Manjunath

Once a while there comes along a man who genuinely wants to change the world we live in. Manjunath is the hard hitting conscientious story of one one braveheart who tried to make a difference. And paid with his life. Manjunath's valorous story had to be told. The director pieces together Manjunath's story like Orson Welles' Citizen Kane.

It's limitations albeit, Manjunath is one film that should be watched. Just to remind us of that one tale of courage if not for its cinematic value. Having said that, director Sandeep Varma should be applauded for making a film that is true to the subject and not sensationalized.

This is not a hero film. This is a movie about one guy who made a choice to tell the truth. Nothing more, nothing less. His is a story that has to be heard, to ensure that Manjunath's life wasn't spent in vain. Watch this film and let the story carry you.

This film is more about experiencing hope than it is about paying attention to the technical aspects and the unfortunate socio-political climate that prevails around us makes it a must-watch. Manjunath is a lesson in humanity we all need at the moment.

There is no doubt Manjunath's gruesome murder left the country in deep shock. But the film turns a bit lethargic. It seems more of a case study.

Manjunath is a story that needs to be told in a time when corruption has seeped into every tiny crevice of our society. We wish the effort was more hard hitting than its attractive posters.

Although devoid of cinematic finesse, this is movie that must be watched for the larger message. Sandeep Varma needs to be applauded for choosing to tell this story as opposed to any other. Because stories about truth and humanity and standing up for what you believe in, that, although seem jaded in today's times, are reminders we all need from time to time. Manjunath is one such movie. Go watch it and tell your children about it.

Much like last year's brilliant Sundance winner Fruitvale Station (a similarly structured film based on real events), Manjunath isn't interested in trying to add drama through events – in the first minute of the film, you're told that the protagonist was murdered. It instead attempts to build a solid, complex character sketch, showing Manjunath (played by debutant Sasho Satish Sarathy) as a cheery, fun-loving and regular guy who hangs out with his friends.

For a movie whose conclusion is foregone, whose treatment is literal-minded, and whose message is sloppily assembled and delivered, Varma does throw up some surprises. He effectively captures the ordinariness of the milieu that produces Manjunath, and extracts solid performances from his cast. However, the director is less sure-footed about the larger issues thrown up by Manjunath's death.