balagam movie review in tamil

• திரைத் துளி
• திரைப்படங்கள்
• வீடியோக்கள்
• கிசு கிசு கார்னர்
• புகைப்படங்கள்
• திரைவிமர்சனம்
• சினி தரவரிசை
• சூட்டிங் ஸ்பாட்
• தொலைக்காட்சி
• சந்திப்போமா
• டிரெண்டிங் வீடியோஸ்

• Click on the Menu icon of the browser, it opens up a list of options.
• Click on the “Options ”, it opens up the settings page,
• Here click on the “Privacy & Security” options listed on the left hand side of the page.
• Scroll down the page to the “Permission” section .
• Here click on the “Settings” tab of the Notification option.
• A pop up will open with all listed sites, select the option “ALLOW“, for the respective site under the status head to allow the notification.
• Once the changes is done, click on the “Save Changes” option to save the changes.

Don't Miss!

Balagam Tamil Review: பாலகம் படத்தின் தமிழ் விமர்சனம்... தெலுங்குல இப்படி ஒரு சினிமாவா..?

Rating: 3.5 /5

சென்னை: தெலுங்கில் வேணு யெல்தண்டி இயக்கியுள்ள பாலகம் திரைப்படம் கடந்த மாதம் 3ம் தேதி திரையரங்குகளில் வெளியானது.

அதனைத் தொடர்ந்து தற்போது அமசான் ப்ரைம் தளத்தில் வெளியாகியுள்ள இந்தப் படத்தை ஓடிடி ரசிகர்கள் கொண்டாடி வருகின்றனர்.

பிரியதர்ஷி, காவ்யா கல்யாண்ராம், சுதாகர் ரெட்டி உள்ளிட்ட பலர் நடித்துள்ள இந்தப் படம் குடும்பப் பின்னணியில் உருவாகியுள்ளது.

திரையரங்குகளைத் தொடர்ந்து ஓடிடி ரசிகர்களிடமும் வரவேற்பைப் பெற்றுள்ள இந்தப் படத்தின் விமர்சனத்தை இப்போது பார்க்கலாம்.

பாலகம் தமிழ் விமர்சனம்

தெலங்கானாவில் உள்ள கொஞ்சம் ஏழ்மையான கிராமத்தில் தனது மகன், பேரன் ஆகியோருடன் வாழ்ந்து வருகிறார் கொமுரய்யா. வெளித்தோற்றத்தில் பார்க்க மிகவும் குறும்புத்தனத்துடன் வலம் வரும் அவர், மிகப் பெரிய ஏக்கத்துடன் உயிரிழந்துவிடுகிறார். அவரது இறுதிச் சடங்கிற்காக வெளியூரில் இருந்து இளைய மகனும், மகளும் அவர்களது குடும்பத்துடன் சொந்த ஊர் திரும்புகின்றனர். கொமுரய்யாவின் சடலம் தகனம் செய்யப்பட்ட பின்னர், அவருக்கு அஞ்சலி செலுத்தும் விதமாக எல்லாவிதமான சடங்கு சம்பிரதாயங்களையும் குடும்பத்தினர் செய்கின்றனர்.

காகம் கற்பித்த பாடம்

ஆனால், காரியம் எல்லாம் செய்த பின்னர் கொமுரய்யாவுக்காக படைக்கப்பட்ட படையலை உண்ண மறுக்கிறது காகம். தனித் தனியாக நிற்கும் இலைகள் இல்லாத இரண்டு மரக்கிளைகளில் இங்கும் அங்குமாக அமர்ந்துவிட்டு அப்படியே பறந்துவிடுகிறது அந்த காகம். ஒவ்வொரு முறையும் இதுவே வாடிக்கையாக இதற்கான காரணம் தெரியாமல் அந்த கிராமமே திகைத்து நிற்கிறது. இறுதியாக என்ன காரணம் என கண்டுபிடித்தார்களா, உயிரிழந்த கொமுரய்யாவின் ஆன்மா சாந்தியடைந்ததா என்பது தான் படத்தின் மொத்த கதையும்.

சினிமா அல்ல காவியம்

முதல் காட்சியில் கொமுரய்யாவின் கேரக்டரை மட்டும் அறிமுகப்படுத்திவிட்டு அவரை உயிரிழக்கச் செய்கிறது திரைக்கதை. உருவமாக மட்டுமே திரைக்கதையில் இருந்து மறையும் கொமுரய்யா, அவரது ஆன்மாவில் இருந்து இந்தப் படத்தின் அடிநாதம் எதுவென்பதை விவரிக்கிறார். அது திரைக்கதையாக மட்டும் இல்லாமல், குடும்ப உறவுகளில் காணப்படும் சிக்கல்கள், வீணான பிடிவாதங்கள் ஆகியவற்றை உணர்ச்சி மிகு காட்சிகளால் வலியோடு கடத்துகிறது பாலகம். சில முரண்கள், ஈகோ, புரிதலற்ற இகழ்வான மனித மதிப்பீடுகள் எப்படி ஒரு குடும்ப உறவை சிதைக்கிறது என்பதே பாலகம் படத்தின் மையக்கரு. இறுதியில் அதற்கான தீர்வை ரொம்பவே எமோஷனலாக காட்சிப்படுத்தி நிறைவு செய்கிறார் இயக்குநர் வேணு யெல்தண்டி.

கேரக்டர்களின் தேர்வு

தாத்தாவின் மறைவால் தனது திருமணமே தடைபட்டு விட்டதே என புலம்பும் பேரன், அப்பாவின் மறைவுக்கு வந்த தங்கையிடம் பேச விருப்பம் இல்லாமல் ஈகோவில் முரண்டு பிடித்து நிற்கும் அண்ணன், பக்கத்து ஊரில் இருந்தும் அப்பாவை பார்த்துக்கொள்ள முடியாமல் ஏக்கத்தில் தவிக்கும் கொமுரய்யாவின் மகள், மனைவியின் அதிகாரத்தால் அவமானப்பட்டுக் கொண்டே இருக்கும் கொமுரய்யாவின் இளைய மகன், தனது தன்மானத்தை இழந்துவிடக் கூடாது என பிடிவாதத்துடன் வலம் வரும் கொமுரய்யாவின் மருமகன், இன்னும் ஏராளமான துணை பாத்திரங்களுடன் ஒரு உணர்ச்சிக் குவியலான கதையை கட்டமைத்துள்ளது பாலகம் திரைப்படம். கொமுரய்யாவாக சுதாகர் ரெட்டி, சைலுவாக பிரியதர்ஷி, சந்தியாவாக காவ்யா கல்யாண்ராம், சைலுவின் அப்பா கேரக்டரில் ஜெயராம், நாராயணா பாத்திரத்தில் முரளிதர், லக்‌ஷிமியாக ரூபா லக்‌ஷ்மி என ஒவ்வொரு கேரக்டரும் கதைக்கு தேவையான அளவில் சிறப்பாக நடித்துள்ளனர்.

நுட்பமான எளிய திரைமொழி

பிரம்மாண்டமான பட்ஜெட், பேண்டசியான மேக்கிங் என உணர்ச்சிகளற்ற வெற்று திரைக்கதைகளுடன் தான் உருவாகும் குடும்ப உறவுகளை பேசும் படங்களுக்கு மத்தியில் எல்லாவிதத்திலும் தனித்து நிற்கிறது பாலகம். அச்சு அசலான கிராமம், வெள்ளந்தியான மனிதர்கள், உணர்வு ரீதியான காட்சியமைப்புகள், யதார்த்தமான வசனங்கள் என மனதில் அப்படியே ஒன்றிவிடுகிறது இந்தப் படம். முக்கியமாக படத்தின் இறுதிக் காட்சியில் வரும் பாடல் ஒன்றே போதும் கல்நெஞ்சம் கொண்டோரையும் கலங்கடித்துவிடும். இயல்பான எளிமையான மக்களின் வாழ்வியலை பின்னணியாக வைத்து இப்படி ஒரு படம் எடுப்பது அவ்வளவு எளிதானது கிடையாது. ஆனால், அதனை வெற்றிகரமாக செய்து முடித்துள்ளார் இயக்குநர் வேணுவும் அவரது குழுவினரும். ஓடிடி ரசிகர்கள் குடும்பத்துடனும் முக்கியமாக குழந்தைகளுடனும் பார்த்து ரசிக்க வேண்டிய படம். அமேசான் ப்ரைம் தளத்தில் காணக்கிடைக்கிறது.

MORE AMAZON PRIME NEWS

Top 5 Box Office: இந்த வருஷம் இந்த 5 படம் தான் இதுவரை அதிக வசூல் செஞ்சிருக்கு.. ’கோட்’ இருக்கா?

