SMS (Shiva Manasulo Shruti) Review

How long does it take a boy to reciprocate his love for a girl after he knows that he is very much in the cute lady's heart?  For the male lead of SMS, it takes a dramatic climax.  Why?  The reason should not be revealed, for it would amount to revealing the most saleable point of Tatineni Sathya's directorial debut.  However, we would like to put out a caveat: Watch the unfolding drama through the eyes of Shiva and Shruthi.  This thoroughly rehashed version of Kollywood's Shiva Manasil Sakthi is colourfully romantic, weirdly funny and musical.  Whereas the film's popcorn element lives in the very many miffs and huffs between the lead pair, the essence reveals itself only in some key scenes.

The story of SMS flows from the personalities of the hero and heroine.  It might take a while for the audience to understand Shiva.  He commits gaffe after gaffe, he gaily irritates and thoughtlessly hurts Shruthi again and again, and his love for her does seem to be on the surface.  On the contrary, Shruthi is mature in her relationship, is a bit sensitive, and she takes things to her heart which a reckless Shiva doesn't understand.  She seems to love him more than he loves her.

To talk about a story which is not there (and this is no bad thing for a film like this), Shiva (Sudhir Babu) and Shruthi (Regina) meet on a train and start their relationship with lies.  The girl wants to play a prank on the military soldier (no, Shiva is in fact a courier boy) and asks him to meet her at the Kingfisher's office where she is working as an air hostess (white lie; she is a Radio Jockey).  Our hero, who thinks that he has swept the girl off her feet, takes his mother and sister to the office the next day, only to end up meeting Shakila!  A day or two later, he unexpectedly goes to the Radio Mirchi office to deliver a courier to Sruthi, which is when both come to know their true identities.

Shiva mounts his sweet revenge and harasses Shruthi endlessly.  He portrays her as a drunkard in her father's eyes.  The girl begins her sweet revenge and heaps one insult after another on Shiva.  At the interval point, Shiva dramatically gets a chance to know Shruthi's heart and his joy knows no bounds.

The second half is more of the same, but it is peppered with some meaty scenes.  Watch the movie to taste how the saga ends on a very happy note.

Sudhir Babu could not have asked for a better film for his debut.  The film offers him the scope to showcase a range of talents.  Portraying in senti scenes and dancing well are his best strengths, while he was also adept at showing rawness; however, his comic timing was just about ok.  Regina lacks the style and oomph of a star heroine, but her earthiness was a merit for the character.  Naresh follows the template of Ali, and his comedy will have in splits in many scenes.  Rohini as hero's mother was absolutely convincing.   Vennela Kishore was a bit routine.

For a debutante, Sathya has done a good job.  However, in his obsession to make the film a laugh riot, he forgets about some finer details.  Some of the crucial scenes lifted from the original were beautiful.  The oddball wit will definitely have the youth savour the moments, but some of the dialogues were feckless.

All in all, SMS makes a good candy floss watch on any day.

Released on: 10th Feb, 2012