Mirai, produced by People Media Factory, hit the cinemas today. In this section, we are going to tell you what the ambitious multi-lingual release is like.
Plot:
Vedha (Teja Sajja) is a happy-go-lucky orphan who lives in Hyderabad. Vibha (Ritika Nayak), a religious student from the Ambika Ashram, reaches out to him seeking his help in preventing Emperor Ashoka’s 9th sacred scripture from falling into the wrong hands. Since the knowledge contained in those books can bestow anybody with immortality, Mahabir (Manchu Manoj), an evil-minded tantrik practitioner, shouldn't get to grab them. What is Vibha's past? Why is he destined to participate in an epic battle that can decide the future of the planet? Is he chosen by the divine? What was the past of his mother, Ambika (Shriya Saran)? What roles does Vibha play in his fight? Answers to these and many other questions are what the story is about.
Performances:
Teja Sajja had to look the part of a reluctant warrior and a futuristic hero in the movie. He is fairly good. His demeanour is confident but not precise. Manchu Manoj brings out his character's sense of rage. Occasionally, he does embody its ruthlessness. The subtly theatrical performances by the two actors impress in the climax.
Ritika Nayak is seen in many important scenes, while Shriya Saran has a momentous character; it is easily among the best in her post-superstardom phase. Jagapathi Babu as Angama Bali is less prominent than Jayaram as Agasthya Muni. The former is understated in a poignant flashback. Jayaram looks more contemporary than someone who carries millennia of knowledge within him.
Technical aspects:
The VFX output is remarkable. The colour grading, the enhancement of the props, the use of light, and other visual aspects add a new dimension to the narrative.
Karthik Gattamneni's cinematography does justice to the film's varied settings and colour palettes. From imagery that we associate with a religious aesthetic to the hi-tech elements, everything has been elevated with a flourish.
Gowra Hari's score is a powerful fusion of traditional Indian instruments and modern electronic and orchestral music. His BGM for Teja Sajja's initial portions is cheery and energetic. In the action portions, his style is influenced by trendy action dramas that have set new trends in recent times.
The action choreography is by a multitude of stunt masters: Pradeet Seelum (Nung), Kecha Khampakdee, Maibam Nabakanta, Real Satish, Rabin Subbu, Stunts Jaswa, Stunts Sri, Nandu, Amrit Singh, and Kishore Verma. Despite the involvement of many, they are not too distinct from each other. The sincerity of the situation and the hero's transformation add weight to the sequences.
Post-Mortem:
This fantasy action-adventure film follows a set template: the good guys encounter a series of dangers, they receive a helping hand from the Divine, they deploy those prescriptions with a calm mind, and boom! The very title of the film denotes a staff from a bygone era. And this staff holds magical powers, which our hero learns to make use of under the guidance of a rishi-like figure. These moments are momentous. The screenplay by Karthik and Manibabu Karanam is pretty engaging.
When good characters have to overcome a difficulty, find a clue, or discover a new path, things fall into place just like that. They receive help from God BECAUSE they are good and their goal is noble. A female character wields the Mantrika Mudra and boom! A male character says 'Jai Traya' and boom! He can peek into whole conversations from before his birth. Such ideas are inevitable in this genre, and they feel totally earned in the context of this film.
The use of the Sri Rama element and the creative liberties stemming from the Ramayana reference are not manipulative. Films like Mirai engage children as much as adults precisely because of the magical quality of their many elements.
Manchu Manoj's character is not unidimensional, making him one of the most colourful villains in recent times. There are no cinematic binaries involved in his characterization.
Closing Remarks:
Mirai is an ambitious fantasy film that shines in its technical aspects, particularly its remarkable VFX and cinematography. The performances are adequate, with standout moments from different actors and some impressive work from the lead actors in the climax. Overall, this is a must-watch movie made for the big screen. In the coming years, Mirai will be shown as the ideal example where no gamble was played to ensure the best visuals.
