Bro review: This rehashed ‘Vinodhaya Sitham’ fails to quit beating around the bush

“Never commit a mistake today for a better tomorrow!” This dialogue of Pawan Kalyan, uttered to Sai Dharam Tej, may seem as though he is sending out a message to his political rivals.

But it also innately reflects Pawan Kalyan’s vision which may be ideal but impractical.

Before you debate whether this dialogue is political or apolitical, the story of Bro can be summed up in this one phrase.

Markandeya (Sai Dharam Tej) is a corporate professional who believes in being loyal to the company. He thinks that if he remains with the company and believes in the company’s growth for a long period, he will feel valued and appreciated.

While enjoying the perks in the corporate sector, he takes good care of his mum (Rohini), his two sisters (Priya Prakash Varrier and Yuva Lakshmi), and his young brother (played by Surya Srinivas).

If there is one that he cannot lend… it is time. He gets killed when his car topples on a ring road.

What if he is sent to Earth again for 90 days? How shocking would it be for Mark (Markandeya) when he witnesses his life, which till then seemed so comfortable to him. That is the story of Bro, in a nutshell.

Analysis

The off-screen image of Pawan Kalyan sometimes doesn’t make you gauge his onscreen performance properly.

But if you analyse Bro as it happens, the movie probably wouldn’t have worked for any other film personality other than him.

Also, you may not find enough credence to say that Kalyan outperformed everyone.

You would get to see the same mannerisms that he has been doing since the days of Tholi Prema (1998) and Thammudu (1999).

And probably, his role in Bro as an eternal being “Time” has slightly more depth than Gopala Gopala (2015).

His character tries to explain to Mark how the primaeval “time” existed from the beginning and has no end. And if one knows about the magic of time in the material world, he would probably become an enlightened being.

This metaphysical philosophy may seem too heavy for the common man. It could have been properly conveyed when it is shown on screen.

Related: Will Pawan Kalyan’s political remarks cast a shadow on ‘Bro’?

Weight of Pawan Kalyan’s image

The first half of Bro involves beating around the bush, as far as Pawan Kalyan’s character is concerned.

“Emi Sodhara Manasuku Emaindiraa..” from Tholi Prema is played to console the devastated Mark.

And then, he dances to the tunes of “Sarigama Padanisa karo karo jara jalsa..” from Jalsa (2022), during the party time to pump up Mark’s spirits.

Director Samuthirakani probably succumbed to the demands of showing Pawan Kalyan as a larger-than-life character.

All unimportant things come randomly because the story doesn’t want to talk about the process of the plot.

And you probably would be the most unfortunate if you were unknowingly seated behind a bunch of Jana Sena supporters or Pawan Kalyan fans — except for whistles nothing goes to your brain.

Samuthirakani would have done a far more better job if Trivikram had not been the dialogue writer.

When Mark’s mother Rohini is rushed to the hospital, Sanjay Swarup, who played a doctor’s role tells Mark, “Parkinson’s disease dabbulu unna vallake vastundhi” (Parkinson’s disease only affects rich people).

This is when Mark is not left with a single penny because he just has resigned from his job. It looks ridiculous to hear a dialogue written by someone like Trivikram.

Also Read: Censor talk of ‘Bro’: An imperfect timing for Pawan Kalyan?

Performances

Sai Dharam Tej as a corporate professional looks visually good. But he somehow couldn’t get into the skin of the character.

Pawan Kalyan has not much meat apart from uttering a few philosophically-logical dialogues.

Ketika Sharma remains herself to be Mark’s honest love interest.

Priya Prakash and Rohini as the former’s mother and sister, respectively, have done well within their space.

S Thaman has seriously nothing much to show of his creative side because Kalyan’s old chartbusters keep coming randomly when he has a task to massage Mark’s ego or to change his mood.

Sujith Vaassudev’s cinematography is okay but not commendable.

Verdict

Bro is simply a rehashed remake of Vinodhaya Sitham (2021), cautiously made while adjusting commercial meters, to titillate the taste buds of Pawan Kalyan’s fans.

Focusing on “now” — the present moment — the film would have scored a hit had the director added more depth.

Along with the message, there is political banter, too.

Well, Kalyan censures his rivals severely through Bro as he says, “Ippudu right ga untey eppudu goppaga untav” (If you follow the righteousness, you’ll always be blessed)!

(Views expressed here are personal.)