Manjunath (film)

In an interview with Firstpost, director Sandeep A. Varma stated,

"Manjunath actually picked me. One day, I got a call from the Manjunath Trust Trustees who were fighting his case. They wanted some creative work like posters, etc. to be created pro bono and had got to know that I had a creative advertising background.
As I researched on Manjunath, two things staggered me. One was he was totally unlike what I'd thought he would be. I'd thought he'd be idealistic, preachy, etc but he was interesting, very ordinary in the sense of how we used to be in college, he made mistakes, was a musician – basically very cinematic. It made me curious that if he was so 'like any of us' then what happened to him to make him do what he did? Secondly, also that the people fighting his case, did not know him, were not doing it for glory or money, just strangers, taking on something thousands of miles away, just because they were inspired by what he did.
I thought these may be ingredients of a story worth telling."[5]

The film was supported by the Manjunath Shanmugam Trust [6] through which the support of IIM-Lucknow and Manjunath's parents were enlisted.[7]

Manjunath was primarily shot in Lucknow and areas around, including at the IIM. The rest of the portions were filmed in Mumbai and Bangalore. The filming in U.P. was done under a pseudo-name of being a romantic movie, to avoid the attention of the local people and media. Sandeep and his crew had a close shave with a few corrupt petrol pump owners whilst shooting which forced him to choose the cover story. “Unlike the collective memory of the rest of the country, Manjunath’s story is still alive in Uttar Pradesh. We didn’t want to put the 100-crew unit at risk,” said director Sandeep A. Varma, in an interview with The Indian Express.[8]

Critic Taran Adarsh gave 3.5 stars out of 5 and states that, "Manjunath is a film that is realistic, brave and powerful.[11] Critic Subhash K. Jha also gave 3.5 stars out of 5 saying, "The director pieces together Manjunath's story like Orson Welles' Citizen Kane.[12] For The Times of India, Renuka Vyavahare wrote, "One of the least promoted films of the week, Manjunath pleasantly surprises you with its thought-provoking, hard-hitting content and earnest execution. What also set the film apart are its heart-rending parent-child moments and heartfelt performances. Renowned artistes Seema Biswas (as Manju's mother) and Kishor Kadam (Manju's father) deserve awards for their tear-evoking acts." She gave the film 3 stars out of 5.[13] Rajeev Masand for IBN Live gave it a rating of 3/5, calling it "An important story that deserves to be heard."[14] Sify.com gave it 3.5 out of 5 saying, "Don't miss this rare gem. Varma is an astute storyteller, also showcasing a flair for cinematic style. The atmospherics are delightful, and so are the nuances (right from Manjunath's nerdy dressing sense to his worn-out steering wheel cover). Music by Parikrama is superb, even if too much at times." [15]

Rahul Desai for Mumbai Mirror wrote, "The sign of a good biopic, like a documentary, is its current relevance and ability to transcend flaws, as well as the first emotion it elicits from viewers. I felt wronged, and grew stronger as things progressed, only to be shaken by the truth of how relatable Manjunath's psychological struggle was. The tragic part is that Manjunath wasn't a hero; he only had his eyes open in an unrelenting world." He gave it 3 stars out of 5.[16] Paloma Sharma for Rediff.com gave it 3 stars out of 5 and said, "Several scenes even take place from beyond the grave and this turn of events ruins the fast-paced, crisply edited aspect of the film and hence, the early promise it showed. That said though, Manjunath is a brave film, like the man it is based on, as it openly takes on the issue of caste and class – an everyday discrimination that the protagonist faced."[17]

In an open letter to DNA, Manjunath's brother S. Raghavendran, as a response to the film's low box office response, wrote,

"We saw Manjunath come alive in front of our eyes last weekend in the theatre near you. A few people had come forward to honour his memory. Why? Was he useless? Did what he did not matter to anyone? Would you react the same way if your loved one is brutally killed for doing his duty?
It’s not a movie with an item song or love story or the one which audience normally expect. It’s poignant, isn’t it... an ordinary man fighting against corruption and getting brutally killed. I only wish and hope that more people should know of his real story, what he did, why, what he stood for, and get inspired by him. Let’s all start dreaming about a corruption free country. Don’t we have the right to at least start dreaming and thinking in that direction?"[18]