Movie review 'Seethamma Andarlu Ramayya Sitralu': A mix of two films!

Cast: Raj Tharun, Arthana, Raja Ravindra, Shakalaka Shankar, Ranadheer, Surekha Vani and Naveen
Director: Srinivas Gavireddy

After giving three consecutive hits, Raj Tharun’s latest, Seethamma Andalu Ramayya Sitralu, released on Friday. Arthana has debuted as the female lead while Srinivas Gavireddy has debuted as the director with the film.

Sriram (Raj Tharun) and Seetha Mahalakshmi (Arthana) are childhood friends in a village. Seetha leaves the village to study medicine. When she returns, we see that Sriram has done nothing but loaf around with his friends and hasn’t even completed his graduation.

Sriram, who is in love with Seetha, had been waiting for her to return to express it. Though she rejects him initially due to his wayward ways, she reciprocates as she realises that his love is real. Seetha’s father (Raja Ravindra) is the village president and he is against their affair. He arranges her marriage with a cricketer (Aadarsh). The story is about how Sriram wins her in a challenge thrown by her father.

This is Raj Tharun’s fourth film and everyone though that he would come up with another exciting subject. He has chosen a script that has nothing new to offer.
Inspired by a few other films, it seems that director Srinivas has mixed the subjects of different films. To win his lady love, a young man forms a cricket team with local villagers to play with a professional team. Sounds like Lagaan, doesn’t it?

There’s also Kabaddi Kabaddi, in which Jagapathi Babu plays this sport to win his love Kalyani. The 2003 film had been a huge hit. Director Srinivas’ film seems to be an amalgamation of these two films. The entire story is in a village backdrop and interestingly the female lead Arthana also looks like of Kalyani, Jagapathi Babu’s female lead in Kabaddi Kabaddi.

When it comes to performance, Raj Tharun fits into the role of a loafer. But this is not new as he has played similar roles in his earlier three films. He, however, has showcased his dancing skills here.

Debutante Arthana has done her job well. The other actor who is interesting is Shakalaka Shankar, who is emerging slowly as a top comedian. Raja Ravindra as the village president is good and Shankar, Ranadeer and Sureka Vani have done good jobs. Gopi Sundar’s music is good and the songs have been picturised well. The cinematography is also quite good.

While Seethamma Andalu Ramayya Sitralu offers a few laughs here and there, as a story it is completely outdated and predictable. The Sankranti rush is over and with most of the theatres vacant, we will have to wait and see how this film fares.