Released on 30th May 2025, “Bhairavam” marks an impactful rural action drama that showcases the talents of three leading men from Telugu cinema. Directed by Vijay Kanakamedala, this official Telugu remake of Tamil superhit “Garudan” brings together power-packed performances but suffers from some narrative inconsistencies.
Cast and Crew
| Role | Name | Social Media |
|---|---|---|
| Actor (Seenu) | Bellamkonda Sai Sreenivas | |
| Actor (Varada) | Nara Rohith | |
| Actor (Gajapathi) | Manchu Manoj Kumar | |
| Actress (Vennela) | Aditi Shankar | |
| Actress (Neelima) | Anandhi | |
| Actress (Poornima) | Divya Pillai | |
| Director | Vijay Kanakamedala | – |
| Music Director | Sricharan Pakala | |
| Cinematographer | Hari K Vedantam | – |
| Editor | Chota K Prasad | – |
| Producer | KK Radha Mohan | – |
| Production | Sri Sathya Sai Arts | – |
Plot Summary
Set in fictional Devipuram, “Bhairavam” revolves around three childhood friends whose unbreakable bond is tested by greed, betrayal and ambition. Gajapathi Varma (Manchu Manoj), descended from a once-powerful Zamindar family, maintains his dignity despite financial struggles. His best friends are wealthy and influential Varadha (Nara Rohith) and Sreenu (Bellamkonda Sreenivas), an orphan embraced by the community.
The story takes a dark turn when a corrupt minister (Sharath Lohitashwa) schemes to illegally seize sacred temple lands overseen by Gajapathi’s grandmother (Jayasudha). Exploiting Gajapathi’s financial troubles, the minister tempts him with money in exchange for betraying the temple trust. What follows is a fascinating story of how money and influence can corrupt even the most loyal friendships.
The narrative explores how Sreenu’s romance with Vennela (Aditi Shankar) unfolds amid this chaos, and how Gajapathi’s wife Neelima (Anandi) emotionally pressures her husband due to their economic condition. As loyalties shift and friendships fracture, the three once-inseparable friends find themselves on opposing sides, leading to dramatic confrontations and violent consequences.
Performance Analysis
Bellamkonda Sai Sreenivas (Seenu)
Bellamkonda delivers what might be his most nuanced performance to date. As Sreenu, he successfully sheds his typical larger-than-life hero image to portray an ordinary man with extraordinary loyalty. His emotional scenes in the second half showcase significant growth as an actor, and his action sequences remain his strong suit. The transformation scene after the interval is particularly impressive, displaying his range beyond just physical prowess.
Manchu Manoj (Gajapathi)
After a hiatus, Manchu Manoj returns with a commanding performance as the emotionally torn Gajapathi. He brings the necessary intensity and complexity to a character fighting between loyalty and survival. Manoj excels in scenes that require volatile emotions, making his moral decline believable and, at times, even sympathetic.His acting in contentious sequences with Nara Rohith heightens the film’s dramatic intensity.
Nara Rohith (Varada)
Nara Rohith brings quiet strength to his role, offering a perfect counterbalance to the more expressive performances by his co-stars. As Varada, he embodies stoic determination and unwavering principles. His composed dialogue delivery and measured expressions effectively convey his character’s moral compass.
Female Leads
Unfortunately, the female leads are underserved by the script. Aditi Shankar as Vennela has limited screen time mostly restricted to songs and romantic sequences with limited impact on the central narrative. Anandi as Neelima has a somewhat stronger role as Gajapathi’s troubled wife, but still lacks depth beyond being a catalyst for her husband’s moral compromises.
Technical Aspects
Direction
Director Vijay Kanakamedala shows skill in handling an ensemble cast and crafting impactful action sequences. However, his adaptation from the Tamil original “Garudan” struggles with pacing issues, particularly in the second half. The friendship between the three leads feels more told than shown, reducing the emotional impact of their eventual conflict.
Cinematography
Hari K Vedantam’s cinematography brilliantly conveys the rustic backdrop of Devipuram through warm tones and intelligent framing. The action sequences are well-shot with dynamic camera movements, though some night scenes suffer from inconsistent lighting. The visual treatment maintains a consistent mood that enhances the film’s dramatic tension.
Music and Background Score
Sri Charan Pakala’s background score lends emotional depth to important sequences, especially during confrontations. However, the songs fail to leave a lasting impression, functioning as routine breaks rather than narrative enhancements. The devotional sequence features a standout theme that briefly elevates the proceedings but isn’t enough to make the soundtrack memorable.
Editing
Chota K Prasad’s editing maintains reasonable momentum in the first half but falters in the second. At 155 minutes, the film feels overlong, with several scenes that could have been trimmed to improve pacing. The transition between emotional and action sequences occasionally lacks fluidity, creating tonal inconsistencies.
Box Office Performance
“Bhairavam” opened with decent numbers, collecting approximately ₹2.75 crore net in India on its release day (May 30, 2025). The film performed particularly well in B and C centers, where the rural setting and mass elements resonated with audiences.
In the global market, primarily the United States, the film grossed approximately $125,000 in its initial weekend. While these figures represent a moderate start, they’re respectable considering the film faced competition from other releases.
Industry analysts predict the film will need strong word-of-mouth to sustain momentum in its second week, as initial reviews have been mixed. With its moderate budget, “Bhairavam” needs to maintain steady collections to be declared a commercial success.
OTT Release Details
While “Bhairavam” is currently running in theaters, digital rights negotiations have reportedly been finalized. According to reliable sources, ZEE5 has acquired the streaming rights for the film, with a digital premiere expected in the last week of June 2025, approximately 4 weeks after its theatrical release.
This relatively quick OTT release strategy follows the current trend in Telugu cinema, where films typically enjoy a 3-4 week theatrical window before transitioning to streaming platforms.
Overview and Final Verdict
“Bhairavam” attempts to blend action, drama, and emotional themes of friendship and betrayal within a rural backdrop. While it succeeds in parts, particularly with its performances and action choreography, it falls short of being truly memorable due to its predictable narrative and pacing issues.
The film’s strengths lie in the chemistry between its three male leads and some well-executed action sequences. Bellamkonda Sai Sreenivas, Manchu Manoj, and Nara Rohith all deliver convincing performances that elevate material that might otherwise feel formulaic.
However, underdeveloped female characters, inconsistent pacing, and a somewhat predictable script prevent “Bhairavam” from achieving its full potential. Director Vijay Kanakamedala shows promising vision in parts but could have benefited from a tighter screenplay and more balanced character development.
Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3/5)
“Bhairavam” offers enough for fans of mass action dramas but doesn’t quite reach the heights of its Tamil original. It’s a passable one-time watch, primarily for the performances of its lead actors and a few well-crafted action sequences. If you enjoy rural action dramas with themes of friendship and betrayal, this film delivers
Credits: Sri Sathya Sai Arts
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