"Bhagavanth Kesari Review – A Tedious Experience"

Nandamuri Balakrishna's collaboration with director Anil Ravipudi in "Bhagavanth Kesari" might appear unusual. The film is promoted as an action-packed feature and stars Sree Leela and Kajal in significant roles. Let's delve into what this movie offers.

Movie Details:

Title: Bhagavanth Kesari

Cast: Nandamuri Balakrishna, Kajal Aggarwal, Sreeleela, Arjun Rampal

Director: Anil Ravipudi

Producers: Sahu Garapati, Harish Peddi

Music: Thaman S

Duration: 2 hours and 44 minutes

Release Date: October 19, 2023

Plot:

"Bhagavanth Kesari" follows the story of Kesari, a seasoned individual from Adilabad with strong principles. He becomes the guardian of a girl named Vijji, who is the daughter of a prison warden where Kesari is incarcerated. Vijji unwittingly becomes entangled in an incident involving Sanghvi, a businessman and the son of a politician with aspirations to become the nation's top figure, who has ties to both state and national political leaders. The film explores Kesari's efforts to rescue Vijji, unveils Kesari's backstory, and depicts how he empowers Vijji to become a strong and independent young woman.

On-screen Performances:

Nandamuri Balakrishna plays Bhagavanth Kesari, portraying a character befitting his age. He takes on the role of Sree Leela's guardian, embodying a resolute figure dedicated to his daughter's success. Sree Leela delivers a commendable performance, meeting the expectations set for her character. Her dance sequences maintain a high standard. Kajal Aggarwal, though in a brief role, performs adequately. Arjun Rampal makes his Telugu debut in the film, performing decently, albeit hindered by a somewhat conventional villain character portrayal. Casting Muralidhar Goud in a pivotal role doesn't align well with the film's serious tone, given his recent comedic roles in movies like "DJ Tillu" and "MAD."

Off-screen Talents:

Anil Ravipudi's choice of a simplistic script with mass appeal and a girl empowerment theme was intended to cater to Balakrishna's dedicated fan base and a broader audience. However, the execution falls short on both fronts. The screenplay suffers from irregularity and includes unnecessary scenes that detract from the overall narrative. Notably, a school lecture scene in the second half is particularly cringe-worthy. Although Balakrishna receives a notable makeover, the film struggles to handle the mass star in terms of direction. Thaman's background score, while occasionally too loud, lacks the impact of his recent work. The songs are also subpar. Editing by Tammiraju could have been more concise, trimming unnecessary and tedious sequences. Cinematography by Harish and Ram Prasad is satisfactory, but the visual effects and production values leave room for improvement.

Positive Aspects:

Balakrishna's powerful performance

Focus on girl empowerment

Negative Aspects:

Inconsistent screenplay

Lack of entertainment

Over-the-top action sequences

Weak songs and background music

Prolonged and dull moments

Overall Verdict:

In summary, "Bhagavanth Kesari" is a formulaic mass film that fails to captivate both Balakrishna's enthusiasts and the general moviegoing audience. It falls short in terms of both storyline and entertainment value, offering a paper-thin plot, traditional treatment, minimal humor, tedious scenes, excessive action sequences, and lackluster music that drag the film down.