Bhola Shankar is the Telugu remake of Tamil film Vedalam and it is a loyal remake with minor changes. Shankar (Chiranjeevi) has arrived in Kolkata along with his sister Mahalakshmi (Keerthy Suresh). The reason for him to move to Kolkata is get Maha admitted in a prestigious arts college there and he has another agenda, that is to kill the gang involved in human trafficking. Why is he after them is narrated in the flashback and how he kills them all forms rest of the story.

The original version too was below average, saved by Ajith's performance clubbed with Anirudh's bgm. The entire hype revolved around them and in the remake, it is exactly what missing. Sure, Megastar has given a committed performance to play to the gallery but there is no novelty factor. The narrative is so dated, right from the writing to execution, none of the scenes stood out. Even Chiranjeevi went through the emotions monotonously like everybody else on a paycheck.

The only thing they invested some ideas was on the inclusion of Pawan Kalyan songs and have Chiranjeevi imitate him for the sake of fans, otherwise the film remained a tedious watch throughout. None of the songs were memorable for Chiranjeevi's grace to save them. Action scenes were repetitive and nothing to boast about. In short, Megastar Chiranjeevi isn't enough to save this mess.

I must regretfully confess that "Bholaa Shankar" left me utterly disheartened. The film's desperate attempt to mimic the triumph of the Tamil original "Vedhalam" falls woefully, shockingly short, and Chiranjeevi's portrayal in the lead role is nothing short of a monumental letdown. His performance lacks even a fraction of the magnetism and complexity that Ajith effortlessly infused into the character in the original.

To put it bluntly, this movie stands as an unequivocal low point in my year of cinematic experiences. The cringe-inducing moments are piled high, and the uncomfortable romantic subplot between Chiranjeevi and an actress young enough to be his daughter is impossible to disregard.

For anyone entertaining the thought of subjecting themselves to this film, I implore you to veer away from squandering your hard-earned money. The original iteration is conveniently accessible on YouTube with subtitles, presenting a considerably more satisfying option for entertainment. Rather than parting with your money for the dismal affair that is "Bholaa Shankar," I'd wholeheartedly recommend investing those funds in a sumptuous Zomato feast.

Chiranjeevi's decision to embrace such roles only serves to underscore the jarring contrast between his lackluster performances and the outstanding work of actors like Mammooty, who, at the age of 72, continue to shine in intellectually stimulating and artistically profound films. It's a stark reminder that there exist far more gratifying avenues for spending your time and resources than immersing yourself in the profound disappointment that "Bholaa Shankar" epitomizes.

Watching the Telugu movie Bhola Shankar, headlined by Chiranjeevi and directed by Meher Ramesh, is like going back in time by a few decades but not in a good way. The film repackages outdated, formulaic tropes and presents them with the confidence that star presence - Chiranjeevi, Tamannaah Bhatia and Keerthy Suresh - is enough to salvage a listless narrative. Meher Ramesh, credited with 'story development', adapts an eight-year-old Tamil film Vedalam starring Ajith, which was no great shakes either. What unravels is a cocktail of a sappy brother-sister bond, cardboard-ish villain characters, a leading lady who is supposed to contribute to absurd fun and comes across as utterly silly, a lot of tasteless humour and loud, forgetful music.