Manchu Manoj’s grand return film is ‘disappointing’

Manchu Manoj’s highly anticipated comeback film Bhairavam hits theaters today, May 30. The storyline of the film has been criticized for its predictable plot and distracting subplots.

Bhairavam First Review: Manoj Manoj makes a grand comeback to the big screen with the most anticipated film Bhairavam, an adrenaline-pumping action thriller, directed by Vijay Kanakamedala. The film is an official Telugu remake of a popular Tamil hit film Garudan. Bhairavam delves into the plot of loyalty, betrayal, and justice. The film is released in theatres today, Friday, May 30, and viewers are flooding social media platforms with their reviews.

One of the users took to X (formerly Twitter) and wrote, “Bhairavam starts off okay but loses grip soon after. The story had a chance to build strong emotions like friendship and loyalty, but it doesn’t hit right. Comedy doesn’t work, songs feel out of place, and Aditi Shankar seems to be there just for the songs. Except for a few decent scenes, nothing really stands out. Final Verdict: Below average.”

Another user commented, “The film felt below average overall. Manoj and Nara Rohit gave strong performances, but Bellam Anna’s overacting and the excessive action scenes overshadowed the drama. The story had potential, but the fights should’ve been minimised.”

A person wrote, “Not bad, tbh. First 30 mins was cliche but it went on a serious mode after that. Good performance from Bellam Anna.” Another review read, “#Bhairavam is a powerful action drama elevated by stellar performances and emotionally gripping storytelling.” Someone wrote, “Highlights: Performances, Intensity, Storytelling, Cinematography. Cons: Predictability, Pacing, Distraction (subplots).”

Talking about Bhairavam, Manchu Manoj is seen in the role of Gajapathi Varma, which is significantly different from his previous roles. The director of the film Kanakamedala lauded Manoj’s performance and stated it as a “riveting return to the big screen.”

The film is produced by K.K. Radhamohan under the Sri Sathya Sai Arts banner and presented by Dr. Jayantilal Gada of Pen Studios. The cinematography of the film is by Hari K. Vedantam, and the soundtrack is given by Sricharan Pakala.