Actor Nara Rohith returns with Sundarakanda, a romantic comedy that attempts to subvert familiar tropes in Telugu cinema with a quirky twist, but ends up being an uneven entertainer.
Story & Premise
The film revolves around Siddharth (Nara Rohith), a middle-aged corporate employee who is caught in a familiar dilemma — his parents, played by Naresh and Rupa Lakshmi, are worried he’ll never marry, while Siddharth is stubborn about finding a partner who meets his unrealistic checklist. The twist? To win his love interest, Siddharth ends up posing as a lecturer — setting up a scenario with shades of unusual humor and awkwardness.
Romantic Angle
At the center of it all is Eira (Virti Vaghani), a compassionate young woman Siddharth encounters at an airport. His relentless pursuit of her — including bizarrely checking coffee cups in trash bins — walks the fine line between quirky persistence and uncomfortable obsession. Their age-gap romance explores themes of love, generation gaps, and societal judgment, but with a heavy dose of rom-com treatment.
Strengths in Humor
The movie finds some rhythm in the second half, when Siddharth struggles to conceal a major secret that could affect his bond with Eira. The screenplay occasionally redeems earlier casual scenes by connecting them later, giving narrative weight.
The humor is its saving grace — especially through Satya, who steals the show with his comic timing, self-aware gags, and improvisation. His presence eases the awkwardness of Rohith’s character and often echoes the audience’s frustration. Sunaina complements him well, while Vasuki plays Siddharth’s sister convincingly. The family dynamic also offers fun — Rupa Lakshmi’s Korean drama obsession and Naresh’s cheeky digs at his son keep the laughs flowing.
Performances
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Nara Rohith: While he fits the character’s age and situation, his static screen presence and lack of emotional depth weaken the film, making it hard to root for him.
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Sridevi Vijayakumar: One of the film’s finest casting choices — she shines in dual looks (as a school girl and later as a charming mother), carrying herself with elegance and strong performance, hinting at a solid second innings.
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Virti Vaghani: Fresh on screen but her role as Eira feels written a little too mature for her age, limiting emotional believability.
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Satya: The true highlight, delivering both verbal and physical humor, elevating flat sequences.
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VTV Ganesh: His dialogues drag, testing the patience of the audience.
Technical Aspects & Direction
Director Venkatesh Nimmalapudi has an interesting premise, but the treatment falters. The film mixes witty one-liners with overlong speeches, unnecessary action sequences, and too many song interruptions (music by Leon James). While the concept of age-gap love has echoes of classics like Lamhe (1991) and Dikkulu Choodaku Ramayya (2014), the narrative doesn’t fully explore its potential.
Final Verdict
Sundarakanda banks heavily on comedy as its USP, with Satya and supporting roles being the real saviors. However, with inconsistent writing, weak hero performance, and tonal imbalance, it struggles to make a lasting impact. Watch it for the laughs, but temper expectations.
Rating: 2.5/5
