Saindhav

Last updated

Saindhav
Saindhav film poster.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Sailesh Kolanu
Written bySailesh Kolanu
Produced byVenkat Boyanapalli
Starring Venkatesh
Nawazuddin Siddiqui
Arya
Shraddha Srinath
Ruhani Sharma
Andrea Jeremiah
CinematographyS. Manikandan
Edited by Garry BH
Music by Santhosh Narayanan
Production
company
Niharika Entertainment
Release date
  • 13 January 2024 (2024-01-13)
Running time
138 minutes [1]
CountryIndia
LanguageTelugu
Budget₹55 crore [2]
Box office₹25.04 crore [3]

Saindhav is a 2024 Indian Telugu-language action thriller film directed by Sailesh Kolanu and produced by Venkat Boyanapalli under Niharika Entertainment. [4] It stars Venkatesh, alongside Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Arya, Shraddha Srinath, Ruhani Sharma, Andrea Jeremiah and Baby Sara. The music was composed by Santhosh Narayanan, while cinematography and editing were handled by S. Manikandan and Garry BH.

Contents

Saindhav was released on 13 January 2024, coinciding with Makar Sankranti, to mixed-to-negative reviews from critics and became a box-office bomb.

Premise

Set up in the fictional port city Chandraprastha, Saindhav Koneru alias "SaiKo" has a dark past, leading a quaint family life with his daughter Gayathri and caretaker Manogna. However, SaiKo's life takes a drastic turn when Gayathri is diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy and requires an injection of Zolgensma, which costs 17 crores. [5] Saindhav goes back to the world of crime to extract money for Gayathri's operation and soon begins an intense battle against his past rivals, which includes a ruthless gangster Vikas Malik. Will he succeed in saving his daughter? Who will die at the end of it?

Cast

Production

On 23 January 2023, Venkatesh and Sailesh Kolanu announced that they would be collaborating for a new film tentatively titled #Venky75. The makers then on 25 January announced the film titled Saindhav by unveiling the title poster and also a glimpse of it. [4] The film's many Portions were shot across Sri Lanka [8] .The team then on Ugadi confirmed the release date which is 22 December 2023. The film then immediately began production with the first schedule taking place in Hyderabad which was soon wrapped up. Then in April, the team shifted to Visakhapatnam for the second schedule of the film. [9]

Release

Theatrical

The film was released on 13 January 2024, coinciding with the Sankranti festival along with dubbed versions in Hindi and Tamil languages. [10] [11]

Home media

The digital streaming and satellite rights of the film were sold to Amazon Prime Video and ETV respectively. [12] The film was made available for streaming on Prime Video from 3 February 2024. [13]

Reception

Saindhav received mixed-to-negative reviews from critics with praise for its plot, cast performances, cinematography and action sequences, but criticized its direction, script and music.

Neeshitha Nyayapati of Hindustan Times wrote "Sailesh Kolanu attempts to make a desi John Wick with Venkatesh as Saiko, but it’s Nawazuddin’s psychotic shenanigans that engage you." [14] Raghu Bandi of The Indian Express gave 2.75/5 stars and wrote "This is a sort of John Wick-meets- Drushyam with a touch of medical thriller in a mythical city that may be inspired by Gotham City. It seems to be the Rana Naidu impact that Venkatesh has chosen a family-centric action thriller as his 75th project." [15]

Avad Mohammed of OTTplay gave 2.5/5 stars and wrote "Venkatesh is superb and Saindhav is his one-man show as his new action-packed avatar is one of the reasons to give the film a shot." [16] 123Telugu gave 2.75/5 stars and wrote "Saindhav has a good concept. Venkatesh’s dashing performance and the last half an hour are the biggest assets of Saindhav." [17]

Paul Nicodemus of The Times of India gave 3/5 stars and wrote "Saindhav is an intriguing attempt at blending emotional depth with action. It has engaging moments, and serves as a testament to the evolving nature of Telugu cinema, where traditional storytelling is being melded with contemporary cinematic sensibilities". [18] Sangeetha Devi Dundoo of The Hindu wrote "Saindhav, directed by Sailesh Kolanu and headlined by Venkatesh Daggubati, is earnest in its world building and emotional family drama." [19]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Venkatesh (actor)</span> Indian actor and film producer (born 1960)

Daggubati Venkatesh, also known as Victory Venkatesh, is an Indian actor and film producer known for his work predominantly in Telugu cinema and a few Hindi films. Venkatesh has a prolific career spanning over 37 years and is known for portraying a variety of challenging characters. He has received many accolades including six Filmfare Awards and five Nandi Awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Srikanth (actor, born 1979)</span> 21st century Indian actor

Srikanth is an Indian actor known for his works predominantly in Tamil and Telugu films. He is credited as Sriram in Telugu films. He debuted in K. Balachander's tele serial Jannal – Marabu Kavithaigal (1999). His film debut was in the romantic film Roja Kootam (2002) and went on to star in more such films including April Maadhathil (2002), Parthiban Kanavu (2003) and Okariki Okaru (2003). He subsequently went on to portray action roles in Drohi (2010). In 2012, he starred in Nanban, the Tamil remake of 3 Idiots, directed by S. Shankar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Niharika Singh</span> Indian actress

