# Bhagavanth Kesari

Bhagavanth Kesari is a 2023 Indian Telugu-language action drama film written and directed by Anil Ravipudi and produced by Sahu Garapati and Harish Peddi, under the banner of Shine Screens. It stars Nandamuri Balakrishna in the titular role alongside Kajal Aggarwal, Sreeleela and Arjun Rampal (in his Telugu debut). The soundtrack and background score was composed by Thaman S, while C. Ramprasad and Tammiraju handled the cinematography and editing, respectively.
The film was theatrically released on 19 October 2023, on the occasion of Dusshera. The film received mixed to positive reviews from critics, praising Nandamuri Balakrishna's performance and the action sequences.

## Plot

Nelakonda Bhagavanth Kesari is an ex-prisoner who becomes the guardian of Vijayalakshmi "Viji" after the death of his friend and Viji's father, CI Srikanth in an accident. Bhagavanth wants her to join the Indian Army as per her father's wish and seeks the help of psychologist Dr. Kathyayani. However, Vijji is against joining the Army, stemming from a phobia in her childhood; she is keen on marrying her boyfriend, Karthik.
Meanwhile, Rahul Sanghvi is a business magnate who seeks to steal the country's prestigious project-V, but the Deputy CM accumulates incriminating evidence against him. Rahul assassinates him, but his PA absconds with the evidence, and Rahul is behind his hunt. Karthik proceeds with his parents with the proposal, but Bhagavanth denies it, for which Viji starts to detest Bhagavanth. While escaping from Rahul's men, the PA fortuitously uses Viji's laptop to secure the data, and Rahul's men target her instead. Bhagavanth learns about this and shields Viji. Rahul is shocked upon seeing Bhagavanth, revealing that the two are past rivals, and Viji soon learns about Bhagavanth's past.
Past: Bhagavanth is a gallant Circle Inspector at a tribal zone called Nelakonda, where he locks horns with Rahul's politician father Sarath Sanghvi after he massacres the forest department. Bhagavanth outrageously butchers his men and publicly arrests Sarath, who later commits suicide. To exact vengeance, Rahul incriminates Bhagavanth under trumped-up charges and has him sentenced to prison.
Present: After learning this, Viji oaths to fulfill Bhagavanth's ambition. They go to Hyderabad along with Kathyayani and admit Viji to a training academy where the coach disdains the women but later accepts an apology after Bhagavanth glorifies their eminence. Viji cannot climb her last leg because of neurosis, whereas Kathyayani provides insight to raise her mental strength and courage. Rahul intends to kill Bhagavanth and his loved ones whilst also capturing the PA. However, Bhagavanth tarnishes Rahul's plans with the support of Ratan Shukla, whom he befriended in prison, and procures the evidence from the PA. Bhagavanth makes a deal with the politicians to schedule a dual war with Rahul and receives approval. As directed by Kathyayani, Bhagavanth keeps himself at risk, and Viji soon turns violent to safeguard him. Bhagavanth finally kills Rahul and his men, while Viji is selected into the Army, fulfilling her father's and Bhagavanth's dream.

## Cast

* Nandamuri Balakrishna as Bhagavanth Kesari, Vijji's guardian
* Kajal Aggarwal as Dr. Kathyayani, Bhagavanth's love interest (voice dubbed by Savitha Reddy)
* Sreeleela as Vijaya Lakshmi "Vijji"
* Arjun Rampal as Rahul Sanghvi, businessman and mafia leader
* R. Sarathkumar as CI Srikanth, Viji's father, and Bhagavanth's friend (guest appearance)
* Pallak Lalwani as Reporter
* Jayachitra as Bhagavanth's mother
* P. Ravi Shankar as Umesh Dutt's friend
* John Vijay as Ratan Shukla, Bhagavanth's friend
* Aadukalam Naren as Sarath Sanghvi, Rahul's father
* Subbaraju as SP Ravi Krishna
* Subhalekha Sudhakar as Deputy CM
* Srinivas Vadlamani as CM
* Brahmaji as Deputy CM's PA
* Raghu Babu as Minister
* VTV Ganesh as Minister
* Rahul Ravi as Karthik, Viji's boyfriend
* Bharath Reddy as Vijji's trainer
* Sanjay Swaroop as Umesh Dutt
* Raj Tirandasu as Japatri, Bhagavanth's friend
* Muralidhar Goud as Jogi
* Dubbing Janaki as Kathyayani's mother
* Srikanth Iyengar as Karthik's father
* Sravan Raghavendra as Vicky
* Rathika Rose as English-Speaking Party Member
* Racha Ravi as Lorry Driver
* Jeevan Kumar Naidu as Daggad Diwakar
* Danny Kuttappa as Rahul's henchman
* Sasidhar as Police Officer
* Meka Ramakrishna as Sentry Narayana
* Chitti Babu
* Anand Raj
* Krishna Chaitanya
* Brahmayya
* Mayank Parakh
* Alok Jain
* Koya Kishore
* Baby Nainika as Young Vijji

