Movie Name: Mrithyunjay
Rating: 2.5/5
Cast: Sree Vishnu, Reba Monica John, Baby Uha, Veer Aryan
Director: Sri Hussain Sha Kiran
Produced By: Sandeep Gunnam, Vinay Chilakapati
Release Date: 6th March 2026
Sree Vishnu returns to theaters with Mrithyunjay, a crime thriller that attempts to blend investigative drama with emotional depth. Coming right after his comedy entertainer Vishnu Vinyasam, this film sees him in serious territory. Does it deliver? Let’s find out.
Story
Sree Vishnu plays Jay, also known as Mrithyunjay, who works for a newspaper called Swecha. His job is to collect obituary advertisements for the paper. However, Jay dreams of becoming a crime journalist. His boss does not believe he is capable enough for the role and refuses to give him the opportunity.
Jay’s life takes an unexpected turn when he notices something unusual about a particular death and discovers a connection to another mysterious death. This sparks his curiosity and leads him into an investigation. The rest of the film follows Jay as he tracks down clues and tries to uncover the truth behind the deaths.
After appearing in a comic role in Vishnu Vinyasam, Sree Vishnu takes on a serious character here and delivers a decent performance. He handles the emotional scenes well.
Reba Monica John plays an important role in the story, but her character does not offer enough moments to showcase her acting skills. Veer Aryan fits well into his role and leaves a neat impact. Supporting actors like Baby Uha, Sudharshan, Raccha Ravi, Ayyappa, Sijju, Aishwarya, Balaaditya, Krishna Koushik, Nandha Gopal, and Mrinchi Madhavi perform adequately.
Direction and Screenplay
Directed by Sri Hussain Sha Kiran, Mrithyunjay does not present a completely fresh or highly thrilling concept. However, it has an interesting hook, mainly because of how the villain’s character is written. The dynamic between the hero and the villain, along with some intelligently crafted face-off scenes, works well.
The film does not start strongly. The initial portions feel ordinary, and the narrative picks up pace only when the hero starts searching for clues about the killer. The emotional track involving a child works to some extent, though it is not particularly memorable.
Second Half and Climax
The core of the film is the confrontation between the hero and the villain. This aspect begins effectively around the interval and continues with a few well-executed scenes in the second half. However, the film loses momentum because the same level of impact is not maintained throughout.
The police investigation angle and the hero seeking their help as a journalist feel underdeveloped. Towards the climax, the twist is decent, but the final portions feel slightly stretched.
Positives
- Sree Vishnu’s performance
- Pre-interval to interval portions
- Select scenes in second half
- Hero-villain dynamic
Negatives
- Dull beginning
- Hero-villain game misses the punch later
- Underdeveloped police investigation angle
- Stretched climax
Verdict
Sri Hussain Sha Kiran and Sree Vishnu attempt to deliver an engaging crime thriller with Mrithyunjay. The film has its moments, especially around the interval block and select second-half scenes. But it does not fully live up to its potential. With inconsistent pacing and an underwhelming finish, Mrithyunjay remains an average watch.
