bibisara movie review

'Bimbisara' movie review: Kalyan Ram shines bright in this riveting fantasy drama

Telugu filmmakers’ fascination with the fantasy genre dates back many decades. Films like Pathala Bhairavi (1951), Mayabazar (1957), Yamagola (1977), Jagadeka Veerudu Athiloka Sundari (1990), Bhairava Dweepam, Yamaleela (1994), Ammoru (1995), Yamadonga (2007) and Arundhati (2009) among others mesmerised the audience with their storytelling, special effects, costumes, grand sets, soothing music and lots of adventure and drama. The genre has evolved so much that filmmakers are finding new ways to blend fantasy, folklore, and mythology in a contemporary milieu. And one such attempt is Kalyan Ram-starrer Bimbisara, which marks the debut of director Vassishta.

The film was released with a lot of promise and let’s see what worked for it. Bimbisara fits nicely within the impressive canon of Tollywood’s fantasy entertainers. After all, the legend of Bimbisara, a ruthless tyrant, whose quest for power and his resolve to conquer the kingdoms of the region, has all the melodrama, adventure, and action that have become the debutant’s mainstay.

Expectedly Vassishta delivers a film that is richly cinematic, but whose story —as it turns out — has little of the emotional complexity that powered the earlier films of this genre. Set in 500 BC in the Trigartha empire, Bimbisara tells the story of an invincible ruler, who threatens anyone who comes his way or at least, tries to cross paths with him. He slaughters anyone who opposes him in sight and is evil personified. What happens when this authoritarian king unexpectedly lands in the modern-day world?

Bimbisara is enhanced by uncompromising action, its striking camera work, and impressive visual effects, especially the ones set in the ancient period. In fact, Kalyan Ram’s entry into his kingdom reminds us of the iconic NTR as Duryodhana from Dana Veera Soora Karna (1977).

It’s refreshing to see Kalyan make his character his own — his sheer bulk adds to the overall evil of Bimbisara. His presence is freakishly powerful, shrewd, and stays with you.The film has spectacular action sequences, striking the right balance between grand scale and chilling confrontations.

In one sequence, a cloud of smoke fills up the screen when Bimbisara’s enemies kidnap a young girl, making it impossible to see what’s happening on the ground. The image that follows, of Bimbisara emerging from the cloud of smoke, is all you need to know about the severity and the intensity of the fight, and it quickly establishes the brutality that Bimbisara is capable of. In fact, it acts as a precursor to the climax.

There is opulence and ferocity in virtually every frame of the film and the director has made good use of the concept to present every scene on a grand scale. Kalyan Ram breathes life into the character of the barbaric, eccentric, menacing, power-hungry king, giving us a villain for the ages. Sporting a beard, unkempt long hair, kohl in the eyes, pierced ears, and the swagger of an evil man, he is both fascinating and intense at once. Bimbisara finds loyalty in Zubeida (Srinivas Reddy), who indulges in goofy and slap-stick humour. Some of their moments are thoroughly entertaining in the film.

In comparison, the romance between Bimbisara and the two leading ladies (Catherine Tresa and Samyuktha Menon) is lackluster and slackens the film’s pace. Both these ladies lack substance in the story and were relegated as mere caricatures. Samyuktha, who plays a cop, is zany! It is where Vassishta fails to weave magic and we are fortunate that these episodes were cut short.

Vivan Bhatena is passable as Subrahmanya Sastry, but a quirkier actor could have added more seriousness to the role. Ayyappa P Sharma as Ketu is at ease and gets a little more to work with. Of the supporting cast, Brahmaji, Chammak Chandra, and Vennela Kishore make efforts to generate silly laughs. Dialogues by Vasudeva Muneppagari are catchy.

The music of Chirranthan Bhat and the background score of MM Keeravani have their high points. The songs, especially, Eeswarude and the much-hyped special number featuring Warina Hussain stand out. Overall, Bimbisara belongs to Kalyan Ram whose delicious performance is its biggest draw. The actor keeps you invested in the film even when it plods on for around 150 minutes.

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Release Date : August 05, 2022

123telugu.com Rating : 3.25/5

Starring: Nandamuri Kalyan Ram, Catherine Tresa, Samyuktha Menon, Warina Hussain.

Director: Mallidi Vashist

Producer: Hari Krishna K

Music Directors: M. M. Keeravani, Chirrantan Bhatt, Varikuppala Yadagiri

Cinematography : Chota K. Naidu

Editor: Tammi Raju

Bimbisara is a film that has been promoted quite well in the last few days. The film has been released with very good hype today. Let’s see whether it lives to the expectations or not.

Bimbisara is a ruthless king of the Trigartala kingdom. He is evil and his only motto is to conquer kingdoms without any mercy. But due to a curse, his life changes and he is sent to the present-day world filled with problems. What is that curse? What’s the connection between the past and present? Who is Bimbisara in the first place? To know the answers you need to watch the film on the big screens.

