Sathi Gani Rendu Ekaralu Movie Review: A quirky comedy that needed more spunk and outlandishness

There is a crucial moment in Sathi Gani Rendu Ekaralu where the film shifts from being a rural emotional drama and turns into a dark comedy. After a rather sedate start about the titular Sathi’s family problems, the film hits us with an accident, and an attempt to murder in quick succession. It deliciously sets the film up for a rather rip-roaring ride about two small-time crooks with an all-important money-making agenda suddenly finding themselves with a suitcase full of diamonds. While the premise is pregnant with opportunities to go on any route, the makers decide to take a rather safe detour that just takes away most of the fun. 

Director: Abhinav Danda 

Cast: Jagadish Pratap Bhandari, Mohana Sree, Vennela Kishore, Raj Tirandasu

Streaming on: Aha

Following his father’s advice to never sell his 2 acres of land, Sathi (Jagadish Pratap Bhandari) faces a lot of problems, both mental and financial. When his child suffers from an expensive illness, he is forced to reconsider his decision. But, of course, he witnesses that aforementioned accident, and loots the dying man off his suitcase, and there starts what should have been a comedy of errors. Although the film does want to be just that, there are a lot of pitfalls in that journey even if it has some interesting characters inhabiting the universe. 

In some places, the film reminded me of Malamaal Weekly, which boasted a terrific ensemble cast doing some eccentric things expertly helmed by Priyadarshan. Sathi Gani Rendu Ekaralu definitely gave that vibe, especially with the casting of Vennela Kishore as a hitman with a peculiar sense of humour. His shenanigans with the cops, his employers, and a bunch of kids are one of the brightest aspects of the film. Another highlight was Sathi’s wife and son, who have the gift of the gab and manage to steal away the limelight with well-placed one-liners. While a lot of things around Sathi do work in favour of the film, it is Sathi himself who is dealt a dirty hand by the makers. Jagadish, who scored top marks with his role in Pushpa, falls short in the film due to the writing wanting him to be everything. Here, he is supposed to be a hero, a crook, a victim, and a lot of other layers, and the writing doesn't back him enough for him to ace the role. This acts as a dampener to the proceedings because we don’t really throw our weight behind the titular character. We are so fascinated by what’s happening around him, and not really bothered by his predicament. 

Sathi Gani Rendu Ekaralu has a lot of quirks and full points for the makers to trust these quirks to hit the nail on its head. The dialogues are a hoot, and the sense of nonchalance in many sequences is refreshing. In fact, most of these gags work, but they are more effective as standalone sequences rather than a cohesive film. In the overall scheme of things, these quirks also act as sudden shifts in narrative, and these detours are not always to happy places. 

As the credits roll in Sathi Gani Rendu Ekaralu, and the film labours to its rather tepid ending, one couldn’t help but think of the could-haves and what-ifs. However, if I could have a spinoff of the film that explores what if Vennela Kishore gets another interesting mission… count me in.