Bhagavanth Kesari Cast: Nandamuri Balakrishna, Kajal Aggarwal, Sreeleela, Arjun Rampal, Sarathkumar, John Vijay
Bhagavanth Kesari Crew:
Banner : Shine Screens
Music Director : S Thaman
DOP : C Ram Prasad
Editor : Tammi Raju
Production Designer : Rajeevan
Fights : V Venkat
Writer-Director : Anil Ravipudi
Producers : Sahu Garapati and Harish Peddi
Bhagavanth Kesari Rating: 2.5/5
Nandamuri Balakrishna has been relegated to one kind of films. He has decided to change that with Bhagavanth Kesari and he is trying a different character, as well. Very rarely, we get to see him try subtle characters these days. He has decided to even play a guardian for Sreeleela. Bhagavanth Kesari also marks his collaboration for the first time with Anil Ravipudi.
The young blockbuster writer-director has not given a flop in his career and he is hoping to give even bigger blockbuster with Nandamuri Balakrishna. As he is a fanboy of the actor, this combination has been eagerly awaited. Let’s discuss if the combination delivered what they promised with Bhagavanth Kesari.
Bhagavanth Kesari Plot:
Nelakonda Bhagavanth Kesari(Nandamuri Balakrishna) is a do-gooder and he impresses Jailer(Sarathkumar) with his golden heart. Jailer’s daughter Vijayalakshmi(Sreeleela) connects with him. Due to a freak accident, Jailer dies and Bhagavanth Kesari becomes guardian of Vijayalakshmi. After 12 years, NBK and Vijju papa live peacefully in Warangal City.
Bhagavanth Kesari pushes Vijayalakshmi to grow beyond her anxiety and phobia. He plans to send her to Army but she refuses to listen to him. Bhagavanth Kesari takes her to psychiatrist Doctor Katyayini(Kajal Aggarwal) and asks her to treat her phobia. But Vijayalakshmi believes he is harrasing her and distances herself from him. Meanwhile, she gets dragged into a political conspiracy construed by Rahul Sanghvi(Arjun Rampal). What happens next? Will Bhagavanth Kesari make Vijayalakshmi understand why he wants her to join Army? Watch the movie to know more.
Bhagavanth Kesari Analysis:
Nandamuri Balakrishna as Nelakonda Bhagavanth Kesari looks great on screen. Like his understated performances in Gandeevam, Dharma Kshetram, Nippu Ravva, he did subtle mass role. He doesn’t over react at any instance even when the scene gives ample scope. This kind of Balakrishna is different from recent over-the-top performances and Anil Ravipudi did give the senior hero new dimension to explore. As Bhagavanth Kesari, NBK is refreshingly different and good. Writing for his character and the presentation could have been better.
Sreeleela doesn’t impress in few scenes while she is good in performing action. She needs to learn a lot more but has good potential. Kajal Agarwal is wasted in a routine character. Arjun Rampal did put in effort to speak and dub in Telugu. His screen presence and performance are good, too. Again, Bhagavanth Kesari film suffers with underwhelming writing. The over-dependence on 80’s style formulaic screenplay and more dialogues than less show, effects it big time. The sensitive subject did not require flashbacks and narration that derails from the point, completely. Bhagavanth Kesari suffers with over-stretched and over-simplified scenes.
Anil Ravipudi showcased good command in mixing comedy with emotion in Pataas and Supreme. But there after, his dependency on comedy increased and after F3, he has decided to change that. Bhagavanth Kesari is his way of breaking away from his routine but he went overboard with typical mass scenes. Even in trying to connect us with the central theme and women empowerment subject, he did not find strength and enough material. Bhagavanth Kesari also suffers with SS Thaman re-using his old tunes and old background scores for this film. Had the writing and execution been in sync, the efforts put in by main actors and technical department would have worked well. On the whole, Bhagavanth Kesari ends with much to desire and delivers low on promise.
Bhagavanth Kesari Positives:
NBK screen presence and performance
Few action blocks
Sreeleela fight scene
Arjun Rampal’s effort and presence
Central Theme of Women Empowerment
Bhagavanth Kesari Negatives:
Over-stretched scenes
Underwhelming BGM
Over-dependency on Formula
Predictability in Screenplay
Bhagavanth Kesari Bottom-line: Lacks Punch!