Anaganaga Movie Review: A Gentle Lesson on Storytelling, Parenting, and the Purpose of Education

Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3/5)
Director: Sunny Sanjay
Cast: Sumanth, Kajal Choudhary, Master Viharsh, Avasarala Srinivas
Streaming on: ETV Win

Introduction: A Heartfelt Tale with Honest Intentions

Anaganaga, directed by Sunny Sanjay, is a film that tries to teach — not just the children on screen, but also its audience — the value of empathy, imagination, and the true meaning of education. Despite its technical flaws and predictable plotline, the film charms you with its sincerity and gentle storytelling.

Plot Summary: A Battle Between Imagination and the Education Rat Race

The story follows Vyas (Sumanth), a kind-hearted teacher who believes in nurturing creativity rather than stuffing children with facts. His belief in the power of storytelling and imagination is at odds with his wife, Bhagyalakshmi (Kajal Choudhary), the strict principal of the corporate school where both work.

When their son Ram (Master Viharsh) performs poorly in exams, Vyas is blamed and asked to leave. Instead of giving up, he starts his own small school for so-called “average” kids — trying to prove that every child deserves a different path to learning, not the one-size-fits-all race of marks and ranks.

If this sounds familiar, it’s because similar themes have been explored in films like Taare Zameen Par. But what sets Anaganaga apart is its simplicity — it feels like a bedtime story told with warmth, even when the filmmaking falters.

Performances: Sumanth Holds the Film Together

Sumanth shines in his understated portrayal of Vyas. His gentle demeanor, quiet frustration, and soft-spoken sincerity bring depth to a character that could have easily become preachy or saintly. His chemistry with Master Viharsh (Ram) forms the emotional core of the film — making us root for both father and son.

Viharsh delivers a natural, unaffected performance as Ram, without the usual child-actor precociousness. Their scenes together provide the film’s most memorable moments.

Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for Kajal Choudhary’s Bhagyalakshmi. Written as a one-dimensional, overly strict character obsessed with marks, she lacks depth or redeeming complexity. Even the greedy school chairman (played entertainingly by Avasarala Srinivas) feels more fleshed out.

Direction & Technical Aspects: Where Simplicity Meets Sloppiness

Director Sunny Sanjay’s writing has charm and good intentions, but the execution leaves much to be desired. The film struggles with clunky flashbacks, overdone lighting, and a distracting background score that tries too hard to force emotion.

Visually, the film resembles a television serial — with flat framing and safe camerawork. Scenes often stretch longer than needed, and plot points are unnecessarily repeated. The 120-minute runtime could have been trimmed for better impact.

Yet, despite all these missteps, the film’s heart remains in the right place. You can feel its earnest desire to tell a meaningful story about how children learn and how parents — and teachers — must listen.

What Works in Anaganaga?

✅ Sumanth’s gentle, believable performance
✅ Charming father-son bond with Master Viharsh
✅ A warm, well-intentioned message about education and parenting
✅ Simple, heartfelt storytelling

What Doesn’t Work?

❌ Outdated TV-serial visual style
❌ Overdone background score and lighting
❌ One-dimensional female lead character
❌ Clumsy flashbacks and repeated scenes

Final Verdict: A Flawed but Lovable Bedtime Story for Adults

Anaganaga is not a perfect film — far from it. It stumbles with cliché-ridden writing, clunky filmmaking, and uneven character development. But its sincerity, quiet charm, and heartfelt message make you forgive its shortcomings.

Much like a grandma’s simple bedtime tale, this film gently reminds us that education is about awakening curiosity, not crushing it with pressure. While it won’t shake the system like a revolutionary drama, Anaganaga will leave you with a warm smile — and sometimes, that’s enough.

Should You Stream It?

Yes — if you love gentle family dramas with a heart. Skip it if you expect tight editing or cinematic polish.