Introduction:
This Diwali season, four films are releasing in theatres, and among them, Mitra Mandali is the first to hit the screens. Marketed as a complete entertainer that aims to make audiences laugh without relying on story or logic, the film promised lighthearted fun. However, it also courted controversy when producer Bunny Vaas alleged that some people were deliberately spreading negativity online. With both hype and controversy driving its publicity, Mitra Mandali finally arrived in theatres. So, does it really deliver laughter? Let’s find out in this review.

Plot Summary:
As claimed by the makers during promotions, Mitra Mandali truly has no real story. At the very beginning, the film itself admits that it has no storyline—only entertainment. The plot, if one can call it that, revolves around a fictional community named Thutteku. Their leader, Narayana (V.T. Ganesh), is obsessed with his community and dreams of becoming an MLA using his community’s strength. Meanwhile, his daughter Swecha (Niharika) elopes from home. 

To prevent this from affecting his political ambitions, Narayana, with the help of SI Sagar K. Chandra (Vennela Kishore), begins searching for her. The search leads to four young men — Chaitanya (Priyadarshi), Abhay (Ragh Mayur), Satwik (Vishnu), and Rajeev (Prasad Behara) — who are somehow involved in her disappearance. Who did Swecha love? Did Narayana become an MLA? The rest of the film attempts to answer these questions.

Analysis:
Making a film without a story is itself a bold experiment. However, when there’s no story, the screenplay and scenes need to be strong enough to engage the audience. Mitra Mandali fails completely in this regard. From the first scene to the last, the movie tests the patience of viewers. Even audiences who enjoy simple situational comedy will find no genuine humor here.

The film revolves around a fictional caste, its leader, his runaway daughter, and four clueless youths  and that’s the entire plot. There is no genuine attempt to entertain or connect with the audience. Recent small-scale comedies like Jathi Ratnalu and Little Hearts succeeded because their humor, though absurd, was rooted in engaging storytelling. 

Mitra Mandali, on the other hand, tries to imitate that formula without understanding what made those films click. The result feels like a careless product made under the assumption that audiences will laugh at anything labeled “comedy.”Despite featuring many trending comedy actors, the weak writing and poor scene construction make their efforts futile. The forced humor feels exhausting rather than entertaining, making the film a tiresome watch.

Performances:
The cast includes several talented comedians who have proven their timing in past films. However, due to poorly written characters and unconvincing situations, none of their roles leave an impression. Even strong performers like Sathy and Vennela Kishore fail to evoke laughter. Niharika, too, doesn’t have much scope to perform or shine.

Technical Aspects:
Technically, the film is below average. The production values are poor, and several scenes reveal the lack of quality in set design and cinematography. The overall making feels rushed and uninspired.

Final Verdict:
At one point in the film, four friends pretend to play cricket without a bat, ball, or wickets — purely through imagination. When someone asks why they’re doing that, another replies that they’re just fooling around. Ironically, this scene perfectly represents Mitra Mandali itself — a film that acts as if it’s entertaining, but in reality, offers nothing.

Producer Bunny Vaas once said during a press meet that he laughed so hard listening to the director narrate the story that he got a stomach ache. After watching the film, one can’t help but wonder if the director narrated a different story back then  because Mitra Mandali certainly isn’t that funny.

Cinema is a responsibility  audiences invest their trust and time expecting at least decent entertainment. Making a “storyless story” and “comedy without comedy” is nothing short of overconfidence. Every frame of Mitra Mandali reflects this careless attitude. In the end, Mitra Mandali turns out to be a massive failed attempt at making a comedy film.