Actor Srihari has a following of his own with movies in which he acts as a hero. His character roles with bigger stars like Nagarjuna add to his charm. Producer Natti Kumar knows this and together they'vemade ‘Bhairava’, captained by a new director. 123telugu.com takes a look.

What’s it about: Bhairava (Srihari) is an honest Circle Inspector working in Hyderabad, who helps four orphan kids to live in his police station. Obviously, he has a unique style of dealing with problems. When people complain about ‘losing’ their valuables, he orders his subordinates to pay the people. His reasoning is that the police can earn it back from the ‘mamools’ they take from local goons. His sole intention is to ensure that people change and stop accepting crime as a daily part of their lives. People around him too start reacting to this positively.

He rarely takes any serious action unless things go really out of hand, like when he kills a local corrupt politician’s brother. As a result the politician leads people against Bhairava, making him unpopular. Bhairava’s next step depends on what one orphan kid (Meghansh) and a journalist (Sindhu Tolani) do.

What is Good: Srihari uses Telangana dialect with ease, and carries the burden of the entire film on his shoulders. There is only one song and no love story angle to the film, which makes it different from the rest.

‘Bhairava’ has many sensible dialogues on what’s happening with people’s mindsets in today’s scenario, which make an instant connection with the audience. Srihari's son, Meghansh, makes a decent debut. There is something about children that we like irrespective of what they do on screen.

The idea that it is people who are ultimately responsible for their own fates, and for the growing corruption in society is appreciable. There is a reasonable level of media bashing, especially on the Telugu news media. There are few other impractical solutions to social problems, which add to the overall entertainment value of the film. Overall the film is an honest attempt and it comes across in the first half.

What is bad: It is in the second half that the movie starts taking itself too seriously. When a hero is looking to better the society, a powerful villain makes an interesting storyline. However Supreeth’s inability to act fails to elevate Srihari's role. As a result his solutions to problems look ridiculous. Infact the ultimate support that comes to the hero is because of a stroke of bad luck to one of its innocent characters. Obviously the second half looks too convenient and obvious.

Sindhu Tolani looks disconnected with the proceedings of the film, and Sunitha’s voice doesn’t match with her act. Sindhu is a capable actor but somehow doesn’t give consistent performances. Over all it is the second half which almost successfully bores the audience.

Technical Departments: : Director Srinivasa Reddy has been able to get what he wanted, but his lack of experience shows. He doesn’t use the cinematic medium completely hence instead of a cinematographer there is only a cameraman, and the director himself could have been the art director. Editing is ok, so is background music. Producer Natti Kumar should pat himself for making a better film than his previous one ‘Maa Annayya Bangaaram’. Dialogues by Vijay and Swamiji are most often good.

Final Point: Bhairava is a film that is made with a good idea and intention, which translated into an OK screenplay and ends being an average film. There are few scenes which almost any Telugu film fan would love, and they are all there in the first half. The first half is watchable.