Watch Manam

Manam is a Telugu-language movie released in 2014 that revolves around the theme of reincarnation. It stars an illustrious cast of Akkineni Nageshwara Rao, his son Nagarjuna Akkineni, and grandson Naga Chaitanya Akkineni in lead roles. Directed by Vikram K. Kumar, Manam is a poignant family drama that explores the concept of rebirth and the immortality of love.

The movie opens with a brief introduction of the Akkineni family, who feature in three different generations. Nagarjuna is seen as a successful businessman who sets foot in the ancestral house with his son Chaitanya after a long time. The old mansion is where his father, played by ANR, had spent his early years before he was sent away by his father. However, in the present time, ANR comes to live in the same mansion again, this time as a ghost. It's not just him but his entire family members are in one way or another are reincarnated.

The film takes us back to different periods in time as the family members recall their past and how everything has come full circle for them. ANR is seen playing the role of the patriarch of the family, named Chandra Sekhar, who has three sons - Nagarjuna, Nageshwara Rao, and Akhil Akkineni. While Nageshwara Rao is a struggling farmer who falls in love with a rich girl, Akhil is an innocent and mischievous child.

The story takes a romantic turn when Nageshwara Rao's character is introduced to a sweet girl named Nagarjuna, played by Samantha Ruth Prabhu. He falls in love with her, but his love remains unrequited as she is in love with Nagarjuna. However, his love for her remains unchanged, and he continues to work hard to make her happy, even if she never reciprocates his feelings.

As the story unfolds, we see how the three generations of the Akkineni family are intertwined in ways beyond death. Each soul returns in a new body, with a new purpose, and a new love story. The film is peppered with various references to the timeless love stories of Romeo and Juliet, Mughal-e-Azam and so on, giving it a timeless quality.

The movie's high point comes during the climax, where all the characters come together in an extraordinary way. The director has weaved the different eras beautifully, showing the connection between each character with the outros of their life stories. While ANR's role is short, his presence and influence on the storyline are felt right through the end.

The music of the movie is a highlight, with Anup Rubens’ compositions perfectly complementing the emotions of the characters. The song 'Kanulanu Thaake’ has won hearts with its soulful music, lyrics, and performances by the lead pair.

Manam is a family drama at its core, telling us the story of love that is beyond time, age, and even life itself. The film explores the concept of immortality and the idea that some bonds are destined to be lived forever. Sure, one may find faults with the unrealistic reincarnation concept, but as a viewer, one can't help but get caught up in the film's emotional journey.

Overall, Manam is an absolute delight to watch for fans of Telugu cinema. While the movie's plot may have a few flaws, the three generations of Akkineni’s legacy on-screen is an experience of its own. With its charming cast, nostalgic storyline, and stunning visuals – Manam is a must-watch movie for anyone who loves an emotionally heart-warming drama.

Manam is a 2014 comedy with a runtime of 2 hours and 30 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 8.0.