Ante Sundaraniki! - Tadasthu!

Ante Sundaraniki! 

2022, Telugu 

Director - Vivek Atreya

Stars - Nani, Nazriya, Naresh, Nadhiya, Azhagam Perumal, Rohini

Mohan's Measure ⭐⭐⭐⭐

There have been very few rom-coms that have as much to say about society than this one. Without harming or pointing fingers at anyone, Director/Writer Atreya brings issues of caste, religion, superstition, even chauvinism to the fore while all the while maintaining the breezy, light hearted theme of two childhood sweethearts. 

He is an orthodox Brahmin, while she is a devout Catholic.  How they convince their respective families to get them married involves telling two lies. This snowballs into zany comedy and, at times, asks us to look at ourselves 

The story is told in a series of non-sequential flashbacks which, while confusing at times, contributes to the screwball feeling of the plot. 

I really liked the chemistry between the two leads. This isn't the usual song and dance. There is genuine affection and conversation between the couple as they create a crazy story to explain why a devout Catholic girl should marry an Orthodox Brahmin guy. 

One also can appreciate how the families are not projected as backward or evil,  but are actually well intended, despite their biases. 

Indeed, we finally have an Indian rom-come where others actually count, a stark contrast from Bollywood counterparts. 

Full of laughter and affection, Ante Sundaraniki! is worth the watch with the whole family.