Movie: Bhairavam
Rating: 2.5/5
Banner: Sri Satya Sai Arts
Cast: Bellamkonda Sai Srinivas, Aditi Shankar, Nara Rohith, Manchu Manoj, Jayasudha, Aanandi, Divya Pillai, Ajay, Raja Ravindra, Sarath Lohitashwa Sampath Raj, Sandeep Raj, Vennela Kishore, and others
Music: Sricharan Pakala
DOP: Hari K Vedantam
Editor: Chota K Prasad
Production Designer: Brahma Kadali
Fights: Ramakrishna, Nataraj Madigonda
Producer: KK Radhamohan
Screenplay and Directed by: Vijay Kanakamedala
Release Date: May 30, 2025
“Bhairavam,” though headlined by Bellamkonda Sai Srinivas, also garnered significant attention due to the prominent roles played by Nara Rohith and Manchu Manoj. Their involvement enhanced the film’s visibility and promotional reach.
Let’s analyze.
Story:
The story is set in the village of Devipatnam, located in the East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh. Gajapathi (Manoj) and Varada (Nara Rohith) have been close friends since childhood.
Sreenu (Bellamkonda Sai Srinivas), an orphan, becomes part of their lives after a childhood incident brings him closer to Gajapathi. Since then, he has remained a loyal friend and trusted aide to both.
The village’s Varahi Amma temple owns the manyam lands, with the legal documents currently held by Gajapathi’s family.
A corrupt minister (Sarath Lohitashwa) sets his sights on these temple lands and attempts to exploit the bond between the friends. He approaches one of them for help in illegally acquiring the property.
Will one of the friends betray the others for personal gain? Will Sreenu remain loyal to his friends?
Artistes’ Performances:
Bellamkonda Sai Srinivas stays true to his character. He begins with a subdued presence but becomes more aggressive in the second half. However, his screen time is somewhat limited, as the other two lead characters share equal prominence — marking a shift for him.
Nara Rohith delivers a decent performance, portraying his role with ease. He sports grey hair to suit his character but clearly needs to work on his fitness.
Manchu Manoj, as Gajapathi, goes over the top at times, but his performance stands out in the film’s latter half.
Jayasudha, as the grandmother, is adequate. Vennela Kishore’s role is largely forgettable. Aditi Shankar, in her Telugu debut, fits well into the role of a village belle.
Anandhi, playing Manoj’s wife, is given a more substantial role and leaves a mark with her brief yet impactful performance.
Sampath Raj is convincing as a police officer, while Sharath Lohithaswa delivers a routine performance.
Technical Excellence:
The song “O Vennela” has already gained popularity, and the background score effectively enhances the film’s emotional moments.
The cinematography and production design are impressive, especially for a rural drama.
Hari K Vedantam captures the village setting authentically, while the production design adds a grand visual touch. However, the dialogue writing and editing are fairly routine.
Highlights:
Basic story of the original movie
Better second half
Drawback:
Beginning sequences
Poor comedy track
Emotions don’t work quite well
Analysis
“Bhairavam,” a remake of the Tamil film Garudan, closely follows the original storyline and nearly replicates its screenplay structure. However, unlike the Tamil version, this adaptation lacks a grounded, authentic feel.
In Garudan, comedian-turned-actor Soori played the lead role, which allowed the director to focus more on character development and emotional depth. The original skillfully balanced drama and humor — particularly in scenes like the Muslim girl's suicide attempt and the subsequent hospital sequence, which were elevated by Soori’s comic timing.
In contrast, Bellamkonda Sai Srinivas, cast in the same role, doesn’t quite fit. Known primarily for his action roles, Srinivas lacks the comedic subtlety the part requires, creating a tonal mismatch. As a result, despite retaining the original screenplay, Bhairavam struggles to recreate the emotional and comedic impact of Garudan.
For viewers unfamiliar with the Tamil version, these flaws may not be as noticeable, but they contribute to a sense of flatness and missed potential.
The core plot of Garudan — centering on a protagonist torn between loyalty and justice — remains compelling. These themes are preserved in Bhairavam, and the emotional weight of the climax still resonates. However, this Telugu version leans more toward a commercial format, emphasizing spectacle over simplicity.
Director Vijay Kanakamedala introduces a stronger devotional layer and incorporates mass elements to appeal to the local audience. The devotional sequence in the second half is a thoughtful addition from a box-office perspective. While these tweaks add some appeal, they don't elevate the film beyond the confines of a typical action drama.
What works in Bhairavam is its strong foundational plot and a few impactful scenes — such as the police station episode in the first half and a pivotal turning point in the second. Yet, they lack the intensity and effectiveness of the original. Even viewed independently of Garudan, Bhairavam plays out as a passable action drama rather than a gripping one.
Overall, Bhairavam is an average watch, buoyed mainly by its core storyline and emotional climax.
Bottom-line: Not up to the original
