Manam (Telugu, 2014)

It is Nagarjuna’s show all the way. This seasoned campaigner plays the role of a millionaire who craves for the love of his parents, with aplomb. The movie is also a fitting tribute to the legendary star, late Akkineni Nageswara Rao. It is a treat to watch all 3 generations of the Akkineni family on the screen and each member of the family excel in their roles.

Chaitanya has mellowed as an actor and one must say that he has portrayed the roles of a boyfriend, husband and father with comfortable maturity. Even though he is an underdog in front of veterans, he has done his part to perfection.

Although Samantha’s role as a nagging housewife annoys one to the core, her role as an effervescent college girl is a real delight and her scenes with Nagarjuna deserve special mention. She has arguably the best role among the female leads in the movie. If it is Samantha in the first half, Shriya Saran hogs the limelight in the second. Her chemistry with Nagarjuna has worked like a charm and her role in the pre-independence era stands out.

Anup Ruben’s background score is a major boost. It just flows with the mood of every scene and the songs help retain the interest in the movie.

The story is one of the strong points of the movie and the twist right before the end of the first half spices up the remaining movie. Vikram Kumar has to be commended for such a beautiful script and the way the tempo has been maintained all through the movie has to be much admired. Movies that showcase a lot of emotions usually fail to strike a chord with all sections of the audience whereas this one manages to remain close to everyone’s heart.