Ram Gopal Varma takes a dig at ₹400 crore-budget films’ VFX, praises Mirai as a big film that didn’t ‘boast about itself’

The superhero film Mirai, starring Teja Sajja in the lead role, hit theatres last Friday and has been doing well at the box office. The film has received praise for its impressive VFX, striking visuals, and strong storyline. Recently, filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma (RGV) took to X to applaud the movie, especially highlighting its visual effects. He even claimed that Mirai’s VFX surpass those seen in films with budgets over ₹400 crore.

In his post, RGV said, “After watching Mirai, I don’t remember the last time VFX felt this grand, even in so-called ₹400 crore films.” He also praised the performances, mentioning that he initially thought Manchu Manoj was miscast as the villain but was proven wrong by his terrific portrayal. RGV added that Teja Sajja looked too young for such a large-scale action film, but again, he was mistaken.

Though he didn’t name any high-budget films, Bollywood recently saw War 2 starring Hrithik Roshan and Jr NTR, which received mixed reviews, while Tollywood had Hari Hara Veera Mallu, which garnered a lukewarm response.

RGV went on to appreciate the film’s visuals, background score, and screenplay. He pointed out some especially immersive moments, like the interval scene and the film’s devotional undertones. Despite the supernatural elements, swords, and spells, the movie also keeps themes of family, duty, love, and betrayal sharply in focus.

He also credited director Karthik Gattamneni, saying Mirai feels like a beautiful dream — a mix of myth, vivid visuals, and heroism, with a unique narrative style. RGV applauded the director’s passion and courage to take on such a project without a film industry background, highlighting that fortune favors the brave.

Concluding his praise, RGV said, “This isn’t a small film trying to be big. It’s a truly big film that didn’t boast about itself until the audience lifted it up. Congratulations to everyone involved.”

Mirai tells the story of Vedha (Teja Sajja), a young man destined to become a great warrior and fight evil. The film ends teasing a sequel. Directed by Karthik Gattamneni, it also stars Manchu Manoj, Ritika Nayak, and Jagapathi Babu in key roles. The movie has already collected over ₹55 crore worldwide within just two days of release.