Bhairavam Review and Rating: Great Storyline Let Down by Narration
Introduction:
Released on May 30, 2025, Bhairavam stars Bellamkonda Sai Srinivas, Nara Rohith, and Manchu Manoj in key roles. Directed by Vijay Kanakamedala, the film is based on the Tamil film Garudan. With high expectations due to its powerful cast and strong source material, the film presents an emotional story centered on friendship and betrayal. But does it truly engage the audience? Let’s find out.
Story:
The story unfolds in Devipatnam, a village in East Godavari, Andhra Pradesh. Gajapathi (Manchu Manoj) and Varada (Nara Rohith) are childhood friends. Sreenu (Bellamkonda Sai Srinivas), an orphan, becomes part of their bond after an incident in their youth. He grows up as their loyal supporter.
The twist begins when a corrupt minister sets his eyes on the sacred manyam lands owned by the Varahi Amma temple, with the land papers held by Gajapathi’s family. The minister manipulates one of the friends to betray the others. The film’s core revolves around loyalty, greed, and emotional dilemmas. Will Sreenu remain faithful? Will friendship survive power and temptation?
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Performances:
Bellamkonda Sai Srinivas delivers a fair performance. Though his role is less dominant, he becomes more active in the second half. Nara Rohith handles his part with ease but appears physically unfit for the role. Manchu Manoj shines in the second half despite some over-the-top scenes in the beginning. Jayasudha plays her grandmotherly role suitably. Aditi Shankar in her Telugu debut is charming and fits well as a village girl. Anandhi has limited screen time but leaves a lasting impression. Sampath Raj and Sarath Lohithashwa are decent in their roles, while Vennela Kishore’s comedy does not stand out.
Technical Aspects:
Music by Sricharan Pakala is good, especially the song “O Vennela”. Background score enhances the emotional tone of the film. Cinematography by Hari K Vedantam captures the village vibe authentically. Production design is visually rich. Editing and dialogues, however, are quite routine and fail to elevate scenes.
Analysis:
Bhairavam closely follows Garudan’s storyline but misses its emotional depth. In the original, the casting and grounded tone gave it an authentic feel. Bellamkonda, known for mass roles, doesn’t bring the subtle emotional pull needed for this character.
Some scenes, especially those involving emotional tension and friendship, fall flat. Comedy sequences don’t work well either. Still, a few moments—like the police station scene and climax—hold some impact.
Director Vijay Kanakamedala tries to add devotional and mass elements for Telugu audiences. But these additions, while thoughtful, don’t make the film memorable.
Verdict:
Bhairavam has a strong plot and a few powerful moments, but the execution feels patchy. It may appeal to those unfamiliar with Garudan, but for others, it comes off as a lesser remake with limited emotional depth.
Rating:
2.5/5
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