Bhairavam (2025) Review: A Rural Action Drama
Bhairavam is a Telugu-language action drama released on May 30, 2025. Directed by Vijay Kanakamedala, the film features Bellamkonda Sai Sreenivas, Manchu Manoj, and Nara Rohith in lead roles. The film marks a powerful comeback for all three actors. It is the official remake of the Tamil film Garudan (2024) and aims to present a strong mix of friendship, emotions, and high-octane action in a rustic setting.
Let’s take a detailed look at what works, what doesn’t, and whether Bhairavam delivers on expectations.
Story and Plot
The story takes place in a village called Devipuram, where three childhood friends—Seenu (Bellamkonda Sai Sreenivas), Gajapathi Varma (Manchu Manoj), and Varada (Nara Rohith)—share a deep bond. They grow up together, support one another, and become powerful figures in the village. Trouble starts when a greedy and corrupt minister, Vedurupalli Venkateshwara Rao, tries to take over the land of a respected temple. This causes tension between the friends as they get caught in a battle between loyalty, betrayal, and righteousness.
The movie explores how relationships are tested during times of crisis and how personal choices can either strengthen or destroy lifelong bonds.
Performances
Bellamkonda Sai Sreenivas plays Seenu, a character full of energy, emotion, and anger. His role demands strong emotional expression, especially in scenes involving betrayal. While he puts in great effort, some parts of his performance feel slightly over-the-top. His fans will still enjoy his screen presence and action moments.
Manchu Manoj returns to the screen with full power after a break. He plays Gajapathi Varma, a strong and commanding figure. His heavy voice and intense eyes add weight to his character. However, in a few scenes, he appears too dramatic, which can feel unnatural. Despite this, he makes a solid impact and reminds viewers of his acting strength.
Nara Rohith shines with a quiet and mature role as Varada. He doesn’t try to steal attention but stands out through controlled acting. His calmness balances the film’s high emotional moments and adds depth to the story.
Supporting actors like Jayasudha, Sampath Raj, and Ajay do well in their parts. On the other hand, the actresses—Aditi Shankar, Anandhi, and Divya Pillai—don’t get enough screen time or strong characters. Their roles feel limited and underdeveloped.
Direction and Screenplay
Director Vijay Kanakamedala, known for films like Naandhi, takes a serious approach to adapting the story for the Telugu audience. He focuses on combining emotional storytelling with commercial cinema elements such as fights, punchlines, and family values. While the main plot has strong potential, the storytelling loses pace in the first half. The beginning feels slow and predictable, but the second half picks up with better action, twists, and drama.
The screenplay lacks consistency. At times, the film feels powerful and gripping. At other times, it becomes too emotional or loud. The emotional connection between the three friends could have been shown more deeply instead of just being spoken about.
Action, Music, and Cinematography
The action scenes in Bhairavam stand out. The film has several well-choreographed fight sequences that show off the actors’ physical efforts. These scenes add excitement and energy to the narrative, especially in the second half.
The cinematography by Hari K Vedantam captures the rural setting beautifully. The visuals bring the village to life, showing lush landscapes, dusty roads, and traditional homes. This helps build an authentic atmosphere for the story.
The music by Sricharan Pakala is a mix of highs and lows. The background music adds emotion and tension to key scenes, but the songs themselves are not very memorable. They do not stay with the audience once the movie ends.
Editing by Chota K Prasad could have been sharper. The film would have felt more gripping with tighter cuts in the first half.
Audience and Critical Response
Audiences gave mixed reviews to Bhairavam. Fans appreciated the return of their favorite stars and the strong action scenes. The emotional story of friendship and betrayal also resonated with many viewers. However, critics pointed out the predictable plot, slow first half, and lack of emotional depth in some key moments.
While fans of Bellamkonda Sai Sreenivas and Manchu Manoj enjoyed the film, others felt that the movie could have been more gripping if the screenplay had been tighter and the characters more fleshed out.
Strengths
- Powerful performances by the three lead actors
- Well-shot action sequences
- Authentic rural visuals and strong background score
- Emotional story centered around friendship and trust
Weaknesses
- Slow and predictable first half
- Overacting in some emotional scenes
- Weakly written female characters
- Songs fail to leave a strong impact
Final Verdict
Bhairavam tries to be a complete action drama with emotional storytelling at its core. The film succeeds in showcasing strong performances, powerful action, and a meaningful message about friendship. However, uneven pacing, predictable writing, and a lack of emotional connection in some scenes stop it from becoming truly impactful.
For fans of Telugu mass entertainers and followers of the lead actors, Bhairavam will offer an engaging theatrical experience, especially in the second half. For others, it might be an average watch with moments of brilliance scattered throughout.
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
