Manu Charitra review: This cringe, ‘Arjun Reddy’ spoof is an epic misfire

Manu Charitra is the sure bet if you want to watch something funny with your friends this weekend.

Because you end up laughing involuntarily at the serious story that is inspired by Vijay Deverakonda’s Arjun Reddy (2016). You find more dissimilarities in Manu Charitra than in references from the blockbuster film.

But unlike the protagonist Arjun Reddy, Manu Durgaraju (Shiva Kandukuri) is rather thin and bony. He has no bullet to boast of but carries a heroic swag with his Pulsar motorcycle.

Story

Manu holds a distinction for his academic excellence in college. But he changes his career plans midway abruptly for the girl Jennifer (Megha Akash). It soon leads to heartbreak.

He then turns to Sravya (Priya Vadlamani), a college goer, who breaks up with her instantly.

Then he proposes to Naveena, a classical dancer, and breaks up without a reason.

Then he befriends a sex worker named Priya, and then with Aisha Sheik (Garima Kaushal).

It takes no time for the girls to find his flawed nature. How he finds his true love wading through his psychological issues, crime, and heartbreak is the story in short.

Also Read: ‘Manu Charitra’ is the story of a flawed youngster

Lacks background work

Manu Charitra is a Warangal-based story, but you won’t find the flavour of Warangal city in the entire runtime.

Of course, there’s Pocham Maidan where a gruesome murder of a gangster takes place and then Vaddepally Cheruvu where dead bodies are thrown into; Mulugu Road, District Collectorate, and Kazipet keep recurring on the screen.

But there is very little Warangal you can find while the characters speak.

Take the case of Suhas who played Manu’s friend Nandu. He says “Chethalu Chetak maatalu khatarnaak” (deeds are less and words are more) in one scene.

It appears as if it is forced upon him. It inadvertently bloats up Suhas’ already-inherent Andhra slang. So is with other characters in the film, including Shiva Kandukuri.

Cringe dialogues & heavily influenced

The cringe part among several other scenes in Manu Charitra is this one — the dean of an engineering college walks straight into the classroom and asks this bright student Manu, “Why did you opt for this college when you secured a top rank in NIMCET and EAMCET exams?”.

An equally bold Manu replies in front of the session, “Nenu preminchina ammay ee college lo join ayyindi (because the girl I’m in love with has joined this college).

How embarrassing it could have been for that poor girl Jenny, you may think. But Jenny blushes out with happiness in front of her pals.

While Manu is reeling under a severe heartbreak, a good-looking teacher Stella (Harshitha Choudhary) peeps into his life. Stella throws a ball at Manu saying, “Hey pillaga, ball ivvu” (Hey boy, get that ball). Sounded like Sai Pallavi’s dialogue in Fida (2017) right?

Also Read: ‘Dhoomam’ deals with a hard-hitting subject, but falls short as a thriller

Cut to the next scene, Stella openly expresses her love to Manu on the phone without even meeting him, albeit with heavy-duty dialogue.

And the icing on the cake is when the protagonist Manu gives a seminar on blockchain technology and how it is useful in agriculture.

But the same PowerPoint presentation is used in three different sequences later.

And a reference from Arjun Reddy comes to your mind when Manu is seriously giving a seminar and his friend calls to him saying, “Arey, ekkadunnav ra, Jenny pelli cheskuntundi“(Where are you? Jenny is getting married).

Manu wonders “Em Matladutunnav raa…”(What the heck are you speaking). He then drops everything on the table and leaves the hall fuming, Arjun Reddy-style.

Related: Actor Shiva Kandukuri talks his latest film ‘Manu Charitra’

Performances

Young actor Shiva, who is just a few films old, dares to be unimaginably big for his appearance on the screen. However, his performance as a flawed student is spot on.

Leading ladies Priya Vadlamani, Megha Akash, and Pragati Srivastava have done a good job within their spaces.

Suhas as Manu’s friend has put up a good effort.

Actor Daali as local gangster Rudra steals the show with his rugged nature.

Sanjay Swaroop as a college dean, and Srikanth Iyengar as a crooked politician played their roles perfectly.

Bharath Kumar Pegagani directed the film during the lockdown. He learned the ropes in filmmaking under RX 100 (2018) director Ajay Bhupathi.

Gopi Sundar’s music is the only saving grace for Manu Charitra that can bank on songs and their lyrics.

The cinematography by Rahul Shrivatsav is appreciable, especially for picturising underwater scenes and fight blocks. The rich camera work is exhibited throughout the movie.

Final take

Manu Charitra needs a lot of post-mortems if the director gets a chance to relook at what he has done. There is nothing in the film that could save it from drowning!

(Views expressed here are personal.)