தனுஷ் மாதிரி இல்லை.... ஜெயம் ரவிக்கு விருப்பமே இல்லை.. மாமியார் காரணம்?.. சேகுவேரா பிரத்யேக பேட்டி

Call Me Bae Review: கள்ளத்தொடர்பு.. ஓவர் நைட்டில் நடுத்தெருவுக்கு வரும் கோடீஸ்வரி.. புது வெப்சீரிஸ்!

Shraddha Srinath

Sakshi Agarwal

Poonam Bajwa

Meenakshi Chaudhary

Yashika Aannand

ஓரக்கண்ணால் கட்டம் கட்டும் பூனம் பாஜ்வா.. ஏங்கிப்போன ரசிகர்கள்!

உண்மையில் வடிவேல் என்ன செய்தாரு? | Vadivelu vs Singamuthu | Singamuthu about vadivel

ஒவ்வொரு நடிக்கைக்கும் பின்னாடி ஒரு கதை இருக்கு - ராதிகா, நடிகை

Vijay-ன் GOAT படத்தில் Ajith Kumar இருக்காரு ! VP கொடுத்த Update | Filmibeat Tamil

GOAT படத்தின் Business எவ்வளவு தெரியுமா? | Filmibeat Tamil

குடும்பத்துல கும்மி அடிச்சிட்டு போய்டுவாங்க போல! | Dhanush VS Sivakarthikeyan Controversy Speech

Race-ல் இருந்து விலகிய Kanguva! இனி Vettaiyan வழி தனி வழி | Suriya | Rajinikanth | Filmibeat Tamil

ஸ்ருதி ஹாசன்

Tripti Dimri

Rashmika Mandanna

Ruhani Sharma

Surbhi Jyoti

Tejaswini Sharma

• Don't Block
• Block for 8 hours
• Block for 12 hours
• Block for 24 hours
• Dont send alerts during 1 am 2 am 3 am 4 am 5 am 6 am 7 am 8 am 9 am 10 am 11 am 12 pm 1 pm 2 pm 3 pm 4 pm 5 pm 6 pm 7 pm 8 pm 9 pm 10 pm 11 pm 12 am to 1 am 2 am 3 am 4 am 5 am 6 am 7 am 8 am 9 am 10 am 11 am 12 pm 1 pm 2 pm 3 pm 4 pm 5 pm 6 pm 7 pm 8 pm 9 pm 10 pm 11 pm 12 am

• Cast & crew
• User reviews

Balagam is set in a village in Telangana and it revolves around the after effects on a family and its relations, both with the village folks and among themselves, after the jovial patriarch ... Read all Balagam is set in a village in Telangana and it revolves around the after effects on a family and its relations, both with the village folks and among themselves, after the jovial patriarch of the family suddenly passes away. Balagam is set in a village in Telangana and it revolves around the after effects on a family and its relations, both with the village folks and among themselves, after the jovial patriarch of the family suddenly passes away.

• Venu Yeldandi
• Ramesh Eligeti
• Priyadarshi Pulikonda
• Kavya Kalyanram
• Kethiri Sudhakar Reddy
• 41 User reviews
• 2 Critic reviews
• 4 wins & 6 nominations

Top cast 19

• All cast & crew
• Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

More like this

Did you know

• Soundtracks Ooru Palletooru Written by Kasarla Shyam Performed by Mangli, Ram Miryala, Bheems Ceciroleo

User reviews 41

• Mar 19, 2023
• How long is Balagam? Powered by Alexa
• March 3, 2023 (India)
• Dil Raju Productions
• See more company credits at IMDbPro

Technical specs

• Runtime 2 hours 11 minutes

Related news

Contribute to this page.

• See more gaps
• Learn more about contributing

More to explore

Recently viewed.

Gulte Telugu news

Balagam Movie Review

Article by Nanda Gopal Published by GulteDesk --> Published on: 7:44 am, 4 March 2023

2Hrs 11 Min   |   Drama   |   3 Mar, 2023

Cast - Priyadarshi, Kavya Kalyanram

Director - Venu

Producer - Harshith Reddy, Hanshitha Reddy

Banner - Dil Raju Productions

Music - Bheems Ceciroleo

Priyadarshi might have proved as a good comedian and co-actor. He is also juggling the lead roles in films and web series.His Mallesham (2019) and Loser series have garnered critical acclaim. After a hiatus, he returned to the lead role with a small-budgeted film Balagam. The film helmed by Venu Yeldandi is bankrolled by Dil Raju Productions. For these reasons, the film garnered some attention. Let’s check out what the film offers.

Story Set in a rural milieu, old man Komarayya (Sudhakar Reddy), happy-go-lucky man, is ecstatic about the wedding of his grandson Saayilu (Priyadarshi). Saayilu’s failed businesses push him into debts and he pins high hopes on dowry. Komarayya dies suddenly, thus affecting Saayilu’s plans. But this brings out the underlying family differences between Komarayya’s children. What forms the rest is how the disputes are resolved and how Komaraiah gets a peaceful bid adieu. Who is Sandhya (Kavya Kalyanram) and how she aids Saayilu.

Performances

Priyadarshi knows best what works for him. He chooses an underdog role of Saayilu and he sticks to the character. We see Saayilu and his struggles on screen, but not Priyadarshi. Kavya Kalyanram got a decent role and she pulled it off. Sudhakar Reddy as Komarayya is perfect. The whole story revolves around his character. Jayaram as Komarayya’s elder son Ailayya has an attitude and he portrayed it aptly. Muralidhar Goud of DJ Tillu fame shines as Narayana, brother-in-law of Ailayya and heroine’s father. He has an important role and he does justice. Roopa as Komarayya’s daughter Lakshmi fills her spot. Comedian Racha Ravi brings some relief with laughter in this rather serious and emotional family drama. The film’s supporting cast performed ably.

Technicalities At outset, Balagam has a very thin point. However, this thin line is weaved into a family drama with emotions and occasional humour. Scenes with depth have worked. Good writing and decent making worked for the film. Debutante director Venu did a decent job. Bheems’ music is perfect for the film. The visuals of rural Telangana were well captured, kudos to cinematographer Acharya Venu.

Highlights Family Emotion Telangana Art & Culture Performances

Drawbacks Thin Storyline Slow First Half Weak Love Track

Balagam is not a unique or untold story. It is a regular sight in households in villages. The family emotions are not unheard of. Many films in the past have explored similar the concept of family drama, sentiment and death of the family patriarch. The manner in which it is told and narrated in Balagam makes all the difference. The strength of the film lies in showcasing the art and culture of Telangana. The rural atmosphere in the film is an exact replica of the real-life. In addition to this, the writing is neat and to-the-point with no-nonsense. The makers have opted for a simple and honest film without any deviations from the main story. While debutante director Venu took a chunk of the time in establishing the characters of the film and their every-day life, the film goes in a slow pace and familiar path in the first-half.

However, post-interval, the film’s narration gains momentum. The scenes are decently written with strong emotion. This is what worked for the film in parts. The second-half has many moments that touch one’s hearts. Particularly, there is a scene in pre-climax where Priyadarshi breaks down remembering his loving grandfather and realises how he was ignorant of him so far and how he was selfishly using his grandfather’s death. All these are subtle and yet so impactful. The depth in the scenes are really appreciable. Technically, the film is decent. Drone shots of the village are shot well. Folk songs like Ooru Palleturu, Potti Pilla and Balarama Narasayyo add to the authenticity of Telangana culture. This may not be a film with commercial ingredients that limits the film in theatre format.

Like any movie, this too has its share of shortcomings. There are some cinematic liberties too. The money lender of Saayilu who is portrayed as ruthless and emotionless crook goes absent in crucial portions. This track is half-baked. Even Saayilu’s failed marriage and his love track with his Maradalu Sandhya leaves us craving for more. The reason for the marriage call off could be better and more significant. These are not addressed properly.

Despite a handful of such errors, Balagam’s strong family emotion, solid performances of the cast and good scenes make it a watchable film. The film has a message of unity. There are some takeaways from the film for everyone who admire family. Rural movies like these come occasionally in Telugu whereas we see such experiment attempts in Malayalam often. Despite knowing the limitations, the producer and director have the guts to make such an attempt locally that deserves special mention. Overall, Balagam is an emotional family drama with its heart in the right place.

Verdict: Emotional Family Drama

Rating: 2.75/5

Tags Balagam movie review Dil Raju

Click Here for Recommended Movies on OTT (List Updates Daily)

• తెలుగు

Balagam Review: Rustic and Emotional

Movie: Balagam Rating: 2.75/5 Banner: Dil Raju Productions Cast: Priyadarshi, Kavya Kalyanram, Sudhakar Reddy,  Muralidhar Goud, Jayaram, Roopa Lakshma, Venu and others Music: Bheems Ceciroleo DOP: Acharya Venu Editor: Madhu Presented by: Shirish Producers: Harshith Reddy, Hanshitha Reddy Direction: Venu Yeldandi  Release Date: March 03, 2023

Dil Raju, one of India's most prominent producers, has decided to present content-driven micro-budget films. His daughter and nephew produced "Balagam," a film set in rural Telangana with a unique concept.

