthirasthu review: Sensitive theme, less humor

What is it about?

Chaitanya (Vikranth), a software professional in Hyderabad, meets Kalyani (Chandini Chowdary) when she arrives from Warangal to take competitive exams. He falls for her at first sight. When Kalyani’s father, Eswara Rao (Muralidhar Goud), refuses to accept their love, the couple elopes and marries.

They believe that having a child might mend the fractured relationship with her father. However, even after six months of marriage, Kalyani does not conceive, and medical tests reveal that Chaitanya has a low sperm count.

In an unexpected turn, Eswara Rao arrives at their home, pretends to accept the marriage, and moves in with them. Privately, he challenges Chaitanya that he will break their marriage within 100 days and take his daughter back to Warangal. Chaitanya now sets out on a mission to improve his fertility and make his wife pregnant within that deadline.

Analysis

“Santhana Prapthirasthu”, meaning may you be blessed with offspring, revolves around a protagonist confronted with a male fertility issue. On paper, the premise and conflict are sturdy and offer ample scope for both emotion and humour. The hero grapples with a low sperm count while navigating a challenge set by his disapproving father-in-law.

Yet, stories of this nature work only when handled with strong emotional depth or sustained comedic energy. Director Sanjeev Reddy and writer Sheik Dawood G attempt to narrate it in a comedic tone but succeed only in parts.

The film opens promisingly with Tharun Bhascker as Jack Reddy, a quirky funeral-services operator who drags the hero into his world. The initial stretch suggests an entertaining ride. However, the narrative soon drifts into routine territory, spending too much time on predictable romantic portions, software-job satire and stretched-out dating sequences. The main conflict surfaces only around the interval, and the second half attempts to generate comedy by introducing Vennela Kishore and others.

There are moments that work, notably due to Vennela Kishore, Abhinav Gomatam and Tharun Bhascker, but the humour is not abundant enough for a film that hinges heavily on comic treatment. With a more vibrant and playful approach, the story might have translated far better on screen. The emotional track in the final portions also lacks adequate impact.

Vikranth fares better here than in his debut film. He slips comfortably into the role of an everyman IT professional and performs decently. Chandini Chowdary brings charm and grace, though she receives limited role. Muralidhar Goud is convincing as the stern father.

The technical values are sufficient. 

Bottom line: “Santhana Prapthirasthu” handles a sensitive male fertility issue without slipping into crass or vulgar humour. However, the film needed sharper comedy and a livelier narrative to truly hold attention. It lacks novelty, and the humour is far too sparse to elevate the proceedings.

Rating: 2.5/5

By Jalapathy Gudelli

Movie: Santhana Prapthirasthu
Cast: Vikranth, Chandini Chowdary, Muralidhar Goud, Abhinav Gomatam, Vennela Kishore, Tharun Bhascker, and others
Story, Screenplay: Sanjeev Reddy, Sheik Dawood G
Dialogues: Kalyan Raghav
Music: Sunil Kashyap
Director of Photography: Mahi Reddy Pandugula
Editor: Sai Krishna Ganala
Production Designer: Shiva Kumar Macha
Producers: Madhura Sreedhar Reddy, Nirvi Hariprasad Reddy
Directed by: Sanjeev Reddy
Release Date: Nov 14, 2025