Bhairavam Movie Review: Action, Drama, and a Dash of Mass Appeal
“Bhairavam” is a Tamil-language action drama film that brings together classic masala elements with a socially-driven plot. Released in 2017 and directed by Bharathan, the film stars Vijay in the titular role, alongside Keerthy Suresh, Jagapathi Babu, and Daniel Balaji. But does Bhairavam deliver a punch that lives up to its star power?
Here’s an in-depth, spoiler-free review of Bhairavam—covering its story, performances, direction, music, and more.
🎬 Plot Summary (Spoiler-Free)
Bhairavam revolves around Bairavaa, a righteous and daring collection agent working for a bank. When he visits a wedding, he meets Malarvizhi (Keerthy Suresh), a medical student who is fighting a corrupt and powerful medical mafia headed by PK (Jagapathi Babu).
As expected, Bairavaa gets pulled into her struggle and decides to take on the corrupt system himself. What unfolds is a tale of action, revenge, social justice, and mass heroism—all wrapped in commercial cinema stylings.
⭐ Performances
Vijay as Bairavaa
Vijay carries the film effortlessly with his screen presence, charisma, and action chops. His fans will find plenty to cheer for—especially in the intro scenes, punch dialogues, and fight sequences.
Keerthy Suresh as Malarvizhi
Keerthy delivers a solid performance, giving emotional weight to the film. Her character is more than just eye candy, playing a key role in driving the story.
Jagapathi Babu as PK
The antagonist role is played with menace and intensity. While the role could’ve been deeper, Jagapathi Babu does justice to the villain’s persona.
🎥 Direction and Screenplay
Director Bharathan attempts to blend social themes with commercial storytelling. The screenplay, however, feels uneven at times. The first half is engaging, but the second half gets bogged down with predictability and melodrama.
That said, the action scenes are well-executed, and the pacing keeps most of the audience entertained.
🎵 Music and Background Score
Santhosh Narayanan delivers a catchy, energetic soundtrack with songs like:
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Pattaya Kelappu – a true Vijay-style mass number
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Papa Papa – lighter, romantic fare
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Azhagiya Soodana Poovey – beautifully shot and melodic
The background score effectively enhances the action and emotional beats of the film.
🎭 Action and Mass Elements
As with most Vijay films, action plays a central role in Bhairavam. The stunts are stylized and larger-than-life, designed for theatrical applause. The movie also features:
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Heroic monologues
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Fast-paced chase scenes
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Over-the-top slow-motion action sequences
It’s a film made to appeal to fans of mainstream Tamil cinema.
📝 What Works
✅ Vijay’s star power
✅ Engaging first half
✅ Solid music and background score
✅ Strong social message about corruption in the medical industry
❌ What Doesn’t Work
❌ Predictable second half
❌ Weak villain character arc
❌ Formulaic screenplay in parts
📊 Final Verdict
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ (3/5)
Bhairavam is a typical Vijay entertainer that checks the boxes for action, sentiment, and mass appeal. While it may not offer anything groundbreaking in terms of story, it succeeds in delivering a solid commercial film with a good dose of social relevance.
Fans of Vijay will love it, casual viewers may find it watchable, but those looking for a fresh or nuanced script might be left wanting more.
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