Let's find out if they were successful...

Story: In a village in Telangana, a family head Komarayya (Sudhakar Reddy), full of life and vigour, passes away unexpectedly. Sailu (Priyadarshi), his grandson (the son of his eldest son), is in debt and believes that getting married and receiving dowry money will help him pay it off. Sailu's engagement has been put on hold due to the passing of Komarayya.

Komarayya's younger son, who currently resides in Surat, and his daughter, who stopped visiting their family due to a minor issue many years ago, both attend the funeral. Traditionally, pindam is offered on the third day after a death. When a crow lands on the food, that's when the family finally packs up and goes home.

Crows arrive, but not a single one touches the pindam. Will the family members put aside their differences in order to bring peace to the soul of the deceased?

Artistes’ Performances: Each performer is at his or her most authentic. They give very grounded and natural performances. Priyadarshi is completely in character and plays to his strengths.

Kavya Kalyanram is an ideal 'maradalu' for the hero. When family patriarch Komarayya, played by Sudhakar Reddy, makes an appearance early on, he immediately becomes the source of numerous humorous moments. Muralidhar Goud, Jayaram, and Roopa Lakshmi's believable performances add credibility to the story.

Technical Excellence: Bheems Ceciroleo, better known for his mass beats in the recent blockbuster ‘Dhamaka’, adds entirely new flavour. His music here has a distinct style because of its cultural foundations. The mood is enhanced by Bheems' music.

Acharya Venu's effective "palletooru" vignettes are another asset. On the other hand, the editing could have been sharper. The overwhelming number of similar sequences makes the experience feel a bit irritating after a point.

Highlights: Initial humorous sequences The pindam-kaki concept Natural performances

Drawback: Slow narration Repetitive scenes Melodramatic last portion

Analysis Typically, Tamil and Malayalam filmmakers weave stories that pay tribute to their regional roots and ethos. Venu Veldandi, known in films as comedian Tillu, presents a story in a similar vein and with a strong conviction in his debut directorial effort, "Balagam." Set in rural Telangana, the film essentially conveys the message that families should stand together, but the setting, narrative, and treatment are all very different from regular commercial Telugu films.

The family head dies a few minutes into the story, and the film deals with the events that follow his death. Venu narrates the story with dark humor at times, beautifully capturing many sequences that depict rural life.

The sight of rural women sobbing as everyone enters the house to pay their last respects to the deceased is a poignant moment, while Priyadarshi and his bride-to-be secretly romancing while the dead body is in their home is a lighter moment in this dark comedy approach.

The beginning of the sequences appears to be purposefully humorous, whereas the latter part of the story is all about sentiments and tear-jerker moments. No Telugu film has dealt with the concept of crows not touching the food left for the departed soul (a ritual in most Hindu families), and Venu Yaldandi succeeds on this front, revealing ugly scenes of how some family members cannot hide their egos even after the loss of a family head.

The director also handles the singing troupe called for the death ceremony quite well. "Balagam" succeeds because of its raw moments and witty sequences.

However, like most new directors, Venu seems to have lost judgment about the film's duration. His obsession with capturing the minutiae of rural life and family egos is frustrating, as many sequences are repetitive. The emotional drama would have had a greater impact if he had made the film in a shorter and more compact format.

Overall, "Balagam" is a grounded story told in an honest and earthy manner. With the exception of flaws such as repetitiveness and excessive runtime, the film is enjoyable to watch once we become acquainted with the setting and characters. It should not be seen in a regular commercial movie way.

Bottom line: Non-Commercial

• 35-Chinna Katha Kaadu Review: Scores Good With Performances
• The GOAT Review: Greatest Weak Drama
• Saripodhaa Sanivaaram Review: Fine Drama With Weak Story

Tags: Balagam Balagam Review Balagam Movie Review Balagam Rating Balagam Movie Rating Balagam Telugu Movie Review Balagam Telugu Movie Rating

ADVERTISEMENT

• Andhra Pradesh
• Arunachal Pradesh
• Chhatisgarh
• Himachal Pradesh
• Jammu and Kashmir
• Madhya Pradesh
• Maharashtra
• Uttar Pradesh
• Uttarakhand
• West Bengal
• Movie Reviews
• DC Comments
• Sunday Chronicle
• Hyderabad Chronicle
• Editor Pick
• Special Story

Movie Review | Balagam: From the playbook called life

Movies dealing with post-death scenarios generally veer between two extremes - either you have something hilarious or something poignant. ‘Balagam’ is a bit of both. It borrows from the playbook called life to take audiences on a meaningful and soul-searching journey. It tells you to rise above petty quarrels and stay united as a “group” or family.

After a long time, you have a movie that will remind you of masters like Hrishikesh Mukherjee whose stories revolved around one family but contained a message for all.

‘Balagam’ is everyman’s story, told with no extravagant special effects or a big star cast.

As they say, the more local you go, the more universal it becomes. The story is set in a picturesque but nondescript village in bangaru Telangana. In fact, the entire movie is an ode to the quintessential local culture, customs, music, and language. It’s a mascot of rural Telangana.

Komrayya (Kethri Sudhakar Reddy), the patriarch of the family dies suddenly. His death jeopardizes his grandson Saiyulu’s (Priyadarshi Pulikonda, natural to the hilt) marriage which is necessary for him as he plans to use the dowry to settle a debt.

The death brings Saiyulu’s estranged aunt Lakshmi (Rooplakshmi) back to the family who stays back for the rituals for 11 days. Her husband Narayana (Murlidhar Ireni) and Sai’s father Ailayya (Kota Jayaram) have been at loggerheads for years now and are not even on talking terms.

Sai’s fiancée is blamed for his grandad’s death and the marriage is called off. As Sai needs money he decides to woo Lakshmi’s daughter Sandhya (Kavya Kalyanram), his cousin so that he can inherit her property.

Meanwhile, the vital post-death ritual of the crow touching the pind (of Komrayya) doesn’t happen.

It is then that Saiyulu decides to exploit this situation in his favour and also bring all the sparring partners in the family together.

‘Balagam’, directed by Venu Yeldandi is a rich gallery portrait of a cross-section of people and events one is likely to come across in a village.

For instance, take the superbly shot death scenes of Komrayya. It will easily remind you of any funeral you might have attended. Here you will come across people who are genuinely mourning the loss of the departed and also people who put up an unnecessary show to express their grief.

Here you also find Sai who despite his grandfather’s death is busy pandering to his would-be. Notwithstanding the gravity of the situation, Narayana and Ailayya are too busy pampering their vain egos. Then you have the local tailor consumed by guilt as he was the last one who had met the deceased and had secretly wished for his death. A bit later you also see how Narayana and Ailayya engage in a game of one-upmanship to show who loved Komrayya more.

It is in this realistic portrayal of characters and situations that lies the strength of ‘Balagam’. Kudos to the writer-director Venu Yeldandi for keeping it simple yet powerful and moving. His matured creation is a humble reminder to one and all that for a good movie what you need first is a strong story and a convincing narrative. It is not the locales or the budget or the star cast that matters. Deft storytelling with detailing is more important than spectacle.

‘Balagam’ might not boast of who’s who in Tollywood but the decent performances by the entire team outshine that of any award winners. They all are natural and perfectly cast. The hero does not flaunt six-pack abs nor does the heroine size zero. But both have a sizzling onscreen chemistry.

In the last 10 minutes of the movie, comes the song which espouses the message that the movie wants to preach. The song makes everyone in the family introspect as it subtly reminds them about their duties and responsibilities towards each other. It makes them realise what they should have been doing instead of what they are doing. It literally tugs at everyone’s heartstrings. It tells them “siblings should always stay in unity and harmony.”

The movie champions the crucial message of love, respect, and unity in a family. In one scene as Sandhya says, “We think our elders think about us only when they are alive. But now I have realized they love us even more after they die.” Except for the computer-generated crow, ‘Balagam’ is natural, a slice-of-life film that you can see with your family on Prime Video. Originally in Telugu, it is available with English subtitles. Do watch it in a group, as the name suggests.

Movie: Balagam OTT: Prime Video Director: Venu Yeldandi Cast: Priyadarshi, Kavya Kalyanram

Latest News

Thanks For Rating

Reminder successfully set, select a city.

• Nashik Times
• Aurangabad Times
• Badlapur Times

You can change your city from here. We serve personalized stories based on the selected city

• Edit Profile
• Briefs Movies TV Web Series Lifestyle Trending Visual Stories Music Events Videos Theatre Photos Gaming

When Kajol saved Shah Rukh Khan's life on the sets of 'Dilwale': ‘Meri zindagi ab tumhare naam ho chuki hai'

Malaika Arora's son Arhaan Khan looks heartbroken as he bids farewell to beloved grandfather Anil Mehta

Malaika Arora Father Death LIVE Updates: Funeral to take place at Hindu crematorium at Santa Cruz on September 12 at 11 am

Deepika Padukone, Lady Gaga, Janhvi Kapoor: Stars who took a break from dating after break-ups

Arbaaz Khan, Arjun Kapoor come together for Malaika Arora after her dad passes away, Alaya F is reportedly dating Babil Khan, Rana Daggubati touches Shah Rukh Khan's feet at an event: Top 5 entertainment news of the day

Vir Das becomes first Indian to host International Emmy Awards: 'Tremendously honoured and excited'

• Movie Reviews

Movie Listings

Thalapathy Is The G.O....

