96-fame director C Prem Kumar returns to the director’s chair after nearly five years to helm Sathyam Sundaram, a slice-of-life film on relationships and nostalgia. The film stars Aravind Swamy and Karthi in lead roles, who play the titular characters of Sathyam and Sundaram respectively. Sathyam and Sundaram is originally titled Meiyazhagan in Tamil. While the Tamil film is set in Thanjavur and Chennai, the Telugu film’s locations have been changed to Guntur and Vizag respectively. Sathyam Sundaram is produced by Jyothika and Suriya, who have previously backed critically acclaimed films like Soorarai Pottru (Aakasame Nee Haddura in Telugu) and Jai Bhim.

What is it about?

Sathyam (Aravind Swamy) and his family lose their beloved ancestral house in Guntur due to a property litigation in 1996, following which they tearfully leave the town and move to Chennai. 22 years later, Sathyam makes a trip back to Guntur to attend his sister’s wedding. What happens when Sathyam bumps into an overly friendly childhood acquaintance in the village (Sundaram) forms the crux of the story.

Performances

Karthi is the heart and soul of the film and he is the reason why everyone connects with the story. He also elicits the most laughs out of the audience. Aravind Swamy plays an introverted character with a lot of trauma. His screen presence fades a bit when he is with Karthi, but nevertheless, he delivers a strong performance.

Sri Divya and Devadarshini play the wives of these main characters. Despite their limited screentime, they are both endearing and memorable. Rajkiran, as Sathyam’s uncle Sukumar, is extremely relatable and effective, reminding a lot of us of our uncles.

Technicalities

The film has extremely emotional and soul stirring music by Govind Vasantha. The intent and meaning of the original Tamil lyrics of the songs have also been translated competently by Rakendu Mouli.

The film’s original location Thanjavur, with its ancient temples, plays a major role in determining the film’s overall production values. Though the makers of the film have changed the location in the Telugu version to Guntur, it is hard to miss the effect of Thanjavur in the film.

In addition to the friendship between Sathyam and Sundaram, the film also emphasises the relationship these actors share with animals of all kinds, ranging from cats, parrots to bulls and snakes. It adds a wholesome and heartwarming flair to the overall narrative.

The cinematography, by Mahendiran Jayaraju, plays a huge role in conveying the film’s soothing-yet-hard hitting themes. The result makes the film look both real and cinematically beautiful at the same time.

Thumbs up

Karthi & Aravind Swamy
90s nostalgia
Writing
Worldbuilding
Music

Thumbs down

Runtime
Slow paced narrative

Analysis

Sathyam Sundaram is a beautiful trip down the memory lane. Much like the director’s previous film 96 (and its Telugu remake Jaanu), a majority of the film takes place in the space of one night with just two characters.

Movies that take place entirely within the span of a single night fit well in the thriller genre, but clearly, 96 and Sathyam Sundaram are exceptions to this rule. Each dialogue, scene, sub-plot and arc in the film leaves a person with a smile and a good feeling in their hearts.

The film slowly but steadily wins the heart of everyone with its sincere emotions. A couple of scenes in particular, have the potential of making the audience tear up, due to their highly effective and relatable emotionality.

The makers have taken good care to ensure that it appeals well to Telugu audience, with attention to detail given to the dialogues, comedy and lyrics. This film will particularly impress 90s kids, with its bicycle sub-plot, flashback portions in the village and the actors humming iconic 90s songs like Singarala.

The film could have been much easier to enjoy though, had it been 30-40 minutes shorter (the runtime is 177 minutes long). The film’s makers could have also gone for a different title since it gives a spoiler to one of the film’s biggest mysteries. All in all, Sathyam Sundaram is a positive step in the direction of good, soulful cinema. However, those who do not enjoy slice-of-life emotional dramas or three-hour long films must definitely think twice before watching Sathyam Sundaram.

Verdict: Emotional Journey Of Pure Hearts

Rating: 3/5

Related

Karthi and Arvind Swamy’s Meiyazhagan made its debut in cinemas yesterday, and the Telugu version, Sathyam Sundaram, released today. Take a look at the review to know how this Prem Kumar directorial performs.

Story:

In 1996, Sathyam (Arvind Swamy) and his family are forced to leave their home in Guntur and start afresh in Vizag. Two decades later, Satyam returns to Guntur for his cousin’s wedding, where he encounters Sundaram (Karthi), a spirited individual who seems unusually attentive to him. Sathyam feels puzzled and uneasy, as he doesn’t recognize Sundaram or understand his actions. As events unfold during the wedding, Sathyam prepares to return to Vizag, but a series of dramatic incidents between the two reveal hidden emotions and long-lost connections, leading Satyam to discover Sundaram’s true identity.

Plus Points:

In an era where deeply emotional stories are becoming rare, Satyam Sundaram stands out as a heartwarming film that relies on genuine expressions and simple, meaningful conversations. The film’s strength lies in its ability to connect with the audience through its beautifully crafted characters and the subtle emotions they convey.

Karthi and Arvind Swamy’s performances are a major highlight. Both the actors sink into their characters so naturally that their on-screen presence feels effortless. Karthi’s outgoing and energetic persona blends well with Arvind Swamy’s quiet, introverted nature, creating a delightful contrast. Their chemistry, mixed with humor, brings a sense of lightheartedness that is engaging and enjoyable.

The supporting cast also adds value, delivering strong performances that enhance the emotional depth of the film. Another major asset is Govind Vasantha’s music, which amplifies the film’s emotional tone, making certain moments even more impactful.

Minus Points:

Though the film is emotionally engaging, its slow pace and reliance on lengthy dialogues may not appeal to everyone. Some viewers might find the narrative dragging in places, particularly because the story focuses more on conversations and small gestures rather than a gripping plot.

