Sita Ramam Review: Dulquer Salmaan, Mrunal Thakur & Rashmika Mandanna starrer is a beautifully knitted tale of love

Film: Sita Ramam (Hindi)

Director: Hanu Raghavapudi

Star cast: Dulquer Salmaan, Mrunal Thakur, Rashmika Mandanna and Sumanth.

Bollywood Bubble ratings: 4/5 stars

Sita Ramam movie review 

‘Love’- Believe me or not, it is something that is hard to find in the modern times that we live in. And, most of you would agree with me! Be it in movies or in reality, the concept of love seems to have been lost somewhere and surely cannot be found. While modern times lack the old-school romance vibes, it’s either books or classics that continue to satisfy moviegoers’ thirst of watching an epic love saga. A movie of such, which not only entertains you but the tight-knitted plot also keeps you hooked nonetheless, despite its weird predictability.

 

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With Sita Ramam, director Hanu Raghavapudi takes you through a poetic tale of love, which is beyond all. He makes you invested in a love story that is predictable, but gripping. Initially, when I caught a glimpse of the Telugu trailer, the story did not give away much, although the music was pleasing to the ears. Much to my dislike, I hate myself for not being interested in the plot, more so because I had one napkin, and the tears wouldn’t stop flowing (*a box of tissues would be recommended).

Sita Ramam is a love story that is beyond borders; a tale of two people falling in love while exchanging letters with each other. While the movie is set in the 60s to 90s, I managed to get the taste of pure gold old-school romance that would satisfy every die-hard romantic.

Once you are in a movie theatre, watching Sita Ramam, the film would not kick-start right away for you, in a way that it would set into motion quickly after it begins. But, once you catch a glimpse of a happy Ram, with his bag of letters from across the country, from people who reach out to a complete stranger, because they were moved by his story, the movie sets into motion. It then continues to settle on you as director Hanu Raghavapudi unfolds every character of his story in an aesthetically and visually pleasing way.

The movie opens with Afreen (Rashmika Mandanna), a Pakistani rabble-rouser who is pursuing her higher education in London, in 1985. She is not quite a charmer at first as she has an intense dislike towards anything and everything Indian. Something, every youngster with a love for country would do! The plot intensifies as Afreen is set on a journey to return a letter to India, one thing that she is not eager to do. However, once she travels to India with the letter, where her partner-in-crime Balaji (Tharun Bhascker) helps her to understand the source of the letter and the motive behind it, she is transported back to 1964 where the epic love saga of Lt Ram (Dulquer Salmaan) and Sita (Mrunal Thakur) unfolds.

Story: 

A long-lost letter is someone’s responsibility and it must find its way to the recipient twenty years later. As a rabble-rouser from India sets to travel to a country she has a distinct dislike towards, she learns a lesson in humility and love, only to find a heart-touching love story that is beyond beautiful.

Star Performances:

Dulquer Salmaan, plays Lt Ram, an orphan who is with the Indian Army, an honest officer who understands humanity beyond borders. Dulquer fits perfectly into the role of Ram. The sweet innocence of Ram he embodies, and the pure heart like his, Dulquer makes you want to ask the question, ‘Why don’t they make such men anymore?’. His charm and respectful demeanor, or be it his undying love for the country, leaves you entwined in the fairytale created by Hanu Raghavapudi. Dulquer not only manages to win one’s heart with his portrayal of Ram but connects you emotionally with the story.

 

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Mrunal Thakur, essays the character of the poised and elegant Sita, who is a woman with a secret she can’t reveal. She leaves you mesmerized with her beauty and the aura she exudes. With her personality, and brave-heartedness, in an era challenging for a woman to express her thoughts and opinions, Sita makes you proud to see the woman she is. Mrunal Thakur fits perfectly into the role of Sita and her stellar performance brings her character to reality. She not only impresses with her acting performance but blows your mind off with her talent. Thakur embraces herself into the character of Sita in such a way that you wouldn’t want anyone but her playing that role.

 

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Rashmika Mandanna plays Afreen, a rabble-rouser from Pakistan, set on returning a letter to its recipient in India. Her portrayal of her character is so brilliant that she makes you believe into the role. Not even in a blink of an eye does Rashmika leave you wondering she plays a character who has roots connected to a different country. Her role as tough and fiesty youngster, Afreen, who later learns a powerful lesson for her anger towards another country, is spectacular. Mandanna brilliantly plays Afreen and not even once would you think she’d play Sita better if offered the part.

 

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Vishnu, played by Sumanth, a fellow officer of Ram, who always seemed jealous of Ram keeps you wondering of his love and hate relationship towards Ram, does a good job in his short role.

The characters of Sita Ramam breathe life into their roles, making the plot seem more real.

Direction, Screenplay, Music: 

With the movie, Hanu gives you something to look forward to with the gripping plot twists. He manages to connect the dots and tries his best to tie up all the knots, giving Afreen and Balaji answers that they are in search of. While you might believe you are left with questions and answers you do not have, the film could work wonders for you if you be invested in the story. The film is somewhat predictable towards the end, but the placing of the scenes, gripping plot, and story, makes a strong screenplay, overall. The actors ensure to do a fabulous job keeping you entwined to the story, but it is the attention you need to understand this Hanu Raghavapudi directorial.

The music by Vishal Chandrasekhar, from the background score to the songs keep you engrossed. The music perfectly binds the movie together and make you feel as a part of the scene on the screen. A few segments of the movie with the VFX butterflies, the extravagant sets, costumes taking you back to the eras of the 60s and 90s, and the beautiful locations, add the essence to Raghavapudi’s Sita Ramam.

Conclusion: 

Hanu Raghavapudi beautifully invests one into the movie taking you back and forth in time. It becomes a film with a heavy-hearted story about love and humanity touched with the old-school glamour. The film has its flaws with the parts where logic is missing out. Like where you fail to understand how Ram creates an artwork from the outside of a lamp.

Overall, as the narrative unfolds, Sita Ramam comes to life. In the end, if you manage to invest yourself into the movie, you are left with nothing but a memory of a masterpiece that blew off your mind, made you weep incessantly, and kept you glued to the seat. Sita Ramam is a beautifully knitted tale of love that makes hearts fuller.

Watch the Sita Ramam Hindi trailer after the movie review below:

 

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Also Read: Sita Ramam Trailer: Dulquer Salmaan, Mrunal Thakur & Rashmika Mandanna promise an epic love saga