Movie: 8 Vasanthalu
Cast: Ananthika Sanilkumar, Hanu Reddy, Raviteja Duggirala, Kanna Pasunoori, and others
Music: Hesham Abdul Wahab
Cinematography: Vishwanath Reddy
Editing: Shashank Mali
Producers: Naveen Yerneni, Y. Ravi Shankar
Written and Directed by: Phanindra Narsetti
Release Date: 20-06-2025

Big production houses occasionally experiment by making films with new talent and limited budgets. One such attempt from Mythri Movie Makers is 8 Vasanthalu. Featuring several new-generation actors, how is this film? (8 Vasanthalu Movie Review in English) What kind of entertainment does it offer?

The Plot:

This is the story of eight springs in the life of a couple in love. Shuddhi Ayodhya (Ananthika Sanilkumar) is a young writer residing in Ooty. She writes a book during her teenage years, which earns her a massive following. She also excels in martial arts. While she spends her time traveling, writing, and practicing martial arts, Varun (Hanu Reddy) enters her life.

Soon, their hearts connect, and Varun confesses his feelings. Shuddhi asks for some time, and Varun agrees. Months pass, and Shuddhi, eager to express her love, rushes to Varun. But did Varun accept her love? What happened in Varun’s life in the meantime? Who is Sanjay (Raviteja Duggirala), who enters Shuddhi’s life after Varun leaves for abroad? The twists and turns in Shuddhi’s eight-year love journey form the crux of the story.

How is it?

8 Vasanthalu is a poetic love story. Every frame and every dialogue on screen carries a sense of emotion. Though the visuals captivate, the dialogues begin to feel artificial after a certain point. Instead of enhancing the film, they seem like they are mechanically delivered by the characters. The director, who concentrated heavily on poetic elements, seems to have overlooked emotional depth. As a result, the story fails to touch hearts, and the narrative slows down.

Love stories usually allow the audience to see a reflection of themselves in the characters. Love is a universal emotion, creating a connection. However, in this film, apart from the heartbreak scenes, the audience struggles to journey with any character.

The first half of the film provides some strength. The meeting of Varun and Shuddhi and the blossoming of love between them are engaging. The pre-interval scenes build curiosity for the second half. The chemistry between Hanu Reddy and Ananthika,(8 Vasanthalu Review) along with Hesham’s music, makes the film attractive. However, post-interval, the film appears to lose its grip entirely. The second-half love story lacks intensity, and many scenes feel overly dramatic.

Shuddhi falling in love with Sanjay after reading his story about a courtesan named Ranimalini, and later choosing to sacrifice that love, doesn’t feel natural. The strong, dignified portrayal of Shuddhi in the first half weakens by the end. Every time Sanjay’s character appears on screen, the scenes feel like reading a book continuously or listening to a speech. Overall, the film leaves an impression that it could have been better if the poetic narrative had been complemented with a stronger story.

Performances:

Ananthika Sanilkumar’s beauty and performance are the highlights of the film. Her screen presence is captivating, and her expressions are excellent. Particularly, the scenes before the interval and those in the second half, including the fight sequences in Varanasi, showcase her exceptional talent.

Hanu Reddy, portraying the role of a lover boy, suits romantic films well. His screen presence is commendable, and he impresses with his emotional scenes. Another actor, Raviteja Duggirala, does justice to his role.

Technical Aspects:

The film excels technically. Vishwanath Reddy’s cinematography stands out. The way he captures the beauty of Ooty and Kashmir with his camera reminds one of Mani Ratnam’s films. Hesham’s music is another highlight of the film.

Director Phanindra Narsetti (8 Vasanthalu director) deserves praise for attempting to narrate a poetic story. His dialogues are appealing in many places. However, this film serves as a reminder that the same effort is needed in developing the story and screenplay. The production quality is top-notch. (8 Vasanthalu Review in English)