## Production

Filming started on 8 December 2022 in Hyderabad. Arjun Rampal completed filming his scenes in August 2023.

## Music

The soundtrack and background score is composed by Thaman S, which marks his fourth collaboration with Balakrishna after Dictator (2016), Akhanda (2021), and Veera Simha Reddy (2023); first collaboration with Ravipudi. The first single titled "Ganesh Anthem, was released on 1 September 2023. The second single, "Uyyaalo Uyyaala" was released on 4 October 2023. The third single, "Roar of Kesari" was released on 17 October 2023.
All music is composed by Thaman S

## Release
### Theatrical

The film was theatrically released on 19 October 2023, on the occasion of Dasara.

### Home media

The film's digital streaming rights were brought by Amazon Prime Video, while the satellite rights were brought by Zee Network in all languages. The film was premiered on Amazon Prime Video on 24 November 2023 in Telugu, along with dubbed versions in Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada, and Hindi.

## Reception
### Critical response

The film received mixed to positive reviews from critics praising Balakrishna's performance and action sequences.
Raghu Bandi of The Indian Express gave 2.5/5 and wrote "Bhagavanth Kesari tries hard not to be a regular Nandamuri Balakrishna movie, while having all the signature moments die-hard fans will expect from him." Sangeetha Devi Dundoo of The Hindu wrote "Anil Ravipudi's Bhagavanth Kesari starring Nandamuri Balakrishna oscillates between hypermasculine action and an emotional drama that hammers the message of women empowerment."
Janani K of India Today gave a rating of 2.5/5 and wrote, "Bhagavanth Kesari is an enjoyable entertainer where you see Balayya teaching a bunch of school children about good touch and bad touch. It's a film that has a mix of everything for the audiences." Jahnavi of The News Minute gave a rating of 1.5/5 and wrote "But even as a formulaic film hinging on the heroism of the male star, the formula itself is confusing." Eenadu reviewed the movie and noted that, aside from a few scenes in the first half, the film is commendable. Ram Venkat Srikar of Film Companion wrote, "Bhagavanth Kesari is a pretty entertaining outing from both Balakrishna and Anil Ravipudi. Despite having some issues, it works pretty well to a large extent, offering us an action entertainer with its heart in the right place, which surprises on the emotion and the 'message' front.

## Accolades

| Award | Date of ceremony | Category | Recipient(s) | Result |
| Filmfare Awards South | 3 August 2024 | Best Director – Telugu | Anil Ravipudi | Nominated |
| Filmfare Awards South | 3 August 2024 | Best Actor – Telugu | Balakrishna | Nominated |
| Filmfare Awards South | 3 August 2024 | Best Supporting Actress – Telugu | Sreeleela | Nominated |
| IIFA Utsavam | 27 September 2024 | Best Film – Telugu | Sahu Garapati, Harish Peddi | Nominated |
| IIFA Utsavam | 27 September 2024 | Best Director – Telugu | Anil Ravipudi | Won |
| IIFA Utsavam | 27 September 2024 | Best Actor – Telugu | Balakrishna | Nominated |
| IIFA Utsavam | 27 September 2024 | Best Actress – Telugu | Sreeleela | Nominated |
| Santosham Film Awards | 2 December 2023 | Best Cinematographer | Ram Prasad | Won |
| South Indian International Movie Awards | 14 September 2024 | Best Film – Telugu | Sahu Garapati, Harish Peddi | Won |
| South Indian International Movie Awards | 14 September 2024 | Best Director – Telugu | Anil Ravipudi | Nominated |
| South Indian International Movie Awards | 14 September 2024 | Best Actor | Balakrishna | Nominated |
| South Indian International Movie Awards | 14 September 2024 | Best Actress – Telugu | Sreeleela | Nominated |
| South Indian International Movie Awards | 14 September 2024 | Best Actor in a Negative Role – Telugu | Arjun Rampal | Nominated |