Story: Shanmugam Manjunath, a 27-year-old sales manager working with the Indian Oil Corporation, was brutally murdered in 2005 for exposing the oil mafia in UP. This is his story.
Review: One of the least promoted films of the week, Manjunath pleasantly surprises you with its thought-provoking, hard-hitting content and earnest execution. An ode to braveheart Manjunath, an IIM Lucknow graduate, the movie intends to carry forward the late whistle-blower’s battle against the system.
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The biopic is worth applauding as it goes beyond the obvious. It doesn’t merely recount crucial events of Manju’s life. It tries to analyse what went through his mind before he decided to wage war against corruption and face its gruesome consequences.
By understanding the psyche of the good and the bad guy, we are told, why an idealist doesn’t fear death and criminals continue to violate law and order, especially in the northern belt of the country.
What also set the film apart are its heart-rending parent-child moments and heartfelt performances. Renowned artistes Seema Biswas (as Manju’s mother) and Kishore Kadam (Manju’s father) deserve awards for their tear-evoking acts. Your heart goes out to them for bearing the loss of their honest son. Just the way your mother holds your life together, Biswas holds the film together. Lead actor Sasho Satiiysh Saarathy (as Manjunath) does complete justice to his titular role as well.
However, the film drags in the second half. With the film’s running time being a little over two hours, it does test your patience towards the end. A few confrontation scenes get repetitive too. But those flaws can be ignored, given the significance of the subject.
This is one inspirational story, which needs to be watched.