The making of any film is not a cake walk and especially for a film of the stature of Hari Hara Veera Mallu, its more painful to face many challenges since its start way back in 2020. It went through many ordeals all through these five years and encountered adverse conditions till today when it had finally seen the light. This was released only due to sheer perseverance of its presenter A.M. Rathnam who has not back tracked despite many obstacles. As rightly pointed out by Pawan Kalyan during the recent press meet, its only because of A.M. Rathnam, who stood tall amongst all negatives, this film is fortunate enough to get released in theatres. So firstly he deserves the spotlight for standing by what he has believed in by defying all the odds.
Story
Set in the 1650s, Hari Hara Veera Mallu centers around Veera Mallu (Pawan Kalyan), a figure reminiscent of Robin Hood who captures the attention of the King of Kollur. Assigned a royal mission, Veera cleverly outwits the king and escapes alongside Panchami (Nidhhi Agerwal). Eventually, Qutub Shah (Dalip Tahil) recognizes Veera’s cleverness and gives him a much more important task: to retrieve the legendary Koh-i-Noor diamond. Veera accepts this challenge and sets off for Delhi, where the diamond is guarded by Aurangzeb (Bobby Deol). However, this mission has a deeper significance. What is Veera’s true objective? Who is Panchami, and what prompts Qutub Shah to trust Veera? Does Veera have a hidden history with Aurangzeb? The unfolding narrative gradually reveals the complexities of Veera’s enigmatic past.
Performances
Pawan Kalyan delivered an outstanding and remarkable performance as Hari Hara Veera Mallu. He showcased his charisma at its peak while portraying both romantic and comedic scenes. His sensational and breathtaking stunt sequences provided an exhilarating experience. Throughout numerous action scenes, Pawan Kalyan demonstrated his signature style and proficiency in martial arts. He delivered impactful dialogues that resonated powerfully, driving his fans wild.
Bobby Deol, in the role of Aurangazeb, made a strong impression on-screen. Though initially presented as a threatening Mughal Emperor, his presence diminishes later in the film. However, audiences can anticipate a greater showcase for Bobby Deol in the film’s sequel.
Nidhhi Agerwal was stunning and radiant in her portrayal of Panchami. Her character takes an unexpected turn in the first half, which proves to be a delightful surprise for viewers.
Satyaraj held a significant role and performed effectively on screen. Additionally, actors like Sunil, Subbaraju, Sachin Khedekar, Raghu Babu, Dalip Tahil, Anasuya Bharadwaj, Pujitha Ponnada, Kabir Bedi, Kabir Duhan Singh, and Makarand Deshpande executed their roles well.
Behind the scenes
Director Krish Jagarlamudi’s distinct vision shines through in the segments he directed. His meticulous attention to historical details and narrative approach adds profound depth to the film. Jyothi Krishna, who took over the remaining segments, manages them adequately, and it will be intriguing to see how he develops the next chapter.
The cinematography by Gnana Sekhar VS and Manoj Paramahamsa enriches the film’s period ambiance. M. M. Keeravaani’s musical score is truly foundational; his compositions elevate key moments in the film and intensify its emotional resonance, especially during action sequences though the songs except “Kollagottinadhiro” fail to make any impression.
Editing by Praveen KL is sharp in the first half, though it could benefit from tighter pacing in the second half. The overall production values are commendable; however, the subpar visual effects undermine the film’s otherwise grand aspirations.
The action choreography is impressive. Nick Powell, Syam Kaushal, Peter Hein, Ram-Laxman, Dilip Subbarayan, Stunt Silva, Todor Lazarov (Juji), Dragon Prakash, and Vijay contributed to various action scenes, resulting in thrilling stunt sequences that leave audiences on the edge of their seats. These moments enhance Pawan Kalyan’s heroism to an extraordinary level, captivating everyone. To top it all off, Pawan Kalyan personally choreographed the Chowki Thana fight, driving viewers wild with excitement. The abundance of thrilling stunt sequences is a delight for movie buffs and is sure to inspire enthusiastic cheers in theaters.
Final Verdict
A film which was in production for almost five years raises many doubts with reference to its quality and final output. Interestingly, the part one of Hari Hara Veera Mallu: Sword Vs Spirit has dodged all the negativities and made it to the theatres with flying colours.
The story by Krish Jagarlamudi has got lot of potential and possess great scope to make it as an epic drama on screen. This was somewhat got achieved in the first half of the film where it had all the elements necessary to build a fascinating second half. Unfortunately, this doesn’t happen and it faltered badly in the second half due to poor narrative. The inexperience of Jyothi Krishna is evident in the latter half as the film gets drifted without any focus except for the cliffhanger climax promising a much more engrossing sequel.
Another dissatisfying aspect of the film is VFX. The budget constraints are clearly visible as the VFX was sub standard and this could have been spruced up to add more sheen to the film.
HHVM on the whole is a treat for the fans of PK who are waiting for something big during all these years. Undoubtedly, the action part, the BGM by Keeravani along with the towering presence of Pawan Kalyan who delivers an astounding performance are the main highlights of the film.
For a neutral filmgoer, HHVM offers a mixed bag and those who like to enjoy period and historic films can give it a try as it definitely takes one back to the mughal era highligting the fight of a common man against the tyranny.
Nevertheless, more focused story telling in the second half with limited run time could have done wonders for the film turning it into a blissful blockbuster.