Niharika Singh is an actress, filmmaker and beauty pageant titleholder who won Miss Earth India and represented India at Miss Earth 2005. She made her acting debut with the critically acclaimed drama Miss Lovely which competed in Un Certain Regard at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival. Niharika was selected for Berlinale Talents in 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nawazuddin Siddiqui</span> Indian actor (born 1974)

Nawazuddin Siddiqui is an Indian actor known for his work in Hindi cinema. He is the recipient of various accolades, including a National Film Award, an IIFA Award, and two Filmfare Awards, as well as a nomination for an International Emmy. After studying acting at the National School of Drama, Siddiqui had minor roles in films such as Sarfarosh (1999), Shool (1999), and Munna Bhai M.B.B.S (2003).

Richa Langella is an Indian American former actress and model who predominantly appeared in Telugu films. She presently resides at Portland, Oregon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anasuya Bharadwaj</span> Indian television presenter, actress (born 1983)

Anasuya Bharadwaj is an Indian television presenter and actress who works in Telugu films and television. She is most notable for her performances in the films Kshanam (2016) and Rangasthalam (2018).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Athiya Shetty</span> Indian actress (born 1992)

Athiya Shetty is an Indian actress. The daughter of actor Suniel Shetty, she has played the leading lady in the Hindi films Hero (2015), Mubarakan (2017), and Motichoor Chaknachoor (2019).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shalini Pandey</span> Indian actress

Shalini Pandey is an Indian actress who works in Telugu, Tamil and Hindi films. She made her acting debut in the Telugu film Arjun Reddy (2017), and has since acted in the Tamil film 100% Kadhal (2019), the Telugu films Mahanati (2018) and 118 (2019), and the Hindi films Jayeshbhai Jordaar (2022) and Maharaj (2024).

<i>F2: Fun and Frustration</i> 2019 film by Anil Ravipudi

F2: Fun and Frustration is a 2019 Indian Telugu-language comedy film written and directed by Anil Ravipudi. Produced by Sri Venkateswara Creations, the film stars Venkatesh, Varun Tej, Tamannaah Bhatia, and Mehreen Pirzada. The music is composed by Devi Sri Prasad. The plot follows two men who try to control their dominating wives after getting married.

<i>Kaadan</i> 2021 Indian film by Prabu Solomon

Kaadan (transl. Forester) in Tamil, Aranya (transl. Forester) in Telugu, and Haathi Mere Saathi in Hindi, is a 2021 Indian action adventure film written and directed by Prabhu Solomon. Produced by Eros International, the film stars Rana Daggubati, Vishnu Vishal, Pulkit Samrat (Hindi), Shriya Pilgaonkar, and Zoya Hussain. It was filmed simultaneously in Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi languages, each with slightly different cast members.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nawazuddin Siddiqui filmography</span>

Nawazuddin Siddiqui is an Indian actor known for his work in Hindi cinema. He is an alumnus of the National School of Drama. Siddiqui's feature film debut was alongside director Prashant Bhargava in Patang (2012), and his performance was appreciated by cinema critic Roger Ebert. He also gained international recognition for his work with director Anurag Kashyap in Black Friday (2007), the Gangs of Wasseypur (2012), duology and Raman Raghav 2.0.

Karthik Rathnam is an Indian actor who works in Telugu theatre and Telugu cinema. Rathnam made his debut with the critically acclaimed film C/o Kancharapalem (2018), which was the first Telugu film to be screened at New York Film Festival. Followed by his appearance in ZEE5's Gods of Dharmapuri (G.O.D), Rathnam reprised his role in Tamil remake of C/o Kancharapalem.

<i>HIT: The First Case</i> 2020 film directed by Sailesh Kolanu

HIT: The First Case is a 2020 Indian Telugu-language crime thriller film directed by debutant Sailesh Kolanu and produced by Prashanti Tipirneni. It stars Vishwak Sen and Ruhani Sharma. The plot follows Vikram Rudraraju, a police officer of the Telangana state's Homicide Intervention Team (HIT) who is tasked with investigating the missing case of an eighteen year old girl.

<i>Aadavallu Meeku Johaarlu</i> (2022 film) 2022 film directed by Tirumala Kishore

Aadavallu Meeku Johaarlu is a 2022 Indian Telugu-language romantic comedy drama film written and directed by Tirumala Kishore. Produced by SLV Cinemas, the film stars Sharwanand, Rashmika Mandanna, Khushbu Sundar, Radhika Sarathkumar and Urvashi.

<i>HIT: The Second Case</i> 2022 film by Sailesh Kolanu

HIT: The Second Case is a 2022 Indian Telugu-language crime thriller film written and directed by Sailesh Kolanu. It is the second installment in the HIT Universe following HIT: The First Case (2020). The film stars Adivi Sesh, Meenakshi Chaudhary, Suhas and Rao Ramesh.

