Mirai Review: A Heartwarming Time-Travel Anime

The film opens on the aftermath of the Kalinga war. King Ashoka, horrified by the carnage, renounces violence and embraces Buddhism. Yet the kingdom’s council, fearing that ancient scriptures - said to grant divine powers to whoever deciphers them - might fall into wrong hands, secretly appoints nine immortal warriors to protect these texts. The narrative then jumps centuries to the present day (or its near-future equivalent) where Vedha Prajapati (Teja Sajja), a young archaeologist, stumbles upon a hidden temple. He soon learns he is the reincarnation of a warrior bound to complete an unfinished mission. Alongside the fierce Mahabhir Lama (Manchu Manoj) and the enigmatic Jaithraya (Rana Daggubati), Vedha must race against a ruthless cult led by Angama Bali (Jagapati Babu) to prevent the scriptures from being used to ascend to godhood.

Director Karthik Ghattamaneni deserves credit for the sheer scale of “Mirai.” The film’s visual palette is rich - ancient corridors, CGI-infused landscapes, and elaborate fight sequences that borrow from both Indian mythology and Western fantasy. The first forty minutes, which establish the Kalinga context and the creation of the nine warriors, are genuinely gripping. There’s a dusty, ash-covered texture to the battle scenes that grounds the fantasy in tactile reality. Rana Daggubati, as the stoic Jaithraya, has a commanding screen presence; his dialogue delivery is measured yet powerful.

Teja Sajja, as the modern-day protagonist Vedha, brings a likeable everyman energy. He’s not just a muscle-bound hero - there’s vulnerability in his eyes when he realises the weight of his past life. Manchu Manoj’s Mahabhir Lama is a wildcard, part warrior, part trickster, and his action choreography is among the best in the film. Ritika Nayak, as Vibha, has limited screen time but handles the emotional beats competently. Shriya Saran appears as Ambika, one of the ancient warriors, and she delivers a poignant monologue about the cost of immortality.

Yet the film struggles under the weight of its own mythology. The middle hour is a slog of exposition: characters stand in temples explaining rules, prophecies, and the hierarchy of the nine warriors. Too many side characters (like Raj Zutshi’s Banshi and Jayaram’s Agasthya Muni) are introduced with gravitas but given little to do. The screenplay also suffers from tonal whiplash. One moment we’re in a gritty, blood-smeared ancient chamber, the next we’re watching a CGI light-show that feels lifted from a superhero climax. The climax, though visually spectacular, rushes through a resolution that should have landed with more emotional weight.

The music and background score are competent but not memorable. A recurring chant theme works well in the trailers but becomes repetitive in the film. The runtime of 166 minutes feels every bit as long; tighter editing could have shaved off at least twenty minutes without losing the story.

Pros

• Ambitious world-building that respectfully reinterprets Ashoka’s post-war legacy
• Strong lead performances, especially Teja Sajja and Rana Daggubati
• Impressive production design and visual effects for the mythological sequences
• Several well-choreographed action set-pieces, particularly the hand-to-hand combat

Cons

• Overstuffed narrative with excessive exposition and too many underdeveloped characters
• Pacing issues - the middle act drags significantly
• Tonal inconsistency between gritty historical drama and glossy fantasy
• Climax feels rushed and emotionally flat despite visual spectacle
• Music lacks a standout track to elevate key moments

“Mirai” is a film that dreams big but stumbles in execution. It’s not a disaster, but it’s not the landmark Telugu fantasy many hoped for. The core idea - nine warriors guarding godlike scriptures - has immense potential, and the cast largely rises to the occasion. But Ghattamaneni’s script needed another pass to streamline the lore and tighten the emotional arc. For die-hard mythological action fans, there is enough spectacle and sincerity to warrant a watch. For everyone else, it’s a mid-tier curiosity. As the TMDb rating of 6/10 suggests, “Mirai” is competently made but ultimately middle-of-the-road.