Mithra Mandali starring Priyadarshi and Niharika NM is a
small-scale comedy drama that hit theatres this Diwali weekend. The team promoted it
well, and the trailer somewhat promised a light-hearted entertainer filled with youthful
fun. But the movie turns out to be more of a mixed ride than a smooth one.
The story follows four carefree friends, Chaitanya, Satvik,
Abhi, and Rajeev, who mostly waste time doing nothing. One day, Satvik and Abhi
fall for Swecha, a politician’s daughter, and Chaitanya steps in to help them.
What begins as a simple love plan soon pulls all of them into unexpected
trouble.
The film’s first half has a few enjoyable moments. The
friendship between the boys feels natural, and their silly talk brings some
innocent laughs. Priyadarshi fits perfectly as the group’s funny and confused
leader. Vishnu Oi, Rag Mayur, and Prasad Behra try hard to keep things
entertaining, and they do manage a few chuckles. Niharika NM, in her Telugu
debut, does her job neatly.
But the real show-stealer is Satya, who plays a character
named “Important Character.” Every time he appears, he lights up the screen.
His unique mannerisms and perfect comic timing bring life to dull scenes. He is
easily the best part of Mithra Mandali.
However, after a point, the film starts losing steam. The
story moves aimlessly, and the jokes become repetitive. The team tries to make
it look like Jathi Ratnalu with a crazy tone and silly humor, but it never
reaches that level. The second half, especially, drags with scenes that go
nowhere.
The makers even joke at the start that the movie has “no
story.” It sounds clever, but it backfires because the humor doesn’t stay
strong enough to cover up the weak plot. The screenplay feels patchy, and the
editing doesn’t help either. You start feeling the length even though the movie
isn’t that long.
On the technical side, RR Dhruvan’s background score suits
the film’s quirky tone. Cinematography by Siddharth J is neat, and the
production values are decent for a small movie. But director Vijayender S
couldn’t bring everything together. The idea is fun on paper, but the execution
lacks energy and focus, especially in the latter half.
In the end, Mithra Mandali is a light entertainer that works
only in bits and pieces. It has a few genuinely funny moments, but the uneven
writing and slow pacing stop it from being a solid comedy. Priyadarshi and
Satya try their best to keep things afloat, but the movie doesn’t hold
attention for long.
Verdict:
Mithra Mandali is a partly fun, mostly flat comedy that had potential but couldn’t make full use of it. Watch it for a few laughs, but don’t expect a laugh riot.
Rating: 2/5