'Bhairavam' Movie Review

'Bhairavam' Movie Review

Cast: Bellamkonda Srinivas, Nara Rohit, Manchu Manoj, Aditi Shankar, Anandi, Divya Pillai, Sampath Raj, Sharath Lohitaswa, Vennela Kishore, Raja Ravindra, Ajay and others

Music: Sri Charan Pakala

Cinematography: Hari K. Vedantham

Lyrics: Satyarshi-Thoom Venkat

Producer: KK Radhamohan

Screenplay-Director: Vijay Kanakamedala

Bellamkonda Srinivas, Nara Rohit, and Manchu Manoj joined forces in a rare combination for the film Bhairavam. After a lull in their career and the long wait for a solid hit, these three heroes come together with a movie that has caught the audience�s eye through intriguing promos. Directed by Vijay Kanakamedala, known for the film Naandhi, Bhairavam has now hit the marquee. Here�s what this film is all about.

Story:

In East Godavari's Devipuram village, the Varahi Ammavari temple holds a rich history. Gajapati Varma (Manchu Manoj) is the grandson of the temple's trusted and respected trustee, Seenu (Bellamkonda), an orphan, who is not just his follower but his whole world, ready to do anything for Gajapati. Meanwhile, Gajapati and Varada (Nara Rohit) share a strong friendship, and together with Seenu, they keep their village safe from harm. But trouble brews when the Endowment Minister (Sharath Lohitashwa) sets his sights on the temple�s land, valued at a thousand crores. Pretending to save Gajapati from a conflict, the minister plots to use the situation to grab the land, sparking a fierce conflict between Gajapati and Varada. What unfolds from this clash? How does Seenu fit into this land-grabbing work? And what becomes of these three men in the end? forms the rest of the story.

Analysis:

Thanks to the OTT platforms, these days audiences watch movies from all languages, and that's why remakes are becoming trouble markers. The moment a film is announced as a remake, fans start comparing it to the original. Social media buzzes with discussions, leaving little mystery about the story. This often dampens the excitement, affecting the film�s impact at the box office. Yet, remakes continue to blossom in the Telugu industry. Instead of copying originals shot-for-shot, filmmakers are now reshaping them with fresh changes and additions. This approach, popularized by Harish Shankar�s Gabbar Singh, is now being followed by others.

Vijay Kanakamedala, who impressed Telugu audiences with Allari Naresh's Naandhi, took a similar route with Bhairavam, the remake of the Tamil film Garudan. While he kept the core story intact, he changed the entire treatment. By casting heroes with strong stardom and infusing their roles with heroism, he turned the story into a high-energy action entertainer tailored for the mass audience. Though the plot loses some steam compared to the original, the movie successfully connects with fans who enjoy these masala flicks.

In fact, Garudan is a serious drama featuring comedian Suri in a supporting role-like story that fits his image. The story focused purely on content, with actors lacking a star image. The Telugu remake, however, cast a mass hero in Srinivas, with Manchu Manoj and Nara Rohit sharing important roles. The film was thus given a mass makeover suited to the tastes of the Telugu audience. The presence of three lead heroes added weight to the story, while action scenes were designed to impress. The film also incorporated �divine� elements, following a current trend. A notable addition is a hero�s tandava scene inspired by Kantara, which will surely appeal to the mass crowd. At its core, Bhairavam explores how greed for wealth can ruin friendships, a theme powerfully expressed through its main characters.

Despite the strong mass treatment, Bhairavam somewhat dilutes the original�s narrative strength. Once the movie is finished, the action sequences stand out, but the story and characters don�t leave a lasting impact. The hero�s romantic track feels forced, especially with Aditi Shankar cast opposite Srinivas, lacking chemistry and clashing with the film�s tone. The comedy with Vennela Kishore provides some relief. However, the performances of the three leads, Srinivas, Nara Rohit, and Manoj, drive the film forward.

Scenes that drifted naturally in Garudan seem a bit overdramatic in Bhairavam. The first hour feels ordinary, but the story picks up after the pre-interval twist, revealing a new side to Manoj�s character and injecting fresh energy. The interval shocker grabs attention with Srinivas�s 'poonakam' character coming alive, thus thrilling the mass-lovers. The second half turns intense with impressive twists and well-developed emotions, especially in the final half hour. The climax is well crafted, and it carries the same intensity as the interval bang. Though the story fumbles at times, Bhairavam succeeds in engaging its mass audience.

Performances: Bellamkonda Srinivas, Nara Rohit, and Manchu Manoj all shared roles of equal importance in Bhairavam. Srinivas�s character and performance resonated well with the masses, especially shining in his powerful action scenes. His work in the interval episode, particularly the scenes with Poonakam act, stood out as highlights. Nara Rohit impressed with his subtle performance. Despite a long career break, his confidence remained intact, showing why he is regarded as a talented performer but then surprising us why he didn't do films for years.

Manchu Manoj delivered a strong performance, portraying a character with different shades. His use of a serious tone and bass-voice modulation for dialogues clicked well. Though his acting felt a bit over the top sometimes, it worked well if we look at it from the film's tone. On the other hand, star director S Shankar�s daughter Aditi, who appeared as the leading lady, struggled to make an impact. Her screen presence is poor, while the makeup looks out of place.

Divya Pillai and Anandi fit their roles well, while Jayasudha and Sampath Raj did a decent job in supporting parts. Sarath Lohitaswa and Ajay were effective as villains, adding weight to their characters.

Technicians: The technical departments in Bhairavam delivered a decent performance overall. Though Sri Charan Pakala�s songs felt rather ordinary, his background score stood out and added depth to the film. The action and emotional scenes carried good momentum, thanks to the terrific background score. Cinematographer Hari Vedantham�s work is impressive, making the film visually appealing. There was no compromise on production values and the budget was well utilized. The interval and climax sequences, in particular, were shot with a grand scale.

Director Vijay Kanakamedala aimed to give the Tamil story of Garudan a strong mass-action makeover for Telugu audiences. He skillfully adapted several elements to fit current trends and tastes. While Vijay handled the action sequences well, a bit more focus on the core story and screenplay would have made the film even better.

Verdict: Bhairavam.. a bang for the masses

Rating- 2.5/5