Manu | |
---|---|
Directed by | Phanindra Narsetti |
Written by | Phanindra Narsetti |
Produced by | Srujan Yarabolu |
Starring |
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Cinematography | Vishwanath Reddy Chelumalla |
Edited by | Phanindra Narsetti |
Music by | Naresh Kumaran |
Release date |
|
Running time | 180 minutes |
Country | India |
Language | Telugu |
Manu is a 2018 Indian Telugu language experimental romantic art film directed by debutant Phanindra Narsetti. The film stars Raja Goutham and Chandini Chowdary. The film, banked on crowdfunding, released to average reviews. However, the film is praised for its unique story-telling, direction, production design, music, colour correction, costumes, but criticised the film's excessive length, unnecessary detailing. [1]
Raja Gowtham and Chandini Chowdary were cast to play the lead roles. [4] [5] The film was set in the 1980s and Chowdary played an English woman in the film. [6] The film is a crowdfunded venture. [7]
A critic from The Hindu wrote that "If only it had been less indulgent, Manu would have been worthwhile". [8] A critic from The Times of India gave the film two-and-a-half out of five stars and wrote that "Manu had all the ingredients to be a rewarding experience, though it falls short of being one". [9] A critic from Sify gave the film a rating of one-and-three-quarters out of five and wrote that "Manu, a thriller, is full of abstract ideas and surrealistic moments. It definitely has style and good technical values but it also is absurd and is boring". A critic from Deccan Chronicle gave the film two out of five stars and noted that "An interesting plot and good screenplay could have perhaps salvaged this film. While Manu starts off on a promising note, the director hasn’t been able to see it through till the end". [10]
Mahesh Babu is an Indian actor, producer, media personality, and philanthropist who works in Telugu cinema. He is one of the highest-paid actors in Indian cinema. He first appeared in the 1979 film Needa when he was four years old. He continued to perform as a child actor in several films, most of which featured his father Krishna. Following his role as the titular protagonist in Balachandrudu (1990) while still a child, his career went on hiatus so he could concentrate on his education until taking on his first lead role as an adult in the 1999 film Rajakumarudu, for which he won the Nandi Award for Best Male Debut. Afterwards, his career stagnated until successes like Murari (2001), Okkadu (2003) and Athadu (2005) brought him fame. In 2006, he played a gangster in the Puri Jagannadh-directed action-thriller Pokiri. The film became the highest-grossing Telugu film of all time, and according to Vogue India, cemented Babu's reputation as a "superstar".
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