'Mitra Mandali' Movie Review

'Mitra Mandali' Movie Review

Actors: Priyadarshi, Niharika NM, Rag Mayur, Vishnu Oy, Prasad Behara, Vennela Kishore, Satya, VTV Ganesh, Satya Prakash, Jeevan Reddy and others

Music: RR Dhruv

Cinematography: Siddharth SJ

Producers: Kalyan Mantena, Bhanu Pratap, Vijender Reddy, Bunny Vasu

Story- Screenplay- Direction: Vijayender

Noted Tollywood personality Bunny Vasu launched his own production house, Bunny Vasu Works, and his first film, Little Hearts, proved to be a hit. That got people curious about his next project, Mitra Mandali. As the teaser and trailer were quirky and funny, they created a decent buzz. The film stars Priyadarshi and Niharika NM, and it’s the debut for director Vijayender. It was released today as a Diwali treat, and let’s see if the film lives up to all the hype.

Story:

With elections approaching in the fictional village of Jangilipatnam, there’s a fierce contest between Narayana (VTV Ganesh), the leader of the Tutte caste, and Freedom Raju (Satya Prakash) for the MLA ticket. In the same village, four friends, Chaitanya (Priyadarshi), Sathvik (Vishnu Oy), Abhi (Raag Mayur), and Rajiv (Prasad Behara), wander around with neither work nor a goal.

One day, Sathvik and Abhi see Swechha (Niharika NM) and instantly fall for her. As days pass, both of them try to woo her but are shocked to learn that she is Narayana’s daughter. Around the same time, Narayana files a complaint at the police station claiming his daughter eloped with someone and urges the police to find her. Questions arise: Where did Swechha go? Who did she fall in love with? What kind of troubles will these four friends face because of her? All these twists and turns unfold on screen, keeping the audience guessing. The story mixes romance, comedy, and drama, making viewers wait to see how it all ends.

Analysis:

Mitramandali doesn’t really have a strong story. The screenplay feels loose, and the characters never seem serious. Even in tense moments, things quickly take a comical turn. The film clearly aims to make the audience laugh, no matter how silly the scenes get. This style has become a trend in Tollywood, movies like Jathi Ratnalu, Mad series, Aye, Single, and recently Little Hearts followed this path. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. This film falls in the second category as some jokes land, but the overall comedy doesn’t quite stick, leaving mixed feelings.

The director seems inspired by his former roommates and friends, Anudeep (Jathi Ratnalu) and Kalyan Shankar (Mad), trying to copy that laugh-out-loud vibe. The story revolves around four mischievous guys, and almost every character behaves a little crazy or says silly things. Comedy only works if the timing is right, the dialogue has punch, and the situations feel naturally funny. In Mitramandali, that mix is off. Actors like Priyadarshi, Vishnu Oy, Satya, Vennela Kishore, Prasad Behara, and Raag Mayur are all comic talents, but the film doesn’t use them properly. They get a few laughs here and there, but then the next scene just falls flat, lacking any punch.

Niharik NMa, as the heroine, had potential, but her role ends up disappointing. The character is too silly and not well-written. Even the four friends’ roles don’t reach the level of fun you expect. Satya’s character, hyped in promos as “important character”, is hit-or-miss, though it provides some laughs, some confusion. On the brighter side, the film’s satire on caste issues, inter-caste marriages, and politics actually works at times. A few songs, like Katthanduko Janaki and the climax folk number, are fun and add light moments.

In the end, Mitramandali works if you’re in the mood for a casual comedy without expecting much. If you want nonstop laughs or smart writing, you might feel let down. The story is predictable, the writing is weak in places, and the comedy is uneven. There are chuckles here and there, but nothing that really hits hard.

Performances:

Priyadarshi, who’s been doing serious roles lately, tried comedy again like he did in Jathi Ratnalu. He looked the part, but the laughs didn’t come as easily this time. Social media reels fame Niharika NM, who impressed in Perusu (Tamil), made her Telugu debut here, but her role didn’t really land. Though she looked fine, nothing memorable. Raag Mayur, Vishnu Oy, and Prasad Behara, playing the friends, had a few funny moments and got small laughs. VTV Ganesh, as the caste leader, tried his comedy tricks, but they didn’t hit. Vennela Kishore’s usual magic was missing when he’s around, as it doesn’t quite pop. Satya Prakash and Jeevan Reddy were okay. Comedian Satya had a couple of funny bits, but honestly, his role didn’t feel necessary. Brahmanandam shows up briefly, steals a few laughs, and then disappears.

Overall, some actors had their moments, but the humor was patchy. A few chuckles here and there, but it never fully grabs you. The film relies on the cast’s comedy talent; however, the writing never gives them the space to shine.

Technicians:

RR Dhruv, the music director, mostly went for remixes and parody songs to suit the film. Some of them are fun and work with the vibe. His background score is alright, nothing that really stands out. Siddharth SJ’s cinematography is vivid, and every frame looks bright. Production values are decent, exactly what the film needs.

In these kinds of films, nobody worries much about a solid story. What counts are funny situations and dialogues that hit. Vijayender, the debut director, tries to do that. Some scenes show his sense of humor, but a lot of the writing feels too simple, so the jokes don’t always land. His conception of scenes is somewhat good, but poor writing spoiled the party.

Finally: Mitra Mandali.. Inadequate comedy dose

Rating: 2.25/5