Hari Hara Veera Mallu Review A nd Filmyhigh Verdict: ★★☆☆☆ (2/5)
Hari Hara Veera Mallu: Part 1 Sword vs Spirit is trying to combine the elements of the history, mythology, and politics in one great cinematographic performance. Too bad, though, that what might have been a gripping saga of a folk hero becomes a noisy untargeted ideologically tainted drama.
Plot Summary
The film is set in 17 th -century India and it tracks the escapades of Veera Mallu, a Deccan Robin Hood, who is sent to rob the throne of Mughal ruler Aurangzeb, in Delhi, in search of the mythical Koh-i-Noor diamond. On paper, it is a typical heist and adventure movie with the setting of tyranny, oppression, and the colonial politics. In practice, however, it is a raggedy amalgam of uninspired narration, poor fx and inappropriate historical revisionism.
Review Breakdown
Story & Screenplay
First directed by Krish Jagarlamudi and then by A.M. Jyothi Krishna, this film obviously has two opposed directorial imaginations. There is no consistency in the screenplay. It begins with great visual metaphors of repressions and resistances, but it soon turns into scenes and propaganda, collapsing and stereotyping very complicated historic facts.
There are seeds of a powerful story, but they are lost in an overstuffed narrative that fails to emotionally connect.
Performances
- Pawan Kalyan as Veera Mallu appears to be apathetic and robotized. He is all too weak on the conviction level and does not improve the story with his performance.
- Bobby Deol, as Aurangzeb, reprises his Animal villain character – one-dimensional, gruff and boringly shallow.
- Nidhhi Agerwal as Panchami is disappointingly underwritten, reduced to a damsel-in-distress trope.
- Supporting actors like Sathyaraj, Nasser, and Kota Srinivasa Rao are wasted in forgettable roles.
Visuals & Effects
Even though it relies on the skillful cinematography of such talents as Gnana Shekar VS and Manoj Paramahamsa, the movie lacks proper world-building and ticks many aesthetic boxes. The sets are not natural, costumes are not real, it is not good VFX in terms of such renowned film.
Music & Sound
MM Keeravani, with his background score, does his best to put the sinking ship out of water but there is no amount of expertise that can cover up flame of spirit in the movie. Sound is not like music in taking on emotional colorings where the sound in the action scenes is scored too heavily.
Themes & Controversies
The movie also takes a political turn as it seems that Veera Mallu is a religious guardian of Sanatana Dharma out of the oppression of a fanatic Muslim emperor. Although this may be to depict heroism, the over-simplification of religious and historical clash in question is a bad thing.
It tries to go subtle by adding good Muslim characters, which turn out to be tokenistic. The portrayal of the events that did not really happen, like the temple under Charminar or the sanitization of religion as a reason to rebel is too much into politics.
Runtime & Pacing
The movie is dragged and painful at 163 minutes. Characters barely get developed, and scenes are not linked in a flow. Like the film assumes that the audience will raise a cheer only because Pawan Kalyan is there and it does not allow its audience to have a good story to cling to.
Box Office Performance
The movie is dragged and painful at 163 minutes. Characters barely get developed, and scenes are not linked in a flow. Like the film assumes that the audience will raise a cheer only because Pawan Kalyan is there and it does not allow its audience to have a good story to cling to.
The film may cross the ₹15-20 crore mark on Day 1 depending on evening and night shows.
Missed Opportunities
This is a movie with possibilities an interesting folk hero, a historical heist, and a deep mythology background. Rather than appearing as a Telugu Baahubali or RRR, it turns out a befuddled propaganda film.
Comic book series or animation would still work in the idea of using it. However, as a live-action period epic, it is not visionary, emotional, and transparent.
Hari Hara Veera Mallu Part 2 – Battlefield
The second film whose title is Hari Hara Veera Mallu: Part 2 – Battlefield is still awaiting to be rolled out on floors. It relies greatly on the reception and the success in the box office (Part 1). It has such a weak beginning that it may need massive changes in creativity beyond 2016.
Final Thoughts
Hari Hara Veera Mallu had everything it takes to make a blockbuster superstar, legendary heist and a glorious setting. The last course is half-cooked, bland and difficult to stomach.
Unless you’re a die-hard Pawan Kalyan fan, this one’s tough to recommend.
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Pawan Kalyan’s mass appeal | Weak storytelling & propaganda |
| Strong opening scene | Lacklustre visuals and VFX |
| MM Keeravani’s background score | One-dimensional characters |
| Interesting historical premise | Poor direction and editing |
Audience Reactions
While critics have panned the film, fans of Pawan Kalyan showed up in large numbers, chanting “Power Star” during key scenes. But even loyal fans may struggle to defend the film’s quality and execution.
Trailer
Watch the Official Trailer of Hari Hara Veera Mallu
Have you watched Hari Hara Veera Mallu? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Filmyhigh Verdict: ★★☆☆☆ (2/5)