Story

Saindhav (Venkatesh) serves as a crane operator at Chandraprastha Port. His daughter, Gayathri, holds the utmost importance in his life. Unfortunately, Saindhav's world shatters when he discovers that Gayathri is afflicted with a rare condition called Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA). The treatment for this illness requires an injection that comes with a staggering price tag of 17 crore. Meanwhile, a sizeable number of containers, containing illegal substances such as firearms, drugs, and counterfeit money, are seized at the port. These containers belong to Don Vikas Mallik, who is involved in trafficking teenagers for terrorist activities, in addition to smuggling arms and drugs. In his determination to fulfill his promise of putting an end to crimes against the youth, Saindhav conceals these containers. The story primarily revolves around Saindhav's battle against Vikas' criminal gangs and his unwavering efforts to safeguard his daughter.

Analysis

Saindhav, directed by Sailesh Kolanu, fails to deliver a gripping thriller despite its stylish presentation. The film suffers from a weak storyline and a cluttered narrative due to the inclusion of numerous characters without proper establishment. One of the major flaws of Saindhav is its lack of a tight and gripping story. The thriller element is left for the last, and as a result, the film feels disjointed and lacks substance. The narration is clumsy and dragged, especially in the initial portions, which move at a slow pace.

The director struggles to balance the protagonist's journey as a single parent fighting for his daughter's rare disease and the mafia backdrop. The inclusion of these elements without proper justification or emotional connection makes the storyline cluttered. Although there is a silver lining in the emotional bond between the protagonist, Saindhav, and his daughter, Gayathri, even this aspect loses its impact in the second half of the film. The battle between Saindhav and the villain, Vikas Mallik, becomes a typical hero versus villain scenario, with the hero always having the upper hand.

Unfortunately, the character of Saindhav lacks depth in its writing. While he is projected as a mighty and powerful protagonist, there is not enough justification for it. The backstory of Saindhav working for the mafia and becoming a changed man after losing his wife feels clichéd and unconvincing. In conclusion, Saindhav may have a stylish presentation, but it lacks a tight and gripping story. The inclusion of numerous characters without proper establishment, a cluttered narrative, and weak character development make the film fall short of its potential as an action thriller.

Performance

Venkatesh shines in his role as Saindhav, portraying the character with subtlety and conviction. He effectively conveys the emotions of a father and delivers a convincing performance. However, the action scenes in the movie tend to go overboard and defy logic, and while Venkatesh handles them decently, they might not be completely believable. Shraddha Srinath plays the role of Mano, a supporting character who provides emotional support to Saindhav and takes care of their daughter, Gayathri. She handles her role well and adds depth to the character.

Nawazuddin Siddiqui portrays the villain, Vikas Mallik. The character lacks consistency, shifting between serious, funny, and silly moments. While Nawazuddin's performance is flawless, the writing of his character is underwhelming, not providing enough depth or consistency. Andrea Jeremiah plays Jasmine, Vikas Mallik's love interest and sidekick. Unfortunately, her character doesn't have much weight and doesn't leave a lasting impact.

Mukesh Rishi portrays Mitra, the leader of the cartel, but his performance is weak and doesn't leave a lasting impression. Jayaprakash appears in the film as the Port head and Saindhav's well-wisher, but his role feels insignificant. Baby Sara, on the other hand, delivers an impactful performance, shining in her role and leaving a strong impression. Overall, the performances in the film vary in terms of impact and consistency. While some actors shine in their roles, others are let down by underwhelming writing and weak character development.

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