Movie: Seethamma Vakitlo Sirimalle Chettu
Director: Srikanth Addala
Cast: Mahesh Babu, Prakash Raj, Venkatesh, Jayasudha, Samantha Ruth Prabhu and Anjali
Rating: ***1/2
It is very unlikely to point out a single dull moment in this crowd-pleasing, tear-jerking healthy family entertainer that presents a story akin to every household. Despite the presence of stars such as Mahesh Babu and Venkatesh, “Seethamma Vakitlo Sirimalle Chettu” (SVSC) boasts of being a successful multi-starrer throughout by giving equal weightage to both the actors.
The film may or may not inspire one and all, but it will definitely send everybody back home with a smile.
Revolving around familial relationships, SVSC narrates the story of two brothers – Peddodu and Chinnodu, played by Venkatesh and Mahesh Babu respectively, and their relationship with everybody around them, including their own family.
Even though both the brothers are jobless, the younger one, played by Mahesh, is emotionally strong and unlike his uptight elder brother, doesn’t spend every living moment worrying about how to face the world. But at home, the brothers are blessed with the most loving family one could ever have. A father, played by Prakash Raj, who counts every minute with a smile and a doting mother, Jayasudha, who wishes to see her son settled and happily married.
Seetha, played by Anjali, aspires to get married to Peddodu, but her feelings are never valued. Chinnodu falls in love with Geetha, played by Samantha, who despite being distantly related, can’t hope for a life together as their families have a long history of rivalry. Will they get to live happily ever after? This forms the rest of the story.
In the first fifteen to twenty minutes, as the camera pans across different characters in the film, one gets a crystal clear understanding of each one of them. It is extremely difficult to bring together two stars to work together in the industry, but Srikanth not only succeeds in making them act together, but makes them back each other in power packed-performances as brothers. One might feel that Mahesh may have had extended screen presence, but it is Venkatesh, who steals the limelight with his unadulterated performance, sans machismo.
Harping strongly on familial values, there are moments in the film apt to the context of the film. Be it Prakash Raj’s ever gleeful face or Geetha’s love for Peddodu or Rao Ramesh’s self-priding character or even the sensitive relationship between Mahesh and Venkatesh, it is moments like these that hold the film intact.
Srikanth, with his sincere and simple screenplay, makes everybody look at the mirror image of their own families on the big screen. As one gets deeply engrossed in the film, he or she will realize all that the film shows is what makes a family, and the different people who make it. There are no extraordinary moments to boast greatly of, but there are plenty of simple yet beautiful moments that are heart-tugging.
Mahesh and Venkatesh, who share funny yet meaningful conversations most of the time, make every minute of their screen presence meaningful. Mahesh’s character is funnier, courtesy films such as “Dookudu” and “Businessman”, and his moments with Samantha are rib-tickling.
Good to see Samantha shed her glamorous side and embrace performance-oriented roles, which she only handles with deftness and ease. Anjali is yet another crowd-puller performer in the film, and she will not go unnoticed.
Two characters that hold the film together is that of Prakash Raj and Rao Ramesh. They complement each other with roles that are poles apart, but highly important in the film. These actors deserve special mention and adulation.
Mikey J. Meyer’s compositions are musical lullaby to the ears, while Mani Sharma’s background score is comforting. K.V Guhan’s cinematography may not be outstanding, but makes the ambience look beautiful.
