Venkatesh timing works, but clownish characters mar the show

Rating: 2/5 stars Seasoned actor Venkatesh tries to rely on his comedic timing in Sankranthiki Vasthunam, as he finds himself caught between his wife and ex-lover. Director Anil Ravipudi leans heavily on tropes from Venkatesh’s past films like Sundara Kanda, Inlo Illalu Vantintlo Priyuralu, and Gharshana. In an era where new-age directors are delivering innovative films like Jaati Ratnalu, this approach feels regressive, dragging Telugu cinema back to the 1990s. Ultimately, Sankranthiki Vasthunam feels like a half-baked, festival-time entertainer that offers little beyond nostalgia and surface-level comedy.