Title – Sanju, Producer – Santosh DM, Direction – Yethiraj, Cinematography – Vidya Nagesh, Music – Vijay Haritsa, Cast – Manvith, Sathvika, Sangeetha, Sundarasri, Balaraj Wadi, Mahantesh, Jayaram, Apoorva, Yethiraj, Prakash Shenoy, Kathyayini, and others.
This talented writer, director, actor, and journalist Yethiraj knows the tricks of the trade in the cine world. After a few films as a director, Yethiraj has leaned on a commercial pattern and is successful in giving a simple and tidy cinema with a few interesting situations that are filled with morality and courage.
The film Sanju, shot on a shoestring budget, is not short of family entertainer content. Yethiraj, with a caring mother and a daunting father—spread for the hero Sanju and heroine Saraswathi respectively—has given significance in a beautiful narration. Both are two extremes that are very valuable content in the entire film.
The film begins at Naidinale Bus Stand in a remote place where Sanju (Manvith) and Saraswathi (Sathvika) meet. There is a tea stall near this bus stop. For the travel, the hardship is the transportation, as a huge tree had fallen and cut off the movement. So, at this bus stop, the timid Saraswathi and tough Sanju become friends after a prolonged dangling situation.
The film moves to an interesting stage in the second half as the flashbacks of Sanju and Saraswathi open up. Soon, there is a sudden shock for Sanju that you have to watch on the screen.
For the parents, of course, there is a strong lesson on the consequences in the given situation. Emotions break out with the surrounding characters as well as in the audience’s mind.
Sathvika, a talented actress from the family of artist Rekha Das and Om Prakash Rao, an eminent director, has given her best. She has understood her role and emoted equally well.
Manvith shines in action situations, but he needs to improve a lot to flourish in his career. The characters of Sangeetha and Balaraj Wadi are high points of this film. The caring mother going to the liquor shop and fulfilling the requirements of her son, and the effort to change the mindset of her son, is brilliant. Balaraj Wadi, as the daunting father of Saraswathi, wins for his dialogue delivery.
There are two songs in the film, and they do not bother the narration of the film. Action composition by Thriller Manju is quite good.
The 113-minute Sanju Kannada film is worth a ‘dekko’ by the family audience. There is enormous growth in Yethiraj, and he can take on big-budget films with the same dedication and effort he applied to Sanju.
