
BOTTOM LINE
Meaningful Message
OUR RATING
2.5/5
CENSOR
U/A, 2h 10m
What Is the Film About?
Bhagavanth Kesari (Balakrishna) wants to see Vijji papa in the army and be strong. The story is about how Vijji (Sreeleela) is connected to Kesari and their relationship with Rahul Sanghvi (Arjun Rampal), who seeks revenge.
Performances
Balakrishna performed admirably in the role of Bhagavanth Kesari, and his portrayal of a character closer to his age significantly benefited the film. His emotional scenes with Vijji papa added to the overall appeal of the movie. The use of the Telangana dialect and Anil Ravipudi’s subtle dialogues, without going overboard, enhanced the feel of Kesari’s character throughout.
Sreeleela, known for her glamorous roles, took on the character of Vijji papa, which marked a significant departure from her previous work. She gave it her best effort, and while there is room for more impact in the emotional scenes, her performance in this first attempt leaves no room for complaints.
Kajal Aggarwal plays Kaachi, an expert in psychology, with limited opportunities for performance or entertainment. The way the role is written leaves little room for her to shine, but it provides her fans with the chance to see her on screen once again, and that’s about it.
Analysis
Anil Ravipudi has taken everyone by surprise with ‘Bhagavanth Kesari,’ departing from usual trademark of over the top comedy entertainers. This time, he ventures into an emotional story that, on the whole, appears quite routine and predictable.
The film starts on an emotional note and takes a pleasant half-hour to establish Bhagavanth Kesari’s motives to strengthen Vijji papa and see her join the Army, which is reasonable. However, where it falters is in the rather ordinary core plot (Sarathkumar’s incident and his goal for Vijji), at least from a cinematic perspective.
The little entertainment Anil attempts to inject through the Kajal and Bhagavanth Kesari track doesn’t seamlessly integrate into the narrative. It neither provides full-on entertainment nor blends organically, especially when she proposes to Kesari. The comedy written between the two leaves much to be desired. Even the ‘Ganesh Anthem’ song featuring Bhagavanth and Vijji, who is a great dancer, lacks the vibe and energy needed for their dance combo to set the screen on fire with their moves.
Rahul Sanghvi’s (Arjun Rampal) villain track and the backdrop seem alright. The much-hyped flashback episode leans more towards background dialogues than delivering an exhilarating moment for Bhagavanth Kesari. However, the well-designed interval action sequence works effectively and builds anticipation for a promising second half, where Anil Ravipudi succeeds.
The second half kicks off with an action-packed mode and successfully maintains consistency by incorporating brief intermittent flashbacks. What works well for the most part in the second hour is the consistent pacing of the film and the well-designed action sequences, with the dialogues written for these action episodes making a significant impact.
The inclusion of Hindi dialogues in ‘Bhagavanth Kesari’ adds a touch of freshness and enhances the overall mass appeal.
The extended tunnel episode caters to the masses and follows the current trend of mass action design. The climax action choreography, where the Kesari and Vijji jump into action, is enjoyable.
However, the director missed an opportunity to delve deeper into Bhagavanth Kesari-Vijji bonding and their chemistry, which could have covered several other flaws. While it’s not a failure, there is a sense of magic missing. To truly elevate the film’s essence, this aspect must work organically.
Overall, ‘Bhagavanth Kesari’ has a slow and somewhat passable first half, but the more action-packed and engaging second half with a meaningful message makes it a one-time watch for the festive season.
Performances by Others Actors
Arjun Rampal, portraying Rahul Sanghvi, performs adequately. However, his character design, as well as Project-V, come off as routine. He fits the role of a typical wealthy antagonist.
Among the other actors, including Sarathkumar, Muralidhar Goud, Brahmaji, Subhalekha Sudhakar, and more, none manage to leave a lasting impact; they merely contribute to the storyline.
Music and Other Departments?
In the first half of Bhagavanth Kesari, there isn’t much room for the music director Thaman to leave his mark. The background music he provides for the Interval action sequence is satisfactory. However, it’s in the second half where Thaman shines. The second half features more action sequences, and Thaman does a commendable job in enhancing them.
The cinematography is decent, and the action sequences offer improved visual quality. Editing could have been more polished, but the writing impresses in several segments.
Highlights?
Balakrishnna’s performance
Message
Action Episodes
Drawbacks?
Not so engaging first half
Routine plot
Routine Vilian track
Forced comedy
Did I Enjoy It?
Yes, in parts
Will You Recommend It?
Yes, but have the right expectation
Bhagavanth Kesari Movie Review by M9
Final Report:
Bhagavanth Kesari offers an improved and engaging second half with well-crafted action blocks, dialogues, and emotional scenes, making it a one-time watch for the festive season.
First Half Report:
Bhagavanth Kesari had an emotional start and soon transitioned into mundane proceedings until the interval. The action block at the interval is impressive. A more engaging and exciting second half is necessary.
— Bhagavanth Kesari show started with a flashback episode followed by a jail fight. Stay tuned for the first half report.
Stay tuned for Bhagavanth Kesari Review, USA Premiere Report. Show begins at 12.30 mid-night IST.
Bhagavanth Kesari marks an unusual combination of Nandamuri Balakrishna, known for his typically loud and mass-oriented roles, and a director known for crafting outright comedy, attempting something emotional and subtle.
All eyes are on the output to see how the movie has delivered, especially after the trailer set the right expectations for what to anticipate.
Bhagavanth Kesari Cast: Nandamuri Balakrishna, Arjun Rampal, Kajal Aggarwal, Sreeleela
Writer, Director : Anil Ravipudi
Producers : Sahu Garapati and Harish Peddi
Banner : Shine Screens
Music Director : S Thaman
Executive Producer : S Krishna
DOP : C Ram Prasad
Editor : Tammi Raju
Production Designer : Rajeevan
Fights : V Venkat
Overseas Distribution: Sarigama Cinemas
Bhagavanth Kesari Movie Review by M9