Sundaram Master Review
Sundaram Master revolves around the life of Sundaram, a dedicated government school teacher who teaches social studies.
Story:
MLA (Harshavardhan) makes an unexpected decision to transfer social teacher Sundaram (Viva Harsha) to the remote tribal village of Miryalamitta, based on a surprising request from the tribal community.
As Sundaram arrives in Miryalamitta, he is initially unaware of the startling events unfolding around him. The story unravels the reasons behind MLA's decision to send Sundaram to the village, revealing Sundaram's true mission. The narrative also explores the connections between Sundaram, tribal girl Myna (Divya Sripada), Oja (Chaitu Babu), and village head (Balakrishna Neelakantapurar), leading to further intriguing developments.
Analysis:
Viva Harsha effortlessly slips into his role in "Sundaram Master," exuding innocence through his eyes and perfectly matching the character's body language. His portrayal is marked by a wide range of expressions and emotions, showcasing his versatility. Harsha's impeccable comic timing shines throughout the film, and he truly carries the film on his shoulders.
Divya Sripada delivers a commendable performance as the tribal girl, despite having limited screen time. She manages to make an impact with her impactful dialogues that drive the story forward. Harshavardhan is well-suited for his small yet pivotal role as the MLA. Other supporting actors like Chaitu Babu and Balakrishna Neelakantapurar also deliver solid performances, contributing to the overall charm of the film.
Kalyan Santosh's "Sundaram Master" follows a familiar storyline of a protagonist going to a remote tribal village to educate its inhabitants, reminiscent of similar plots seen in previous Tollywood films like Naresh's "Itlu Maredumilli Prajaneekam." While the story is simple and predictable, Santosh focuses on creating a fun and entertaining narrative, particularly through Viva Harsha and the villagers, which proves successful in the first half.
The first half of the film is engaging and entertaining, setting up an interesting premise for the second half. Although the first half is light on plot progression, the entertaining elements keep the audience engaged. The second half, however, shifts its focus to emotions, with Santosh effectively elevating the emotional aspects of the story. Despite this, the climax feels simple and routine.
Sricharan Pakala's music adds depth to the film, with situational songs beautifully shot in picturesque locations. His background score enhances the tribal and village atmosphere, adding value to the overall narrative. Karthik Vunnava's editing is decent, but there are moments in the second half where tighter editing could have improved the pacing. Overall, the film boasts good production values, contributing to its appeal.
Verdict:
Sundaram Master is a rib-tickling comedy that owes much of its charm to Viva Harsha's impeccable performance. Kalyan Santosh successfully delivers an entertaining first half, but a bit of script refinement and a faster-paced screenplay could have injected more excitement into the overall narrative.
- Thamizhil Padikka