RELEASED IN 2021, PELLI SANDAD IS A TELUGU ROMANTIC MUSICAL DRAMA THAT REVIVES THE CHARM OF VINTAGE LOVE STORIES. DIRECTED BY GOWRI RONANKI UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF LEGENDARY FILMMAKER K. RAGHAVENDRA RAO, THIS FILM FEATURES DEBUTANT SREE LEELA AND ROSHAN IN THE LEAD ROLES. THE FILM IS RICH IN VIBRANT VISUALS, TRADITION-HEAVY STORYTELLING, AND SOULFUL MUSIC.
STORY ✓ SCREENPLAY
A TALE OF TIMELESS LOVE
THE PLOT FOLLOWS VASISHTA (ROSHAN), A CHARMING YOUNG MAN NARRATING HIS PAST LOVE STORY TO A FILMMAKER. AS THE TALE UNFOLDS, HE REVEALS HOW HE FELL IN LOVE WITH SAHASA SIMA (SREE LEELA), NAVIGATING FAMILY TRADITIONS AND CHALLENGES TO WIN HER HEART.
SCREENPLAY REVIEW
- OLD-SCHOOL NARRATIVE FILLED WITH COLORFUL VISUALS
- SLOW PACING IN PARTS DUE TO PREDICTABLE PLOT TURNS
- SIGNATURE RAGHAVENDRA RAO FANTASY-STYLE SONG SEQUENCES
PERFORMANCES
ROSHAN MEKA AS VASISHTA
ROSHAN SHOWS SIGNIFICANT GROWTH AS AN ACTOR, ESPECIALLY IN EMOTIONAL AND DANCE SEQUENCES.
SREE LEELA AS SAHASA SIMA
SREE LEELA STEALS THE SHOW WITH HER EXPRESSIVE ACTING, NATURAL CHARM, AND INCREDIBLE DANCE MOVES—AN IMPRESSIVE DEBUT PERFORMANCE.
K. RAGHAVENDRA RAO’S APPEARANCE
RAGHAVENDRA RAO SURPRISES WITH HIS GRACEFUL ROLE AS THE OLDER VASISHTA, ADDING NOSTALGIC FLAVOR TO THE FILM.
MUSIC ✓ DANCE
MELODIOUS SOUNDTRACK BY MM KEERAVANI
- PREMANTE ENTI – A SOFT, HEART-TOUCHING MELODY
- BUJJULU BUJJULU – LIVELY AND PLAYFUL WITH RICH VISUALS
- MADHURA NAGARILO – EVOKES CLASSIC TELUGU MUSICAL VIBES
CHOREOGRAPHY ✓ CINEMATOGRAPHY
COLORFUL SETS, GRAND BACKDROPS, AND WELL-COMPOSED DANCE NUMBERS ENHANCE THE VISUAL RICHNESS. SONGS ARE SHOT LIKE DREAM SEQUENCES, APPEALING TO FANS OF CLASSIC ROMANTIC DRAMAS.
DIRECTION ✓ PRODUCTION QUALITY
DIRECTION BY GOWRI RONANKI
BLENDS VINTAGE-STYLE ROMANCE WITH MODERN PRESENTATION. HEAVILY RELIES ON GRAND VISUALS AND TRADITIONAL THEMES.
CINEMATOGRAPHY
BEAUTIFUL LANDSCAPES AND BRIGHT COLOR PALETTES ADD TO THE FAIRY-TALE-LIKE PRESENTATION OF THE MOVIE.
WHAT WORKS AND WHAT DOESN’T
HIGHLIGHTS
- STRONG DEBUT BY SREE LEELA
- MELODIOUS MUSIC AND LAVISH VISUALS
- FEEL-GOOD, FAMILY-FRIENDLY STORY
DRAWBACKS
- WEAK AND PREDICTABLE STORYLINE
- OVER-THE-TOP MELODRAMA
- SLOW SCREENPLAY IN PARTS
FINAL VERDICT: IS PELLI SANDAD WORTH WATCHING?
PELLI SANDAD DELIVERS A ROMANTIC, MUSICAL JOURNEY FULL OF NOSTALGIA. WHILE IT DOESN'T OFFER FRESH STORYTELLING, IT PROVIDES VISUAL GRANDEUR AND FAMILY-FRIENDLY ENTERTAINMENT. PERFECT FOR FANS OF TRADITIONAL TELUGU ROMANTIC DRAMAS.
RATING: 3√5
FINAL THOUGHTS
IF YOU'RE IN THE MOOD FOR A VISUALLY STUNNING, MUSICAL LOVE STORY WITH A THROWBACK TO CLASSIC TOLLYWOOD CHARM, PELLI SANDAD IS WORTH A WATCH. DESPITE ITS FLAWS, THE FILM SUCCEEDS IN BEING AN ENTERTAINING FAMILY DRAMA.