Bhairavam Movie Review

Bhairavam is the Telugu remake of the 2023 Tamil hit Garudan, directed by Vijay Kanakamedala and produced by KK Radhamohan under the Sri Sathya Sai Arts banner. Featuring Manchu Manoj, Nara Rohith, and Bellamkonda Srinivas in key roles, this village-based emotional action drama aims to replicate the success of its original but struggles to achieve the same impact in Telugu.

Plot Summary:
Set in the village of Devipuram in East Godavari, the story revolves around the revered deity Varahi Devi. The temple and its associated assets are managed by two loyal devotees — Gajapathi (Manchu Manoj) and Varada (Nara Rohith). Gajapathi is a descendant of a Zamindar family, now facing financial distress, while Varada hails from a wealthy, principled background. Their bond is deepened by trust and longstanding friendship.

Bellamkonda Srinivas plays Srinu, an orphan raised under Gajapathi’s care. Vennela, a local milk vendor, silently loves Srinu. Trouble begins when a minister named Vedurupalli (Sharath Lohithasya) devises a plan to illegally acquire 75 acres of temple land donated by a devotee, with crucial documents locked away along with the temple jewels. He offers Gajapathi ₹40 crores in exchange for those documents. What decisions do Gajapathi and Varada make? How does Srinu respond? These questions drive the narrative forward.

Analysis:
The title Bhairavam is aptly chosen, as it refers to the guardian deity Bhairava associated with Goddess Varahi. In the film, the character Srinu appears to be spiritually influenced by Bhairava from a young age, making the title thematically relevant. The story unfolds in a rural setting centered around a temple and two families, with friendship and trust serving as the primary emotional anchors.

Varada holds deep devotion towards Goddess Varahi, while Srinu exhibits unwavering loyalty towards Gajapathi. The strong bond between Gajapathi and Varada is tested through the film’s events, and the narrative explores who upholds the true essence of friendship and trust during testing times. While the story remains faithful to the structure of the original Garudan, the emotional impact doesn’t translate with equal effectiveness in the Telugu version.

In Garudan, the character Suri was portrayed with a delicate vulnerability. His involvement in a crime felt unbelievable at first glance due to his sensitive and mild demeanor, which made his confrontations with stronger opponents all the more gripping and emotionally satisfying. However, in Bhairavam, casting Bellamkonda Srinivas in this role undermines that vulnerability. His robust and heroic persona clashes with the intended subtlety of the character, making the emotional arc less believable and ultimately affecting the film’s overall resonance.

Performances:
Manchu Manoj delivers a sincere performance as Gajapathi, but the emotional depth required for his turmoil doesn’t fully come through. Nara Rohith’s Varada stands tall as the moral compass of the story, and his portrayal is dignified. Bellamkonda Srinivas, despite his screen presence, feels miscast as the emotionally grounded Srinu.

Anandi and Divya Pillai play the wives of Gajapathi and Varada respectively, but their characters are underwritten. Adithi Shankar’s role opposite Bellamkonda is both ill-conceived and poorly executed. Veteran actress Jayasudha appears in a brief role that feels wasted. Artists like Sampath Raj, Ajay Ratnam, and Sharath Lohithasya are underutilized.

Technical Aspects:
Cinematography by Hari K Vedantam is passable, capturing the village setting well. Sri Charan Pakala’s music lacks memorability, offering little emotional reinforcement. Editing by Chota K Prasad is adequate but doesn’t elevate the pacing or drama. Overall, the technical output feels average.

Final Verdict:
Bhairavam tries to bring forward the emotional and action-packed drama of Garudan but falters in execution. The core idea of loyalty and betrayal amidst a spiritual backdrop remains intact, but the magic of the original gets lost in translation. Poor casting choices and lack of emotional depth dilute the film’s impact. The Telugu version ends up as a weaker shadow of its Tamil counterpart.