A Wedding Story

The Diary Of West Beng...

Pad Gaye Pange

Aho Vikramaarka

Khel Khel Mein

Fabulous pictures of actress Nazriya Nazim

Onam vibes: Keerthy Suresh shows how to never go out of style

Kiara Advani's white and gold embroidered anarkali suit is masterpiece of ethnic elegance

Janhvi Kapoor captivates the internet in a pink chiffon saree

Rishab Shetty's blissful family moments

Sobhita Dhulipala Slays the Saree Game with Unmatched Elegance

Jayaram Ravi and Aarti adorable social media pictures

​Jyotika perfects the casual chic look​

Stunning clicks of Catherine Teresa

Karisma Kapoor in tulle skirt and Zari jacket is the festive wear inspiration we all need

The Buckingham Murders

Thalapathy Is The G.O.A...

The Diary Of West Benga...

Rebel Ridge

Detective Conan vs. Kid...

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice

Kinds Of Kindness

The Deliverance

Blue Lock: Episode Nagi

Drive-Away Dolls

The Greatest Of All Tim...

Adharma Kadhaigal

Pogumidam Vegu Thoorami...

Kottukkaali

Demonte Colony 2

Raghu Thatha

Bharathanatyam

Palum Pazhavum

Adios Amigo

Level Cross

Agathokakological

Nadanna Sambavam

Krishnam Pranaya Sakhi

Roopanthara

Family Drama

Back Bencherz

Manikbabur Megh: The Cl...

Rajnandini Paul and Ama...

Chaalchitra Ekhon

Nayan Rahasya

Teriya Meriya Hera Pher...

Kudi Haryane Val Di

Shinda Shinda No Papa

Sarabha: Cry For Freedo...

Zindagi Zindabaad

Maujaan Hi Maujaan

Chidiyan Da Chamba

White Punjab

Any How Mitti Pao

Gharat Ganpati

Ek Don Teen Chaar

Danka Hari Namacha

Aamhi Jarange

Vishay Hard

Swargandharva Sudhir Ph...

Naach Ga Ghuma

Juna Furniture

Devra Pe Manva Dole

Dil Ta Pagal Hola

Ittaa Kittaa

Jaishree Krishh

Bushirt T-shirt

Shubh Yatra

Your Rating

Write a review (optional).

• Movie Reviews /

Would you like to review this movie?

Cast & Crew

Balagam Movie Review : Ingenuity in telling a natively rooted story is its strength

• Times Of India

​Balagam​ - Official Trailer

Balagam | Song - Ooru Palletooru (Lyrical)

Balagam | Song - Potti Pilla

Users' Reviews

Refrain from posting comments that are obscene, defamatory or inflammatory, and do not indulge in personal attacks, name calling or inciting hatred against any community. Help us delete comments that do not follow these guidelines by marking them offensive . Let's work together to keep the conversation civil.

Parna Rcp 437 days ago

Real emotions

Sapka Nani 477 days ago

Suresh babu 477 days ago.

Still my eyes carrying tears and Literally crying...... I cant able to write even this review with tears after watching Balagam. Goddd my life is satisfied with this kind of sentiment movie. Each and every character of movie resembles in my family and my grand father. Lot of family must unite after watching this movie. VENU sir you thrashed my heart. Matter Piece of Telegu in 2023. NEED like this movies at least 5 years once. Relations and families always WINs

spandanachukka 494 days ago

Venkatramaiah Gidda 512 days ago

cannot recall a better telugu movie in the past couple of years, since mithunam

Visual Stories

Entertainment

Shanaya Kapoor radiates regal elegance in a pink tissue silk saree

8 nuts with highest protein

Kajal Aggarwal mesmerizes in a stunning Ajrakh striped zari saree

Trending Sabyasachi kurta sets which are perfect for new brides

7 rules one should not break in a joint family

10 beautiful baby girl names that mean lucky or blessed

10 Indian healthy breakfast dishes that can help weight loss

Are you interested in Hindi literature? These 9 books should be on your list

News - Balagam

Oscars 2024: Telugu films 'Dasara' and 'Balagam' compet...

'Balagam' actor Keesari Narsingam passes away due to il...

Kavya Kalyan Ram denies body shaming allegations: 'Irre...

Did Kavya Kalyan Ram face body shaming by directors in ...

'Jabardasth' fame Shining Shanthikumar takes a leap int...

SS.Rajamouli's next pan-India film 'SSMB29' is to be la...

Popular Movie Reviews

35-Chinna Katha Kaadu

Siddharth Roy

Mr.Bachchan

Purushothamudu

10th Class Diaries

Prabuthwa Junior Kalashala

Prasanna Vadanam

BALAGAM Movie Review - The Good, Bad and Ugly Side of Humans - MUST WATCH

• Most Viewed

• Remember This Scene from 3 Idiots? Now, That Place Belongs to China
• Vijay Fans Troll Jr NTR for 'Ocean' Jump
• SHOCKING DIALOGUE from DEVARA TRAILER - Jr NTR Fans Fuming
• Koratala Siva Confirms 'DEVARA' will be Worse than 'ACHARYA'
• Black Guy Masturbates before a Girl at Coffees Shop in London - Disgusting VIDEO
• DEVARA - NO HOPES - FLOP WRITTEN ALL OVER
• Kamala Harris Wore a Secret Earpiece during Debate with Trump?
• 16 Amazing Hidden Details in Jr NTR's DEVARA Trailer
• When Kajal Aggarwal Faced Oops Moment in Low Hip Saree
• Crude Oil Prices Hit a New Low - Will Modi Govt Reduce Petrol and Diesel Price?
• Aarti has accumulated a lot of complaints against Jayam Ravi..!?
• A large percentage of people are lagging in donations..!?
• Flood Victims consider Ramoji Rao as a God-Send even now!
• Indira Gandhi Turned Out to be a Real Life Saviour!
• When Ramoji Rao provided helping hand to People of Kerala!

• Bill Gates: Embracing a Future of Work and Philanthropy

• Kolkata Doctors Agree to Meet Mamata Banerjee Under Conditions

• Mamata Banerjee Takes Action Amid Controversy Over RG Kar Hospital Case

• PM Modi Inaugurates SEMICON India 2024 in Greater Noida:

• Israel Army Reports Two Soldiers Killed in Gaza Helicopter Crash

• Our Vision: Indian-Made Chips in Every Device Globally

• Kandivali Subway Project Completed, Ending Traffic Woes on WEH

• Vinesh Phogat Criticizes PT Usha, Claims Politics Influenced Her Hospital Visit

• Malaika Arora's Father, Anil Arora, Dies by Suicide:

• Jayam Ravi's Wife Aarti Claims Divorce Was Announced Without Her Knowledge
• Pinnacle Blooms Network
• Narendra Modi
• Andhra Pradesh
• mahesh babu
• sreeja reddy saripalli
• Balakrishna
• Chiranjeevi
• Pawan Kalyan
• VijayaSaiReddy
• Pooja Hegde
• Bandi Sanjay
• Kodali Nani
• Revanth Reddy

Latest News

Editor picks.

Irrfan Khan

Research and analysis wing, venu thottempudi.

