Sundarakanda (2025) Movie Review | Telugu Romantic Comedy with a Twist

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ (3/5)

Sundarakanda, directed by Venkatesh Nimmalapudi and starring Nara Rohith, Sridevi Vijaykumar, and Vriti Vaghani, is a Telugu romantic comedy released on August 28, 2025. Intended as a festive entertainer, it offers a few light-hearted moments and a surprising twist but struggles to maintain consistency in tone and depth.

Plot Synopsis
The story follows Siddharth (Nara Rohith), a middle-aged bachelor who has a strict checklist of five qualities he wants in a life partner. His search leads him to Aira (Vriti Vaghani), a young college student who appears to fit the bill perfectly. Just when things seem to align, a shocking twist reveals that Aira is the daughter of Siddharth’s teenage crush, Vaishnavi (Sridevi Vijaykumar). This revelation turns the rom-com setup into a morally complex narrative that shifts between humor and drama.

Performances

• Nara Rohith brings easy charm and decent comic timing but falters in delivering deeper emotional layers.

• Vriti Vaghani is confident and impactful as Aira, lending maturity and emotional strength to her role.

• Sridevi Vijaykumar delivers a graceful and poised performance as Vaishnavi, grounding the film with emotional stability.

• Satya provides comic relief, often emerging as the voice of reason and lightening the tone during heavy moments.

Direction & Screenplay
Venkatesh Nimmalapudi takes a daring approach by exploring themes of age-gap relationships and personal fantasy, using a strong mid-film twist as a turning point. While the bold idea sets it apart from routine rom-coms, the screenplay struggles to balance humor with serious undertones. The tonal shifts feel jarring, leaving the film caught between being a breezy entertainer and a layered social commentary.

Technical Merits

• Cinematography: Clean and functional, capturing both everyday family drama and lighter romantic setups.

• Editing: Pacing works well around the interval twist but loses grip in the second half.

• Sound Design: Adequate, supporting both comedic beats and dramatic turns.

• Music & Score: Leon James’ songs are catchy and well-placed, while the background score enhances the emotional tone of key moments.

Audience & Critical Response
The film has received mixed reviews. Some appreciated the festival-friendly vibes, clean comedy, and interval twist. Others criticized the lack of depth, over-familiar story elements, and tonal inconsistency. While praised for attempting a different angle on romance, many felt the execution was uneven and the impact diluted.

Final Verdict
Sundarakanda is a film that dares to be different but doesn’t fully commit to its daring premise. Its performances—especially from Vriti Vaghani and Sridevi Vijaykumar—are strong, and the twist keeps things interesting, but inconsistent writing and tonal confusion hold it back.

For audiences looking for lighthearted family entertainment with a dash of surprise, Sundarakanda offers some fun. But for those seeking more emotionally powerful or cohesive storytelling, it may fall short.