In the realm of Indian cinema, a thrilling tale of a superhero is set to unfold in the upcoming Telugu-language film, “Hanu Man.” Directed and written by Prasanth Varma and produced by Niranjan Reddy Kandagatla under Primeshow Entertainment, the film boasts a star-studded cast featuring Teja Sajja, Amritha Aiyer, Varalaxmi Sarathkumar, Raj Deepak Shetty, and Vinay Rai. As the first installment of the Prasanth Varma Cinematic Universe, followed by “Adhira,” this superhero saga is eagerly awaited by audiences.
Scheduled to hit the theaters on 12 January 2024, coinciding with the auspicious occasion of Sankranti, “Hanu Man” unfolds its narrative in the fictional village of Anjanadri.
The cast includes Teja Sajja portraying the protagonist Hanumanthu, alongside Amritha Aiyer as Meenakshi, Varalaxmi Sarathkumar as Anjamma (Hanumanthu’s elder sister), and Vinay Rai as Michael, along with Raj Deepak Shetty and Vennela Kishore in key roles.
The film traces its roots to a pivotal announcement by director Prasanth Varma on 29 May 2021, following the success of “Zombie Reddy” (2021). With aspirations to create the first superhero film in Telugu cinema, Varma envisioned a narrative inspired by the Hindu God Hanuman. The choice of the title, “Hanu Man,” pays homage to Lord Hanuman, a symbol of superpower in Hinduism.
The musical score for “Hanu Man” is a collaborative effort by Anudeep Dev, GowraHari, and Krishna Saurabh. Noteworthy singles include “Hanuman Chalisa,” “SuperHero HanuMan,” “Avakaya Anjaneya,” and “Sri Ramadootha Stotram.”
The film’s production journey commenced with an official launch on 25 June 2021 in Hyderabad, marked by a pooja ceremony and muhurtam shot. As of August 2021, 40% of the filming was completed, with action sequences and songs shot in the picturesque locales of Maredumilli and Paderu in Andhra Pradesh.
During a teaser launch event in Hyderabad in November 2022, Director Varma disclosed a remarkable six-fold increase in the production budget from the initial valuation.
As the much-anticipated release date of 12 January 2024 approaches, “Hanu Man” is poised to captivate audiences with its superhero extravaganza. The film is not only slated for a Telugu release but also includes dubbed versions in Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada, Hindi, Marathi, English, Spanish, Korean, Japanese, and Chinese.
In the realm of non-theatrical rights, ZEE5 and Zee Network secured the rights for the film’s Telugu and Hindi versions at a substantial cost of ₹16 crores (US$2.0 million) for satellite and post-theatrical digital streaming.
“Hanu Man” promises to be a cinematic marvel, blending mythology with superhero elements, and audiences eagerly await its theatrical debut in January 2024.