Right from the word go, Seethamma Vakitlo Sirimalle Chettu lets its viewer know that they are in for a wholesome family entertainer. ‘Happy families make a happy world’ is the message the wise voiceover calmly observes before taking us, family tree et al, into Relangi Mavayya’s (played by Prakashraj) family.
Over the course of three hours, as the movie unspools itself, you meet his close-knit family of wife (Jayasudha), sons (Venkatesh and Mahesh Babu), mother (Rohini Hattangadi), niece Seetha (played by Anjali) and go on a breezy ride as you watch a family love, bicker, celebrate and face whatever life throws at them — together. The plot of the movie, is as simple as it can get with nothing heavy to trouble our souls. The tension, if it at all, comes in the form of slights the middle-class family receives from a distant relation.
As a family drama, Seethamma has a few subplots. The most prominent among them being the relatonship shared between the brothers. Venkatesh plays the older, hot-headed brother to the bratty, goodlooker, who has girls falling for him by the minute, Mahesh Babu. In playing the roles, the two stars have managed to do a good job, ensuring the warmth in the relationship comes through even in scenes where the brothers have a face off. Mahesh Babu is in relaxed mode here minus the regular action and punch dialogues; his light hearted one-liners ensure the audience gets a good laugh. Venkatesh as the hotheaded brother gives a measured performance but there are times where you wish his character was better etched out. Prakash Raj, as the happy do-gooder Relangi Mavayya who lives his life in making others happy is sure to strike a chord with you.
The female characters are quite well-drawn out too, ably delivered by veterans Jayasudha, Rohini Hattangadi and Ramaprabha. Talking about the heroines, Samantha is her cute self and after their pairing in Dookudu, the duo look adorable here. However, it is Anjali as the innocent Seetha who gives an easy breezy but endearing performance.
Aided by wonderful music and camera work, Seethamma Vakitlo is a heartwarming watch that has its emotions and underlying message in the right place.
