The core of Sabari's story, where a young woman battles for her self-respect while protecting her daughter from imminent danger, is a powerful foundation.
Story:
Sanjana,( Varalakshmi Sarathkumar), makes a life-altering decision to leave Mumbai for Visakhapatnam with her daughter Riya(Baby Niveksha), after a heated altercation with her husband Aravind (Ganesh Venkatram). Determined to carve out a respectable life as a single mother and provide a secure future for her daughter, Sanjana soon finds herself embroiled in a series of startling events.
As the story unfolds, Sanjana's life takes unexpected turns, and she finds herself grappling with challenges that test her resilience. The narrative delves into the intricacies of her relationships, particularly with her friend and advocate Rahul,(Sashank Siddamsetty), ACP Ramesh,(Madhunandan), and the enigmatic character Surya,(Mime Gopi). The connections between these characters and the unfolding events form the crux of the storyline, adding layers of intrigue and suspense to Sanjana's journey.
Analysis:
Varalakshmi Sarathkumar delivered a commendable performance, portraying the struggles of a single mother with the right expressions and emotions. However, her appearance may come as a surprise, as she appeared pale throughout the film.
Ganesh Venkatram portrayed the role of Varalakshmi's husband adequately, effectively depicting his arrogant and selfish demeanor. Shashank Siddamsetty and Madhunandan delivered convincing performances as an advocate and a police officer, respectively. Mime Gopi made a strong impact in his role as a psycho. The rest of the cast performed their roles well.
As a debut director, Anil Katz attempted to highlight the challenges faced by a single parent and the love they have for their child, as well as their fight against adversity. However, the film's scenes turned out to be routine and predictable, and the slow pace of the narration hindered its progress. The screenplay lacked the intensity seen in soap operas, and the characters were not developed effectively, resulting in a flat narrative with few engaging moments. The first half focused on showcasing Varalakshmi's past and present, while the second half emphasized her fight to save her daughter.
Gopi Sunder's songs were situational and did not leave a lasting impact, but his background score complemented the story well. Nani Chamidisetty's cinematography enhanced the film's visual appeal, capturing scenic locations beautifully. However, Dharmendra Kakarala's editing left much to be desired, as several parts of the film felt drawn out. The dialogues were ordinary, and the production values were decent overall.
Verdict:
Anil Katz on debut with Sabari planned to show Varalakshmi Sarathkumar in a powerful awatar of a mother saving her daughter. But for all the good cause, his inexperience played spoilsport turning the film into a pretty ordinary one.
