8 Vasantalu Review: Ananthika Sanilkumar is the soul of this poetic yet uneven romance

8 Vasantalu Story

Suddhi Ayodhya (Ananthika Sanilkumar) is a martial arts expert and an author who lives in Ooty. A charming young guy named Varun falls for her, and as time passes by, she too gets attracted to him. The twist in the tale arises when Varun (Hanu Reddy) leaves Suddhi for good and heads to the US. An upset Suddhi gathers herself and goes on a soul-searching journey. After a while, she falls for a poet named Sanjay (Ravi Teja Dhugirala) but suffers heartbreak again. The rest of the story is about whether Suddhi finds true love in her life or not.

8 Vasantalu Review

8 Vasantalu is directed by Phanindra Narisetti, who last made Manu. He was trolled for the slow pace and laid-back attitude in Manu. But he changes things for good and chooses a love story this time around. One of the biggest assets of the film is the female lead, Ananthika Sanilkumar, who is a revelation and find of 2025. The film is told through her eyes, and Ananthika of Raid and Lal Salaam fame carries the love story on her shoulders.

8 Vasantalu has a basic storyline of a girl falling in love twice and facing heartbreak. Though the story is a bit routine, the way Phanindra has narrated the romantic drama is decent. The entire first half showcases the story of Shuddhi and Varun. The youthful attraction is showcased in a very organic manner, and the dialogues are meaningful.

The first half comes to an interesting end with the heroine facing heartbreak. The way the heroine reacts to heartbreak and confronts the hero is the best part of the film, and Ananthika's performance brings new life to the film. But it is the second half that leaves a lot to be desired.

One gets a strong feeling that how the heroine falls in love for the second time is a bit rushed. As the director uses most of the screen time to narrate the love story in the first half, he does not have much time to narrate the second love story in detail.

Also, a better cast in terms of the second lead would have made a world of difference. A strong-willed woman falling for a guy so quickly, based on just a few scenes and his novels, feels rushed and fails to leave a lasting impact on the audience. The drama and pain, when needed, are missing in the second half of the film.

But the climax and the way the story ends are quite good. One gets a feeling that if the drama had been elevated a bit more in the latter part, the output would have been a lot better. When compared to Manu, director Phanindra has done better, and there is an honesty in his writing. The way he showcases a woman going through varied emotions of love is neatly executed by the director.

Coming to the performances, Ananthika Sanilkumar gives a sensational performance and is an actor to watch out for. Be it her screen presence, dialogue delivery, or emotional performance, the young actress gives a settled performance and leaves you in pain whenever she faces troubles in love.

But sadly, the supporting cast does not support her much. Phanindra should have cast better actors in supporting roles. Though they do well in their respective roles, the needed depth in the proceedings is missing. Hanu Reddy is handsome and does his job to perfection. He has been trained well and performs with ease in all the emotional scenes. His chemistry with the female lead is also good.

On the other hand, Ravi Theja looks a bit rustic and misses out on his performance. He gets his due in the climax, but it is too late by then. Kanna Pasunoori is very good in the role of the heroine's friend, and so was the actress who played the heroine's mother.

Hesham Abdul Wahab has composed the music, and two songs scored by him are very good. But one gets a feeling that, as the film is a romantic drama, more songs would have elevated the proceedings even more. The camerawork is top-notch, as the various seasons are showcased superbly in the narrative.

Dialogues need a special mention, and those mouthed by the heroine Ananthika are amazing. The editing is okay, and so is the production design. 8 Vasantalu had the story, emotional graph, and a great first half. But it is the second half that is hurried and does not feel organic when it matters the most.

Also Read: Uppu Kappurambu trailer: Burial ground chaos gets hilarious with Keerthy Suresh’s geeky new avatar 

8 Vasantalu Verdict

On the whole, 8 Vasantalu is a coming-of-age romantic drama with a great first half. Ananthika Sanilkumar is the star of the film, and it is her performance that makes you ignore the rushed second half. If you are a fan of slow-paced romantic dramas, give this film a shot.