Mana Shankara VaraPrasad Garu - Ravipudi does it again, this time with Chiranjeevi.

Rating: 3/5

Story:

Sasirekha is India`s richest heiress and a widely popular businesswoman. She sparks romance with Shankara Vara Prasad, a security expert whose presence around her in different situations is desired by the Universe. Love blooms fast. They tie the knot despite their economic disparities. Her dad, GVR, fumes with rage when a misunderstanding crops up. He schemes to split them apart. The couple crumbles under pressure. The rest of the film is about Vara Prasad`s earnest efforts to reunite with Sasirekha at a time when the business family faces a threat to their lives.

Performances:

1. Chiranjeevi: He carries himself with restraint. The best part is that he doesn`t overdo anything. In that sense, he proves to be the most understated hero in Anil Ravipudi`s filmography!

2. Nayanthara: When Meesaala Pilla was released, it seemed as if she would be doing things actresses ten years younger than her are supposed to do. Ravipudi doesn`t make any slip-ups. He casts her as a mother of two pre-teen kids and a businesswoman who must show slight arrogance and occasional dignity in her body language.

3. The bad guy: Sachin Khedekar, as the father-in-law, plays the non-violent antagonist pretty well. Sudev Nair is not loud and not your typical non-Telugu screen villain.

4. Supporting actors: Zarina Wahab, as the hero`s mother, is good. Harshavardhan, Cathrene Tresa, and Abhinav Gomatam play the hero`s subordinates who get to take a swipe at him.

5. The cameos: Harsha Chemudu is limited to a scene. Master Revanth of Sankranthiki Vasthunam is utilized well.

6. The star special attraction: Victory Venkatesh is not there just to deliver the functions of a Nelson Dilip Kumar-written special character. He gets to playfully taunt Chiranjeevi.

Technical Departments:

1. Music: Bheems Ceciroleo rocks it without getting overwhelmed by Chiranjeevi`s presence. He approaches the film as a Ravipudi comedy entertainer, a mindset that unburdens him of pressure. Hook Step is a total surprise on the big screen.

2. Cinematography: Sameer Reddy`s contribution is invisible. As per Chiru, he worked at a lightning speed, making the timely release of the film for Sankranthi possible. Otherwise, the visuals are not new-age.

3. Other departments: The fights are cool. They suit Chiranjeevi`s body language. The production design is generic. The editing is apt.

Analysis:

Anil Ravipudi doesn`t force-fit Chiranjeevi-isms while consciously presenting the vintage Megastar. Having directed other big stars like Balakrishna and Venkatesh, he displays extraordinary grip on brevity. While the protagonist is fun-loving and gets punchy when pushed to shove, he also laughs at himself. He has eye vision issues owing to his age. And his knees hurt if he walks too much.

Even convenient plot points are shored up by upping the entertainment quotient. The showdown between Vara Prasad and his estranged Father-in-Law is a case in point. The pre-release promotional material didn`t reveal the importance of some characters, like the FIL`s.

Some of the situations are pedestrian. Yet, the situational humour keeps the audience hooked.  The brand of comedy is not idiosyncratic. The reliance on the slapstick is not excessive. 

On the flip side, the second half could have been better. You expect the Chiru-Venkatesh scenes to be paisaa vasool. Unexpectedly, they are less paisa-vasool than the Chiru-Khedekar scenes.

Verdict:

Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu is a delightful departure from the standard "mass" template, successfully blending Anil Ravipudi’s signature comedic timing with the understated charm of a vintage Chiranjeevi. The film`s genuinely funny situational humor and a protagonist who isn`t afraid to embrace his age are its major assets. It is a breezy, "paisa vasool" Sankranthi watch that prioritizes entertainment over over-the-top tropes.