Manu is a story of Manu an artist who also tries catching rats and is on a hunt for something and Neela who is in love with him and is on a hunt for someone to take revenge on. The story has two different point of views and it is very hard for the audience to grip on. It is manipulative but slow in the beginning but the visuals make the audience to sit tight for the end. The movie being an abstract artsy genre, though with sheer brilliance in story telling the narration couldn’t hold the viewers for much long. The huge minus point was narration of this movie with a promising visuals and indulging screenplay.
Story and concept: The story of this movie is a basic one, with a touch of romance and revenge. And the concept of this movie is about how to get away from our own deeds and find solace in it. Phanindra tried to make this movie a very interesting and mind bending for the audience. Though the story is very normal, he proved that screenplay and editing gimmicks can make a movie very different from what people think. But movie tries to explain too many things through philosophical dialogues and hence couldn’t hold the audience.
Screenplay and editing: The way the story goes is very non-linear i.e. there are two different stories going in different angles only to meet at one place. This gives viewers a very gripping tension. The visuals hold us together to see what happens next and who is in control of whom. At first, we may think that this is about some past that has happened already but actually there is much more to it. The way the screenplay and visuals are shown are marvellous and intimidating to the audience. The story happens in a secluded island which is home for burglars and smugglers and takes place in the 70s or 80s. The way the backdrop is handled is very convincing. As the movie has a non-linear screenplay with a little boring first half until intermission everything is very fishy. At the beginning of the second half, things are clear and we establish a point of view to watch the next scenes. The movie had amazing use of Telugu literature and philosophical touch. But the way the story was narrated was not gripping enough to hold the audience The conclusion of the movie gives us the entire picture of what is the motive of the leads and what has happened up until the climax.
Acting: Raja Gowtham was very convincing with his subtle expressions and deep voice. His voice actually gave added weight to the philosophical dialogues and hit the viewers lot more than expected. Chandini Chowdary was very pleasing in the role of Neela and her urge to meet her love is very lovely and has shown the romantic angle very neatly. Her role needed a revenge angle too and she could show that change with very ease. I would give a special mention to John Kottoly for his role as a tenant with a dark side. He was very pleasing as a burglar and has shown sheer perfection in a change in his facial expressions and emotions.
Music and Sound Design: The songs were used in the background and were apt to the scenes and backdrop. The bgm was very convincing and was authentic to the time period. The small details are also very keenly observed in the background. Also, the music was cleverly used to manipulate and confuse the audience and tick them off the main track at times.
