Hi friends, Tollywood comedy lovers, ready for a fun ride? The latest Telugu comedy entertainer ‘Sarangapani Jathakam’ hit the theatres on April 25, 2025! The film is directed by ‘Gentleman’, ‘Sammohanam’ fame director Mohana Krishna Indraganti, and stars ‘Court’ star Priyadarshi in the lead role. Produced by Sivalenka Krishna Prasad, this movie has a quirky take on astrology with Rupa Koduvayur as the heroine and a star cast like Vennela Kishore, Viva Harsha, Naresh, Tanikella Bharani, Avasarala Srinivas. The trailer and teasers created hype, but did the movie really live up to that hype? Come on, let’s dive into this review, bro!
What is the story?
Sarangapani, aka Saranga (Priyadarshi), is a boy who has a strong belief in astrology since childhood. He fully believes that horoscope, planets, stars—all these will decide his life. He gets engaged to his love Mythili (Roopa Koduvayur), and everything goes super cool... But, suddenly astrology creates chaos in his relationship. The story progresses with a crime twist, comedy errors, and a commotion in a Vizag hotel backdrop. In the end, Saranga realizes the effect of his superstitions and comes out of them. In this journey, humor, emotions, and a love track—all together promise a fun ride. But, is this ride really fun? Let's see
What are the highlights?
First off, Priyadarshi is a big plus for this film! After hits like ‘Balagam’ and ‘Court’, he shows full vigor in this comedy role. His timing, expressions, and underdog vibe in the character of Saranga are a super workout. His comedy punches, especially in the scenes with Vennela Kishore and Viva Harsha, bring out the laughter here and there. Rupa Koduvayur did a great job as Mythili—her straight-forward, independent character gave a fresh touch to the film. Vivek Sagar’s music and PG Vinda’s cinematography added a decent feel to the film. Sridevi Movies’ production values also supported the small-scale film well. The first half, which starts with a crime twist, feels fun at some places, Indraganti's signature Acha Telugu dialogues and rhymes give it a kick here and there.
What are the minus points?
However, friend, this is where the film falters a bit. We expect a fresh, new-age comedy from a director like Indraganti, but 'Sarangapani Jathakam' has a bit of an old-school, TV serial vibe. The lack of freshness in the writing is a big drawback. For example, scenes like "Bamma Comedy Block" in the first half were supposed to be funny, but they fell flat with dated jokes. The "Simon" character and the perfume scene in the pre-interval episode are a total misfire. The comedy errors in the backdrop of a Vizag hotel in the second half work to some extent, but the climax twist disappoints. The emotional depth is also missing in the love track. Senior actors like Naresh, Tanikella Bharani, and Avasarala Srinivas are not used properly—their screen time is less, and the impact is almost zero. The punch expected from the supporting cast is missing. The movie's runtime is 2 hours and 20 minutes, but it feels slow at some places due to repetitive scenes.
How did the technical team do it?
Vivek Sagar's background score and songs are decent, but not great enough to be forgotten. PG Vinda's cinematography captures the Vizag and farmhouse locations well. If Marthand K Venkatesh's editing had been sharper in places, the film would have been crisper. Indraganti's writing and direction show his signature touch, but compared to his best works like 'Ashtachemma' and 'Gentleman', this film lags a bit.
How are the critics and audience reactions?
'Sarangapani Jathakam' has received mixed reviews from critics. M9.news commented that the film has an "outdated, TV serial vibe", TrackTollywood gave it a rating of 2.5/5, saying that "Despite the silly tone and fluctuating narration, Priyadarshi and Vennela Kishore's comedy makes it bearable". Sakshi Post said that "What was supposed to be a fun, quirky film has turned into a slow, outdated comedy". Audience reactions to X were also mixed—some said, “Priyadarshi’s comedy and Indraganti’s dialogues gave a kick here and there,” while others felt, “The story was predictable and dragged like a serial.” TV9 Telugu, however, praised Priyadarshi and called the film “another hit.”
Who will like it?
This film can be a decent one-time watch for Priyadarshi fans and comedy entertainers lovers. For those who enjoy Indraganti’s signature Telugu humor and rhymes, some scenes will give a kick. However, for those who expect fresh, modern comedy or a tight script, the film will be a bit disappointing. It is okay for family audiences with a UA certificate, but it feels like a type of movie that you watch while pausing on OTT due to repetitive scenes.
Conclusion
‘Sarangapani Jathakam’ is a fun, quirky comedy with potential to be a hit, but it falls flat due to outdated writing and weak supporting cast usage. Although Priyadarshi carries the film with his comedy timing, the magic expected from Indraganti is missing. It’s okay as a one-time watch in the theater, but it’s not in the range of Indraganti classics like ‘Ashtachemma’. Rating: 2.5/5. Whether you believe in astrology or not, the horoscope of this film is a bit dull, bro!