8 Vasanthalu Review and Rating: Strong Start, Weak Finish

8 Vasanthalu Review:
Director Phanindra Narsetti, who once gained popularity for his short films, made his debut with Manu in 2018. After a long gap of seven years, he returned with his second feature film 8 Vasantalu produced by Mythri Movie Makers. Starring MAD fame Ananthika Sanilkumar and with music by Hesham Abdul Wahab, the film generated decent buzz. Let’s see how the film turned out.

8 Vasanthalu Review:

Story:

The film follows Shuddhi Ayodhya (Ananthika), a confident and independent woman. She falls in love with an NRI boy who visits Ooty with his parents. But due to unexpected issues, their relationship ends. Later, Shuddhi meets Sanjay, a Telugu writer and falls in love again. The rest of the story revolves around whether her relationship with Sanjay leads to happiness, and how Sanjay’s past is linked with Shuddhi’s life.

Performances:

Ananthika Sanilkumar shines in her role. She portrayed Shuddhi with grace and emotion, proving her potential for strong, character-driven roles. Hanu Reddy, who played the NRI also gave a natural and heartfelt performance.

However, Ravitheja Duggirala, who played Sanjay, seemed miscast. His limited acting experience was visible and weakened the emotional depth the character required. Additionally, the actress who played Shuddhi’s mother did not fit the role well. Casting unfamiliar faces in key supporting roles didn’t work in the film’s favor.

Technical Aspects:

The music by Hesham Abdul Wahab is pleasant, with the background score especially standing out during the Kashmir scenes. Cinematographer Vishwanath Reddy captured the scenic beauty of Ooty, Kashmir, and Varanasi effectively. Editing by Shashank Mali could have been sharper, especially in the second half. The production values felt high in the first half but dropped noticeably later, making some scenes feel like a TV serial.

Analysis:

The film’s first half had heartwarming moments, good chemistry between the leads, and meaningful dialogues. Scenes like the one at the bus stop and the Kashmir segment were engaging. Dialogues like “We came to live on this earth, not just exist” left an emotional impact.

But the second half loses steam. The story becomes overly dramatic, with inconsistent character behavior. Shuddhi, introduced as a strong woman, becomes passive during emotional conflicts later. Her mother’s character also shifts drastically without clear explanation. These contradictions show flaws in the writing.

The lack of chemistry between Ananthika and Ravitheja in the second half weakens the emotional core. His poor performance and over dramatic scenes further hurt the narrative. Also, some dialogues, meant to sound poetic, ended up sounding too heavy or unnatural, making it difficult for the audience to connect.

Verdict:

8 Vasantalu had the potential to be a meaningful romantic drama. The performances of Ananthika and Hanu Reddy, along with good music and visuals, are definite strengths. However, inconsistent writing, weak casting, and a melodramatic tone in the second half pull the film down. Director Phanindra Narsetti may need to refine his storytelling and casting choices to deliver a strong hit in the future.