Overboiled, Overcooked and Overdone Vigilante fare! My IMDb rating 6.5/10

'Saripodhaa Sanivaaram' (2024) is Nani Garu's second collaboration with director Vivek Athreya Garu after 'Ante Sundaraniki' (2022).

'Ante Sundariniki' was a nice rom-com but failed commercially. This must have prompted the duo to go for a mass masala entertainer this time.

Some actors draw you to theaters just with their screen presence. Nani Garu is one such actor. You just want to watch him do his thing!

Right from the film's announcement to its promotions and release, Nani Garu created an interest for the film thro' out its journey and managed to sustain the euphoria for it.

'Saripodhaa Sanivaaram' starts of well but the film loses its voice and steam immediately after the break. It meanders and meanders to a dreary, routine, outdated and clichéd climax reminiscent of vigilante films of 1980s, 1990s! The 2nd half really tests your patience.

The film's lengthy run-time of 2hr 54 min makes it a painful watch! For a Nani Garu's film this run-time is unacceptable!

What were they thinking?

PLUSES: Concept of channelizing Hero's anger on a saturday (just once per week) and thus turning him into a vigilante is a good point.

Catchy film title. Piques your interest.

Nani, S. J. Suryah and Sai Kumar Garu Jakes Bejoy Garu's Background Score.

Fight sequences.

Cinematography and Editing are okay.

MINUSES: Routine vigilante story, preachy.

Convoluted screenplay, drag.

Needless sister sentiment.

Redundant fights.

Murali Sharma Garu is a miscast.

Lengthy run-time.

Audience will disconnect in the 2nd half.

Nani mania is real! So even though this film is pretty average, it will do well in South India and overseas both in theaters and OTT.

But, i dont think the Hindi version will do well in the Hindi-belt. It's gonna die in theaters! It might do well on OTT hopefully.

Saripodhaa Sanivaaram (SS) is an Indian action thriller film built around a decent premise: a man of vengeance can only exact his revenge on Saturdays.

Despite the ominous sounding premise, SS is mostly a fun plot with consistent points of levity throughout. There is, of course, much kitschiness as to be expected of an Indian blockbuster film. However, its stylishness and, at times, overt cheesiness actually works really well here, reminiscent of 80s action films and the John Wick franchise from Hollywood. There's a lot of good, fun, action and comeuppance with not too much of that pesky character development and plot to worry about. That is until we get to the middle act of the film, in which many characters get fleshed out, with curious subplots and small character developments adorning the story with some actual stakes that the audience can care about. What a treat! To add to this, the characters are actually all pretty smart, and come to good conclusions, plans, and adaptations throughout the film. And finally, the two main villains and the actress who plays Charu (Priyanka Arulmohan) have genuinely great performances in their respective roles. The two villains are over the top in a way that the directing demands, and Charu is demure and intelligent in a very authentic way. She is not the "perfect" love interest that so often makes appearances in Indian cinema, and this makes her character that much stronger. Nani, the lead which this film was built around is solid and does what is needed of him directorially, but does not necessarily stand out beyond the fact that he has a leading role.

The film still suffers from some of the typical blockbuster masala film issues. It's probably too long, and much could have been left on the cutting room floor to tighten up the script. A lot of this script fluff leads to an ending scene that goes a bit off the rails. The dad monologue at the end was overly melodramatic and somehow the film turned into a power-scaling anime film at the end. Very questionable choice indeed, given that our hero didn't need any preamble for violence before. And speaking of the fighting in the film, the action sequences as a whole are pretty decent, but everything from the fight choreography, to the editing, to the effects are a step behind western cinema. There are often lots of quick, disorienting cuts in action sequences that really didn't need it, whether they are simply punches, kicks, or dodges. Certainly more budget could have been diverted to choreography for better planned and shot fight sequences. And finally, an issue that truly holds the film back from being capital G Great is that the director loses the opportunity to have a really poignant message of revenge and violence not being the answer to wrongs. At first, it seemed like that was where the plot was going, especially with the lessons from the Mother to hold back on violence and think deeply about whether he was truly angry, and the subplot about Charu hating men that were violent, among other things. Despite these signposts, the director goes for a theme of "standing up for others". It works, but this is narratively weaker than what was already laid out in the plot. It is a real shame because it seemed like this truly intelligent resolution was coming. In the end though, the hero just saves the day with the violence that are the good influences in his life told him to not pursue.

One final thing, not a pro or con to the film, but the fact that the main love interest in the film is his first cousin was very confusing for a western viewer. I was truly confused until I confirmed this fact online after viewing. It was just hard to believe the Kallu from Sarya's youth was the same Charu with seemingly no one taking any issue. A peculiarity for sure.

Saripodhaa Sanivaraam is a very fun action thriller, sure to be an enjoyable watch for people from all cultures. Some cultural and blockbuster leaning sensibilities lead it astray at times, but its core directorial vision is great.

What happens if the writers put no effort but all others do a terrific job ! Well its this movie . The background score , the direction , stellar cast and their amazing performances , the initial proceedings , the character development , heroine and her charm , everything adds to plus in this movie . Nani did a routine job of a hero who loves heroine , beats the villain and ends the movie . But the director's brilliance gives the whole movie a new look . I thought heroine was a miscast because she literally does no acting , but I'm glad to be disappointed . She did well in her space and her charm like always adds beauty to the movie . Now coming to the villain, S J Suryah played a phenomenal role as a villain dominating all the others so much that for the most part I felt some god has come down to act . Wherever the film is about to become dull , Jakes Bejoy covers it up with his background score . Overall, this is a well-made commercial film and worth watching with family .