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Varalaxmi Sarathkumar has now come up with the film Sabari, which is directed by Anil Katz. The film has hit the screens today, and let’s see how it is.

Story:

Sanjana (Varalaxmi Sarathkumar) is a single mother who takes care of her daughter, Riya (Baby Krithika). Sanjana is a college dropout, and hence, it becomes very tough for her to get a job. Sanjana gets a job with the help of her lawyer friend Rahul (Shashank), but her happiness doesn’t last long as she learns a shocking fact about Riya. How did that truth change the lives of Sanjana and Riya is what Sabari is about.

Plus Points:

Varalaxmi Sarathkumar has portrayed a variety of roles in Telugu, and once again, with Sabari, the actress has left her mark. As a mother who worries about her daughter’s safety, Varalaxmi’s performance is first-rate, and she is in her element throughout the film.

Mime Gopi got a very important role, and the actor did a pretty good job. Shashank is decent as Varalaxmi’s friend. The film begins on an interesting note and draws our attention instantly. The world-building and character establishment are neatly done. The pre-interval portions are executed well and raise curiosity for the latter half.

Minus Points:

The main issue with Sabari is that it fails to provide the basic thrills. The psychological disorder shown in the film isn’t new, and hence, the makers inserted a twist in the plot. It actually isn’t tough to predict the big reveal, but the mix of the health disorder and the key twist has given ample scope to showcase the proceedings in an exciting manner. Unfortunately, the narrative remains unexciting, and the film’s potential isn’t utilized properly.

The first half has some interesting moments, but the second half is completely boring, with nothing going the film’s way. The antagonist’s intentions and motives aren’t presented convincingly, and this brings down the film altogether. The climax is a huge mess. Neither does it evoke any emotion, nor is it engaging.

Multiple scenes in the film look silly and over the top. Though the runtime is shorter, it gives us the feeling that the film is prolonged for no reason. The editing team should have trimmed down the length.

Technical Aspects:

The songs and background score aren’t remarkable. Rahul Shrivastav and Nani Chamidisetty’s cinematography is decent. The production values are fine. The editing could have been better.

Direction by Anil Katz is disappointing. Sabari holds promise with an interesting idea but fails to deliver because of the underwhelming execution. As the film progresses, one starts losing interest in the story. A better screenplay could have made Sabari a decent flick.

Verdict:

On the whole, Sabari is a psychological thriller with an interesting idea, but it falls way short of providing a satisfactory experience. The movie fails to offer the necessary thrills, despite the subject having more potential. Varalaxmi Sarathkumar did a good job, and the film has a handful of interesting moments. Had the team taken more care regarding the screenplay, the result would have been far better.

123telugu.com Rating: 2.25/5

Reviewed by 123telugu Team

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