‘Mirai’ Movie Review

Actors: Teja Sajja, Manchu Manoj, Ritika Nayak, Shriya Saran, Jagapathi Babu, Jayaram, Getup Seenu, Venkatesh Maha, Kishore Tirumala, Tanja Keller, Pawan Chopra, Raj Zutsi and others

Music: Hari Gowra

Lyrics: Manibabu Karanam

Screenplay: Karthik Ghattamaneni- Manibabu Karanam

Producer: T.G. Vishwaprasad

Story-Cinematography-Direction: Karthik Gattamneni

Mirai is a film that has created a lot of buzz and hopes of becoming another pan-India hit from Telugu cinema. Its teaser and trailer looked very exciting. After Hanuman, Teja Sajja is once again seen in the role of a superhero. The film is directed by cinematographer-turned-director Karthik Gattamneni and produced by T.G. Vishwaprasad of People Media Factory. Now that Mirai has hit the screens today, let’s see if it lives up to the expectations.

Story:

After winning the Kalinga War, Emperor Ashoka worries about the destruction caused and decides to use his divine power for good. He splits it into nine sacred scriptures and gives them to nine warriors, asking them to protect the world and pass the scriptures to future generations. Hundreds of years later, Mahavir Nama (Manchu Manoj) comes ahead with evil intentions. He wants to use the power of the nine scriptures to rule the world and begins capturing them one by one.

Then comes Veda (Teja Sajja), who stands in his way. Who is Veda, and what is his background that makes him capable of stopping Mahavir Nama? The rest of the story revolves around this battle with Mahavir Nama. Will he succeed in collecting all nine scriptures, or will Veda save the day? The ultimate winner is revealed as the story unfolds.

Analysis:

Mirai is a classic battle of divine power versus evil. Stories like this have always been a hit in Telugu cinema since its inception. Over time, filmmakers moved to modern themes and left this formula behind. But now, cinema seems to be coming full circle, revisiting these old themes. Big films like Karthikeya-2, Kantara, and Hanuman have shown that audiences still love stories with divine elements. But simply using the name of God is not enough. The story must be told with conviction and vision, building a world that feels real even if it’s fictional. Mirai does exactly that, combining mythology, strong characters, gripping narration, impressive visuals, thrilling music, and good performances to make it a visual treat.

The strength of Mirai lies in its story. A good story inspires everyone on the set to give their best. Here, the writers did not just follow the “god vs evil” trend for popularity. The nine sacred books and their background immediately catch the audience’s attention. But the core of the story is Mahavir Nama (Manchu Manoj), a man who wants to seize these scriptures and rule the world. At first, he seems like a usual Telugu-cinema villain, but as his backstory unfolds, his character becomes intense and powerful. Every scene showing his past is gripping, which in turn makes the hero’s role even stronger.

The first half of Mirai moves unevenly. The story takes time to pick up until the hero sets his goal. Some comedy scenes feel unnecessary and slow down the pace. The film truly gains momentum when the hero enters the action zone. The first major highlight is the encounter with Sampati, the giant bird protecting Mirai. From that point, the visuals and action lift the film to another level. The second half balances the hero’s adventures with the villain’s backstory, keeping it engaging. Some parts feel convenient, where the hero faces little challenge, but these moments are offset by exciting sequences that hold the audience’s attention.

The climax and final scenes deliver well, especially involving Lord Rama’s connection to the story. Mirai is built to entertain not just Telugu audiences but pan-India viewers. With its combination of mythology, action, and strong performances, it is exactly the kind of follow-up superhero movie fans were expecting from Teja Sajja after Hanuman.

Performances:

Teja Sajja is growing as an actor, and the success of Hanuman seems to have boosted his confidence. He plays Veda with assurance, and while his performance feels ordinary at first, it improves as the story progresses. In the second half, his role gets more depth, and he carries the screen well as a superhero. Some action scenes show his limitations, but overall, he’s impressive.

Manchu Manoj stands out as the villain Mahavir Nama. Unlike his previous negative role in Bhairavam, he brings a subtle and controlled menace here. His look fits the character perfectly, and he leaves a strong impression. After this, it wouldn’t be surprising if he gets more villain roles in major films. Ritika Nayak looks cute on screen, and her performance is fine, though her role is limited. Shriya Saran makes a mark in her key role; even with fewer scenes, she has a noticeable impact throughout the film.

Senior actors like Jagapathi Babu and Jayaram show their experience effortlessly. Other supporting actors, including Getup Seenu and Venkatesh Maha, do their part well. Overall, the cast complements the story, and most performances contribute effectively to the film.

Technicians:

Music director Hari Gowra proves to be a real hero behind the scenes in Mirai. After showing his talent in Hanuman, he has once again impressed with his versatility. His background score elevates the film, especially in key moments, and the devotional themes are also well-composed.

The visual effects team has done a solid job. Scenes involving the giant bird Sampathi and other VFX shots are handled effectively. Production values are high, and every rupee spent by People Media Factory is visible on the screen.

Manibabu Karanam, who contributed to the screenplay-dialogues, adds depth with lines like, “Soil is life… Seed is God… When combined, it becomes a tree.” These moments connect the story beautifully to its mythological roots.

Director-cinematographer Karthik Gattamneni deserves special praise. He wrote a clear, engaging story that links mythology with modern cinema, and being the cameraman himself, he brought his vision perfectly to life. With Mirai, Karthik has shown his skill as both a writer and director, taking on multiple responsibilities and succeeding impressively.

Finally: ‘Mirai’ Shines

Rating-3.25/5