S Saraswathi Review

Varalaxmi Sarathkumar, known for her bold choice of films and powerful roles, takes on the challenge with S Saraswathi of shedding light on the atrocities faced by girls in India. Wearing multiple hats as the director, producer and lead actor, she clearly approaches the subject with sincerity and a strong sense of purpose. However, despite the noble intent and her proven acting prowess, the film struggles to fully realize its potential. What could have been a powerful and compelling narrative about women's struggles ends up feeling like a missed opportunity, where good intentions are not matched by equally effective storytelling.

Lakshmi (Varalaxmi Sarathkumar) is a nurse and a single mother who lives only for her daughter, Saraswathi, a seventh-grade student. Saraswathi means everything to Lakshmi. One day, she goes to school to pick up Saraswathi but she can't find her there. Worried, Lakshmi searches everywhere, but she cannot find her daughter. When she asks the teachers and the principal about Saraswathi, they shockingly deny that any student by that name studies there.

Later, she finds her daughter in a critical condition inside the school. Saraswathi has been brutally assaulted and is barely alive. Heartbroken and helpless, Lakshmi watches her daughter die in her arms. Determined to get justice, Lakshmi approaches the police and tries to take the matter to court. However, instead of support, she faces denial, indifference and obstacles from all sides.

Well, that is the plot - except, there is a twist.

Kudos to the film for attempting to portray women's plight from a woman's point of view, and credit to Varalaxmi for helming the project as producer, director and actor. But that's about it. Produced by the banner Dosa Diaries, the movie ultimately turns out to be very much like a humble dosa - it doesn't hurt, and it may be necessary, but no one really craves it.

Apart from being a film about women and their struggles, the movie has also been promoted as a thriller. Sadly, it is anything but, and that is its biggest letdown. Everything feels intense, racy and suspenseful until a few minutes after the interval. Then, everything is revealed. Yet the movie continues to drag on for almost another hour without serving any real cinematic purpose. It features a series of flashbacks from Lakshmi's life, none of which truly add anything meaningful to the story. And the way it ends makes you feel that the messaging is correct but the movie is not.

The movie often also overwhelms you. The problems begin with the story itself. The way it portrays a fantasy-prone disorder is grossly exaggerated. There is something called creative liberty, but stretching the imagination to the extent this film does hardly qualifies as that.

Then come the baffling casting choices. The film shows Lakshmi's childhood in flashbacks to establish the roots of her medical condition. But her younger self bears no resemblance to her present. Even her parents, played by Kishore Kumar G (father) and Priyamani (mother), don't resemble Varalaxmi at all. Of course, children need not be carbon copies of their parents, but there is still something called basic biological semblance.

The inconsistencies continue with flashbacks featuring the adult Varalaxmi - one set shortly after her marriage and another almost 15 years later. 15 years is a long time, yet the characters barely look any different. Varalaxmi's character and her husband appear exactly the same in both the timelines. The only visible distinction seems to be that present-day Varalaxmi has slightly unkempt hair, while her husband appears clean-shaven.

Indeed, S Saraswathi goes wrong in many ways. Yet, you still hesitate to call out the makers. You feel that the team - especially Varalaxmi - genuinely tried their best, but somehow couldn't handle the material well, and it eventually turned into a messy effort.

The acting too feels lost despite honest and earnest attempts. Surprisingly, Varalaxmi herself doesn't come across as convincing, even though she is the film's director, producer and lead actor. At times her performance feels a bit overacted, which is quite unexpected. After all, she is usually known for her realistic acting style. This movie doesn't feels like one by her.

The ensemble cast however is quite solid. Prakash Raj, Priyamani, Kishore G and Nassar are all dependable performers, and they deliver their parts well.

Technically, the film is sound. The cinematography, editing and screenplay are decent, and the movie looks polished and expensive. The background score by Thaman S is impactful too. One technical aspect is that the Telugu in this film is quite easy to follow for non-native speakers. Perhaps this is because Varalaxmi herself wrote the screenplay. But take my word for it: this could easily be one of the most accessible Telugu films for non-Telugu audiences.

Finally, about INOX Odeon, where I watched it. I somewhat liked the experience more for the theatre than the movie itself. The multiplex was renovated just a month ago (Feb 2026), and it now offers a very immersive viewing experience. I say this because I have watched films in many cinemas across the city. The ambience here is excellent, and the theatres are among the coziest you will find. It also features the latest laser projection and DTS-X audio. Also, its ticket prices are among the lowest within the PVR-INOX chain in the city.