Bhairavam Review: A Patchy, Dated Emotional Drama

Director: Vijay Kanakamedala
Rating: 2/5 stars

Bhairavam struggles to strike the right emotional chords, ending up as a disjointed and formulaic action drama. Centered on a wafer-thin plot about the usurpation of temple lands, the story simply doesn’t warrant the presence of three heroes.

Bellamkonda Srinivas plays the classic underdog who turns into a killer. Manchu Manoj takes on a darker role and does well in parts, though his performance is often too loud. Nara Rohith, as their mutual friend, has a few decent moments but is ultimately underutilized.

Instead of crafting three distinct, emotionally resonant characters, the film reduces them to clichéd hero templates, with grand introduction fights and action sequences that feel obligatory rather than organic. Only Bellamkonda gets some emotional weight, but even that feels more like a setup for an action payoff than genuine drama.

As a remake of the Tamil film Garudan, the emotional depth and tension that made the original work are lost in translation. The Telugu version gets buried under a mix of forced romance, predictable plot points, and overblown action. The idea of friends turning into foes is central, but the catalyst, such as Manchu Manoj’s turn into a "monster" and an inter-religious love angle, feels contrived rather than convincing.

The love track between Bellamkonda and Aditi adds little value and does not connect emotionally. It feels dated and uninspired. While Bellamkonda found success with the Tamil remake Rakshasudu, Bhairavam is a far riskier bet, relying heavily on audiences accepting him in a softer, innocent role before his eventual fiery transformation.

The film kicks off with a minister eyeing the 1000-crore worth lands of the Varahi temple in a remote village. Bellamkonda plays a handyman who is fiercely loyal to Manchu Manoj and is also a close friend of Nara Rohith, who runs a brick kiln. Their friendship begins to fray when the minister lures Manoj with a lucrative deal. What follows is a predictable spiral of betrayal and conflict.

Director Vijay Kanakamedala, known for gripping films like Naandhi and Ugram, tries to adapt the emotional core of Garudan for the Telugu audience. However, with the central theme of friends turning enemies remaining unchanged, his cosmetic tweaks aren’t enough to keep the audience fully engaged.

In the end, Bhairavam fails to deliver the emotional impact it promises, relying too heavily on action tropes and outdated storytelling.