Bhairavam review: A typical but good old-school Telugu commercial entertainer

India Today

30-05-2025

Set against a rural backdrop of down-to-earth villagers, paddy fields and greenery all around, traditional houses, and a revered temple taken care of by the respected families of the village, an innocent love story begins to bloom—until a crooked politician's greedy eye spoils the broth. But the saviours rise to the occasion and save the day. How long has it been since a film following this beloved template hit theatres?Regardless of language, in South Indian cinema most heroes—especially those who have now reached veteran status—earned their fame and admiration by playing characters that resonated not only with city audiences but also with those in villages. Not just the legends who are no longer with us, but even actors like Chiranjeevi, Nandamuri Balakrishna, Rajinikanth, Shiva Rajkumar, Mohanlal, and their contemporaries shone in such roles, prompting cine-goers to flock to theatres from every corner of South India.Vijay Kanakamedala's 'Bhairavam' rediscovers the glory of this classic template by fully immersing its screenplay in a rustic rural setting. Starring Manoj Manchu, Bellamkonda Sai Srinivas, and Nara Rohith, the film brings all of the above and more to the table. But does it have the same impact as the classics once did? Let's find out!advertisement 'Bhairavam' follows the story of Varada (Nara Rohith) and Jagapathi (Manoj Manchu), inseparable friends since birth who carry on their fathers' legacy, who were also friends until death, quite literally. Seenu (Bellamkonda Sai Srinivas) is an orphan taken in by Jagapathi's grandmother, and he grows up as an integral part of both Jagapathi and Varada's households.What happens when a minister's shadow falls over the village? Will the trio manage to fight off evil, or will the minister and his minions succeed in driving a wedge between the friends? The answer—and plenty more, with a dash of cinematic masala—forms the plot of the film.
The biggest merit of the film lies in the way it connects with the audience through emotions. Friendship, family, loyalty, integrity, devotion, tradition, and nostalgia (at some level) play a key role in building a bridge between the story and the audience, evoking several emotionally charged moments.advertisementBellamkonda Sai Srinivas shines brightest among the lead trio, delivering an outright entertaining performance with his screen presence, action, and dance. The pre-interval fight scene is a moment to witness—for the film and for Srinivas's performance—as it leaves one with goosebumps. Manoj Manchu and Nara Rohith have also delivered strong performances in their respective roles.The supporting cast, which includes Jayasudha, Aditi Shankar, Divya Pillai, Ajay, Sarath Lohitashwa, Sampath Raj, and Vennela Kishore, have done justice to their roles, elevating the impact of the lead characters' performances. Melodramatic acting is to be expected from a film like this, and the cast delivers it to the dot.Director Vijay Kanakamedala revitalises a story that has been presented several times before—but with an interesting wardrobe change. The film is unabashedly over the top in its action and character traits. There are moments when the proceedings become so melodramatic that one might wonder whether they are in a theatre or suffering through the discomforts of their living room while watching a poorly-made daily soap on TV.However, there are also moments when the film shines brightly, where the emotion supports the madness happening on screen. A key contributor to this is the background score by Sricharan Pakala. While at times it might remind viewers of watching Balayya's 'Veera Simha Reddy' in theatres—thanks to its sheer volume—the BGM mostly complements the onscreen proceedings well.advertisementThe chaotic nature of the film mirrors the contributions of the technical departments. Along with the background score mentioned above, the songs in the film also touch both ends of the spectrum. While a couple of tracks are genuinely catchy—especially the 'Dum Dumaare' song—others are so abrupt and flat that they offer viewers a four-minute break to check all their messages.The same applies to the cinematography, set design, and visual effects: some key moments are absolutely great, while others are merely mediocre at best. But it is due to these key moments that the film comes out as a surprisingly good entertainer. By placing these moments at regular intervals, the director has managed to render a final output that is certainly fun to watch.If one enjoys emotions, drama, action, song and dance—pure commercial entertainment—'Bhairavam' is certainly worth a watch. But beware: it defies logic, gravity, and sense whenever the opportunity presents itself.3 out 5 stars to 'Bhairavam'.