Sankranthiki Vasthunam: Self-aware Troll

Sankranthiki Vasthunam

Star Cast: Venkatesh, Meenakshi Chowdary, Aishwarya Rajesh, Upendra Limaye, Sai Kumar, Naresh, VT Ganesh, and Revanth.
Cinematography by Sameer Reddy
Editing by Tammiraju
Music Composed by Bheems Ceciroleo
Directed by Anil Ravipudi

Sankranthiki Vasthunam is a film that unabashedly follows a formula dear to its director’s heart. The film’s existence hinges on this tried-and-true template, embraced with fervor and faith. Now, should you invest your time and money in this cinematic endeavor? Allow me to advise: think twice before securing your seat.

Spoilers? Not This Time

Anil Ravipudi is acutely aware of the material he has on his hands. He knows that his story and screenplay lack the emotional depth to be told in a serious manner. Imagine this story akin to the Mr. and Mrs. Smith [2005] film, where raunchy romantic scenes, grand sets, and two glamorous stars make it an epic actioner. An ex-lover of an ex-cop seeks his help for a big mission, and his involvement escalates the mission to such a scale that we fall in love with these characters and witness grand stunts. Alternatively, picture it as a B-grade film like The Union [2024] or even an adult film where all missions lead to one “happy ending.” An idea can be twisted and presented in many ways, but Anil chose to go with his F2 [2019] format.

His F3 [2022] and Bhagavanth Kesari [2023] didn’t quite hit the box office jackpot as anticipated. While they can still be agrued as successful films, they’re hard to remember. F2 had Venky Aasan, but F3 desperately tried to recreate that magic. Bhagavanth Kesari faced criticism for its comedy yet received some appreciation for the “Good Touch – Bad Touch” scene. Anil ventured out of his comfort zone with Balakrishna, attempting to align with the actor’s formula, but F3 ended up being overcrowded with unfunny content. So, when he decided on the “Ex-cop, Ex-girlfriend, Excellent Wife” story, he felt the F2 format was his safest bet, aiming to secure some family audience appreciation during the festival box office.

Why are you talking about this box office calculation? We can review a movie in accordance with its promise to the audiences. Sankrantiki Vasthunnam promises a family entertainer that doesn’t really hurt viewers intelligence or feelings. In fact, it just asks you to forget everything and enjoy the jokes. So, let’s see how those jokes are constructed.

Joke 1: You need an excuse to bring an ex-cop into the story. So, bring Meenakshi [Meenakshi Chaudhary] – the ex-girlfriend into the story. But Anil Ravipudi of F2 would have thought, let’s try to give a better reason for bringing this mission. Maybe a reason like the CM being coaxed into accepting their terms by making him a puppet for a big group. Such a group can only be brought down by the intelligence of an ex-cop rather than the dashing arrogance of this other cop. So, giving two characters a purpose to involve in the mission, not just because, as a storyteller, he decided so.

Joke 2: Raju and Bhagyam’s [Aishwarya Rajesh] love story would have been a result of the unrelenting love showered by her. More like a spoof or rehash of Athadu [2005]. [Again, trying to think like F2 Anil here]. The story would have explored her falling for YD Raju on a mission and Raju, after being with a career-driven woman, deciding to accept her into his life. Not a compromise, but a decision made after carefully observing her love and commitment towards him. Rather, we get a re-worked scene from the less appreciated Sarileru Neekevvaru [2020] train episode. We just say, “Oh … Like that they came together aa..”. In actuality, we were supposed to accept Bhagyam’s character for the comedy to work in the next scenes. Still, it is dealt with as if another runaway gag.

Joke 3: Bulli Raju being Bulli Raju [Revanth]. This joke works as it showcases the beautiful bond between father and son. Yet, in Hai Hai Nayaka [1989], the film which inspired this joke and even the plot, we see a strong reason for such behavior. Here, it feels more like the argument that OTT platforms are spoiling kids more than films. Whatever the thought behind it, the joke could have been better written.

Joke 4: An out-of-shape ex-cop gets back into shape gradually during the mission, with his family members helping him achieve this. Imagine an F2 Anil Ravipudi using some older characters from Venky films to inspire this Venky. Yes, he would have gone for such a thought in the film rather than at a press conference. While using the frustration from the wife and girlfriend fight to ignite his anger is a good idea, it would have been better integrated into older Venky films ideas to make it all the more “logic-less fun”. Here, he just said, “nobody cares”.

My point is that Ravipudi has slowly become a shadow of himself. Even his weak work like Raja The Great [2017] has a catchphrase, “Emo saar naaku Kanapadadu,” that can be used anywhere. Sankrantiki Vasthunnam doesn’t have one such thing over its 2 hours 24 minutes runtime. Bulli Raju did have one, “Korikestha ninnu Korikestha,” but it just goes with the flow rather than becoming the hilarious laugh riot of an idea it could have been. It almost seems like Anil wants to walk away from the F2 style, yet he is being asked to work within those confinements, and he did it half-heartedly. Watch Hai Hai Nayaka film if you have not, “Guru vante Gundrayi kadu” song would haunt you. An arrogant student gets reformed by a school teacher whose love interest misunderstands him. He has to prove his loyalty and also reform this boy. The Sankrantiki Vasthunnam plot has ex-lovers on a mission and Guru bhakti as an added plot bonus. Isn’t it amazing how Jandyala’s old comedy is able to inspire even today’s filmmakers.

A packaged film needs much more attention to detail so that the formula doesn’t really fall into the traps of cliches. Anil Ravipudi, who enjoys working within those cliches and coming up with some refreshing jokes, seems to be losing that touch with complacency. An in-form EVV Satyanarayana could have made this as a sequel to Intlo Illalu Vantintlo Priyuralu, and even F2 Anil would’ve thought of it along those lines. If you observe Bulli Raju’s character, it is a twisted homage to IIVP’s father-son dynamic. The point is, when there are ideas on paper and when you can yourself use them to their full potential, why settle for a half-baked, untidy mishmash rather than going full throttle. There could be a hundred reasons behind it, yet films can only be judged on their final outputs. Like how a student who always tops in the class tests fails in the final examination, Anil might have had 10 good ideas on paper but depended on Venkatesh, Music, and Aishwarya Rajesh to save the ship from sinking rather than taking command and sailing it smoothly like an inspired captain. This trend is dangerous, and this Sankrati might have saved it, but if you don’t correct it in time, many “unsinkable Titanics” have found it hard to navigate through the rough seas of nature.

Theatrical Trailer: