‘SaiKo is back’, different characters keep stating with fear in their eyes, in the first hour of the Telugu film Saindhav, written and directed by Sailesh Kolanu. SaiKo refers to the protagonist Saindhav Koneru, portrayed by Venkatesh Daggubati. Sailesh is in no rush to explain the myth behind SaiKo and what makes him a terror. He trusts the audience to believe in the myth and wait with patience, partially because this is the 75th film of the star playing the part and his persona has enough aura required for the character. A part of the reason is also because the director does not want the backstory to distract the narrative that has a sense of urgency. SaiKo has an uphill task and time is running out. The challenge then is to present a riveting drama that will keep us hooked to the extent that when the reveal about SaiKo happens, it will be worth the wait. Does it work? The answer is not a resounding yes.
Saindhav (Telugu)
First, the brighter aspects of the film and its characters. Saindhav is leading a normal life, doing nothing out of the ordinary. A crane operator at the port, he lives in a middle class locality with his daughter Gayathri (Ssara Palekar). The film does not take it for granted that the audience will accept a senior actor as a father of a child who could be six or seven years old. Saindhav makes a statement about his age to his neighbour Manognya (Shraddha Srinath), who dotes on his daughter and holds a torch for him. The remark that acknowledges the age difference is a welcome move. By and by, facets of Manognya’s life are revealed — her past, how she ekes out a living and where her sense of agency comes from.
