Saripodhaa Sanivaaram Review: Misses the Mar

Saripodhaa Sanivaaram Review: Misses the Mar

Saripodhaa Sanivaaram’ centers around Surya (played by Nani), a man with a unique anger management style—he only fights on Saturdays. His target? A ruthless police officer, Daya (played by S. J. Suryah). The story unfolds as Surya, driven by his childhood promise, chooses Daya as his Saturday opponent and unexpectedly becomes the savior of Sokulapalem’s residents, who suffer under Daya’s oppressive rule.

Rating: 2.5/5

Censor: U/A

Duration: 2h 50m

Nani as Surya delivers a performance that feels mismatched for a high-octane action film. The role requires a commanding physical presence and a mass appeal that Nani struggles to embody. While he brings his usual charm, the script offers little for him to showcase his emotional range. As a result, his performance is adequate but forgettable.

In stark contrast, S. J. Suryah steals the show with his portrayal of a psychotic and rude police officer, Daya. He fits perfectly into the role and adds a menacing energy that keeps the audience engaged. His performance is the standout feature of the film.

Priyanka Arul Mohan, cast as the female lead, fails to leave an impression due to a weakly written role. Her character and the romantic subplot feel like an afterthought, adding little value to the narrative.

Directed by Vivek Athreya, known for his work in ‘Ante Sundaraniki,’ ‘Saripodhaa Sanivaaram’ marks his foray into the mass action genre. Unfortunately, the film falls short in delivering a compelling narrative. The core concept—Surya fighting only on Saturdays—is interesting, but the execution lacks the freshness needed to make it stand out. Films like ‘Thallumaala’ or ‘RDX’ could have served as inspiration for a more dynamic treatment of action and drama.

Vivek Athreya’s direction misses the mark by failing to provide Nani’s character with distinct traits beyond his anger issues and his peculiar promise. The lack of a memorable hero significantly weakens the film. However, the decision to cast S. J. Suryah as a menacing police officer proves to be a masterstroke. His character is well-utilized, and his presence adds much-needed tension to the storyline.

The first half introduces the primary characters and sets up the central conflict, but it drags with unnecessary explanations and subplots involving land issues and family conflicts. The interval scene provides a glimmer of hope for a more gripping second half, but the film struggles to maintain that momentum.

The second half attempts to focus on Surya’s efforts to win over the people of Sokulapalem, but the portrayal lacks depth and emotion. The town’s connection to the story feels forced and artificial, particularly during the climax when Nani calls upon a resident to fight Daya. The emotional build-up required for such a scene is missing, making it fall flat.

While S. J. Suryah’s portrayal of a villainous cop keeps the second half somewhat engaging, the screenplay fails to deliver any genuine thrills. Key moments that should have been exciting—such as the discovery of Surya’s Saturday fighting routine—are handled in a straightforward and unremarkable manner.

What Works?

The film’s saving grace is S. J. Suryah’s dynamic performance. He dominates every scene he is in, bringing an intensity that elevates the narrative. Jakes Bejoy’s background score also adds to the film’s atmosphere, though it occasionally feels overdone. Some tense moments around S. J. Suryah’s character keep the audience on edge, but they are too few and far between.

What Doesn’t Work?

Saripodhaa Sanivaaram suffers from several drawbacks:

Routine Execution: The film’s unique core plot fails to translate into an engaging screenplay.

Forced Emotions: The emotional connection between Nani’s character and the Sokulapalem people feels unnatural and contrived.

Weak Hero-Heroine Track: The romantic subplot lacks life and seems shoehorned into the story.

Flat Revelations: Important plot points, like how S. J. Suryah discovers the Saturday fighter, lack impact.

Excessive Length: The film feels unnecessarily long due to extended sequences that do little to move the story forward.

Supporting Cast Performances

The supporting cast, including Murali Sharma, Sai Kumar, Ajay, Harsha Vardhan, and Sivaji, deliver competent performances but fail to stand out due to weak character writing. Aditi Balan’s role as Surya’s sister also adds little to the film, leaving no lasting impression.

Jakes Bejoy’s background score is the standout among the technical departments, though his songs don’t leave a mark. Murali G’s cinematography is serviceable but lacks any distinct visual flair. Karthika Srinivas’ editing is subpar, with the film’s pacing dragging due to overly long sequences. The production values by DVV Entertainment are decent but do not compensate for the weak script.