Find out more:

02/03/2023 10:06 AM

India Herald Group of Publshers P Limited

• Why Only Heroes step up during Natural Calamities and not heroines?
• Can there be someone greater than Sr NTR?
• Krishnam Raju Then, Prabhas Raju Now!
• Apple Supplier Foxconn to Lease 900 Apartments in Bengaluru Township
• Tara Channels Maharani of Mysore in Stunning Ganesh Chaturthi Photoshoot
• Shilpa Shetty: Timeless Elegance and Style
• Youth excited about cult horror film 'Tumbbad'
• These South stars returned their fees when their films flopped?!
• After the announcement of JP Dutta's 'Border 2', is the film eclipsed?
• Tappu of Tarak Mehta will be seen in 'Pushpa Impossible'
• Badshah and Honey's dispute gains momentum!
• Karan Johar left for Jaisalmer for 'The Traitors' show
• Jasleen Royal filed a case against Guru Randhawa
• King Khan praises 'Jana' at IIFA 2024 press conference
• The Role of a Balanced Diet in Preventing Pediatric Malnutrition
• Janhvi Kapoor Stuns in Golden Kanjivaram Silk Saree for 'Devara' Trailer Launch
• Social Media Buzzes with Wild Theories About Kamala Harris’ Earrings from Debate
• US Politician in Rahul Gandhi Photo Stirs Controversy:
• Himachal Pradesh to Establish Boarding School in Spiti to Ensure Education for All
• Parents' Reliance on Coaching Centers Criticized by NR Narayana Murthy
• Microsoft Acquires 16.4-Acre Land Parcel in Pune's Hinjewadi for Rs 520 Crore
• BYD to Launch New Electric Model in India, Will Be Known as eMax 7
• Malaika Arora's pain spilled out!?
• Ajay Devgan is coming again to raid, the wait is over!
• Shardiya Navratri 2024: Ghatasthapana Timing, Rituals, Required Items, and Significance
• Man Feeds Watermelon to Giant Bear in Viral pic:
• Japanese Duo Scales 360 Feet to Clean World's Tallest Bronze Buddha
• Amitabh Bachchan: Contestant asked did you go near the girl's college?
• California House Listed for Rs 4 Crore: "Half a House for Half a Million"
• Kangana shared this special post on the third anniversary of 'Thalaivi'
• Donald Trump's Debate Remark on "Transgender Operations on Illegal Aliens"
• Pakistani Father Installs CCTV Camera on Daughter's Head for Safety
• Ranveer Singh was upset with the poor performance of 'Lootera'!
• Ghee Tea: The Latest Trend for Health Benefits
• Trump's story will be seen before the presidential election
• 'Ponniyin Selvan' actor's wife Aarti claims the divorce decision is unilateral
• Fans eager to attend Diljit Dosanjh's concert!!
• Khiladi is a lucky charm for Fardeen Khan!
• Kapil's team is coming to make 'Funnywar'
• Vihaan will be seen in 'CTRL'!!
• Pawan Kalyan Delays Shoot for Upcoming Films Due to Political Duties
• Kareena Kapoor is satisfied with her achievements!
• Ajay Devgn and Vaani Kapoor's 'Raid 2' to Release on February 21, 2025;
• Ananya Panday Sparks Dating Speculation with 'W' Pendant Amid Walker Blanco Rumors
• The Buckingham Murders: First Review Out with Rave Impressions
• iPhone 16 Launch in China Faces Major Setback Due to Huawei's New Tri-Fold Smartphone
• Spine Chills!! Young Girls Clitoris Sold for Rituals!!
• Kangana Ranaut's Fans Outraged After Kunal Kamra Mocks Her as a 'Psychological Thriller'
• Vinesh Phogat: PT Usha’s Empty Gestures?
• Elon Musk Throws in the Towel: Fine Taylor, You Win...
• Abortion: Kamala vs. Trump- Popcorn time!!
• Trump and Harris: A Battle of Who’s NOT the Worst!
• No Plans, Just Punchlines: Trump and Harris Spar Over Economy!!
• KCR who succeeded after changing the party..!?
• Gadikota Srikanth Reddy is very special in Kadapa politics..!?
• Eatala Rajender: The Hero of Telangana..!!
• The disciple surpasses the Guru..!?
• Nallapareddy has created history in two major parties..!?
• Balineni who turned Ongole into a fortress..!?
• He was so nervous to face Bumrah..!?
• Trump says Kamala Harris hates Israel - She hits back
• On abortions, Donald Trump flip-flops, advantage Kamala Harris
• Only 3 days left! Complete these Aadhaar-related tasks..!?
• KCR Showing his Anger on Khammam?
• YouTube and OTT Views Leads to Craps!
• Is Revanth Powerful than YSR in Congress?
• Upcoming TIFF Premiere Is Set For OTT Release Next Year
• Why Canada Denies Entry to Indians?
• Who's the Real Heir of Nandamuri Legacy? Jr NTR or Mokshu?
• No Brickbats even after OTT Release!
• Camp Office Expenses Of Pawan Kalyan & Jagan
• GTA 6: Live Updates as Rockstar Games Faces Internal Delays
• Huma Qureshi on Season 3 of 'THIS' Acclaimed Series
• Ugly Fan Wars - Mega Fans Vs NTR
• No Anirudh, No Blockbuster for this 'STAR' Hero
• Can this stylish Nandamuri Hero hold the legacy?
• USA Telugus REJECTED Vijay's GOAT - Breakdown!
• Telangana to get 200 Acres AI City
• SRK, Rajini, Mahesh Babu - References Alone Couldn't Save GOAT
• Young School Girl Robs Scooty in Day Light - CCTV VIDEO
• Well, A New Headache for OTTs
• 35 Movie To Get a Tamil Dubbed Release in OTT?
• Meenakshi Chaudhary was Betrayed by Mahesh Babu & Vijay
• Is This the WWE Superstar Dave Bautista..!?
• Is Natasha Stankovic indirectly blaming Hardik Pandya..!?
• Why Indian Judiciary is a JOKE ? USA Judiciary sends 21 Year Boy to Jail for Hit and Run
• Babar Azam's behavior is trending in social media..!?
• Modi Government Unveils Satellite-Based, Barrier-Free Toll Collection System
• China has opened its doors to foreign companies..!?
• Ignored For Duleep Trophy, Star Indian Spinner Takes Five-Wicket Haul
• Is your health insurance claim rejected? Check out these 5 reasons!
• Netizens Find THIS VIDEO of Pooja Hegde is Too Séxy
• VIDEO - This is NOT DANCE REALITY, THIS IS SOFT PORN
• Rashmika Mandanna Caught in Accident - Sustain Injuries
• SHOCKING VIDEO - Nita Ambani Throwing Prasad Anger Hindus
• Meet 23 years old actress, who debuted with KISS, and is a professional dancer
• Devara’s Runtime Rumours Worrying Fans?
• Ketika Sharma - The Backless Beauty - Hot Photos
• When Europeans Prefer 'Indian Police' methods to Clear 'Namaz' obstacles
• Rakul Preet Singh spotted outside the gym in Santacruz
• Is Samantha's "I Can Kick Your Butt" directed to Chay ?
• Ostseebad, Germany has no Germans and Women wear Hijab or Burqa !?!
• Celebrities Getting Divorced - A New Shocking Trend
• Samantha Has Signed a MASSIVE PROJECT - Deets Inside
• Should Reservation System Be Removed from India?
• Vijay's GOAT fame Abyukta Manikandan - 25 Sizzling Photos
• Samantha Says She is No Longer Skinny
• Why do some people travel in First Class AC Train instead of taking a Flight?
• Samantha Says "I Can Kick Your Butt.." - Pic Talk

Empowering 140+ Indians within and abroad with entertainment, infotainment, credible, independent, issue based journalism oriented latest updates on politics, movies. India Herald Group of Publishers P LIMITED is MediaTech division of prestigious Kotii Group of Technological Ventures R&D P LIMITED, Which is core purposed to be empowering 760+ crore people across 230+ countries of this wonderful world. India Herald Group of Publishers P LIMITED is New Generation Online Media Group, which brings wealthy knowledge of information from PRINT media and Candid yet Fluid presentation from electronic media together into digital media space for our users. With the help of dedicated journalists team of about 450+ years experience; India Herald Group of Publishers Private LIMITED is the first and only true digital online publishing media groups to have such a dedicated team. Dream of empowering over 1300 million Indians across the world to stay connected with their mother land [from Web, Phone, Tablet and other Smart devices] multiplies India Herald Group of Publishers Private LIMITED team energy to bring the best into all our media initiatives such as https://www.indiaherald.com

'Balagam' movie review: A beautiful exploration of culture and the human condition

Having watched films like Karnan (2021), Garuda Gamana Vrishabha Vahana (2021), and Angamaly Diaries (2017) I have always yearned for Telugu films to portray and celebrate our culture. My wish has been fulfilled with Balagam . It not only represents the customs of Telangana authentically but is entirely centred around its culture. 

For instance, we know that the interval point of any film is utilised to pronounce the central conflict of the story, and in Balagam , the interval point is built around the custom of offering a feast to the soul of the dead. When a crow doesn’t eat it, it is believed that the dead are yet to find peace, and naturally, it’s not considered to be a good sign.

So the family of the deceased patriarch, Komurayya (Sudhakar Reddy, a wonderful find), make the offering and wait for a crow to come down and have it. When it doesn’t happen, it creates emotional unrest--backed by quarrels in the past and egos--among them. And this conflict around the tradition transforms into the film’s core narrative; on one level, it is about the custom and on another level, it is about the people harbouring the custom. 

Balagam even looks at these people through the lenses of culture; their egos, and flaws. That apart, their personalities stand as reflections of their responses to everything that happens at a funeral. The detailed portrayal is astounding. Also, the song that captures the last rites of Komurayya, which begins as a celebration and ends in mourning, is effectively shot.

Two characters at opposing ends challenge to throw a bigger feast than the other. The bigger the feast, the larger the number of goats required. Minutes into the film, we get a fair idea about the jaunty Komurayya as he nonchalantly goes on with his day, flirting with women of different ages and interacting with the members of the close-knit community of his village. 

