Manchu Manoj Shines as Black Sword in Mirai: A Career-Defining Antagonist Role

Manchu Manoj shines as Black Sword in Mirai, redefining his career path
Rocking Star Manchu Manoj, who made his comeback earlier this year with Bhairavam, faced criticism for his exaggerated dialogue delivery and unnecessary modulations. Since the film was a remake with multiple leads, Manoj couldn’t fully showcase his potential, leaving audiences underwhelmed.
However, the tables turned with Mirai, which was released yesterday. Manoj played the antagonist Black Sword, locking horns with Teja Sajja, and his performance has been receiving solid appreciation. Unlike his earlier outings, Manoj avoided over-the-top dramatics and delivered a balanced, stylish portrayal of the villain. His efforts to refine his craft are clearly paying off, and the role is already being hailed as a turning point in his second innings.
With back-to-back negative roles in Bhairavam and Mirai, Manoj seems to be carving a niche as a formidable on-screen villain. If this acceptance continues, he could fill the gap in Tollywood for stylish Telugu-speaking antagonists—similar to how Jagapathi Babu reinvented himself with Legend.
That said, Manoj is not restricting himself to villain roles alone. He has also signed What the Fish, where he plays the lead protagonist. However, the film’s progress has been kept tightly under wraps.
For now, Mirai has given Manchu Manoj the much-needed momentum to explore diverse and challenging roles in the future.
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