Ante... Sundaraniki! (2022)

Ante... Sundaraniki! is the kind of romantic comedy that earns its laughs with intelligence and heart, turning a familiar “meet-the-parents” dilemma into a wildly inventive, culturally specific farce that still feels universal. Vivek Athreya’s script crackles with dialogue-driven humor, and the film’s greatest pleasure is watching Nani and Nazriya Nazim spark off each other as two people whose love is genuine even when their stories aren’t. The vibe is buoyant and mischievous—packed with family chaos, perfectly timed reactions, and an ensemble that makes every scene feel lived-in rather than staged—while still understanding the tenderness beneath all the commotion. If you prefer your romances quiet and minimal, the escalating web of lies may feel deliberately overstuffed, but if you like comedies that build like clockwork and land with warmth, this one is absolutely worth your time.

Ante... Sundaraniki! clearly wants to be a warm, big-hearted rom-com about interfaith love and the ridiculous hoops families make people jump through, and it does have a charming central pair with some genuinely funny setups. The problem is it’s so in love with its own cleverness that the lies and detours keep piling up, turning a simple premise into a long, convoluted marathon that can test your patience. If you enjoy talky, twisty “comedy of errors” stories with lots of family scenes and you don’t mind a leisurely runtime, you’ll probably find plenty to like. If you’re hoping for a tight, breezy romance or clean pacing, this one may feel like it’s asking too much time for too little payoff.