Bhairavam, Vijay Kanakamedala’s Telugu take on the Tamil hit Garudan, dropped on May 30, 2025, with Bellamkonda Sai Sreenivas, Manchu Manoj, and Nara Rohith leading the charge. Set in the rustic village of Devipuram, this action drama dives into friendship, betrayal, and some temple-centric spiritual drama. It’s got some solid moments—killer action and a standout performance from Rohith—but a shaky screenplay and some casting missteps keep it from hitting the high notes of the original.
Plot:
The story follows three buddies: Seenu (Bellamkonda Sai Sreenivas), a village-raised orphan; Gajapathi Varma (Manchu Manoj), a broke Zamindar heir; and Varadha (Nara Rohith), a rich guy with a moral compass. Their friendship gets messy when a shady minister (Sharath Lohitashwa) eyes the Varahi Devi temple’s ₹1000-crore land, playing on Gajapathi’s financial woes. It’s a mix of loyalty, greed, and a touch of divine justice, but the predictable plot and uneven pacing don’t always keep you hooked.
Analysis:
Bhairavam kicks off slow, with a first half dragged down by forgettable songs and a tacked-on romance between Seenu and Vennela (Aditi Shankar) that feels flat. Things get better after the interval, with a juicy Mamidi Thota twist and some high-energy action that’ll get the crowd cheering. The Kantara-style spiritual climax tries to pack a punch but feels forced. Compared to Garudan’s sharp mix of humor and heart, this one leans too hard into massy vibes, missing the emotional depth. Kanakamedala’s earlier stuff like Naandhi felt tighter, and at 155 minutes, this one’s a bit of a slog with some preachy temple-saving bits that don’t land.
Performances:
Bellamkonda Sai Sreenivas brings his A-game to Seenu’s action scenes and the jathara sequence—those moments are pure fire. But when it comes to the funny or heartfelt stuff, he feels out of his depth, like he’s not quite the right fit. Manchu Manoj’s comeback as Gajapathi is intense, with that deep voice stealing scenes, but he goes over-the-top at times, making it feel a bit much. Nara Rohith is the real MVP as Varadha, cool and collected with a quiet strength that anchors the film. The supporting cast—Jayasudha as Gajapathi’s grandma, Aditi Shankar, and Divya Pillai as Varadha’s wife—don’t get much to do, and Vennela Kishore’s comedy bits just don’t click. Sampath Raj and Ajay are there but don’t leave a mark.
Technical Aspects:
Hari K. Vedantam’s cinematography is a big win, giving Devipuram a raw, earthy feel with awesome night shots, especially in the Mamidi Thota action scene. Brahma Kadali’s sets make the village and temple feel real and lived-in. Sricharan Pakala’s background score pumps up the drama, but the songs are a total miss, slowing things down. Chota K. Prasad’s editing could’ve been tighter—the first half crawls, and the second half feels stretched despite some solid moments.
Verdict:
Bhairavam is a fun watch if you’re into action-packed Telugu flicks with a rural vibe. Nara Rohith’s performance, the big action scenes, and the visuals make it worth a shot, but a wobbly script, some casting issues, and weak songs hold it back from being great. It’s not as gripping as Garudan or Kanakamedala’s best, but it’s got enough juice for a one-time theater ride. Rating: 2.5/5