The absence of major twists or high intensity moments might leave those looking for a fast-paced drama feeling underwhelmed. Additionally, the extended runtime could test the patience of some viewers, as certain scenes feel unnecessarily prolonged.

Technical Aspects:

One of the film’s technical achievements is its seamless adaptation from Tamil to Telugu. The attention to detail – from signboards to banners and even the opening and closing credits—is impeccable, making it feel like a straight Telugu film. The team deserves credit for ensuring the authenticity of the language and setting.

Director C Prem Kumar once again proves his ability to explore human emotions with finesse, much like his work in 96. He masterfully portrays the journey of self-discovery through the perceptions of others, though the slow pace of his films may not suit every viewer’s taste.

The Telugu dialogues are skillfully dubbed, and the cinematography beautifully captures the charm of rural life. The production values, while modest, are used effectively to maintain authenticity throughout. Although the editing is decent, trimming some extended sequences would have improved the film’s overall flow.

Verdict:

On the whole, Sathyam Sundaram is a heartfelt drama about human relationships. Karthi and Arvind Swamy’s performances add warmth to their characters, making their interactions enjoyable. While the slow pace and long runtime might not suit everyone, the film offers a thoughtful look at memories and connections. If you’re in the mood for something reflective, Sathyam Sundaram is worth considering.

123telugu.com Rating: 3.25/5

Reviewed by 123telugu Team

Click Here For Telugu Review

A number of unanswered questions plague “Devara: Part 1,” the fine, but familiar Telugu-language Indian action drama and star vehicle for “RRR” co-lead N.T. Rama Rao Jr. For starters, does this nautical-themed melodrama need to be the first part of a series, and will the heavily foregrounded promise of a sequel leave anyone but NTR’s fans wanting more? It’s hard to know in either case, and not because “Devara: Part 1” doesn’t provide sufficient answers.

First, some good news. Writer/director Kortala Siva (“Acharya”) succeeds at making his ensemble cast, including Saif Ali Khan and Janhvi Kapoor, look great, especially during meme-ready action scenes and dance numbers. The movie’s plot also unfolds at such a deliberate pace that it’s hard to argue that the movie’s either too slow or too predictable to warrant its 176-minute runtime. Which brings me to the bad news.

Too often, the familiar and unchallenging nature of “Devara: Part 1”’s stock tropes and twists hold the movie back from unqualified success. Variations on established themes aren’t necessarily the worst things in the world, but it does get frustrating when you’re watching a giant-sized pirate drama that so regularly swings from perfunctory to rewarding gestures and usually within the same scene.

It’s easy to forget and doesn’t ultimately matter, but most of “Devara: Part 1” is presented as a dramatized cautionary tale for a group of hapless Bombay cops who, in 1996, try to hustle their way into a community of butch seamen. Local storyteller Singappa (Prakash Raj) eulogizes Devara (Rao) and later his son Vara (also Rao), both of whom lead a divided group of villagers near the Ratnagiri mountains. For a while, piracy serves as the community’s main source of income, as we see in an over-inflated but fitfully rousing opening scene where Rao launches out of the water in slow-motion like he’s the second coming of Esther Williams. Eventually, Devara changes his mind about piracy after learning more about the guns he and his crew smuggle for shifty middleman Muruga (Murali Sharma).

Tensions periodically flair between Devara, a selfless leader who can also fight and dance, and Bhaira (Khan), his generically contrary rival. They fight to a standstill during an annual weapons ritual, where four burly men duke it out to decide which of their four villages will control a cache of weapons. Even this establishing brawl takes a spell to catch fire, but it does once Devara and Bhair tie their wrists together and take turns bashing each other into various hard surfaces.

This and a few more conventional pleasures make the first half of “Devara: Part 1” a pleasant enough sit. The plot moseys more than it charges forward, and the movie only arrives at a dramatic precipice before its pre-intermission break. At this point, the drama stops being about Devara and Bhaira’s rivalry and starts concerning Vara, now an adult and the uneasy bearer of his father’s legacy. This back half of the movie occasionally capitalizes on its initial promise, especially whenever the relatively timid Vara tries to fill his dad’s mega-sized shoes. That struggle sets up a rather obvious twist, which then corkscrews into a more novel twist, ultimately laying the groundwork for the implicitly promised sequel. Sure, sure, but why aren’t there more fight scenes in the water? Couldn’t there have been punchier dialogue, and maybe some more dancing and less exposition?

These burning questions threaten to eclipse the most charming parts of “Devara: Part 1,” particularly supporting performances from diligent character actors like Sharma and Srikanth, as well as Kapoor’s scene-stealing turn as Thangam, Vara’s flirtatious love interest. A packed matinee screening in Times Square took a bathroom break during Thangam’s prescribed solo dance number; they missed the movie’s best musical number. My audience did not, however, forget to roar with applause whenever Rao performed a heroic flex or danced along to songs that they’d already committed to memory. Rao’s emotional range still isn’t vast, but he does unleash a devastating charm offensive whenever he fights (with great posture) or dances (with disarming exuberance). A few set pieces also feature a couple of stand-out images and effects, but only a few have enough momentum and flair to sustain their entire length.

So how badly do we need a “Devara: Part 2”? Siva rarely challenges his charming ensemble cast to step outside of their comfort zones, but he and his collaborators still deliver a lot of what you might want from an action-musical about a pack of murderous, but righteous pirates. A sequel could be a thrilling improvement on what this middling tentpole riser sets up. It could also sink beneath the heavy weight of viewers’ otherwise reasonable expectations.