The recent Sankranthi movie releases saw a new high with four Telugu films coming out simultaneously. While one movie bowed out last minute, Teja Sajja’s HanuMan had to compete with multiple biggies. Despite this, the film, with relative newcomers in the driving seat, stuck to its guns and upped the stakes with paid premiers and a bold marketing strategy. The current mood of the nation with the Ayodhya Temple ceremony also played an important part in the film’s success.
Hanuman takes major elements from the Ramayana and squeezes them into an egg-sized gem, called Rudhira Mani (blood gem), placing it in the fictional village of Anjanadri. The first half introduces us to the film’s villain, Gajapathi (Raj Deepak Shetty), a powerful man in the village, and its hero, Hanumanthu (Teja Sajja), a petty thief. There’s also a bigger villain in the film, a superhero figure calling himself Mega Man aka Michael (Vinay Rai). He craves power, even if it means neglecting responsibility and duty. He has gone to great lengths to become powerful, even spilling blood.
Hanumanthu, meanwhile, has had a crush on Meenakshi (Amritha Aiyer) since childhood. While trying to prove his worth to her, he gets into trouble with Gajapathi’s men, falls into the ocean, and acquires the Rudhira Mani – a gem containing a drop of Lord Hanuman’s blood. After gaining superpowers from the gem, Hanumanthu defeats Gajapathi and his goons. Mega Man, on the other hand, arrives in the village searching for more power to become the ultimate superhero. The second half revolves around the fight between Mega Man and HanuMan.
Director Prashanth Varma, known for his earlier films like A!, Kalki, and Zombie Reddy, shows his guts and ambition in Hanuman. He blends Indian mythology with the contemporary superhero genre, creating an entertaining set of characters within the small universe of the fictional village.
Teja Sajja’s character is cleverly designed as a weak, petty thief who relies on his craftiness rather than strength. The divine power helps him realize his true potential and responsibilities. He slowly transforms into the rightful owner of the divine power, unlike Mega Man who craves power at any cost. The supporting cast includes Getup Srinu, Rakesh Master, Sathya, Vennela Kishore, and others who play quirky and entertaining characters. The sequence comparing superheroes with Telugu film heroes is particularly well done. The fight with the wrestlers just before the interval is a good combination of justice being served and the anticipation of the supernatural force coming into play.
The fight mixed with the song Avakaya Anjaneya in the second half is entertaining, and the other songs also suit the mood. Dasharadhi Shivendra’s cinematography adds value to the movie, and the CGI work in the underwater sequences and shots showing Lord Hanuman are excellent.
While the story surrounding Samudrakhani’s character may not be convincing for all viewers, and other elements like the Rudhira Mani, rakshasas returning, and the lack of backstory to the village of Anjanadri weaken the larger story, they thankfully don’t impact the overall enjoyment of the film. More than Teja Sajja playing the hero, what stands out is his portrayal of the character embracing his vulnerabilities. Samudrakhani excels in his enigmatic role, while Varalakshmi Sharatkumar impresses with her effortless performance. Getup Srinu, Sathya, and the hilarious bird following Sathya everywhere also add to the entertainment. The inclusion of a monkey as a key character and using Ravi Teja’s voice is another nice touch.
Hanuman is filled with entertaining moments, making it a wholesome family entertainer for the Sankranthi season. It’s the first solid entertainer of the year and a perfect choice for the festive season.
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