Name: Mana Shankara Varaprasad Garu
Genre: Family, Thriller
Released: 2026-01-12
Rating: 6.0
Cast: Chiranjeevi, Nayanthara, Catherine Tresa, Daggubati Venkatesh, Sachin Khedekar

A family thriller where a household’s hard-won peace is threatened by a high-stakes conflict. Loyalties are tested as festivity gives way to danger.

Mana Shankara Varaprasad Garu

India Today

Expectations around films today, especially in masala commercial cinema, are increasingly shaped by a familiar disclaimer from makers: don’t expect logic, expect entertainment. It is a strange trend, as if both cannot exist in the same room, yet it has become the baseline against which such films are judged. Mana Shankara Varaprasad Garu arrives squarely within this space and largely delivers what it promises – a full-blown family entertainer driven by Anil Ravipudi’s humour and built around the familiar “Boss is back” feeling.
Logic is left behind right at the parking lot of the theatre, but in a few portions, where the writing leans heavily on convenience, the absence of logic becomes harder to ignore. Still, the film is very clear about the contract it makes with its audience, and for the most part, it sticks to that promise.

The story itself is simple and familiar. Shankara Varaprasad (Chiranjeevi), a security officer assigned to a central minister, has a broken marriage with Sasirekha (Nayanthara) following a series of misunderstandings. Their separation forms the emotional spine of the film, and the narrative revolves around how Shankara Varaprasad navigates this fractured relationship and attempts to set things right. There is no novelty in the plot, and the film does not pretend otherwise.
Chiranjeevi finally looks like he is having fun again, and that joy translates directly to the screen. His comic timing, ease in performance, and relaxed body language make even routine scenes enjoyable. Compared to many star-driven or fan-service films, Anil Ravipudi’s films do not simply recreate iconic scenes or lean heavily on nostalgia. Instead, he builds situations around the actor’s strengths and what makes those performances connect. This film is no different.
One of the most noticeable aspects of Mana Shankara Varaprasad Garu is how comfortably it leans into Anil Ravipudi’s idea of “packaging.” He often speaks about setting up elements like a package for different sections of the audience, and that philosophy is clearly visible here. While vintage callbacks cater to fans, the Bulliraju and school episodes work big time with children.

The emotional portions are designed to connect strongly with women, and the hero’s dialogues around social pressure and masculinity are clearly aimed at striking a chord with men. Ravipudi understands these segments instinctively, and that understanding reflects in how his films travel.

Visually, the film is uneven. The cinematography feels underwhelming, with flat lighting and staging that often resemble a television serial more than a theatrical film. While a few action portions look decent, the overall visual texture lacks depth. Technically, the film does its job, but rarely elevates the material.

Music by Bheems Ceciroleo works well within the film’s tone. The songs translate neatly onto the screen, and the background score supports the comedy and emotional beats without overpowering them. Styling is another plus, with Chiranjeevi looking comfortable, stylish, and completely at ease throughout.
Ultimately, Mana Shankara Varaprasad Garu works because of Chiranjeevi. This is easily his most free-flowing and likeable performance in the last decade. Anil Ravipudi deserves credit for presenting him in this form, something that felt missing in his earlier comeback attempts.

On the whole, Mana Shankara Varaprasad Garu is an enjoyable family drama designed for theatrical viewing. The first half is engaging and fun, the second half more routine, but the film never becomes exhausting. It may not offer novelty or narrative depth, but it succeeds as a safe, watchable entertainer – and as a meaningful step forward in Chiranjeevi’s comeback journey.

Mana ShankaraVaraPrasad Garu Official Trailer | Chiranjeevi | Venkatesh | Nayanthara | Anil Ravipudi

Mana ShankaraVaraprasad Garu Title Glimpse | Megastar Chiranjeevi | Nayanthara | Anil Ravipudi

Chiranjeevi

Nayanthara is an Indian actress who predominantly appears and works in Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam cinema. She was the only South Indian female actor to have made it to the Forbes India “Celebrity 100”, 2018 list, with her total annual earning credited at ? 15.17 crores. 

Nayanthara

Catherine Tresa Alexander is an Indian actress and model. She has established her career predominantly in Telugu and Tamil films. She made her debut in 2010 in the Kannada film Shankar IPS. Catherine has been nominated four times for the Filmfare Awards South. 

Catherine Tresa

Daggubati Venkatesh, known mononymously as Venkatesh, is an Indian film actor known for his works predominantly in Telugu cinema. Venkatesh debuted with the 1986 film Kaliyuga Pandavulu for which he won his first Nandi Award.

Daggubati Venkatesh

Sachin Khedekar is an Indian actor and director known for his work in Marathi, Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam and Gujarati language films. His well-known films include Kaksparsh, Astitva and Shyam Benegal's Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose: The Forgotten Hero in which he portrayed Subhas Chandra Bose

Sachin Khedekar

Yerra Raghu, known professionally as Raghu Babu, is a Telugu comedian well known for his comic expressions and timing. He has worked in many successful films in Telugu industry. He is the eldest son of famous comedian and character actor Giri Babu. His native place is Ravinuthala. He got married in 1988. 

Raghu Babu

Harsha Vardhan is an Indian actor, comedian and screenwriter known for his works predominantly in Telugu cinema. He has also worked in a few Tamil and Hindi language films, in addition to television.

Mana Shankara Varaprasad Garu(2026)