The following scene sets up the sturdy character of Komurayya’s angry elder son Aillayya (Jayram, again, great find) and then, his grandson, the ambitious yet unsuccessful Sayilu (a perfectly cast Priyadarshi). Many of Sayilu’s business plans have failed. His external conflict is to repay the load. And even when he learns about his grandfather’s untimely demise, he is more concerned about the possible delay of the engagement with his girlfriend and consequently, receiving the dowry money. The internal conflict is that he is selfishly materialistic at times of great loss. The moment he realises his selfishness and wrongdoings is heart-wrenching and Priyadarshi has effectively portrayed the role. 

One of the fascinating aspects of the film is that almost everyone here is grey, but it doesn’t manipulate you to hate or empathise with any particular character. In fact, it only rightly calls them out for their mistakes and misplaced priorities. 

Despite the despair in its atmosphere—considering the story takes place in a span of 11 days through a funeral—the film finds humour in many odd ways. From a woman crying persistently to another woman feigning sadness, many such rooted instances show the filmmaker drawing inspiration from lived-in experiences.

Balagam is not infallible, though, and it comes with its own set of flaws. The screenplay gets stuck in a tedium of repetitive scenes towards the end. Likewise, when Sayilu breaks into a dance in the otherwise fun ‘Potti Pilla’, you wonder why this character, that has been so realistic until that point, is suddenly behaving like he’s in a Telugu film. However, it lasts only a short while. This reminds me of a beautiful line in the song that goes ‘Kallulotti pakkana kaarappoosa lekka mana jodi mastuntade (Our pairing is as good as a spicy sev and palm wine)’. The film’s love for the lifestyle it portrays keeps popping up in distinct ways. 

The film also doesn’t try to get too inventive with its craft, with the staging and cinematography, despite running the risk of being called too simplistic, serve the story well, although I wish it had played more with the visuals instead of relying much on the dialogues. Meanwhile, the dialogues are the lifeline of the film and they do a wonderful job capturing the life of the Telangana region. 

While Venu Yeldandi paints a beautiful portrait, it’s Bheems Ceciroleo who gives it life with his music. Especially, his collaboration with folk musicians for one particular music piece that sums up the entirety of the film and the character arcs, in the end, is noteworthy. This sequence represents the confluence of two of Balagam’s traits: its urge to preach the importance of relationships and its love for the Telangana culture. And one shot in which we see the hands of this family placed one above the other, as they reach the final stage of the funeral, will be etched in my memory for a long time.  It is the image Balagam  stood for.

Balagam Starring : Priyadarshi, Kavya Kalyanram, Sudhakar Reddy Director : Venu Yeldandi

Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp  

Download the TNIE app to stay with us and follow the latest

Related Stories

• Top Stories
• Working Stills
• Entertainment
• Exclusive News

Balagam Movie Review and Rating

Movie Review:  Balagam

Director :  Venu Yeldandi

Producer:  Harshith Reddy, Hanshitha Reddy, Dil Raju

Starring:    Priyadarshi , Kavya Kalyan Ram, Sudhakar Reddy, Muralidhar Goud, Roopa

Music :  Bheems Cicerolio  Release Date :  3rd March, 2023

Rating:   3/5

Balagam Movie Review:  Priyadarshi, Kavya Kalyan Ram, Sudhakar Reddy, and others starrer Balagam has hit the theaters today. Let’s see the story of Balagam.

Story:  Sailu (Priyadarshi) gets ready for marriage. He incurs debts in the name of business and loses. He wants to settle the debts with the dowry money he will receive after marriage. But at the same time his grandfather Komuraiya (Sudhakar Reddy) dies unexpectedly. Sailu’s marriage is ruined by his death. How does Sailu pay off his debt? What is the reason for the quarrels between Komuraiya’s sons and daughters? How does he bring his  aunt’s family closer to his father? Why does the distance between the two families increase? How do they finally become one?  To get these answers, one should watch the movie Balagam on the silver screen.

 Plus points:

·         Performance

·         Sudhakar

·         Priyadarshi

·         Direction

·         Telangana accent

 Minus Points:

·         Few scenes boring

·         Slow narration

 Performance:  Komuraiya’ role is only for the first fifteen minutes but the whole movie revolves around that character. Sudhakar does justice to the role of Komuraiah. And Jayaram, who plays the role of Ailaiah, shows his stubbornness, perseverance, anger and love all at the same level. Priyadarshi as Sailu makes us cry at the end. Kavya Kalyan Ram does not get much screen space to act. Muralidhar Goud, Vijayalakshmi, Rachcha Ravi, Krishna Tej are ok. Rest of the cast perform of Balagam accordingly.

 Technical:  It is not common to make a film around death and show all kinds of emotions in it. As a director, Venu Yeldandi succeeded in giving the message he wanted to convey around death. He has shown Telangana accent and life style well on screen.  The music, songs and the Cinematography is good.  The songs are also in Telangana style which is a plus point. At the time of death, the violence in the villages has been shown realistically. The scenes and dialogues why the crow does not touch Komuraiya are mind-blowing.  All the departments like editing and art department are done well. The production values are good.

 Analysis:  In the past, there have been many movies in Telugu with stories of misconceptions and misunderstandings between family members and the hero solving them. Even though the core point of Balagam is the same, director Venu Yeldandi  showed diversity in the first film by directing this film. He brought out comedy, sentiment and all kinds of emotions well.  But there will be no big twists in this movie. It goes on slowly. Some may find this movie boring. But it is connected with Telangana nativity.  Coming to the second half, the story gets a bit more serious. Venu Yeldandi continues to show the emotions of passions, passions, hates and loves in the film.

 The movie Balagam based on Telangana dialect, language and culture. 

• Balagam Movie Rating
• Balagam Movie Review
• Kavya Kalyan Ram
• Muralidhar Goud
• Priyadarshi
• Sudhakar Reddy

More Articles

Pawan kalyan’s political teaser ahead of elections, ie 100 2024: cm revanth reddy in list of most powerful indians, vijay deverakonda announces family star teaser date and time, operation valentine movie review and rating, sree vishnu and hasith goli film titled swag, a concept video out , samantha with mammootty what’s cooking between them, mahesh babu earns rs 5 cr for 5 second, nayanthara: congratulations on 14 years samantha, namarta and lakshmi pranathi intimate evening, the gaami trailer is to be out on this date, is this prabhas kalki 2898 ad trailer release, ssmb29  finally rajamouli breaks silence, mahesh babu all set to share profits along with rajamouli , janhvi kapoor potential involvement in pushpa 2,  sandeep reddy vanga first preference to prabhas, sandeep reddy vanga to bring vicky kaushal for animal park, taapsee pannu to marry mathias boe in march ,  he is prashanth neel favorite director, rashmika mandanna husband should be like vijay deverakonda, dil raju cameo in horror film.

• Privacy Policy

Copyright © Tollywood.net, 2024. All Rights Reserved.

• Entertainment

Balagam Movie Review

• Click on the Menu icon of the browser, it opens up a list of options.
• Click on the “Options ”, it opens up the settings page,
• Here click on the “Privacy & Security” options listed on the left hand side of the page.
• Scroll down the page to the “Permission” section .
• Here click on the “Settings” tab of the Notification option.
• A pop up will open with all listed sites, select the option “ALLOW“, for the respective site under the status head to allow the notification.
• Once the changes is done, click on the “Save Changes” option to save the changes.

• Top Listing
• Upcoming Movies

Balagam First Review: Priyadarshi's Latest Family Drama Is Emotional, Heart-Touching & A Hilarious Ride!

Priyadarshi portrayed the role of Sailu, grandson of Kanakaiah. How he brings together the family and sorts out the differences is to be seen on the big screen.

Priyadarshi Pulikonda, who rose to fame as a popular comedian-actor in Telugu among the new generation of comedians has been dabbling with different kinds of roles, irrelevant of genre. His performance in films like 'Mallesam' stand testimonial to his talent as an actor. His latest, a family drama titled 'Balagam' is going to hit the screens on March 3. Balagam is directed by Venu Yeldandi aka Tillu Venu, who is making his directorial debut.

Ahead of the theatrical release, the movie unit hosted a premiere for the critics and other filmmakers on March 2. Balagam is receiving a positive response from the critics and fraternity of Tollywood.

Watched #Balagam and loved it. ❤️ What a beautiful film with family emotions & Splendid comedy.🙌 Each and every frame looks so natural & top class performances from the cast. 👌 Congratulations to the entire team 💐 @offlvenu @priyadarshi_i @DilRajuProdctns #Harshith #Hanshitha pic.twitter.com/gI4XRTp3xw — 𝐕𝐚𝐦𝐬𝐢𝐒𝐡𝐞𝐤𝐚𝐫 (@UrsVamsiShekar) March 2, 2023

The movie was established in a village backdrop around a happy-go-lucky senior citizen named Gajula Kanakaiah played by Sudhakar Reddy. He is a joyful person on the surface but is a depressed soul deep down. Kanakaiah dies suddenly, and his two sons and daughter reach the village to perform the final rites.

