Brahma Anandam, starring comedian Brahmanandam and his son Raja Gautham in the lead roles, has finally hit the screens. Produced by hat-trick producer Rahul Yadav Nakka and directed by debutant RVS Nikhil, the film was released today (February 14) on the occasion of Valentine’s Day. Read our review here.
Brahma Anandam Review
Story: Since childhood, Brahmanandam (Raja Gautham) has lived in isolation, keeping himself away from loved ones and embracing a selfish persona. He needs Rs 6 lakh to stage a play he has written at the national level. To arrange the funds, he travels to a village with his grandfather Murthy (played by Brahmanandam), who promises him farmland. However, upon arrival, Brahmanandam discovers that his grandfather does not own any farmland. When he confronts him, he realizes that Murthy has no real connection to the village. So why did Murthy lie? What is the secret behind his actions? The answers to these questions form the crux of Brahma Anandam.
Performances: Brahmanandam is a legendary actor, and there’s no doubt about his immense talent. However, in this film, he doesn’t fully utilize his acting prowess. Apart from a few well-executed gestures, his expressions lack depth, and certain scenes suffer from lip-sync issues. As a result, the emotional weight of his character doesn’t reach the audience effectively.
Raja Gautham shows commendable maturity in some scenes. However, since the film maintains the same emotional tone throughout, his detachment issues could have been portrayed more powerfully. The chemistry between Raja Gautham and Brahmanandam lacks the necessary emotional depth, making their scenes less impactful.
Vennela Kishore’s character had the potential to add significant humor, but his role lacked proper establishment in the first half. While his comedy works well in the second half, it lacks clarity in the initial setup. Priya Vadlamani delivers a solid performance in a well-written role. Divija Prabhakar, despite being relatively new, performs effortlessly and has the potential to become a strong character artist if given the right roles.
Technical Aspects: Music director Sandilya Pisapati is the standout technician in the film. His songs are melodious, and his background score effectively enhances both the comedy and emotional moments. He has a bright future as a music director. Cinematographer Mitesh does a good job with framing, especially in tight close-ups and wide-angle shots. However, there is inconsistency in the color tone, which affects the film’s visual appeal. The production design and art direction are minimal, likely due to budget constraints. While this is understandable, the film could have benefited from better production values.
Analysis: Director RVS Nikhil was given a golden opportunity to direct Brahma Anandam, featuring the legendary Brahmanandam and his son. While the core concept is interesting, the supporting character arcs are weak, leading to a lack of engaging drama. As a result, Brahma Anandam struggles to leave a lasting impact.
The screenplay suffers from a predictable structure, where the interval twist is set in advance, and the surrounding scenes fail to build intrigue. The twist itself lacks the intensity needed to captivate the audience. Director Praveen Sattaru handled a similar concept with more maturity in Chandamama Kathalu, highlighting Nikhil’s shortcomings as both a storyteller and director.
Portraying a father and son as grandparents on screen is a bold choice. Convincing Brahmanandam and Raja Gautham—fondly known as Haasya Brahma—to take on these roles is an achievement in itself. The director also deserves credit for selecting a strong core theme. However, he falters in executing an engaging narrative that balances both the father-son dynamic and the emotional depth of the story.
Verdict: Overall, Brahma Anandam, which had the potential to be a heartwarming tale, remains a below-average emotional drama. If director RVS Nikhil had paid more attention to the storytelling, this film could have left a lasting mark in Telugu cinema.
Bottom Line: Misses the target
Rating: 2/5