- Date of Release: 12 January 2024
- Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy
- Language: Telugu
Hanu Man
Introduction
I must admit that I do have traumatic memories of the ‘magnum opus’ film Adipurush even today. A film that was slated to be the biggest mythological saga mounted on a humungous budhet of 700 crore turned out to be such a whimper that it not only had me disappointed but also infuriated at the treatment of immortal characters from our mythology. I have always maintained that there is so much to learn from the Ramayana irrespective of the faith and beliefs that you have been following. Mythology is such a vast ‘untapped’ genre that if done right can pave way for so many stories from the grassroots, something that would be fascinating to witness on the big screen. So when I did get to know that Prasanth Varma, the brain behind films like Awe and Zombie Reddy was helming a mythological superhero film, Hanu-Man, I definitely had a spring in my step! The amalgamation of mythology and the superhero genre may very well be a match made in heaven given that both genres are relatively untapped thus opening doors for a fresh universe of sorts. With much anticipation, I ventured into the film Hanuman, does Hanu Man the film manage to impress, let’s find out.
Story & Screenplay
Hanu Man, a nice little word-play on Lord Hanuman while alerting the viewers of the superhero genre too, follows the story of a protagonist who gets the powers of Lord Hanuman while having to protect his land, Anjanadri, and his people from a powerful nemesis. The story is pretty interesting here wherein the amalgamation of mythology and the elements of a superhero movie just felt to organic. This isn’t specifically about Lord Hanuman but more about using his teachings and powers to build a foundation for a rousing superhero film, the first in the Prasanth Varma Cinematic Universe. As a result, there is an underlying layer of mythology running throughout the narrative with the top layer forming the crux of the superhero film. The screenplay standing at also 160 minutes does well with the world building and its characterization while making for an engrossing origin story.
The drama begins on a terrific note with the introduction of a young boy who wishes to be a superhero. There is a smart integration of the spiderman theme playing in the background that sets the tempo for the film. However in a strange turn of events, you witness the boy killing his parents citing that superheroes’ parents are always dead. So the crux of his character(Michael) is destruction that acts as a paradox even as he ages into a killing beast. Elsewhere, we are introduced to the protagonist(Hanumathu) residing in an imaginary place called Anjanadri, a place that holds a vital part in mythology given that it was the birth place of Lord Hanuman. It is here that you are introduced to the other characters too featuring his childhood crush, his friend and his doting sister amidst an environment of village politics that transpires. But Hanumanthu’s life changes after he finds a mystic stone that possesses the power of Lord Hanuman until Michael starts hunting for a similar power too by coming after him.
The proceedings are engaging while combining the mass masala genre with mythology in a rather seamless manner. My little gripe with the initial world building was the humour that felt a little out of place while briefly disconnecting me from the drama every now and then. This is not to say that it was entirely out of place, I loved the homage that a character paid to the superstars of the film industry who have ruled the roost for over the years. But in some places, the humour was slightly forced that didn’t sit right with me thus making the drama campy at a few places. What worked otherwise was the mythological thread that was cleverly used as an undercurrent in the first hour while awaiting a full throttle in the second hour.
The urgency kicks in, in the second hour when Hanumanthu and Michael’s worlds collide. The writers weren’t shy of raising the stakes in the drama too that happens in the form of an important character being bumped off that contributes to the emotional quotient of the drama. The drama does move on predictable beats but ticks most boxes for the superhero genre and the mythology genre. The last 30 minutes are goosebumps worthy and quite a site to witness with the buildup of drama to that point. The finale act is also satisfactory while also rousing the right kinds of emotions while nicely setting up things for the second film of the universe. Overall, the screenplay is quite well penned and makes for a good watch.
Dialogues, Music & Direction
The dialogues range from being playful to holding solid relevance in the mythological space. The music is quite good and the songs play out quite in sync with the screenplay. For instance, there is an action sequence staged against a group of women preparing pickle which made for a fine spectacle. The BGM elevates the drama by giving you goosebumps particularly in the final act. I did feel though that the action set-pieces weren’t as impressive barring a few wherein the patchy editing left a lot to be desired. A single take action set-piece or atleast set pieces showcasing actual punches being landed would have created a better impact. The VFX is commendable given the overall budget of the film which is 30 crores, something that has left me seething even more as far as Adipurush is concerned. Director Prasanth Varma is yet again in top form. In his previous venture Zombie Reddy, he did briefly dabble with the mythological element in the Zombie space. But here in Hanu-Man, it was a more convincing amalgamation that felt organic with the world building but more importantly controlled without going overboard or getting preachy. His approach was always to make a superhero film while only using mythology as an undercurrent, and the direction was pretty good here.
Performances
The performances are pretty good here. Getup Srinu as Kaasi and Vennela Kishore as Siri are superb with their comic timing and if some jokes land then it is because of their affinity for comedy. Samuthirakani(character name kept under wraps to avoid spoilers) is excellent in an important character and he will make you swell with pride. Deepak Shetty as Gajapathi has his moments to shine. Varalaxmi Sarathkumar as Anjamma is affable and earnest in a character that is fiery but also heartfelt. She also excels in her sole action set-piece while also contributing to the emotional quotient of the drama really well. Amritha Aiyer as Meenakshi looks pretty and has a good presence onscreen in a sincerely performed character. Vinay Rai as Michael is intimidating and brings in a lot of energy in his character while being a perfect nemesis to the protagonist. Teja Sajja as Hanumanthu is aptly cast particularly because you did require someone to portray playful innocence really well. You do see a little lack of depth in a few scenes featuring him but the makers have played to his strengths, as a result of which he shines in most scenes. He is terrific to watch in a fine job done, overall.
Conclusion
Hanu-Man is a great mix of mythology and a mass masala entertainer packaged in a ‘Desi’ Superhero movie that makes for an impactful watch. Available in a theatre near you.