Om Bheem Bush, a Telugu horror-comedy film directed by Sri Harsha Konuganti, was released in theaters on March 22, 2024. With a catchy tagline of "No Logic, Only Magic", the film, starring the dynamic trio of Sri Vishnu, Priyadarshi Pulikonda, and Rahul Ramakrishna, promises laughs, scares, and unexpected emotional depth. But does this pointless entertainment live up to its promise? Let's jump into the review.
Plot
The story revolves around three carefree PhD students—Krishnakanth (Sri Vishnu), Vinay (Priyadarshi), and Madhav (Rahul Ramakrishna)—who are more interested in fun than education. Fed up with their antics, the professor (Srikanth Iyengar) awards them doctorates and expels them from Legacy University. The three friends, known as the "Bang Bros", venture into a village called Bhairavapuram, where superstitions reign supreme. Rumors of a haunted mansion called Sampangi Mahal pique their interest.
Challenged by the local Aghora (Shaan Kakkar), they set out to find the treasure hidden in the mansion. The spirit of a noblewoman named Sampangi, with a troubled past, guards the secrets of the mansion. From here begins an entertaining journey that combines absurd comedy, pop culture references, and an unexpected emotional plot.
Acting
The film's strength lies in its three lead actors, their friendship, and comedic timing. Sri Vishnu shines with his unique diction and stylish English dialogues, showing emotional depth in the climax along with the comedy. Priyadarshi, though slow in the beginning, impresses with his excellent one-liners in the second half. Rahul Ramakrishna fills every scene with laughter with his quirky antics and clever dialogues.
Supporting actors like Srikanth Iyengar and Racha Ravi add value, but heroines Preeti Mukundan and Ayesha Khan get limited roles, which feel undeveloped. However, the story focuses on the three friends.
Direction and Writing
Sri Harsha Konuganti's direction embraces the film's absurdity and holds fast to the "no logic" mantra. The screenplay has contemporary references—Prabhas fandom, social media memes, and Gali Sampath nod—that appeal to the younger audience. However, the first half is slow-paced, testing the patience of the audience with simple comedy and a dull setup. The second half picks up considerably, offering a heartwarming twist with laugh-out-loud scenes in Bhootbangla and an LGBTQ-friendly storyline, a rare feat in mainstream Telugu cinema.
The film's pacing issues and occasional crude humour (with some dialogues that is not suitable for a family audience) are notable flaws. At 147 minutes long, crisper editing would have made the experience even better.
Technical aspects
Raj Thota's cinematography captures the rural charm of Bhairavapuram, blending supernatural elements with vibrant rural scenes. The VFX, while not cutting-edge, are decent for the film's modest budget. Sunny M.R.'s background score is adequate for the comedy and emotional scenes, but the songs are forgettable and quickly fade into obscurity. Vijay Vardhan's editing felt unbalanced at times, contributing to the film's erratic pacing.
Highlights
Triad chemistry: The combination of Sri Vishnu, Priyadarshi, and Rahul Ramakrishna is reminiscent of the magic of Brochevarevaru.
Humor and references: The second half is a delight for quirky comedy fans with one-liners, pop culture jokes, and meme-inspired gags.
LGBTQ-friendly twist: The smooth handling of a same-sex love story in a commercial format is commendable.
Horror-comedy balance: The Bhootabangla scenes are impressive with laughs and scares.
Flaws
Slow first half: The first 40 minutes are dull with mediocre comedy.
Pacing issues: The film feels too long, and repetitive scenes could have been cut.
Weak music: Sunny M.R.'s songs fail to make an impact.
Limited family appeal: Some crude dialogues and adult humor may not be suitable for family audiences.
Audience response
Om Bheem Bush received mixed reviews. In X, fans praised the comedy timing of the trilogy and the film's wild entertainment, with some calling it "simply madness" and a "laugh riot". However, some felt that the climax was emotionally dull and the plot was weak, with ratings ranging from 2.5 to 3.5/5. Critics expressed similar opinions, praising the film's creative spirit and acting, while noting plot flaws and pacing issues.
Box office and streaming
The film grossed $54,753 worldwide, starting with a good opening but slowly gaining traction in the following days. It was made available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video from April 12, 2024, making it available to a wider audience.