Manduka (2026): Cast, Story and Release Details

Prepared by Movies Dock Editorial

Manduka is a Kannada mystery crime thriller centered on a girl with schizophrenia who accidentally crosses paths with four criminals. As police and the group become caught in a game of hide-and-seek, the film builds its story around an unexplained mystery and the idea that innocence can carry serious consequences.

Manduka is a 2026 Kannada mystery crime thriller directed and written by Bhushan. The film follows a girl with schizophrenia whose accidental meeting with four criminals draws her into a dangerous situation involving both the police and the criminal group.

With a 1 hour 44 minute runtime, the film is built around an unresolved mystery and a pursuit that places innocence, crime and suspicion in close proximity. Its tagline, “Innocence can be a crime,” points to the central tension without revealing how the story develops.

Manduka movie details

Story without spoilers

The story begins when a girl suffering from schizophrenia unexpectedly encounters four criminals. That meeting sets off a chain of events involving a murder mystery, the police and the criminals, who become locked in a game of hide-and-seek.

Manduka keeps its central question focused on the mystery behind this pursuit. The supplied premise does not disclose the identities of the criminals, the nature of the crime or the outcome, allowing the film’s tension to remain spoiler-free.

What to expect

Manduka combines mystery, crime and thriller elements within a Kannada-language Indian setting. Viewers can expect a plot shaped by an accidental encounter, police pursuit and unanswered questions rather than a straightforward crime narrative.

The premise also places a vulnerable central character at the heart of the story, while the four criminals create the opposing force around which the investigation and chase unfold. The film’s 104-minute length suggests a focused presentation of its mystery, though the supplied information does not indicate how the story resolves.

Cast and creative team

Bhushan serves as both director and writer and also appears in a negative role. Anjala is credited as the heroine, while Madhan plays the hero. Mysore Raju, Manikanta and Zoom Ravi are credited as villains. Karuvai, Mirle Manjunath and Manjesh appear in supporting roles.

• Anjala as Heroin
• Madhan as Hero
• Bhushan as Negative Role
• Mysore raju as Vilene
• Manikanta as Vilene
• Zoom Ravi as Vilene
• Karuvai as supporting Artist
• Mirle Manjunath as supporting Artist
• Manjesh as supporting Artist

Release and production context

Manduka is an Indian film in the Kannada language, associated with the Sandalwood film industry. It has a listed release date of October 30, 2026, and a runtime of 1 hour 44 minutes. The production company is Pioneerpicrure. The supplied metadata lists the film’s status as Released.

Production companies: Pioneerpicrure

Reported production figures:
Budget $6 · Revenue $10

Manduka official trailer

Watch the official trailer on YouTube

Movies Dock view

Manduka presents a compact crime-thriller premise built on an accidental meeting, a police pursuit and a mystery that connects the central girl with four criminals. With Bhushan handling both writing and direction, the film is positioned as a Kannada-language mystery for viewers interested in crime stories driven by uncertainty and pursuit.

Film data:
TMDB · IMDb