Sita Raamam Movie Review- Telugu (2022)

Movie: Sita Raamam - సీతా రామం (2022)

Director: Hanu Raghavapudi

Production: Vyjayanthi Movies

Cast: Dulquer Salmaan, Mrunal Thakur, Rashmika Mandana, Sumanth & Others

Cinematography: P. S. Vinod

Editor:  Kotagiri Venkateshwara Rao

Music: Vishal Chandra Shekhar

Release Date: 05/08/2022

" A pure & eternal love story with a strong preaching "

3.5/5

01. A glimpse into 'Sita Raamam'.

Sita Raamam is more or less a complete biography of Lieutenant Ram (Dulquer Salmaan). If I was given a chance to choose a title for the film, I'll change it to 'Raamudi Raamayanam' or 'Raamuni Premakatha'. Sita Raamam is an out & out classic love story from the director. Not only a classic love story but Sita Raamam also comes with couple of messages/themes too. Hanu Raghavapudi has aced his skill this time in making a perfect love story. There might be 100 love stories but this one has my heart💖.

02. Plot of Sita Raamam.

Movie opens on a very serious note in 1965, with some Pakisthani terrorists & army people collabbing to occupy Kashmir & they are on their mission. Cutting it right there, we go into fast forward mode over 20 years from then, in 1985 at London, introduced to a Pakisthani angry young- 'Youth association leader' - Afreen (Rashmika Mandana) who just rages to fire on just listening to the thought or a word about Indians. She happens to have a great hatred towards Indians. In one henious act she's asked to apologise an Indian victim or pay a huge fine of 10 lakhs, rather she accepts the second in her self respect. She comes back to Pakisthan to borrow the amount from a retired army carnal who happens to be her grandfather & with whom she's not keeping good from many years & not spoken to him at all. But, unfortunately she learns that he passed away & also left her a mission to complete in order to get her share in his property & helpless Afreen accepts the mission very reluctantly. 

The mission is to make a letter reach so called 'Sita Mahalakshmi' & written by 'Ram'. And the proceedings take on to find who these Sita & Ram are. And in a journey finding Ram & Sita, Afreen learns alot, I tell you alot. She becomes a fine gentle woman. Anything beyond this is a spoiler. So go, watch the film. 

03. About the character Lt.Ram & Dulquer Salmaan playing it. 

Without this character there is no story at all. And Dulquer Salmaan as Ram is really so charming, I'll bet there cannot be anyone,I repeat any other one who could play as Ram as well as DQ did!! He's just so perfect. He makes us laugh, cry, smile, weep & gives us all sorts of emotions. No matter if we end up falling for Ram for such stupendous act. Ram is an emotion not just a character. 

Director uses this character to portray his themes. Film runs on two themes mainly - "Love is blind & unconditional", " Losing over religion is nothing when compared to winning over humanity" and these themes are enough to make the storyline of film look rock solid. 

Ram & his love for Sita Mahalakshmi - it reminds me of some epic love stories like of "Laila Majnu" & "Devo-Paro". I don't want to talk so much regarding the film, just go experience the magic in theatres that's it. 

04. How did Sita Mahalakshmi do?

Mrunal Thakur as Sita Mahalakshmi is just written by Gods. She's into the skin of the character. I don't know who's Mrunal from now, there's only Sita Mahalakshmi that's it. She's made for this character. This Sita Mahalakshmi has a rare form of purity, even though if the names & her identity gets reversed no matter what, her love for Ram & her soul in character remains same, such is the magic of her charm. She's so beautiful & like unit was saying she's like that painting. Her chemistry with DQ gelled so well, they both looked like couple for real. Who doesn't love Sita after the film? Probably none! Thanks to Chinmayee again, for that voice to Mrunal, as that voice does magic & that's what another important element with Sita to fall in love with her character. 

05. What are the adds on to the movie?

It's a master piece, right from beginning everything that proceeds takes to the world of a classic 1965 love story mode. But to name a few, 

a. Beautiful sceneries of Kashmir

b. Ram & Sita

c. Music by Vishal Chandra Shekhar

d. Cinematography, Screenplay & plot.

e. The old school genre & backdrop. It gives us a feeling of watching an old 50's or 60's film like of ANR's or NTR's & hatsoff to the unit for investing so much by just believing entirely on the story & no scope for any commercial elements. 

f. Sita Raamam is an out & out old age, periodic/ old age drama. Right from dialogues, songs, characters everything are set like in 50's. It takes so much effort to recreate such things & this film aces that easily. No wonder if you mistake to be watching a black & white picture with your family. 

g. DQ as Ram & Mrunal Thakur as Sita Mahalakshmi are just perfect. Such roles are written once in blue moon & they both are just made for that characters. I don't think they there exists someone called DQ & Mrunal after watching the film, there are only Ram & Sita, such superb is the characterization. 

06. Did Sita Raamam have any flaws?

Definitely yes! First of all, if not for the lovers, freshness in the story or about the variety of patriotism, this film too is at it's own faults if we are not looking from that corner excluding all the above orientations. 

Right from the start of the film, the pace of the film is a problem. If goes slow & steady with lot of irregularities. But, luckily boredom never crept in, that saved the film. 

Music was too good. But not excellent. Songs added on to the flavour of the film, but frankly speaking there isn't atleast one song in the entire film that audience would etch in their hearts forever. 

The interval though appeared very very typical, I feel it didn't gel well. I really don't understand why is there a necessity to reverse the identities??! Sita Mahalakshmi can remain Sita Mahalakshmi,no offense right? But it looked forced & intentional to change her identity to portray the theme of 'religion doesn't matter in love' rather than appearing conveniencing nor appealing.

Sumanth as Brigade Vishnu Sharma wasn't able to handle the expressions towards climax. Felt that there required some other actor with maturity to handle those emotions. His act evoked laughter rather than sympathy at such scenes. 

Because this film belongs to yesteryear generation, the dialogues,songs & comedy track are designed like that. If you expect something else, then no way you can get entertained with this flick. 

References of Mahanati here & there appeared forced. Love track was predictable. Lag of few scenes. Rush at the end missed the clarity. Few irregularities & illogical reasonings. Didn't get why Sita was introduced as Sita to Ram in the beginning during the massacre when there is no such necessity to fake her identity & ironically she tells the same story to Ram when some x person asks. Don't know if Ram was so blind to not find Sita's real identity when she's so famous & he's so intelligent. 

But a fact to be noted, if you watch the film with a heart that's in love with Ram & Sita Mahalakshmi, then not even a single flaw walks through the brain. So the director was intelligent enough to handle all these. 

07. At last few words on Sita Raamam.

Truly speaking Sita Raamam is a feel good film. It's a classic old age love story. If you're a fan of such melodramatic films, surely you'll love it. Even if you're not a fan also, this film works- coz it has got some speciality that will make you go with the flow. Sita Raamam is such magic. On a last word, I'll tell you all not to miss such classic film- very rarely we will get to watch such purest gems. Go give it a try! My thanks to DQ- he's the hero- Ram is a character that we cannot get that easily off from DQ. I think he'll be remembered for this act. Ram is just amazing, you'll understand why one is in so much awe for this character, after watching the film. I didn't reveal anything much, because I didn't want to spoil the experience. 

At last, here's a great recommendation for the weekend, enjoy !