Film: 3BHK
Rating: 2/5
Cast: Siddharth, Devayani, Sarath Kumar, Varsha Bollamma, Saptami Gowda, Meetha Raghunath, Chaitra J Achar, Yogi Babu, etc.
Music: Amrit Ramnath
Editor: Ganesh Siva
Cinematography: Dinesh B Krishnan, Jithin Stanislaus
Producer: Arun Viswa
Director: Sri Ganesh
Release Date: 4 July 2025
The film 3BHK arrives from Kollywood as a family drama, starring Siddharth in the lead, supported by Sarath Kumar and Devayani as a couple, and Chaitra J Achar as the female lead. Promotions were extensive, even in Telugu, riding on Siddharth’s presence. There was decent buzz around the film with hopes of an emotionally engaging experience.
But let’s explore what the film actually delivers.
Story:
The story begins in 2006 with Prabhu (Siddharth), a 12th-grade student, and his younger sister Aarthy (Meetha Raghunath), a 9th grader. Their father Vasudevan (Sarath Kumar), a lower-middle-class factory clerk, dreams of buying a home. His wife Shanthi (Devayani) is supportive, and the family keeps shifting between rented houses.
Despite Vasudevan’s best efforts, unexpected expenses — Prabhu’s education, Aarthy’s marriage, medical emergencies — keep derailing his savings.
Prabhu, unlike his academically gifted sister, is an average student. The narrative spans from 2006 to 2027, chronicling the family’s enduring struggle for a home.
Does the dream come true, or does it end on a philosophical note? That’s the core of the film.
Artistes' Performances:
Siddharth is excellent, portraying Prabhu across different ages — from a student to a greying adult. His look and performance is convincing throughout the timeline.
Chaitra J Achar is decent as the love interest from Prabhu’s college days. She shines particularly in a second-half scene at a garment store where she unexpectedly meets her ex.
Sarath Kumar impresses with his transition from middle-aged to elderly.
Devayani gives a subtle, balanced performance that complements the other characters well.
Meetha Raghunath is notable, especially in the first half. Yogi Babu appears briefly but fails to leave an impact.
The rest of the cast is adequate.
Technical Excellence:
Amrit Ramnath’s compositions suit the film’s tone. The song "Kalalannee..." feels native and not like a dubbed track. The rap number "Aagiponu Nenu" is moderately motivational.
Coming to Cinematography & Editing, technically sound, though the editing doesn't help the sluggish pacing.
Highlights:
Siddharth’s performance
Theme
Drawbacks:
Feels lengthy despite a short runtime
Low engagement factor
Forced emotions
Characters often act unintelligently
Analysis:
3BHK reflects the real struggles of a typical Indian middle-class family trying to buy a home. While relatable, the film feels more like a sad documentary than a cinematic experience meant to inspire, provoke thought, or entertain.
The narrative focuses entirely on pain, loss, and hopelessness. Every possible setback — educational failures, financial woes, missed opportunities — hits the family one after another. It eventually feels contrived, despite reflecting real societal issues.
Many characters behave in frustratingly irrational ways. For example, had Prabhu’s sister filed for divorce with alimony, the dream could’ve been realized. Prabhu dropping out of college just for one failed subject also feels exaggerated.
There’s one striking dialogue. “You hold an engineering certificate, but you’re not an engineer,” which critiques all the students who has bookish knowledge without practical skill. It's a rare moment of thoughtfulness.
The film starts losing grip when Vasudevan discusses marriage proposals with Prabhu. From there, it spirals down, especially with the domestic violence subplot, which feels underdeveloped.
Despite a runtime of just 2 hours 20 minutes, the film feels like 3 hours due to its slow pacing and repetitive bleakness.
3BHK, based on 3BHK Veedu by Aravindh Sachidanandam, is high on sentiment and low on engagement. It portrays a realistic scenario but lacks the emotional balance to inspire or entertain. The film neither offers philosophical acceptance nor material triumph — just a dull, dejected journey that culminates at owning a house.
Bottom Line: Overstretched Reality
