By Prasanth Varma’s Hanuman movie, which heavily draws inspiration from Indian mythology, presents a superhero fantasy centering around a common villager named Hanumanthu. The village lad has been madly in love with a girl, Meenakshi, since childhood, but Meenakshi left the village to study medicine. However, after Meenakshi returns to Anjanadri, the young and educated woman cannot stand the corruption and bigotry prevailing in the land and, therefore, raises her voice against the powerholders. Meenakshi upsets the wrong people, which puts her life in danger.
It is when Hanumanthu intervenes and tries to defend the love of his life and, in the process, almost loses his life. The life-threatening incident helps Hanumanthu locate a lost mythological stone, or “Rudra Mani,” which gives him immense power to fight against evil. Hanu Man is the story of Hanumanthu, who, against all odds, tries to defend the people of Anjanadri from the foreign powers, but there is a catch.
HanuMan Movie Story: Set in the fictional Anjanadri, a backward, undeveloped yet pristine village, the plot centres around Hanumanthu (Teja Sajja). The story begins with Michael (Vinay Rai), whose childhood desire for superpowers, influenced by superhero films and cartoons, sets the stage for the film’s events. As Hanumanthu becomes HanuMan after acquiring supernatural abilities, reminiscent of the mythological figure Hanuman, Michael, driven by ambition and greed for power, is desperate to gain the same abilities and will stop at nothing to obtain them. In this battle of good versus evil, who will emerge victorious?
HanuMan Movie Review: Director Prasanth Varma, who shot to fame with films like Awe and Zombie Reddy, has once again teamed up with young actor Teja Sajja to bring us HanuMan, a Telugu-language superhero film, as part of the Prasanth Varma Cinematic Universe. The Sankranti release, also starring Amritha Aiyer, Varalaxmi Sarathkumar, and Vinay Rai, intricately weaves together elements of Indian mythology with a contemporary narrative. The film presents a classic confrontation between two central characters: Hanumanthu, the deserving bearer of divine power, and Michael, the antagonist driven by his desperate pursuit of the same supernatural abilities. Prasanth skilfully integrates familiar elements from various sources, blending them with CGI, thereby enhancing the protagonist’s supernatural presence in the village setting. The story also delves into the rural dynamics and struggles of Anjanadri, including a love story and the challenges faced by villagers under oppressive practices.
Teja Sajja Acting
Teja Sajja portrays his character of Hanumanthu, aka HanuMan, with great conviction, initially as a mischievous thief and later as someone who carries the mantle of playing the saviour of Anjanadri. The success of this film will surely propel him into a different league. Varalaxmi Sarathkumar, as Anjamma, the elder sister of Hanumanthu, packs a punch with her performance. She is a blend of beauty and power. Amritha Aiyer brings a sense of balance to the mix as Meenakshi, a doctor and daughter of a school teacher. The love angle between Hanumanthu and Meenakshi becomes an integral part of the plot. Vinay Rai, playing the antagonist, looks his part (typical supervillain) and strongly contributes to the adventurous plot. All of them brought depth and authenticity to the characters they portrayed. Other notable members of the cast include Vennela Kishore, Samuthirakani, Getup Srinu, Satya, and Raj Deepak Shetty.
The visual effects (VFX) of the film deserve special mention for enhancing the narrative without overwhelming it, creating a visually engaging experience for the audience. The cinematography by Dasaradhi Sivendra and editing by Sai Babu Talari contribute significantly to the film’s appeal. The music by Anudeep Dev, Gowra Hari, and Krishna Saurabh adds to the overall experience. If there’s something that could have been better, it’s the pacing, especially in the first half. A tighter edit and shorter runtime might have improved the viewing experience even further.
With solid storytelling, impressive visuals, and strong performances, the film successfully merges elements of mythology with contemporary action, offering a unique viewing experience in Indian cinema.
