Ondu Sarala Prema Kathe’s Anuraga – Everyone prepared for Mallika; Swathishta came out of syllabus

Not too long ago, when Sapta Sagaradaache Ello Side A released, namma Kannadathi Rukmini Vasanth became an overnight sensation. Everyone was in love with her character Priya and her too. Her eyes had a fan following of its own. Something similar is unfolding now with Ondu Sarala Prema Kathe, the Simple Suni directorial that released in theatres today. Audiences can’t get over newbie Swathishta Krishnan, who plays Anuraga in the film.

In the run-up to the release of the Vinay Rajkumar-led film, the focus was on his character Athishay and his love interest Madhura, played by RadhaKrishn fame Mallika Singh. That pairing is what everyone thought would be the highlight of Ondu Sarala Prema Kathe. Suni’s film leads audiences down that path that Athishay’s happily-ever-after will be with Madhura, but then turns it around to make it about him and Anuraga instead, prompting some netizens to comment that, “Everyone prepared for Mallika, but then Swathishta came out of syllabus”.

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Anuraga is Athishay’s childhood friend, who grew up with him after her father died and is as much a member of the family as he is. They are at loggerheads all the time, almost like sibling rivalry, but then end up having to marry each other to fulfil Athishay’s grandmother’s ‘last wish’. The one-upmanship between Athishay and Anuraga leads to several fun moments in the movie and Swathishta, despite being a rank newbie, does a decent job of it.

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Netizens have been praising Swathishta’s work in the film and wishing her a fruitful career in the Kannada film industry. The actress is being compared to Anupama Parameswaran from Natasarvamabhowma, also a character that was widely loved by audiences. Anupama, however, has not returned to Kannada cinema since, as she is busy with Telugu films.

Ondu Sarala Prema Kathe, which opened its box office journey on February 8 with a bunch of paid premieres, is off to a good start, what with positive word of mouth trickling in from most corners. The film is Vinay’s first major release since Ananthu vs Nusrat. There was 10 in between, but the sports drama went almost unnoticed.