8 Vasantalu (2025) Movie: Why Beautiful Visuals Can’t Save a Boring Love Story
8 Vasantalu, directed by Phanindra Narsetti and produced by the prestigious Mythri Movie Makers banner, represents an ambitious attempt at creating poetic cinema in Telugu film industry. The drama features Ananthika in the lead role alongside Ravi Theja, Hanu, and Kanna. Released on June 20, 2025, this film explores themes of love, loss, and literary connection through the journey of a writer and martial artist.
The film follows Shuddhi, a writer and martial artist who grows up in Ooty with her mother after losing her army father. She channels her grief through writing before experiencing love and heartbreak with Varun, leading to personal transformation. Director Phanindra Narsetti attempts to weave together visual poetry with contemporary storytelling, but the film has received mixed reception from critics and audiences.
Plot and Storyline
The story centers around Shuddi Ayodhya (Ananthika Sanilkumar), an English writer from Ooty trained in martial arts, who falls for Varun (Hanu Reddy), a wealthy young man destined for UC Berkeley. Swayed by love, Varun abandons his plans and visits her in Kashmir every Sunday. An unexpected incident prompts him to end the relationship, leaving Shuddi heartbroken.
Years later, she connects with a Telugu writer, Vijay (Ravi Duggirala). Spanning from 2013 to 2020, the film chronicles eight years of love through different phases of characters’ lives.
The title 8 Vasantalu (8 Springs) represents the cyclical nature of love and renewal. The film attempts to explore how literature and love intersect, though it struggles to fully realize this concept in execution.
Cast Performance
Ananthika Sanilkumar is undoubtedly the star of the film. She not only looks stunning but also delivers a convincing performance, excelling in both romantic scenes and martial arts sequences. Her portrayal brings authenticity to Shuddhi’s emotional journey from grief to love to heartbreak.
Hanu Reddy, in a brief role, fits well and appears charming, particularly in the Kashmir sequences. His chemistry with Ananthika works during the initial romantic portions.
However, Ravi Duggirala feels miscast, with his awkward hairstyle and dated performance. I found his portrayal reminiscent of old television serials, which felt out of place in this contemporary setting. The supporting cast also delivers theatrical and unnatural performances, creating an uneven viewing experience.
Technical Excellence
Cinematography and Visual Appeal
The film’s biggest strength lies in its visual appeal. Every frame is rich and meticulously composed, with some sequences resembling paintings. Cinematographer Vishwanath Reddy’s work is truly commendable. The natural beauty of locations like Ooty, Kashmir, and Benaras is captured with remarkable skill.
The film has a surreal visual texture that creates an immersive experience. The color palette and framing choices reflect the poetic nature of the subject matter.
Music and Sound Design
While Hesham’s two songs are melodious, the background score suffers from repetition, relying too heavily on a single tune. The musical choices lack the variety needed to sustain interest throughout the runtime.
Editing and Pacing Issues
Editing is sluggish, particularly in the second half, and lacks rhythm. The movie’s narrative feels choppy, making it difficult to connect with the story’s flow. This significantly impacts the film’s ability to maintain engagement during crucial emotional moments.
What Works and What Doesn’t
Strengths
The film succeeds in creating a visually stunning experience that captures poetic storytelling. The pre-interval episode stands out as a highlight, showing the director’s ability when all elements align. The martial arts sequences are well-choreographed and provide dynamic moments.
The exploration of literary themes offers a unique angle in Telugu cinema. The film’s ambition to create something different from mainstream commercial cinema is evident and commendable.
Areas for Improvement
The boring second half, slow narration, and unnatural sequences significantly detract from the viewing experience. I found many episodes giving the feel of 80’s drama, which felt outdated for contemporary audiences.
The dialogue writing, while shining in pre-interval scenes, often feels overly literary and unnatural. This creates a disconnect between characters and audience, making emotional moments feel forced.
The film’s attempt to blend contemporary themes with classical storytelling results in an inconsistent tone that fails to satisfy either traditional or modern sensibilities.
Critical Reception
The film has received mixed reviews from critics. Great Andhra rated it 2/5 and 123Telugu gave it 2.5/5. IMDb users rated the film 7.1/10, showing a divide between critical and audience reception.
Critics consistently praised the cinematography and visual appeal while criticizing the slow narration and outdated storytelling elements. Reviews mention the film’s rich visuals but point to the boring narrative as a major weakness.
The consensus suggests that while the film succeeds as a visual experience, it fails to deliver a compelling narrative that justifies its runtime and ambitious themes.
Final Verdict
8 Vasantalu represents a sincere attempt at creating poetic cinema with exceptional visual craftsmanship and a committed performance from its lead actress. However, the film’s inability to balance artistic ambitions with engaging storytelling results in an experience that fails to leave a lasting emotional impact.
The film will appeal to viewers who appreciate visual poetry and are willing to overlook narrative shortcomings. Those seeking well-rounded entertainment may find themselves disappointed by the pacing and structural issues.
Director Phanindra Narsetti’s vision is evident throughout, and his collaboration with cinematographer Vishwanath Reddy produces memorable imagery. With better screenplay development and more consistent performances, this could have been a standout film in contemporary Telugu cinema.
Rating: 2.5/5