However, after offering a 'pinda pradanam,' none of the birds come to eat the food offered for the peaceful passing away of Kanakaiah. On the other hand, Kankaiah's children quarrel with each other.

The film was produced by Harishith Reddy, and Hanshitha Reddy under Dil Raju's Sri Venkateswara Creations banner. Music of the film was composed by 'Dhamaka' fame Bheems Ceciroleo. Acharya Venu cranked the camera as Balagam's cinematographer.

• Don't Block
• Block for 8 hours
• Block for 12 hours
• Block for 24 hours
• Dont send alerts during 1 am 2 am 3 am 4 am 5 am 6 am 7 am 8 am 9 am 10 am 11 am 12 pm 1 pm 2 pm 3 pm 4 pm 5 pm 6 pm 7 pm 8 pm 9 pm 10 pm 11 pm 12 am to 1 am 2 am 3 am 4 am 5 am 6 am 7 am 8 am 9 am 10 am 11 am 12 pm 1 pm 2 pm 3 pm 4 pm 5 pm 6 pm 7 pm 8 pm 9 pm 10 pm 11 pm 12 am

• Entertainment
• Life & Style

To enjoy additional benefits

CONNECT WITH US

‘Balagam’ movie review: Death and drama, wrapped in humour

‘balagam’, first-time director venu yeldandi’s telugu indie-style drama starring priyadarshi, is outrageously funny while holding a mirror to fractured familial ties and human behaviour.

March 04, 2023 12:07 pm | Updated 12:46 pm IST

Priyadarshi, Kavya Kalyanram and Sudhakar Reddy in the Telugu movie ‘Balagam’

In Balagam , debut director Venu Yeldandi’s Telugu movie set in rural Telangana, a lady wails while recalling how the elderly man who has breathed his last had always relished the tea she served and asked for two more spoons of sugar and had also enquired if she is making fish pulusu . It is tough to not crack up as she says this because of what has transpired earlier. An elderly man’s passing and a motley group of villagers paying their obeisance with high drama open the stage for roaring laughter. In the next two hours, the narrative lays bare human behaviour, complete with bloated egos that can fracture familial ties over simple issues. 

Komarayya (Sudhakar Reddy) is not the likeable grandfather in the village. He is gregarious but also oblivious to the effect of his sharp statements and actions on those around him. Acharya Venu’s camera leads us into rural Telangana with its hills, fields and houses as the catchy ‘Maa ooru pallettooru’ composed by Bheems Ceciroleo plays on, unfolding a day in the life of Komarayya. Sudhakar Reddy plays Komarayya with an easy demeanour, convincing in his character’s exuberance and melancholy. Soon, we are curious about what is in his bag that he holds dear to him.

Cast: Priyadarshi, Kavya Kalyanram, Muralidhar Goud

Direction: venu yeldandi, music: bheems cecerolio.

Komarayya’s sudden demise brings together his sons, daughter, their children, extended relatives and the villagers. The grandson Sailu (Priyadarshi) who has been hoping to get engaged, get a fat dowry and repay his debts, is shattered. Elsewhere, a tailor (the director doing the honours for a brief, interesting part) goes into utter shock and keeps reiterating a couple of lines that turn out to be both funny and poignant.

Venu Yeldandi uses the patriarch’s death, the funeral and the rituals thereafter to depict family politics. Death becomes an excuse for several feasts accompanied by alcohol; a half-baked romance collapses only to open the stage for a new one, and someone squabbles over land. In short, life takes a 360-degree turn when the force that binds a family is gone. 

Hindi films such as Ramprasad ki Tehrvi and Pagglait , and the Kannada film Thithi come to mind for their exploration of death and family politics, but it is a new territory in Telugu. 

Balagam also turns its lens on how women bear the brunt of men dictating the rules of engagement in a family. When the humour wears off after a point, the drama around the rituals feels stretched. Nevertheless, these portions serve the purpose of making the villagers and family members look inwards and seek answers to whether they are truly grieving for a departed soul.

Priyadarshi is not new to playing an underdog, everyday man. The fact that he can do it believably, without any artifice, after several years in his career, is praiseworthy. The early romance scenes and his predicament at how the village folks treat his snooker table are hilarious; when he does some soul-searching towards the end, he prompts others to follow suit. Kavya Kalyanram, Muralidhar Goud (the father in DJ Tillu) , Sudhakar Reddy, Racha Ravi, Roopa and Jayaram are good fits for their parts. The several supporting actors who enact the parts of people in the village lend authenticity to the film. 

It’s been long since we have seen a rooted, indie-style Telugu film that explores subcultures of the Telugu states the way a Care of Kancharapalem or a Mallesham did. Balagam is a welcome addition to that list.

Related Topics

Telangana / reviews / Telugu cinema

Top News Today

• Access 10 free stories every month
• Save stories to read later
• Access to comment on every story
• Sign-up/manage your newsletter subscriptions with a single click
• Get notified by email for early access to discounts & offers on our products

Terms & conditions   |   Institutional Subscriber

Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide by our community guidelines for posting your comments.

We have migrated to a new commenting platform. If you are already a registered user of The Hindu and logged in, you may continue to engage with our articles. If you do not have an account please register and login to post comments. Users can access their older comments by logging into their accounts on Vuukle.

Get the Reddit app

Anything and everything about Telugu cinema!

BALAGAM- with atleast recovery of 1200% and found its target audience, is a MASSIVE SUCCESS , but in this sub after ott with atleast 14k the response is very low. even for review post only 4 comments, ide cinema tamil malayalam lo vachunte cult classic ane vallu emo. neva d less, watch the movie

By continuing, you agree to our User Agreement and acknowledge that you understand the Privacy Policy .

Enter the 6-digit code from your authenticator app

You’ve set up two-factor authentication for this account.

Enter a 6-digit backup code

Create your username and password.

Reddit is anonymous, so your username is what you’ll go by here. Choose wisely—because once you get a name, you can’t change it.

Reset your password

Enter your email address or username and we’ll send you a link to reset your password

Check your inbox

An email with a link to reset your password was sent to the email address associated with your account

Choose a Reddit account to continue

Log in or sign up for Rotten Tomatoes

Trouble logging in?

By continuing, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from the Fandango Media Brands .

By creating an account, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes and to receive email from the Fandango Media Brands .

By creating an account, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes.

Email not verified

Let's keep in touch.

Sign up for the Rotten Tomatoes newsletter to get weekly updates on:

• Upcoming Movies and TV shows
• Rotten Tomatoes Podcast
• Media News + More

By clicking "Sign Me Up," you are agreeing to receive occasional emails and communications from Fandango Media (Fandango, Vudu, and Rotten Tomatoes) and consenting to Fandango's Privacy Policy and Terms and Policies . Please allow 10 business days for your account to reflect your preferences.

OK, got it!

• About Rotten Tomatoes®
• Login/signup

Movies in theaters

• Opening This Week
• Top Box Office
• Coming Soon to Theaters
• Certified Fresh Movies

Movies at Home

• Fandango at Home
• Prime Video
• Most Popular Streaming Movies
• What to Watch New

Certified fresh picks

• 78% Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Link to Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
• 95% Rebel Ridge Link to Rebel Ridge
• 96% Red Rooms Link to Red Rooms

New TV Tonight

• 83% How to Die Alone: Season 1
• 59% Emily in Paris: Season 4
• 20% Three Women: Season 1
• -- Universal Basic Guys: Season 1
• -- My Brilliant Friend: Story of the Lost Child: Season 4
• -- The Old Man: Season 2
• -- Lego Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy: Season 1
• -- The Circle: Season 7
• -- Jack Whitehall: Fatherhood with My Father: Season 1
• -- In Vogue: The 90s: Season 1

Most Popular TV on RT

• 60% The Perfect Couple: Season 1
• 77% Kaos: Season 1
• 85% The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power: Season 2
• 100% Dark Winds: Season 2
• 100% Slow Horses: Season 4
• 97% English Teacher: Season 1
• 95% Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist: Season 1
• 94% Only Murders in the Building: Season 4
• 93% Bad Monkey: Season 1
• Best TV Shows
• Most Popular TV

Certified fresh pick

• 95% Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist Link to Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist
• All-Time Lists
• Binge Guide
• Comics on TV
• Five Favorite Films
• Video Interviews
• Weekend Box Office
• Weekly Ketchup
• What to Watch

Best Horror Movies of 2024 Ranked – New Scary Movies to Watch

Toronto Film Festival 2024: Movie Scorecard

What to Watch: In Theaters and On Streaming

Awards Tour

Pachinko ‘s Lee Min-ho Spills Season 2 Secrets

Movie Re-Release Calendar 2024: Your Guide to Movies Back In Theaters

• Trending on RT
• Best Horror Movies
• Top 10 Box Office
• Toronto Film Festival
• Free Movies on YouTube

Balagam Reviews

Despite some issues, Balagam is a very moving film that skillfully tackles a dark subject. A stand-out directorial debut by Venu Yeldandi.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/5 | Jul 26, 2023

Balagam Movie Review: A beautiful exploration of culture and human condition

Rating: ( 4 / 5).

