Mana Shankara Vara PrasadReview:
By ANR Writing ✍🏽 | Senior Film Critic
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ / 5
Megastar Chiranjeevi teams up with hitmaker Anil Ravipudi for a family entertainer titled Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu. With a chart-friendly music album, an engaging trailer, and a festive Sankranthi release, the film arrived with healthy expectations. Nayanthara plays the female lead, while Victory Venkatesh appears in an extended cameo. Backed by Shine Screens’ Sahu Garapati and co-produced by Sushmita Konidela, the film released worldwide on January 12, with special premiere shows on the previous night.
Story:
Prasad (Chiranjeevi) works as a personal security officer to Central Minister Nitin Sharma. During a journey, Prasad narrates the story of his personal life to the minister. Estranged from his wife Sasirekha (Nayanthara), a wealthy entrepreneur, Prasad sets out to reunite with his family. His children study at a prestigious school in Dehradun, and Prasad devises unconventional ways to reconnect with them and, eventually, win back Sasirekha. The narrative revolves around how his family responds to these attempts.
Analysis:
Director Anil Ravipudi sticks to his proven formula of light-hearted storytelling with comedy at its core. This time, he smartly tailors the narrative to suit Chiranjeevi’s age and image, presenting him in a manner that highlights his strengths timing, screen presence, and effortless charm. While initial skepticism surrounded the role’s suitability, Chiranjeevi’s performance largely puts those doubts to rest.
The film has a slightly shaky opening, but once it settles, the first half flows with clean comedy and situational humor leading up to the interval. The hook-step number is average, but the song “Sasirekha” emerges as a clear highlight. A key portion of the film unfolds in a Dehradun school, where Prasad joins as a PT teacher to stay close to his children.
The second half continues with the same comedic treatment, though the impact gradually diminishes due to repetitive and formula-driven scenes. A prolonged comedy sequence centered on women’s psychology kitty parties, marriages, and relationships stands out as the most effective segment post-interval.
The much-publicized cameo by Victory Venkatesh, however, turns out to be underwhelming. His character, Venky Gowda, is restricted to skit-like appearances and nostalgic dance routines featuring old hit songs such as “Choodalani Vundi” and “Sankranthiki Vastunnam,” which do not add much to the narrative.
The weakest element of the film is its villain track, which is poorly written and ineffective. In fact, the film might have benefitted from completely avoiding this subplot. Among recent big-ticket films, this stands out as one of the least engaging antagonist arcs.
That said, Anil Ravipudi’s strength lies in his confident, effortless direction. While the film does not boast standout comedy episodes like some of his earlier works, it maintains a consistently light and entertaining tone. The visuals look rich, dialogues feel contemporary, and the music blends well with the narrative. The final song featuring Chiranjeevi, Venkatesh, and Anil Ravipudi himself is a pleasant addition. Songs like “Meesala Pilla” and “Mega Victory Mass” are adequate but not memorable.
Performances:
Chiranjeevi delivers a vintage performance, playing to his core strengths and carrying the film almost single-handedly. His dance moves are restrained and appropriate to the character. Nayanthara fits well as the affluent businesswoman but is underutilized, with limited scope to showcase her acting prowess. Sachin Khedekar, as the heroine’s father, delivers a dependable performance. The hero’s supporting cast, however, fails to leave a strong impression.
Technical Aspects:
Shine Screens’ production values are solid, lending the film a polished and festive look. Bheems Ceciroleo’s music works effectively, with a couple of catchy songs and a decent background score that supports the comedy-driven narrative.
Verdict:
Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu is a light, festive Sankranthi entertainer powered largely by Chiranjeevi’s screen presence. While it lacks a strong story and falters in parts especially in the second half the film remains a passable family watch. Anil Ravipudi once again delivers within his comfort zone, making this a decent seasonal outing for audiences seeking relaxed entertainment rather than depth.
Final Word:
A light-hearted, comedy-driven family entertainer that banks on Chiranjeevi’s charisma. Watch it for the megastar not for the story.
