Verdict: Sandakari is a light, familiar romantic comedy that coasts on its lead pair and supporting cast rather than its writing. It’s watchable for a one-time family outing, but don’t expect anything fresh.
Pros:
Vimal is comfortable and breezy in the lighter, comic portions
London and Tamil Nadu settings give the film some visual variety
Cons:
Lead pair chemistry feels flat, making the romance less convincing
Familiar, predictable screenplay with a few logical gaps
About Sandakari 2026
Detail
Info
Title
Sandakari
Directed by
R. Madhesh
Written by
R. Madhesh
Produced by
Jeyabalan Jeyakumar, Sharmiela Mandre
Cast
Vimal, Shriya Saran, Prabhu, Sathyan, K.R. Vijaya
Cinematography
R.B. Gurudev
Music by
Amresh Ganesh
Production Companies
Boss Production Corporation
Release Date
18 September 2026
Country
India
Language
Tamil
Genre
Romantic Comedy, Family
Censor Rating
U
Sandakari finally hit theatres on 18 September 2026, seven years after it was originally shot back in 2019. The film, headlined by Vimal and Shriya Saran, is a remake of the 2012 Malayalam hit My Boss, which itself was based on Hollywood’s The Proposal.
Given the long delay, there was a fair bit of curiosity around this one. Early reactions from viewers and critics suggest the film delivers a mixed but mostly okay experience, more of a casual watch than a must-see.
The story follows a young man working under a demanding, short-tempered senior executive in London. When her visa runs into trouble, she convinces him to pretend they’re a couple so she can stay on.
He agrees, but on one condition: she has to visit his family in Tamil Nadu. What follows is a mix of miscommunication, family comedy, and a slow-building romance, with a workplace rivalry thrown in for good measure.
Reactions circulating on X, Instagram, and Facebook after the first-day shows have largely echoed what early reviews pointed out. Many viewers appreciated the film’s comic timing in the Tamil Nadu family scenes, with the supporting cast, especially Sathyan and Prabhu, getting a good share of praise for keeping things light.
Vimal’s easy screen presence in the funnier stretches has also come up positively in several posts. On the flip side, a recurring complaint has been the lack of spark between the two leads. Several viewers felt the romantic track didn’t land as well as it should have, calling it more functional than emotionally engaging.
There’s also chatter about the screenplay feeling dated, unsurprising given the film sat on the shelf for years, with a few users pointing out logic gaps in how the plot moves forward. Overall sentiment leans towards “decent, not exceptional.” It’s not being torn apart, but it’s also not being celebrated as a big win.
Most describe it as an average, one-time watch rather than something to rush to theatres for. If you enjoy simple family entertainers with comedy and a touch of romance, Sandakari should work fine for you, especially for a weekend watch with family.
Those looking for a tightly written or emotionally rich love story might come away a little underwhelmed. Given the mixed word of mouth, this feels like a film that’s just as fine to catch on streaming once it’s available, unless you’re a fan of the lead cast and want the theatre experience.
Disclaimer: This review is based on publicly available audience reactions and discussions on X at the time of writing. Individual opinions may vary.
Kadir is a box office reporter and film analyst from Hojai, Assam, and the founder of Tenvow.com. Since 2015, he has been into box office reporting. With a focus on box office collections, OTT trends, and movie analysis, Kadir delivers accurate, data driven insights into the business of films.
