Movie: 8 Vasantalu
Rating: 2/5
Banner: Mythri Movie Makers
Cast: Ananthika Sanilkumar, Ravi Duggirala, Hanu Reddy, Kanna Pasunoori and others
Music: Hesham Abdul Wahab
DOP: Vishwanath Reddy
Editor: Shashank Mali
Production Designer: Arvind Mule
Action: Wing Chun Anji
Producers: Naveen Yerneni and Y Ravi Shankar
Written and directed by: Phanindra Narsetti
Release Date: June 20, 2025
The visuals from the teaser and trailer raised expectations, promising an engaging cinematic experience. With Mythri Movie Makers — one of the leading production houses — backing the film, excitement only grew. But does the film live up to that promise?
Let’s find out.
Story:
Shuddi Ayodhya (Ananthika Sanilkumar), an English writer from Ooty trained in martial arts, falls for Varun (Hanu Reddy), a wealthy young man destined for UC Berkeley.
Swayed by love, Varun abandons his plans and visits her in Kashmir every Sunday. Just as their romance begins to flourish, an unexpected incident prompts Varun to end the relationship, leaving Shuddi heartbroken.
Years later, she connects with a Telugu writer, Vijay (Ravi Duggirala). Will this new love stand the test of time? And what is the true meaning behind '8 Vasantalu'?
Artistes’ Performances:
Ananthika Sanilkumar is undoubtedly the star of the film. She not only looks stunning but also delivers a convincing performance, excelling in both romantic scenes and martial arts sequences.
Hanu Reddy, in a brief role, fits well and appears charming in parts.
In contrast, Ravi Duggirala feels miscast. His awkward hairstyle and dated performance evoke memories of old television serials. The rest of the cast also deliver theatrical and unnatural performances.
Technical Excellence:
The film’s biggest strength lies in its visual appeal. Every frame is rich and meticulously composed, with some sequences resembling paintings.
Cinematographer Vishwanath Reddy’s work is truly commendable.
The dialogue writing shines at times, especially in the pre-interval scenes, but often feels overly literary and unnatural.
Editing, particularly in the second half, is sluggish and lacks rhythm. While Hesham’s two songs are melodious, the background score suffers from repetition, relying too heavily on a single tune.
Highlights:
Cinematography
Pre-interval episode
Drawback:
Boring second half
Slow narration
Unnatural sequences
None of emotions click
Many episodes give feel of 80’s drama
Analysis
Poetic-themed films are not new to Telugu cinema. Many directors have attempted this genre, but only a few have succeeded. Even Hanu Raghavapudi’s debut, Andala Rakshasi, followed a visual-first approach, though it lacked genuine poetic depth.
8 Vasantalu similarly leans heavily on visual aesthetics — this time exploring the lives of two writers and their shared connection through poetry. However, beneath the polished surface, the story feels stale and outdated.
At its core, it’s a simple tale: a woman, after breaking up with one man, falls in love with another — who, like her, is a writer. While the film tries to deliver a twist, it barely surprises.
Director Phanindra Narsetti, who previously made Manu, wraps this wafer-thin plot in a visually rich package. Set against the scenic backdrops of Ooty, Kashmir, and Benaras, the film certainly benefits from its natural beauty.
The initial romance between the heroine and a wealthy young man, shot in Ooty and Kashmir, is visually engaging and works to an extent due to the lead pair’s chemistry, despite a few silly narrative choices.
However, the story quickly loses steam post-breakup.
Her sudden arrival in Benaras and involvement in a street fight feels contrived. Back in Ooty, she falls for a local Telugu writer — a subplot that unfolds in the most uninspired and unnatural manner.
In today’s world, it’s hard to believe that a woman would be so moved by a basic Telugu novel like Rani Malini that she falls in love with its author. These absurd developments derail whatever atmosphere the film had managed to build.
The entire second half becomes a test of patience. Worse, the male writer is portrayed in a dated, almost caricatured fashion, with a hairstyle and wardrobe seemingly stuck in the Akkineni era.
Had the director infused the latter half with the same charm and visual finesse as the first, 8 Vasantalu might have been a passable effort. But with its sluggish pacing and outdated storytelling, the film ends up as a tiresome experience.
Overall, 8 Vasantalu — much like its poetic title — offers stunning visuals and a few engaging moments, but ultimately falls short due to its slow narration and lack of contemporary relevance.
Bottom-line: Poetic Bore
