'Mirai' Review: Teja Sajja steers a thrilling saga where ancient legend meets modern action

Movie: Mirai (In Theatres)

Director: Karthik Gattamneni

Cast: Teja Sajja, Manoj Manchu, Ritika Nayak, Shriya Saran, Jayaram & Jagapathi Babu

Run Time: 169 minutes

Rating: 3.5 stars

Mirai sets out to merge ancient legend with present-day urgency and largely succeeds in holding that balance. Running at 169 minutes, it moves between the distant past and a tense modern timeline without losing clarity. Director Karthik Gattamneni builds a story where old texts and modern conflicts collide. The film opens in the time of Emperor Ashoka, who, after a lifetime of conquest, creates nine sacred manuscripts to protect wisdom and power. Centuries later, those texts become the key to humanity’s future.

Story and Structure

The narrative unfolds across these two worlds. Mahabir Lama (Manoj Manchu) is driven by a desire for near-divine control and believes the scriptures will grant it. Veda (Teja Sajja), carrying scars from a complicated childhood, finds himself responsible for keeping those texts out of Lama’s reach.

The writing gives both lead characters motives beyond simple heroism or villainy. Lama’s ambition is born of reason rather than cartoonish malice, which makes his threat believable. Veda’s arc, meanwhile, is shaped by the revelation that his mother Ambika (Shriya Saran) left him years earlier. Vibha (Ritika Nayak) nudges him toward accepting his role as a protector, and their interactions lend the story emotional weight. References to Lord Rama and other mythological figures deepen the script’s spiritual texture without slowing the pace. A late-minute post-credit scene teases a larger saga and leaves the door open for what follows.

Direction and Craft

Gattamneni’s control of the material is evident. The screenplay stays taut even as it juggles timelines and complex mythological elements. His use of scale, wide landscapes, carefully lit set pieces gives the story a sense of magnitude. The visual effects are largely convincing and add to the spectacle, though a few sequences betray their digital origins.

The film’s background score underlines its shifts from reflective to urgent, and the occasional tongue-in-cheek dialogue referencing other films provides relief without breaking the mood. At nearly three hours, the running time is the one clear excess; a leaner cut could have sharpened its impact without losing substance.

Performances

Teja Sajja holds the film together. After the success of HanuMan, he shows once more that he can carry a story that demands both modern charisma and a sense of almost mythic resolve. He keeps Veda human even when the stakes turn cosmic.

Manoj Manchu plays the antagonist with restraint. Though the character might have benefited from more screen time to explore his motives, he makes Lama’s hunger for power believable. Ritika Nayak’s Vibha brings quiet conviction to the story’s moral core, while Shriya Saran captures the difficult mix of guilt and love in Ambika. Jayaram and Jagapathi Babu lend credibility in key supporting roles and strengthen the ensemble.

Overall Impression

Mirai is not merely another fight between good and evil. It examines why people pursue power and what responsibility means when history’s secrets surface in the present. Its appeal lies as much in its ideas as in its spectacle. The film respects mythology without being bound by it, shaping an adventure that feels both rooted and contemporary.

Despite the slightly stretched length, it rewards a theatrical viewing. The combination of a disciplined screenplay, striking visuals and a central performance that carries emotional heft makes Mirai a notable entry in the growing wave of Indian mythological cinema. The surprise in the post-credit sequence hints that this is only the beginning.

The Verdict

Mirai blends Emperor Ashoka’s ancient secret scriptures with a modern race for power. Mahabir Lama seeks the texts to gain godlike control, while Veda, scarred by his mother’s abandonment, rises to protect humanity. Strong visuals, a gripping score, and Teja Sajja’s commanding performance keep the mythological thriller engaging, even if its 169-minute runtime feels long. A teasing post-credit scene sets up an intriguing sequel.