Jan 15, 2024 2:00 am IST : HanuMan directed by Prasanth Varma, stands out as a sincere attempt to infuse the revered deity of Hinduism ‘Lord HanuMan’ into the superhero genre. Released on Jan 12, 2024, the film has been making buzz with its positive word of mouth and excellent promotion strategies. Our team of movie freaks were a little late to book their tickets, but here they are with their review of this new Super Hero flick. Let’s explore if HanuMan lives up to the buzz created by the people on Social Media.
| Title | HanuMan |
|---|---|
| Genre | Superhero |
| Release Date | January 12, 2024 |
| Duration | 2h 30m |
Cast:
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Teja Sajja | Hanumanthu |
| Varalaxmi Sarathkumar | Anjamma |
| Amritha Aiyer | Meenakshi |
| Vinay Rai | Michael |
| Raj Deepak Shetty | Gajapathi |
| Samuthirakani | – |
| Vennela Kishore | – |
| Getup Srinu | – |
| Satya | – |
Crew:
| Director | Prasanth Varma |
|---|---|
| Producer | Niranjan Reddy |
| Music Directors | Gowra Hari, Anudeep Dev, Krishna Saurabh |
| Cinematographer | Shivendra |
| Editor | Saibabu Talari |
| Background Score | Gowra Hari |
Plot of HanuMan
Set in the fictional village of Anjanadhri, the story revolves around Hanumanthu (Teja Sajja), a petty thief with an elder sister, Anjamma (Varalaxmi Sarathkumar), looking out for him. The film takes a unique turn when Hanumanthu acquires superpowers from a precious stone, leading to a series of events involving a power-hungry antagonist, Gajapathi (Raj Deepak Shetty), and a superhero figure named Michael (Vinay Rai).
Goosebumps-Inducing Moments
HanuMan triumphs in creating moments that send shivers down the spine. The entire film is overshadowed by the formidable presence of Lord Hanuman. Gowra Hari’s impressive background score amplifies the impact of these moments, reaching its pinnacle in the extensive and striking finale. Despite intermittent concerns about the pace of the movie in the first half, the second half sees a surge in momentum, driven by powerful action sequences and Lord Hanuman moments
Acting Performance
Teja Sajja shines in his role, portraying an underdog convincingly, and Varalaxmi Sarathkumar delivers a commendable performance. Amritha Aiyer adds charm as Teja’s love interest, and supporting actors like Satya and Getup Srinu contribute to the engaging narrative with their humorous mannerisms.
Major Misses
While HanuMan excels in creating memorable moments, the film is not without flaws. The storyline, centered around a bad guy seeking world domination through superpowers, is a familiar concept seen in many movies. Prasanth Varma skillfully navigates this drawback with crowd-pleasing moments, but the antagonist’s character and writing could have been more nuanced.
The first forty minutes of the film seem lackluster, lacking the desired engagement. Additionally, a couple of songs appear out of place within the overall narrative, disrupting the flow of the movie.
Music, Animation, Editing & Direction
Gowra Hari’s commendable background score, notably in the climactic scenes, enhances the overall emotional intensity, justifying the high-voltage moments in the film. Shivendra’s cinematography is polished, although a bit of editing refinement could have added tighter precision to specific sequences. Prasanth Varma’s direction comes to the forefront, strategically placing impactful moments throughout the movie and reaching its pinnacle in the last twenty minutes.
Our Verdict
HanuMan stands out as a captivating superhero film, weaving together moments of exhilaration, humor, and emotional resonance. Despite a storyline that may feel familiar, Prasanth Varma adeptly captivates the audience’s attention, particularly through the grand and authentic depiction of Lord Hanuman. Teja Sajja and the entire ensemble cast deliver praiseworthy performances, making HanuMan a highly recommended watch, especially fitting for the Sankranthi season.
In conclusion, HanuMan offers a fresh take on the superhero genre, combining Indian Super God Hanuman with contemporary storytelling, making it a compelling family entertainer for the festive season.
