What’s it about?
Hanumanthu (Teja Sajja) and his sister Anjamma (Varalaxmi Sarath Kumar) reside in the village of Anjanadri. He loves Meenakshi (Amritha Aiyer) since childhood. During the process of rescuing Meenakshi from a violent assault by criminals, he accidentally plunges into a river. Submerged in the water, he acquires a sacred stone believed to belong to Lord Hanu Man, resulting in his eventual acquisition of great power.
Conversely, Michael (Vinay Rai), a wealthy man, has fascination to be a superman. He develops an intense desire to acquire extraordinary powers and becomes aware of Hanumanth’s super powers. Michael descends upon Hanumanth’s village with the intention of seizing the stone. What happens next?
Analysis
Superhero movies adapted from comic book heroes are the trend in Hollywood, and they hold massive share of the global box office. Director Prasanth Varma has endeavored to achieve the same effect in Telugu cinema by incorporating our indigenous deities and superheroes. In Indian mythology, Lord Hanuman is revered as a colossal superhero. It is understandable that Prasanth Varma chose to center his movie, Hanu Man, around Lord Hanuman and his super powers.
Krishna Vamsi made a similar effort in 2004 with the film “Sri Anjaneyam,” featuring Nithiin as the protagonist. The common element between “Sri Anjaneyam” and “Hanu Man” is the portrayal of a vulnerable young person receiving assistance from Lord Hanuman. However, Prasanth Varma’s film is primarily a local adaptation of Hollywood superhero genre.
“Hanu Man” is desi super hero movie.
The plot is simple: an ordinary rural youngster gains superpowers by accident as a result of a stone belonging to Lord Hanuman and an evil person attempting to steal from him. Prasanth Varma attempted to infuse devotional fervor with the many mythological references by using the genre’s classic narrative style of superhero movies.
It is in the first fifteen minutes and the last sections that Prasanth shines. Particularly, the climax section is masterfully executed, which is certain to elicit applause in the theaters.
But the remaining sequences are rather dull. For a superhero film, the rural setting completely lacks any sense of modernity. The act of a village chief and his unruly followers demanding taxes from the residents is highly incongruous in the context of contemporary society. Varalaxmi’s character and her arc are shallow and ineffective. The emotional scenes between her and Teja also lack impact. The character of the villain is likewise one dimensional.
Teja Sajja suits well for the role of a rural young guy. He is energetic and does justice to the role. Amritha Aiyer as his love fits well. Vinay Rai as the villain. Satya and Getup Sreenu provide some laughs. Vennela Kishore appears as a scientist.
The film unquestionably excels in terms of technical aspects. The visuals and visual effects are superb for a production with a modest budget. The underwater sequences in the first half and the final Lord Hanuman scenes exhibit effective graphics. The film is enhanced by the background score during pivotal moments. The cinematography is impressive. Prasanth Varma’s directorial prowess becomes evident in the climactic moments.
Bottom line: The last 30 minutes of the desi super hero film “Hanu Man” are really impressive. The devotional elements, visuals, and background score take precedence. Even though the movie drags at times and certain portions lack effectiveness, it’s still fun to watch.
Rating: 3/5
By Jalapathy Gudelli
Film: Hanu Man
Banner: Prime Show Entertainment
Cast: Teja Sajja , Amritha Aiyer , Varalakshmi Sarath Kumar, Vinay Rai, and others
Screenplay: Scriptsville
Music: Gowra Hari
DOP: Shivendra
Production Designer: Sri Nagendra Tangala
Editor: Saibabu Talari
Producer: K Niranjan Reddy
Written and Directed by: Prasanth Varma
Release Date: Jan 12, 2024
