Saindhav (2024) Movie Review

Saindhav Movie Review

Amidst the big Sankranti film releases, "Saindhav" stands out for various reasons, but it's also causing some confusion. "Guntur Kaaram" is a blockbuster right from the start, mainly because of its lead actor Mahesh Babu. "Hanu Man" combines religious elements with intense action, making it a strong contender despite having a smaller star like Teja Sajja. On the flip side, "Naa Saami Ranga" is a throwback to classic Sankranti films with a village setting and a large cast. Unlike the others, "Saindhav" is a bit tricky to define using the usual Telugu cinema terms.

About a year ago, Producer Venkat Boyanapalli set up a meeting between me and Venkatesh sir. At first, I didn't know why. Given that HIT 2 had just been released, I assumed he wanted to congratulate me. Surprisingly, our initial discussions were anything but about cinema. We connected well, and eventually, he asked me to direct his 75th film. After looking through my numerous story ideas, I pitched one to him, and he liked it. Venkat sir worked out the financials, and before we knew it, we were on set, starting production," recalls director Sailesh, who completed the film in 100 days in 2023.

According to Sailesh, every film has a specific audience in mind. For "Saindhav," the target audience is those who love larger-than-life cinema. However, he stresses that the film combines this grand narrative with his signature attention to detail and logical storytelling, similar to what he did in the HIT films. The goal was not to artificially create mass moments; instead, the highs come organically from the story itself. One of the greatest compliments Sailesh received was about his films keeping the audience engaged for the entire duration, without distractions like checking their phones. He aimed for the same impact with "Saindhav."

When asked about the differences between "Saindhav" and the HIT franchise, Sailesh points out that "Saindhav" is more emotional compared to his previous straightforward procedural thrillers. To appeal to a broader audience, the film features actors from various industries, including Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Shraddha Srinath, Andrea Jeremiah, and Arya. While Nawazuddin and Shraddha play key roles, Andrea, Arya, and Ruhani Sharma make appearances in extended cameos.

Sailesh also highlights a crucial aspect of the film, revealing, "Venkatesh sir's on-screen daughter suffers from spinal muscular atrophy, a rare and terminal illness. The film's central conflict revolves around a ticking time bomb scenario, as the character has to procure a life-saving drug costing a whopping Rs 17 crore. We hope that this film not only entertains but also raises awareness about this medical condition, giving a voice to distressed parents facing similar challenges.

Sailesh also brings up this point when asked if the film might seem too modern, and therefore not connect with audiences in smaller towns. He explains, "The anguish of having a child on the verge of death is something every parent can understand, regardless of their financial status. If anything, those with fewer resources are more keenly aware of the pain of being unable to save a child due to a lack of money."

When questioned about the origin of Chandraprastha, Sailesh clarifies, "The movie is set in a coastal South Indian town with elements like gun smuggling and cartel discussions. The only sizable Telugu-speaking coastal town that comes to mind is Visakhapatnam. But imagining a story with a cartel in Vizag seemed odd, so we created a new city to let our creativity flow. We insisted that the characters speak Telugu in the most natural way, ruling out cities like Chennai or Mumbai. Hence, Chandraprastha."

Expressing his excitement about the release of "Saindhav" on January 13, Sailesh turns philosophical when discussing his future projects. "We don't choose our films. Stories simply come into being, picking their own cast, crew, and director."

Sailesh expresses a desire to direct a love story in the future. He shares, "I already have a wonderful story based on my life and my wife, whom I've known for two decades. I met her at 17, and she's the only woman I've ever been with. Now, with a two-and-a-half-year-old son, this film will be a special gift for him."

He has announced "HIT 3," featuring his "HIT" producer Nani in the lead role. When asked about the timeline for the film, Sailesh says, "The HIT universe has a total of seven films planned, but you've only seen two so far. The third is in progress, but it won't be out anytime soon. I believe a good amount of time is needed for better films to develop. We also want to avoid franchise fatigue, which I experienced when 'The Fast and the Furious' started releasing films every year. 'HIT 3' will happen, but it needs time to marinate.