Ante Sundaraniki! (transl. The thing about Sundar is!) is a Telugu-language romantic comedy film written and directed by Vivek Athreya and produced by Mythri Movie Makers that was released in 2022. Nani and Nazriya Nazim appear in this film (in her Telugu debut).
On June 10th, 2022, the film was released in theatres.
Cast
- Nani as Sundara Prasad,
- Nazriya Nazim as Leela Thomas,
- Naresh as Sundar’s father
- Rohini as Sundar’s mother
- Nadhiya as Leela’s mother
- Azhagam Perumal as Leela’s father
- Harsha Vardhan as Manager Chandra Mohan
- Prudhvi Raj as Sundar’s uncle
- Aruna Bhikshu as Sundar’s grandmother
- Tanvi Ram as Leela’s sister
- Sai Ronak
- Rahul Ramakrishna as Dr. Guru, Sundar’s childhood friend
- Srikanth Iyengar as an astrologer
- Vinny
- Radhika
- Nomina
- Anupama Parameswaran as Soumya (cameo)
- Ali as film director during Sundar’s childhood (cameo)
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Storyline
Sundar Prasad (Nani) is a young Hindu boy who wishes to visit the United States but is unable to do so due to his strict Hindu parents (Naresh and Rohini).
Leela (Nazriya), on the other hand, is a Christian photographer who Sundar has known since infancy. The two teenagers eventually fall in love, but their families have issues with it.
They tell a massive falsehood to get married and wind themselves in serious trouble. How do they overcome the struggle that runs through the rest of the story?
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Box Office Collection:
Ante Sundaraniki had a dismal opening weekend, earning about 18 crores. The theatrical rights to the picture are for Rs. 28 crores.
After a slow start, the film held steady on Saturday and Sunday, but not enough to justify the expensive ticket prices. It’s doing better in other countries, with sales of USD 840 thousand dollars in the US alone.
Given the popularity of 777 Charlie and the growing passion for Jurassic World 3 among Indian fans, the film is predicted to perform poorly on weekdays. Here are the Ante Sundaraniki box office collecting day 4 figures.
| Day | India Net Collection | Change(+/-) |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 [1st Friday] | ₹ 6.25 Cr [Te: 6.2 Cr ; Mal: 0.02; Ta: 0.03] | – |
| Day 2 [1st Saturday] | ₹ 5.8 Cr [Te: 5.73 Cr ; Mal: 0.02; Ta: 0.05] | -7.20% |
| Day 3 [1st Sunday] | ₹ 5.27 Cr [Te: 5.27 Cr ] * rough data | -9.14% |
| Day 4 [1st Monday] | ₹ 2.00 Cr * early estimates | – |
| Total | ₹ 19.32 Cr | – |
Review
Nani is at ease in the character of the lad next door, and he is in his element in Ante Sundaraniki. Nani’s comedy timing, especially in the second half, is brilliant and propels the picture to its conclusion. Nani keeps in character and entertains the audience without going crazy.
Nazriya makes a strong Telugu debut and plays her role nicely. In a well-written role, she expresses herself beautifully. The best part of the film is her chemistry with Nani. The film’s supporting cast is also a significant plus. As Nani’s parents, Naresh and Rohini are incredible, especially Rohini in the climax.
One of the highlights of the film is Naresh’s interactions with Nani. As Leela’s parents, Nadhiya and Azhagam Perumal do an excellent job. After a time, Harshvardhan gets a good part and can hold his own against Nani in some sequences.
Though the first half of the film moves slowly, filmmaker Vivek Athreya’s second half is strong, bringing out solid humour, drama, and adrenaline without going overboard by the conclusion.
The plot is predictable and has been seen many times before. Despite the fact that it was written recently, the main premise is far too simplistic. The narration in the first half, especially during the early infancy flashbacks, is tedious and should be cut.
The film’s runtime is slightly longer, and instead of childhood sequences, the romance angle between the leads should have been emphasised more. Nani’s strict upbringing and love for Nazaria should have been stressed to provide additional entertainment.
Vivek Sagar’s music is excellent, but it is his BGM that makes this family drama stand out. It gives the film’s story a new feel. The cinematography by Niketh Bommi is outstanding, but the editing in the first half is sluggish. The dialogues are a plus, and the production values are excellent.
Vivek Athreya, the film’s director, has done an excellent job. His writing is layered with multiple threads that are effectively connected. His writing is original and gives a unique perspective to a standard plot, keeping the viewer engaged. Though the first half is slow and one wonders why each character is given so much attention, at the end of the film, everything has a purpose and is well-explained.
Ante Sundaraniki is a well-made family drama with few spicy moments. Basic assets include Nani and Nazriya’s fresh pairing, a strong supporting cast, superb comedy, and well-timed emotions. With the exception of a slow start, this film will captivate you in its well-executed proceedings and sends a message that love triumphs above caste, religion, and everything else. Take the plunge.