Having watched films like  Karnan, Garuda Gamana Vrishabha Vahana , and  Angamaly Diaries,  I have always yearned for Telugu films to portray and celebrate our culture. My wish has been fulfilled with  Balagam.  It not only represents the customs of Telangana authentically but is entirely centred on the culture. 

Starring: Priyadarshi, Kavya Kalyanram

Directed by: Venu Yeldandi

For instance, we know that the interval point of any film is utilised to pronounce the central conflict of the story, and in  Balagam , the interval point is built around the custom of offering a feast to the soul of the dead. When a crow doesn’t eat it, it is believed that the dead are yet to find peace, and naturally, it’s not considered to be a good sign. So the family of the deceased patriarch, Komurayya (Sudhakar Reddy, a wonderful find), make the offering and wait for a crow to come down and have it. When it doesn't happen, it creates emotional unrest--backed by quarrels in the past and egos--among them. And this conflict around the tradition transforms into the film's core narrative; on one level, it is about the custom and on another level, it is about the people harbouring custom. 

Balagam  even looks at these people through the lenses of culture, their egos, and flaws. That apart, their personalities stand as reflections of their responses to everything that happens at a funeral. The detailed portrayal is astounding. Also, the song that captures the last rites of Komurayya, which begins as a celebration and ends in mourning, is effectively shot.

Two characters at opposing end challenge to throw a bigger feast than the other. The bigger the feast, the larger the number of goats required. Minutes into the film, we get a fair idea about the jaunty Komurayya as he nonchalantly goes on with his day, flirting with women of different ages and interacting with the members of the close-knit community of his village. 

The following scene sets up the sturdy character of Komurayya’s angry elder son Aillayya (Jayram, again, great find) and then his grandson, the ambitious yet unsuccessful Sayilu (a perfectly cast Priyadarshi). Many of Sayilu’s business plans have failed. His external conflict is to repay the load. And even when he learns about his grandfather’s untimely demise, he is more concerned about the possible delay of the engagement with his girlfriend and, consequently, receiving the dowry money. The internal conflict is that he is selfishly materialistic at times of great loss. The moment he realises his selfishness and wrongdoings is heart-wrenching, and Priyadarshi has effectively portrayed the role. 

One of the fascinating aspects of the film is that almost everyone here is grey, but it doesn’t manipulate you to hate or empathise with any particular character. In fact, it only rightly calls them out for their mistakes and misplaced priorities. 

Despite the despair in its atmosphere—considering the story takes place in a span of 11 days through a funeral—the film finds humour in many odd ways. From a woman crying persistently to another woman feigning sadness, many such rooted instances show the filmmaker drawing inspiration from lived-in experiences.

Balagam is not infallible, though, and it comes with its own set of flaws. The screenplay gets stuck in a tedium of repetitive scenes towards the end. Likewise, when Sayilu breaks into a dance in the otherwise fun  ‘Potti Pilla’ , you wonder why this character that has been so realistic until that point is suddenly behaving like he’s in a Telugu film. However, it lasts only a short while. This reminds me of a beautiful line in the song that goes,  ‘Kallulotti pakkana kaarappoosa lekka mana jodi mastuntade  (Our pairing is as good as a spicy  sev  and palm wine)’. The film’s love for the lifestyle it portrays keeps popping up in distinct ways. 

The film also doesn't try to get too inventive with its craft, with the staging and cinematography, despite running the risk of being called too simplistic, serve the story well, although I wish it had played more with the visuals instead of relying much on the dialogues. Meanwhile, the dialogues are the lifeline of the film and they do a wonderful job capturing the life of the Telangana region. 

While Venu Yeldandi paints a beautiful portrait, it’s Bheems Ceciroleo who gives it life with his music. Especially, his collaboration with folk musicians for one particular music piece that sums up the entirety of the film and the character arcs, in the end, is noteworthy. This sequence represents the confluence of two of  Balagam ’s traits: its urge to preach the importance of relationships and its love for the Telangana culture. And one shot in which we see the hands of this family placed one above the other, as they reach the final stage of the funeral, will be etched in my memory for a long time. It is the image  Balagam  stood for.

• Local Events
• Movie Gallery

Latest Updates

Balagam movie review - this drama gives us a reality check.

'Balagam' hits the cinemas this Friday (March 3). Here is our review of the movie.

The film is set in a Telangana village. The time is present. Komarayya (Sudhakar Reddy), an old man, breathes his last three days before the engagement of his grandson Sailu (Priyadarshi). Now, Sailu is hard-pressed for money. He has to urgently clear loans to the tune of Rs 10 lakh and, for that, he needs dowry money. Komarayya's untimely demise puts his engagement in danger. Without getting engaged, he won't receive the dowry money.

Komarayya's death also brings in its wake a host of troubles in the family. Sailu's father and his estranged sister's husband have their own set of problems with each other. Will the old man's death mean anything to this wounded family where strained relations reign supreme?

Post-Mortem:

"Specific form of joint family arrangement (brothers along with their spouses and kids living under the authority of parents in the same home and common kitchen) is the ultimate killer of mental peace. It breeds jealousy, unnecessary feuds and incessant rivalry over petty reasons," a Twitter user named Satish Verma tweeted recently. Ever since this reviewer read the truth bomb, it got him thinking about the sociological implications of the Indian family system. Although joint families have technically been fading, emotionally, they are still alive in India. We may not live under one roof, but our emotional bonds are joined. 'Balagam', the film under review, proves this social reality beyond doubt. Importantly, it doesn't do so without getting preachy.

Directed by debutant Venu Yeldandi (he is better known as Venu Tillu, the comedian), 'Balagam' rises above conventional script-writing rules by doing away with the need for a lead pair, a love track, and other run-of-the-mill norms. Priyadarshi appears to be a lead man at first, but he later becomes a supporting actor.

Characters are money-minded or naive or just plain loud. The death of the patriarch results in performative death rituals. The women cry the way they cry because everyone cries that way in their villages. Some of them are least bothered about Komarayya. They are there to show solidarity with his closest family members. You find all this funny up to a point. After a point, you like that the neighbours are there to show empathy. In today's times when human selfishness has reached pathological levels, even this much should deserve our respect. See, the bar is too low!

The conversations between some family members, who are seeing eye-to-eye for the first time in years, are realistic and occasionally funny as well. Director Venu, who has also written the movie, doesn't resort to bland speeches. There are no speeches that transform the equations between family members in a jiffy because there is no hero in the film. This is no 'Shatamanam Bhavati'.

The attempt to make 'Balagam' a musical drama is praiseworthy. 'Balarama Narasayyo', composed by Ram Miryala, is about celebrating the death of Komarayya. Despite the film-style music, the visuals and the artists manage to make things look natural. The first song is a tribute to village life, sung with gusto by Mangli.

The character played by Kavya Kalyanram of 'Masooda' fame is slightly milked to offer escapist entertainment. However, as the story progresses, we realize that the direction of the story is something else. The pathos song in the finale is heart-rending.

On the flip side, the emotional arc of Priyadarshi 's character could have been handled in a better way. At 131 minutes, the film slows down in the middle portions.

Closing Remarks

'Balagam' is a village-based drama with no hero or heroine as such. Watch it for its delicacies and the truth bombs it delivers. The message that it is better to rein in petty egos than be sorry is profound.

Critic's Rating

Latest Tollywood News

Latest News

• Prashanth Neel-written 'Bagheera' locks its release date
• 'Viswam': 'Moroccan Maguva' is dull
• Sai Dharam Tej offers prayers at Kanaka Durga temple, visits Amma Orphanage
• Jayam Ravi, Aarti Ravi Split: Controversy Erupts
• Fan theories emerge about an 'explosive' Devara twist

Read More News

Latest Reviews

• The Greatest Of All Time Movie Review - Outdated Twists
• Saripodhaa Sanivaaram Movie Review - A Vigilante Saga with Mixed Results
• Revu Movie Review: Passable, not rave-worthy
• AAY Movie Review: Decent Time-Pass with a Social Message
• Double iSmart Movie Review - Double iSilly

Read More Reviews

• Abhirami at Bhale Unnade Interview, HD Gallery
• Regina Cassandra at Utsavam Pre Release Event, HD Gallery
• Pragya Nayan at Kalinga Pre Release Event, HD Gallery
• 'Jai Bhim' director's 'Dosa King' to narrate a sensational murder case
• Karan Johar's collaboration with Jr NTR

View More Updates