Hari Hara Veera Mallu movie review: Pawan Kalyan shines in a big-budget period drama that sets the stage for a bigger sequel

Power Star Pawan Kalyan's Hari Hara Veera Mallu is the highly-anticipated film of the year

After years of waiting and many delays in development, Hari Hara Veera Mallu: Part 1 - Sword vs Spirit starring Pawan Kalyan is now running in theaters. It promises to be an epic historical adventure.

People thought the movie was dead and gone, but it has made a surprising comeback thanks to main actor Pawan Kalyan's passionate appearances before the movie came out and the excitement of fans. But does this long-awaited show live up to all the hype? This is what we thought after the first showing of the movie.

Overview of the Plot

The story takes place in the middle of the 17th century and follows Veera Mallu (Pawan Kalyan), a rebellious hero with a Robin Hood bent who catches the eye of the King of Kollur. Qutub Shah (Dalip Tahil) sends him to get the famous Koh-i-Noor diamond, which is now in Delhi with Emperor Aurangzeb (Bobby Deol). He escapes with Panchami (Nidhhi Agerwal) and then goes to get it.

But the search for the diamond is just the tip of the iceberg. Veera has a secret past and hidden motives that are eventually revealed as the story goes on.

What Works

Pawan Kalyan's Strong Presence: The actor gives a strong but controlled performance. His action scenes are exciting, and his emotionally charged lines, especially those about dharma and justice, hit the appropriate notes.

Also Read: Hari Hara Veera Mallu Premiere Day Collection: Pawan Kalyan's epic drama opens with decent collection, mints over Rs 4 Cr

Action Sequences: The movie's high-octane stunts are a big plus. From the fight at the Machilipatnam port to the violent kushti face-off in Kollur, each action scene is set up on a large scale. A compelling scene in a village controlled by the Mughal Empire in the second half makes the show feel more real.

Music and Score: The background score by M. M. Keeravaani is very important in making the movie better. His music emphasizes the action and emotional rhythms, making even normal scenes feel dramatic.

Technical Contributions: The cinematography by Gnana Sekhar VS and Manoj Paramahamsa gives the movie a rich period feel. The clothes, settings, and production design all help make the historical setting feel real.

What Doesn't Work

The story slows down after an exciting first hour. The second half has a hard time keeping the story going because most of the climax and character arcs are saved for the sequel.

Weak VFX: The movie's visual effects are not very good, even if it tries to be grandiose. Scenes with landscapes and important fights aren't well done, which takes the audience out of the immersive universe.

Characters that aren't fully developed: Pawan Kalyan has a lot of screen time, but the other characters don't receive enough. Nidhhi Agerwal begins off strong but loses importance with time. Bobby Deol's Aurangzeb is scary, but the main conflict doesn't feel full because he doesn't have much screen time.

Cliffhanger Ending: The movie ends in a way that makes it evident that it is supposed to make people want to see Part 2, but it also makes the present chapter feel unfinished.

Vision and Direction

Director Krish Jagarlamudi's creative vision gives the story weight and importance. Even though he couldn't finish the whole project, his parts are very good. Even though Jyothi Krisna took over to finish the movie, the tone stays the same, albeit you can sometimes tell that the two filmmakers don't blend together well.

The verdict

Hari Hara Veera Mallu is a brave try at making a big historical action drama. The picture is held together by Pawan Kalyan's compelling performance, good action, and powerful soundtrack. But it can't reach its full potential because of problems with pacing, bad CGI, and an incomplete arc. That being said, it does set the stage for a sequel that may be really exciting. 3.25 out of 5 Watch it for Pawan Kalyan, the exciting action, and to see a bigger movie universe that is still being made.

Star Cast: Pawan Kalyan, Nidhhi Agerwal, Bobby Deol, Nargis Fakhri, Nora Fatehi 
Director : Jyothi Krishna – Krish
Producers : A. Dayakar Rao, A. M. RathnamMusic Director : M. M. Keeravani

Rating: 2.5/5