Manamantha 2016

Manamantha weaves together the intertwined lives of four people from different paths and ambitions, creating a tapestry of family, choice, and consequence that spans urban Hyderabad and the quieter corners of daily life.

Sai Ram [Mohanlal] is a driven supermarket manager whose appetite for progress lands him on a troubling path. He befriends Dass [Dhanraj Sukhram], a local moneylender, hoping to learn a hard lesson for Viswanath [Harshavardhan], a figure connected to his circle. Sai Ram’s bold ideas earn him a promotion, and soon he celebrates with Babai on a night out in the city. A tense phone call from Viswanath’s daughter shatters the moment: Viswanath has been missing for two days. Sai Ram learns that Dass kidnapped Viswanath for more money, an act that plants guilt in his heart and sets him on a perilous course to repair the broken thread of the family’s life.

In parallel, Abhiram [Viswant Duddumpudi] and Aira [Anisha Ambrose] share an easy companionship, a lifeline of loyalty and small adventures. Their bond sits against a backdrop of danger and uncertainty, as Mahitha [Raina Rao], a friend of Abhiram’s circle, becomes enmeshed in a case that the local Police Inspector backs with urgency and caution. The inspector warns Bhushan to guard Mahitha as danger closes in around her, and Bhushan accepts the duty with a quiet resolve.

Gayathri [Gautami Tadimalla], a devoted mother and wife, faces a tough crossroads when a offered opportunity to move to Singapore through a job arranged by her professor is dangled before her. She declines at first, choosing to stay with her family and tackle the tougher, more intimate duties at home. Meanwhile, Sai Ram’s world grows murkier: Dass tries to wield leverage by blackmail, coercing him to locate Viswanath, and the pressure gnaws at Sai Ram’s conscience. The plot takes a sharp turn when Dass, shown to have smoked his way into an early death, leaves Sai Ram to face the consequences alone. Despite the guilt and fear, Sai Ram resolves to surrender to the Hyderabad Police, seeking a form of justice and accountability.

As days pass, Mahitha confides in an astrologer from Nanakram Guda who seems to understand the weight of her problems. The narrative then sketches a painful fracture: Abhiram is betrayed by Aira, who prioritizes money over affection, blurring the lines between love and ambition. Gayathri faces a separate accusation, as she is accused of stealing jewels from a jewelry shop, a charge that further unsettles the precarious balance of trust within the circle.

Back home, Gayathri decides to accept the Singapore offer for the sake of her family’s stability, while she quietly pens a letter describing the small, practical victories she hoped to leave behind—money spent on a laptop for her son and a bike for her husband. In the tension that follows, Abhiram contemplates suicide, but a memory of his mother pulls him back from the brink. At the same time, a priest’s guidance and Mahitha’s timely intervention help rescue Viswanath near a temple, underscoring the sense that fate and care can intertwine to avert tragedy.

As the narrative threads converge, a jaw-dropping revelation unfolds at the airport: Gayathri is Sai Ram’s wife, and Abhiram and Mahitha are their children. The revelation reframes prior choices and sacrifices, casting earlier decisions in a new light. Gayathri decides to reject the Singapore move and stay with the family, a decision Sai Ram supports wholeheartedly, affirming that she is their strength. The family seals their reconciliation with a simple, hopeful gesture—a selfie that captures their renewed bond and shared resolve to move forward together.

Manamantha is ultimately a study of how four lives intersect, how choices ripple through generations, and how forgiveness and belonging can redefine a family’s future. The film uses intimate, character-driven scenes to explore the quiet dignity of everyday people as they strive to protect what they love most, even when the path forward is uncertain.