Imagine three men bonded by years of childhood loyalty suddenly torn apart by power, betrayal and fate. Bhairavam, which hit theatres on May 30, 2025, isn’t just another rural masala film. It arrives loaded with comeback hopes, controversies and mythic undertones that keep Telugu cinema fans clicking.
Directed by Vijay Kanakamedala and based on the Tamil hit Garudan (2024), the Telugu remake stars Bellamkonda Sai Sreenivas, Manchu Manoj, and Nara Rohith in key roles, with Aditi Shankar making her Telugu debut. The makers banked on this trio to anchor a complex tale of loyalty versus justice, set in a rural village simmering with secrets and greed.
While the film’s mass-market visual flair drew attention, there’s more beneath the surface: online reactions, production stories, industry expectations and even political resonances helped shape Bhairavam’s journey into a trending phenomenon.
Why So Much Buzz Around This Film?
The talking points stacked up early on:
For Bellamkonda Sai Sreenivas, this marked a return after a letdown Bollywood remake of Chatrapathi. In interviews, he confessed how budget constraints and past setbacks sharpened his resolve to deliver something authentic on home turf.
Manchu Manoj, once away from cinema for six years, described his journey as one riddled with nepotism backlash and personal struggle even though he comes from a famous film family. His frank reflections struck a chord in ongoing conversations about merit in Tollywood.
The digitally leaked resurfacing of a 2011 meme by the director mocking the Mega family (Chiranjeevi, Ram Charan, etc.) triggered a wave of fan outrage. A boycott hashtag trended, creating real stakes just days before release.
So by release day, the film carried more than just a storyline. It carried reputations, expectations and public emotions.
What Viewers Actually Experienced
First-look reactions called it a “fairly engaging action drama”, with praise from Sai Dharam Tej and debut love from Manchu Manoj’s followers.
Yet deeper reviews painted a divide:
The Times of India awarded it 3 out of 5 stars, calling the first half slow but praising a turn-around twist in the Mamidi Thota sequence that gave emotional heft.
Great Andhra pointed out the uneven deportment of the comic track, occasional loss of tone, but highlighted strong rural visuals and a powerful storyline about friendship and betrayal.
High On Films wrote a scathing review, calling it a clueless, exhausting mess, criticizing how it failed to build a unique identity beyond being a template remake.
Across the board, critics agreed. The core conflict about loyalty, class and karmic justice felt solid. But somewhere between songs, melodrama and spectacle, emotional clarity blurred.
Hidden Layers You Might Have Missed
A mythic subtext in the framing
Although buried by commercial tropes, the narrative subtly positions the characters in quasi mythological roles. Gajapathi and Varadha echo Ram-Lakshman archetypes, while Seenu frames himself like a devoted Hanuman only to unravel as tensions mount.
That reading may be unintentional, but it pulses beneath sequences, especially in a village temple setting used to heighten sacrificial imagery.
How Telugu fans reacted online
Reddit discussion in r/Tollywood pointed out that Bellamkonda’s subtle performance surprised many, while Nara Rohith and Manoj clearly carried emotional weight even as the film dragged at times. Comments like “Bellamkonda is good in the subtle parts, loud parts don’t work for him” captured the mixed reaction from core fans.
The outrage over the director’s past meme also brought forward larger cultural tensions about fandom, megafamily respect and freedom of expression. That inflamed context gave the film extra emotional weight before a frame ever ran.
Why Indian Mobile Viewers Might Connect With This Story
It’s about comebacks, and many of us relate to second chances, especially when they come under pressure from critics, legacy or internal doubt
Rural settings add nostalgia. Lush Telugu village visuals, faith, land disputes and local justice systems resonate deeply across regional sensibilities
It’s about friendship turned betrayal, a universal emotional chord. Third-friend tensions, class divides and karmic fallout strike familiar narrative beats for Indian audiences
There’s controversy baked in. Who the director made fun of, who came back to the screen, who struggled behind the scenes all gave readers a reason to discuss or share
Key Highlights At A Glance
Release: May 30, 2025 worldwide by Sri Sathya Sai Arts, presented by Pen Studios
Based on: Tamil hit Garudan (2024), official remake credit
Cast: Bellamkonda Sai Sreenivas, Manchu Manoj, Nara Rohith, Aditi Shankar (Telugu debut), Divya Pillai, Jayasudha, others
Creative team: Vijay Kanakamedala (director), R. S. Durai Senthilkumar (writer), music by Sricharan Pakala
Reception: Mixed reviews. Criticized for lacking emotional depth and originality, but praised for story core and performances
OTT deal: Sold to ZEE5 and Zee Telugu for ₹32 crore, streaming from late June 2025, TV premiere to follow
So, Should You Watch It?
If you enjoy rural Telugu dramas with brotherhood, betrayal, temple conflicts, powerful music and high-stakes action, there’s something here to keep you hooked. But go in knowing that:
The remake leans heavy on spectacle, at times at the cost of emotional subtlety
The film inherited controversy before release, which might color how it feels now when streaming with commentary threads or fan posts still active online
Its strengths lie in a familiar yet timeless emotional conflict, but the execution may feel oversold if you’ve seen Garudan or expect tight screenplay
Final Take: Why This Story Matters
Even beyond the story on screen, Bhairavam reflects larger currents in Indian cinema today.
It’s a case study in how fandom culture, online outrage and legacy expectations can shape even a regional release. It shows how three comeback actors and a director with baggage still had to deliver something meaningful, yet struggled against the weight of remake formulas and holiday crowd-pleasing beats.
For Indian mobile readers scrolling through headlines, it’s far more than an action film. It’s a drama of reputation, second chances, mythic echoes and social media storms. Whether or not the film truly lands, Bhairavam became worthy of discussion and that is the kind of story people will click, share and feel something about.