Sarileru Neekevvaru Review: The Weakest Mahesh Babu Film in Recent Times!

Directed by Anil Ravipudi, Sarileru Neekevvaru stars Mahesh Babu and the National Award winner – Vijayashanti in the lead roles with Rajendra Prasad, Prakash Raj, and Rashmika Mandanna as the supporting cast in a 170-minute action-drama. The storyline of the film explores a specific period in Major Ajay Krishna’s (Mahesh Babu) life where he is requested to take care of a family on behalf of the Indian Army. And the remainder of the movie showcases how this journey changed his life for the better.

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From Nandamuri Kalyanram’s Pataas to last year’s blockbuster F2, Anil Ravipudi delivered on his promise of directing wholesome entertainers that are primarily appreciated by the family audience. With his latest film – Sarileru Neekevvaru; which he proudly dedicates to the Indian Army, he continued to duplicate the same “tried and tested” formula and failed miserably in the process.

Let’s kick off with the storyline of the film, which is basically non-existent. And that’s a risky task to get through, especially if you’re producing a three-hour film. Unfortunately, nothing works on behalf of Sarileru Neekevvaru. The predictable, paint-by-numbers plot gets to you at some point and makes you feel uncomfortable for sitting there and watch a bland film.

Accompanying the mundane story is the equally dreary screenplay that had to be the safest, calculable ones I’ve seen in recent times. From the beginning to the end, Anil Ravipudi followed the same format that we’ve seen and witnessed a million times before in countless movies. The out-of-nowhere, forceful dance numbers, clichéd comedy unrelated or unhelpful to the ongoing narrative and action sequences that defy physics, logic, and common sense, every component inside and out, produced zero to minimal entertainment value, and only prolonged the runtime.

Moving on to the characters and the performances from the film’s cast. Mahesh Babu once again portrays the same goon-fighting, oppression-opposing, supreme example of a perfect man that we’ve seen him play before. His ability to perform passable comedy takes the front seat in the movie, and it, by and large, works throughout the runtime. But, it is about time that he moves aside from these larger-than-life characters and concentrate on something very unique before it gets too stale.

On the other side, Vijayashanti, who returned to the film industry after 14 years, had a pivotal role to play through and through. Although her half baked character lacked depth and emotion, watching her on the silver screen, again, is a welcoming surprise.

The others had minimal screen presence and did not offer much to the narrative. Prakash Raj plays the generic “I’m a tough guy” antagonist who acts, thinks, and comes off as a dumb person every single time. The “female lead” – Rashmika Mandanna portrays an equally bubbleheaded girl, who falls for the protagonist the first she sees him and carries on being an annoying individual for the rest of the film. She is only utilized to make jokes, create instant cringe, and dance delightfully to some of the most monotonous music composed by Devi Sri Prasad.

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Overall, Sarileru Neekevvaru was a disappointment from start to finish and continued to bore me out for what felt like five hours. Anil Ravipudi, who previously had a trustworthy track record, dropped the ball big time and directed this mindless “family entertainer” which is backed by an inferior narrative and outdated screenplay. Conclusively, Mahesh Babu had to move on from the routine, conventional entertainers, cause even his admirers weren’t too excited watching him punch and land the same dialogues and stereotypes, in and out, in the theater.

Rating – 1.5/5 | Grade – D+

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