<i>Nootokka Jillala Andagadu</i> 2021 Indian film

Nootokka Jillala Andagadu is a 2021 Indian Telugu-language comedy drama film directed by Rachakonda Vidyasagar. It is written by Avasarala Srinivas who stars alongside Ruhani Sharma. The film is produced by Sri Venkateswara Creations and First Frame Entertainments. Movie loosely based Ondu Motteya Kathe. The plot follows Gotti Surya Narayana (Avasarala), a 37-year old bachelor with a bald head. Principal photography of the film started in 2019 but its production and release were delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was released on 3 September 2021.

<i>Tiku Weds Sheru</i> 2023 film directed by Sai Kabir

Tiku Weds Sheru is a 2023 Indian Hindi-language satirical romantic comedy-drama film. The film is produced by Kangana Ranaut, written and directed by Sai Kabir under the banner of Manikarnika Films. It stars Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Avneet Kaur in lead roles. The film premiered on 23 June 2023 on Amazon Prime Video to negative reviews from critics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sailesh Kolanu</span> Indian director, screenwriter

Sailesh Kolanu is an Indian film director and screenwriter who predominantly works in Telugu cinema.

HIT Universe is an Indian Telugu-language shared universe of crime thriller films created by Sailesh Kolanu. The universe's title is an acronym for "Homicide Intervention Team".

<i>Arjun Reddy</i> (soundtrack) 2017 soundtrack album by Radhan

Arjun Reddy is the soundtrack to the 2017 film of the same name directed by Sandeep Reddy Vanga. The album featured seven songs composed by Radhan with lyrics penned by Ananta Sriram, Rambabu Gosala, Shreshta and Mandela Pedaswamy. The album was released on 21 August 2017 through Aditya Music and preceded with four singles. Although most of the song were composed by Radhan, Shrestha who penned lyrics for "Madhurame" and "Gundelona"; composed the latter's tune that lacked instrumental support.

References

  1. "Saindhav". British Board of Film Classification . Archived from the original on 4 February 2024. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
  2. "Saindhav movie review: Venkatesh film is utterly avoidable". 13 January 2024. Archived from the original on 30 January 2024. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  3. "SAINDHAV Day 5 Collections 'సైంధవ్' గట్టెక్కడం కష్టమే... 5 రోజుల్లో వచ్చిందంతే.. నిర్మాతకు కోట్లలో నష్టం!". Filmibeat Telugu. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  4. 1 2 3 "Venkatesh and Sailesh Kolanu's pan-India film titled Saindhav: First-look and glimpse launched". Times Of India . 25 January 2023. Archived from the original on 9 February 2023. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
  5. "All about Zolgensma: the Rs 17 crore injection for spinal muscular atrophy". The Economic Times. 8 November 2023. Archived from the original on 4 January 2024. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  6. "Nawaz to make his Telugu debut in Venkatesh's Saindhav". Times Of India . 26 January 2023. Archived from the original on 7 February 2023. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
  7. Bureau, The Hindu (28 April 2023). "Andrea Jeremiah joins the cast of 'Saindhav'; first look out". The Hindu. ISSN   0971-751X. Archived from the original on 31 December 2023. Retrieved 31 December 2023.{{cite news}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  8. Arikatla, Venkat (10 September 2023). "Saindhav's Next Stop Is Sri Lanka". greatandhra.com. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
  9. "Saindhav starts its second schedule". Cinema Express . 14 April 2023. Archived from the original on 28 April 2023. Retrieved 28 April 2023.
  10. "'Saindhav', starring Venkatesh and Nawazuddin Siddiqui, gets a new release date". The Hindu . 5 October 2023. Archived from the original on 24 December 2023. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
  11. "Venkatesh and Sailesh Kolanu's pan-India titled Saindhav: First-look and glimpse launched". The Times of India . 25 January 2023. Archived from the original on 3 January 2024. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
  12. Sharma, Bhavana (16 January 2024). "Saindhav OTT Release Date". Deccan Chronicle. Archived from the original on 2 February 2024. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  13. "Venkatesh Daggubati's 'Saindhav' to release on OTT on this date". India Today. 31 January 2024. Archived from the original on 2 February 2024. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  14. Nyayapati, Neeshitha (13 January 2024). "Saindhav review: Nawazuddin Siddiqui is a hoot". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 13 January 2024. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  15. Bandi, Raghu (13 January 2024). "Saindhav movie review: Venkatesh film is utterly avoidable". The Indian Express. Archived from the original on 30 January 2024. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  16. Aval, Mohammed (13 January 2024). "Saindhav review - Sailesh Kolanu's film has a solid idea, a new-age Venkatesh". OTTplay. Archived from the original on 13 January 2024. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  17. "Saindhav Movie Review". 123Telugu. 12 January 2024. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  18. Nicodemus, Paul (12 January 2024). "Saindhav Movie Review: Venkatesh And Nawazuddin Deliver Riveting Performances In The Action-Packed Drama". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 4 February 2024. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  19. Devi Dundoo, Sangeetha (13 January 2024). "'Saindhav' movie review: The emotional drama is fine". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 13 January 2024. Retrieved 13 January 2024.