Mohanlal and Gauthami shine, but the slow burn may test mainstream patience.
Verdict tier Mixed, lukewarm or divided, on a scale of Unfavorable, Mixed, Recommended, Exceptional.
Not streaming in India
Critic consensus
Critical reception for Manamantha is largely positive, with most reviewers praising the film's emotional depth, performances from lead actors Mohanlal and Gauthami, and its rare, unconventional storytelling. The near-unanimous consensus highlights the casting and the emotionally resonant final act as standout strengths. The primary criticism, raised by at least one reviewer, is that the film's slow pacing and absence of commercial elements like action and comedy may alienate mainstream audiences. One reviewer also expressed reservations about the resolution of Gautami's narrative arc, though details were withheld to avoid spoilers.
1 not-rated review isn't plotted
Positive = 6.5/10 and up · negative = below 5/10
AI-generated summary of 8 critic reviews · may contain errors
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Top critics first, then by score · not-rated last · updated
Film review ·
On the whole, Manamantha is a unique family thriller which impresses you completely. Movies like these are rare to come by and when they do, they are a treat to watch. The near perfect casting who gets into the skin of their characters is seamless and undoubtedly the greatest asset for the film. It would be really interesting to see how the commercial audience lap up a serious film like this. Finally, Manamantha is a movie which can be enjoyed thoroughly. Go for it.
Film review ·
All in all, watch the film for its emotional content, good and earnest scenes and superb performances from the lead actors.
Film review ·
Climax of the film will bring a lot of joy to the viewers which in itself is a great achievement. Manamantha is one of its kind of films that are a rarity in Tollywood. One cannot afford to miss this roller coaster ride of emotions. Go watch it.
Film review ·
All the technical team has done their best and the screenplay of the movie is extraordinary which has gone well with the audience.
Film review ·
'Manamantha' is first rate emotional drama with beautiful and touching scenes. Four people, four stories and one connect with an interesting twist. Fine performances from Mohanlal and Gauthami and the final act of the story make this a good movie. The ending of the movie will leave you as teary-eyed. Watch it.
Film review ·
Manamantha is narrated with a lot of conviction and the stories merit a discussion. The only grouse is with how Gautami's journey ended. But it wouldn't be possible to discuss it here without giving away the end.
Film review ·
Chandrasekhar Yeleti as usual attracted with his trademark style. Just like in his earlier films scenes are very slow and film progresses in a cool manner. This may trouble masses testing their patience. The film lacks regular fights, comedy and romance akin to commercial entertainers. Film will not attract masses but will attract class and A,B class theatres viewers.
Film review ·
After a few minutes, you will feel connected to the story and will forget that you are in a theatre. You will come out of the theatre thinking of the characters. If you cherish that sort of once-in-a-lifetime experience, don't hesitate to book a ticket for Manamantha.
From our readers
1 rating · user score 4.0
Lots of Indian films are now being simultaneously made in multiple languages in order to attract more viewers and generate more revenue. However, this family drama is not that appealing so as to receive such a wide release, in three different languages.<br /> <br /> Sairam (Mohanlal) is a middle-class man working as a supermarket supervisor. He is in great debt owing to his financial needs, and will do anything to snatch that upcoming promotion. Gayathri (Gautami) is a housewife who is tired of her everyday life filled with frugality. She wants to break free from the shackles of her impoverished life, which is when she bumps into her college professor who is now a rich businessman. Abhiram (Viswant Duddumpudi) is a college student who sees himself falling for an affluent girl without realizing the her intentions. And finally, there is Mahitha (Raina Rao), a school-going girl who is relentlessly looking for her young street friend, who has been missing for days now. The story is all about these four characters' issues and their eventual intertwining.<br /> <br /> For an average viewer, it would not take much time to detect the film's central theme, which is a mix of various values such as righteousness, virtue of family life, love and lust, innocence, and humanitarianism. Even though the elements used to convey these contrived messages are sane enough, the end products look extremely cringe-worthy, making its viewers dismiss most of the fables it throws at them. Of course, there is enough matter for a naive person to grasp from the four stories, but all of them are either clichéd or senseless or both. It becomes preachy towards the end where the lives of the characters connect with each other, as anyone could have predicted, conveniently ending the 150-minute charade with a fused-off, noiseless bang.<br /> <br /> In addition to the awful editing and dubbing (Malayalam), the screenplay is all bits and pieces, trying to construct itself as novelty of climactic storytelling. Unfortunately, it comes out contrived, ill-timed, and haphazard, with no respect for the informed audience sitting at the receiving end. The cast performance is not that great, either, with even Mohanlal following the amateur director's directions and doing no more.<br /> <br /> Lastly, it is evident that the film was made to bank in on the lead actor's fame and nothing else. It manages to tell a story or two on the way, which could make it an easy afternoon watch.<br /> <br /> BOTTOM LINE: Telugu filmmaker Chandra Sekhar Yeleti's "Vismayam" is a greasy family drama that may appeal to the older generation who may have already seen some of the elements sampled in it. For today's people, this is just a badly executed drama made by a bunch who are clearly out of ideas. Watch the TV premiere, but switch channels during commercials. <br /> <br /> Can be watched with a typical Indian family? YES
Credits
MohanlalSairam
Viswant DuddumpudiAbhiram
Anisha Ambrose
Gollapudi Maruti Rao
GautamiGayathri
Nassar
Urvashi
Vennela Kishore
P. Balachandran
Sanjay Reddy
Chandra Sekhar Yeleti
Naresh
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Paruchuri Venkateswara Rao
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