Cast: Brahmanandam, Raja Gowtham, Priya Vadlamani, Vennela Kishore, Divija, Sampath Raj, Prabhakar, Rajiv Kanakala, Talluri Rameshwari and others
Cinematographer: Mitesh Parvaneni
Music Director: Sandilya Peesapati
Producer: Rahul Yadav Nakka
Writer and director: RVS Nikhil
Rating: 2/5
PNS|HYDERABAD
The real-life father-son duo, Veteran comedian Brahmanandam and Raja Gowtham play the roles of grandfather and grandson, respectively in this film that was released on Friday. Rahul Yadav Nakka, who has previously produced acclaimed films like Agent Sai Srinivas Atreya, Malli Rava, and Masooda, is the producer for this film. With Chiranjeevi supporting the film and the promotional videos generating interest, expectations were high. Here is the story…
Story:
Brahma aka Brahmanandam (Raja Gowtham) is a theatre artiste, living in an apartment with his friend Giri (Vennela Kishore). Having lost his parents, he lives alone and dreams of making it big in the film industry but struggles to get opportunities. One day, he gets an offer to perform in Delhi, but the organizers demand ₹6 lakhs for his participation. Desperate for funds, he seeks help from his grandfather Ananda Ram Murthy (Brahmanandam), who lives in an old age home.
Murthy offers him a deal—Brahma must accompany him to a village near Kodada and stay with him for a few days, after which he will transfer his 6-acre land to him. Brahma agrees and, along with Giri, travels with Murthy to the village. What follows is a series of events—did Brahma get the land, or did Murthy have other plans? What is Murthy’s love story with Jyothi (Talluri Rameshwari)? What’s the conflict between the sarpanch (Rajiv Kanakala) and his brother (Sampath Raj)? The film unravels these answers as the story progresses.
Analysis:
Many young filmmakers are making their debuts with fresh concepts, and RVS Nikhil attempts to do the same with Brahma Anandam. However, while the film has an interesting premise, the execution falls short due to weak storytelling and inconsistent narration.
Before its release, the film was promoted as a heartfelt story about a grandson and his grandfather. However, the bond between them is not explored deeply enough. Instead, the film introduces another interesting element in the second half, but the director fails to develop it effectively. If the story had balanced both aspects well, the result could have been much better.
The first half focuses on Brahma’s struggles—his life as a theatre artiste, his dream of becoming a film actor, his frustration, his girlfriend, and his roommate. The narrative takes too long to establish his journey, making it feel stretched. The film picks up only after Brahma meets Murthy and heads to the village. The second half, set in the village, has some engaging moments but is weighed down by forced subplots.
Certain portions work well, with good dialogues and occasional humor, but other elements feel unnecessary—such as Sampath Raj’s character and his bizarre goal of passing the 10th grade. This subplot is completely illogical and adds no value to the story. The biggest flaw of the film is its lack of emotional depth. A story revolving around a grandson-grandfather relationship should evoke strong emotions, but the film fails to create that connection.
Some scenes drag on unnecessarily, making the pacing feel sluggish. For instance, the repeated conversations about the land, the prolonged bus journey scene between Raja Gowtham and Brahmanandam, and forced comedic elements slow down the narrative. Additionally, Brahma’s sudden transition into a teacher in the village feels random and disconnected from the main plot.
While the last 20 minutes of the film introduce an interesting twist, the director fails to establish it effectively throughout the film. Murthy’s love story with Jyothi, which could have added emotional weight, is underdeveloped and does not create the intended impact. The slow narration and stretched sequences make the film feel more like a television serial than a theatrical release. Given its simplistic execution and low-budget production values, it seems more suited for an OTT release than a big-screen experience.
Performances:
Vennela Kishore steals the show with his natural comedic timing, providing some much-needed laughs. Brahmanandam plays a dual-shaded role, balancing his signature humor with a serious side. While he delivers a decent performance, his character’s emotional depth is underutilized. Raja Gowtham puts in an earnest effort, especially in the last half-hour, making it one of his better roles. Rajiv Kanakala performs well in his role, but Sampath Raj’s character feels unnecessary and unrelated to the core story. Priya Vadlamani does a fine job but has limited screen time, appearing only in the first half. Divija, Aishwarya, Prabhakar, and others provide adequate support.
Technical Aspects:
The music is average, with no standout tracks that elevate the emotional quotient. The cinematography is functional, capturing the village setting decently but lacking visual flair. While some dialogues work well in certain places, they could have been sharper. The editing could have been tighter, especially in the dragged-out portions, to improve the film’s pacing.
Final Verdict:
Brahma Anandam is a film with potential, but weak storytelling and slow narration prevent it from reaching its full impact. While it has a few good moments, inconsistent pacing, lack of emotional depth, and forced subplots drag it down. With a tighter script and better execution, it could have been a heartwarming entertainer. As it stands, it feels like an overextended TV serial rather than a compelling theatrical experience.
It is good on paper, but when translated onto the big screen, the slow narration and lack of emotional connection make it a disappointing watch. Though the film has a solid concept and some engaging moments, it ultimately fails to deliver.
Watching this film is like watching a TV serial!
