Starring: Shiva Kandukuri, Megha Akash, Priya Vadlamani, Pragathi Shrivastav, Suhas, Daali Dhananjay, Srikanth Iyengar, Madhunandhan, Harshita Chowdary, Garima Kaushal
Director: Bharath Peddagani
Producer: Narala Srinivas Reddy
Music Directors: Gopi Sundar
“Manu Charitra,” featuring Shiva Kandukuri, Megha Akash, Priya Vadlamani, and Pragathi Shrivastav in the lead roles, released today. Directed by Bharath Peddagani, the film offers a blend of romance and action. Let’s delve into its review.
Story:
Manu (Shiva Kandukuri), a brilliant student, finds himself entangled in multiple love affairs but chooses to end each relationship abruptly, without providing any explanation. He shares a deep love with Sravya (Priya Vadlamani), who reciprocates his feelings. However, Manu decides to terminate their relationship. The film unfolds the reasons behind Manu’s perplexing behavior, his connection with the local goon Rudra (Dhananjay), and the consequences that follow.
Plus Points:
The protagonist’s character is skillfully crafted, and Shiva Kandukuri delivers a captivating performance as a tormented individual. Notably, his appearance and portrayal in the flashback sequences stand out. Shiva Kandukuri possesses an appealing screen presence, and his performance remains the highlight of “Manu Charitra.”
Megha Akash shines in a well-etched role, doing justice to her character. Her scenes are executed admirably, and she shares excellent chemistry with Shiva Kandukuri. Pragati Shrivastav, making her debut as a North Indian girl, delivers a commendable performance.
Gopi Sundar’s music elevates the film, with a couple of songs leaving a lasting impact. The first half maintains a good pace, and the engaging flashback sequences enhance the overall viewing experience. Suhas, Srikanth Iyengar, and Priya Vadlamani deliver satisfactory performances.
Minus Points:
The film’s major drawback lies in its excessive length. Particularly, the second half feels sluggish, and certain sequences could have been trimmed to enhance the overall pacing. Additionally, a few impactful scenes lose their effectiveness due to the film’s lengthy runtime and improper placement.
The justification for the protagonist’s attraction to multiple girls could have been presented more convincingly. The second hour of the film lacks the shine and emotion of the first half, with a lack of proper narrative flow. Some scenes also bear similarities to those seen in previous films.
While the film excels in depicting love-related scenes, it loses its charm when the focus shifts to the involvement of goons. Dhananjay’s portrayal as a regular villain fails to bring anything new to the table. The dialogues fall short of expectations.
Verdict:
Overall, “Manu Charitra” can be deemed an average romantic action drama. The film manages to engage the audience during the romantic sequences, but other aspects hinder its overall impact. Shiva Kandukuri, Megha Akash, and the rest of the cast deliver commendable performances. However, the film could have benefited from tighter editing and a more compelling second half. Therefore, “Manu Charitra” ends up as a decent watch for this weekend.