Vijay (Sree Vishnu), a bank employee, is single and desperate to find a girlfriend. Aravind (Vennela Kishore) is his go-to friend. When Vijay sees Purva (Ketika Sharma) in the metro, he instantly falls for her and follows her to an Audi showroom where she works. From there, he makes multiple attempts to win her love. Meanwhile, Harini (Ivana), a bank customer, tries to get Vijay to fall for her. Who will succeed? Will Vijay finally break his singlehood? Whom will he choose? That forms the rest of the story.
Performances:
Sree Vishnu, as usual, is the showstopper. He carries the film entirely on his shoulders with witty one-liners and energetic screen presence. His chemistry with Vennela Kishore is the biggest asset, they deliver several ROFL-worthy moments together. Vennela Kishore complements him perfectly. Ketika Sharma is a pleasant presence on screen. Though her role doesn’t have much scope for variation or the usual glamour, she fits the bill. Ivana, as a GenZ girl, brings the right amount of zeal to her character. VTV Ganesh, as the bank manager, stands out in a few comic scenes with his usual style. Rajendra Prasad appears in a very short cameo, which is fine.
Technical Aspects:
Cinematography by Velraj is decent and suits the genre. At a time when films are relying on virtual production and VFX even for basic road scenes, the use of real locations in the movie is commendable. Most scenes unfold in Hyderabad Metro, parks, and the Audi showroom. Editing by Praveen K. L is adequate. Music and BGM by Vishal Chandrashekar are different from his usual style. While this film didn’t require his typical sound, he delivered 2–3 decent songs which go along with the scenes. Still, a chartbuster for such a genre would have created much more impact. Production values are fine. VFX Supervisor-turned-Director Caarthick Raju does a fairly decent job handling this very basic storyline. The screenplay flows without major speed-breakers. Following the superhit Samajavaragamana, the dialogues and one-liners by Bhanu Bhogavarapu and Nandu Savirigana are the biggest assets — most of them land well.
Positives:
Sree Vishnu & Vennela Kishore
One-liners and comedy punches
Multiple hero references
Casual narrative flow & Some hilarious moments
Negatives:
Very basic storyline
Below par songs
No strong characters for heroines
No emotional depth & a rushed climax
Analysis:
From the beginning of promotions, the #Single team has marketed this as an out-and-out entertainer, a film meant purely for laughs in the theatre. To a large extent, they succeed. There are some genuinely hilarious scenes. From start to finish, the movie maintains a consistent comedic tone. Sree Vishnu maintains the energy throughout with his signature style dialogues and wittiness. On the downside, one may get a feeling that the whole movie is a collection of comedy scenes stitched together. The theatre experience may amplify the fun, but on closer look, the humor may feel repetitive or fall flat after a point. The filmmakers deliberately avoided inserting set-piece songs or love tracks to keep the flow intact, but the few songs present didn’t add much value either. One or two proper chartbusters could have elevated the vibe. The female leads are okay, but the chemistry with Sree Vishnu felt a bit off or artificial compared to other love stories in the genre. That said, a few surprise cameos at the end are well placed. And in line with recent trend, there’s a sequel announcement, ‘Single 2’.
Overall, #Single delivers what it promises to be, though with a fair share of hiccups. A time-pass entertainer that can be watched for Sree Vishnu’s entertainment.
Bottom Line: Only #Comedy