'Bhagavanth Kesari' has been bankrolled by Shine Screens. Producers Sahu Garapati and Harish Peddi have made this their banner's most prestigious venture. Their dream to unite with director Anil Ravipudi came to fruition after a wait of more than six years. How is the movie? Does 'BK' mark a new milestone in the filmmaker's and Balakrishna's filmography? Let's find out.
Plot:
Nelakonda Bhagavanth Kesari (Balakrishna) has this undying urge to see his adopted daughter Viji (Sree Leela) enter the Indian Army as a soldier. Kathyayani (Kajal Agarwal), a psychologist by profession, is busy mooning over him.
Rahul Sanghvi (Arjun Rampal), a tycoon notorious for running a smuggling empire, wants to secure a multi-billion project that will make him the biggest business leader in the country. It turns out that he needs to eliminate Viji if he wants to realize his impossible dream.
Performances:
Nandamuri Balakrishna aces most of the scenes single-handedly. He, more often than not, carries the film on his shoulders. While the movie adopts a dramatic tone in certain sequences, it's the enduring mass action persona of the protagonist that prevents the narrative from losing its appeal. Sree Leela, who serves as the emotional anchor, and Arjun Rampal, portraying his adversary, both fulfill their roles adequately. Their performances don't leave much room for additional praise, though.
Most of the small-time players turn out to be bit players. Even Kajal Aggarwal doesn't deliver impact. Muralidhar Goud is the one actor who hasn't been cast to type. Subbaraju is a corrupt cop, Srikanth Iyengar is an entitled rich man...
Technical Departments:
Thaman's musical compositions for Balakrishna's films are anticipated to be worthy of generating "goosebumps". In this instance, the soundtrack falls somewhere in between the mythical grandeur of 'Akhanda' and the average vibes of 'Veera Simha Reddy'. However, it's worth noting that the songs, such as 'Uyyaalo Uyyaala' and the 'Ganesh Anthem,' lack the impactful resonance expected of a film of this kind.
Cinematographer C Ramprasad, a regular collaborator on Balakrishna's projects, delivers a commendable output. But it is in the domain of action sequences where the film particularly shines, as a conscious effort has been made to ensure they are not overly implausible or logic-defying. V Venkat's work in this regard meets the expected standards.
Merits:
The episode involving the hero and Ravi Shankar in the first half is awesome. Kesari narrates the Bheemseri massacre incident with force.
The scene where the abuse by sexual predators is explained by the hero is moving.
The pre-interval fight is compelling.
Anil Ravipudi's dialogues are entertaining.
Demerits:
Illogical elements make the antagonist look like a joker.
Too many template scenes that do nothing other than elevate Balakrishna on repeat.
The climactic action scene lacks novelty.
The love track between Vijji and Karthik is tinged with cliches.
Vox Verdict:
'Bhagavanth Kesari' is predictable and builds its dramatic foundations on a track resembling the father-daughter track. It is entertaining for the most part despite its flaws.
Rating: 2.75/5
