When you remake a blockbuster piece of work it’s quite common that the remake gets messed up with new additions. Only very few remakes were able to recreate that magic it had in the first place. Bheemla Nayak, the Telugu adaptation of the most acclaimed Mollywood film Ayyappanum Koshiyum doesn’t try to steal away its best parts, instead tweaks the narrative to suit the sensibilities of Telugu audiences.
It’s mostly original despite the core similarity and writer Trivikram makes sure they don’t kill the original’s essence. Bheemla Nayak is a high voltage mass infused version where you could see a larger than life/godly figure hero who single-handedly solves all issues. But what worked for me in this tweaked version is its sincerity to stay grounded for most parts except the hero elevations. The staging, visuals, coloring gives you the exact same feel as the original. Unlike other commercially driven films, Bheemla Nayak doesn’t rush rather sticks to its world slowly unfolding the events. The initial moments give a similar vibe that of the original with Rana Daggubatti owning the screen most of the time. It’s so delightful to see a co-actor dominate Pawan Kalyan in his movie. While the second half completely transforms into a typical Telugu masala film (in a good way) with Pawan Kalyan’s electrifying screen presence and fast-paced narration. If you treat Bheemla Nayak as an entirely different experience there’s lots of takeaway from this PK version. The duration is much shorter and crisper which also gives this recreated version an upper hand.
Bheemla Nayak can’t be described as a complete Pawan Kalyan show as the actor for most of the time takes a black seat and lets Rana run the show which is rare in a PK film. Though the second half widely explores the mass hero in him the story keeps the star in control. The enigmatic screen presence accompanied by the star’s savior image keeps several whistle-worthy moments impactful. Rana Daggubati as Daniel Shekar is splendid and the actor in him cleverly makes use of his allotted screen time. Be it the confrontation sequence or fight episodes, Rana shines as the unflinching opposition. Nithya Menen and Samyuktha Menon get better screen time than the original and they both do it with perfection. How important is BGM for a film? Just watch Akhanda and BN and you’ll get the answer. Thaman, the new sensation of Tollywood never leaves a dull moment and packs the narrative with his magnificent score.
Ayyappanum Koshiyum was all about the fight between two egoistic protagonists but Bheemla Nayak couldn’t make use of the ‘ego’ element fully and remains as a hero-villain story which distracts in parts. Maybe a little depth to the characters would’ve made more difference still it’s the runtime and staging that saves this drama. The initial hour takes too much time and tests our patience. But I really loved the way the makers added new situations without altering the core.
If you’ve already been a fan of the original, Bheemla Nayak might find it hard to satisfy the movie buff in you, still, you can definitely give this version a watch. For the new audience, this adaption has enough adrenaline rush moments to keep you glued to the screen. Comparing the two products ends up in disappointment so it’s better to watch and decide for yourself. For me, Bheemla Nayaka remains a decent recreation that stays true to its original.
Review by © Rahul Babu