Plus Points

Director Vasshist makes his debut with this film and he needs to be credited for penning a very interesting story. The way he mixed the time travel concept with fantasy and modern-day emotions is quite good and gives the audience a new experience.

Kalyan Ram gets a striking makeover and gives his career-best performance. He is menacing as the ruthless king and showcased a solid negative touch in his character. Be it his expressions or body language as a king, Kalyan Ram is top-notch. He also should be hailed for picking up a risky subject and standing by it.

MM Keeravani is yet another main pillar of the film and gives a solid music score. Be it the songs or his BGM, the legendary musician elevates the film completely. Catherine Tresa is good as the princess. After a long time, Srinivas Reddy gets a good role and entertains the audience.

The first half of the film is superb as the story is established superbly. The best part is the manner in which the time travel concept is established without missing any logic. The situational comedy once the king lands in the present day is also quite good.

The action blocks especially in the second half are established quite well by the director. The emotional quotient related to a small girl and her link to the king is quite good and evokes solid emotions.

The film has rich visuals and the VFX is superb and gives the audience a thrilling experience. The second half is ended on a very sensible note and leaves the audience impressed. Vennela Kishore and the supporting cast led by Prakash Raj do well in the film.

Minus Points

The heroines in the film do not get much to do with their characters. Samyuktha Menen is just a spectator in the whole narrative.

The second half becomes a tad slow once the key twists are revealed. The other character of Kalyan Ram is not etched well and more drama related to him and the king would have elevated the proceedings even more.

One of the biggest drawbacks is the main villain who is weak. A proper Telugu actor with more intensity would have made a world of difference to the film.

Technical Aspects

Kalyan Ram has spent a lot of money on the project and it shows in every scene. The production design and camera work especially showcasing the kingdom are amazing. Songs are packed quite well in the narrative. The dialogue especially mouthed by Kalyan Ram is just amazing.

The costumes picked for the king are good. The fight sequences are choreographed well and the VFX needs a special mention. The screenplay is quite interesting for the most part but becomes a bit dull in the latter part.

Coming to the director Vasshist, he makes a sparkling debut and is the one to watch out for. His strength lies in the script as the time travel concept is not easy to convince today’s educated youth. But the director passes with flying Colours and narrated the film on a sensible note.

The way he showcased Kalyan Ram as the ruthless king who gets transformed is the best part aspect of the film. Just when you think the film is losing grip, a new twist is revealed and makes things interesting. If he would have packed the second half with more drama, the output would have been even more intense.

On the whole, Bimbisara is a well-made fantasy drama with a solid backdrop and entertainment. Kalyan Ram gives his career-best performance and the narration is gripping. Apart from a few patchy scenes in the second half, this film has emotions, action, comedy, and good visuals that will be lapped by the audience and ends as an interesting film to watch on the big screen. Go for it.

123telugu.com Rating: 3.25/5

Reviewed by 123telugu Team

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‘Bimbisara’ review: Intriguing film that needed a tighter treatment

Kalyan ram impresses in director mallidi vassishta’s socio-fantasy telugu film.

Published - August 06, 2022 04:35 pm IST

A still from the film | Photo Credit: NTR Arts

Bimbisara is not an ordinary period film. It seems as if debutant director Mallidi Vassishta built a theme park period narrative around an idea that is straight out of his childhood fantasy. What seems like a period time-travel film that puts on the guise of a masala hero-vehicle, acquires heft with Nandamuri Kalyan Ram’s presence.

The film begins in the year 500 B.C when Bimbisara (Kalyan Ram) is the emperor of the Trigartala empire. A vile egomaniac, his violent antics have no limit. However, his ego trip ends when his banished twin brother Devadatta ambushes him and teleports him — through a magical mirror — to the present-day world. Bimbisara's arrival favours Subramanya Sastri (Vivan Bhatena) and godman Kethu (Ayyappa P Sharma), who have their eyes set on an Ayurveda book titled Dhanwanthari which is safely locked in Bimbisara's treasure vault, which only he can open.

The film doesn’t shy away from dealing with magic and is not brimming with realism and logic. Unfortunately, the setting up of this world is uninspiring. Scene after scene keeps reestablishing Bimbisara’s might and viciousness, to the point that you begin to worry if the film will celebrate this anti-hero. The tacky set designs and visual effects also do not help. To add to the misery, we get an item number featuring Warina Hussain that once again sings the praise of Bimbisara’s might. In retrospect, these sequences actually do no justice to what good is to follow.

Things do take a turn for the good once Bimbisara finds himself in the present-day world. So we have a lost medieval king strutting down a busy Hyderabad highway —reminiscent of earlier Telugu films featuring Lord Yama on earth — making for amusing situations and eliciting chuckles.

The subtext in these scenes truly stands apart. Given how most popular cinema likes to bank on the morbid nature of the reality we live in, Bimbisara makes a case for all the good in our times. It puts a ruthless, barbaric king in our world and makes him witness this goodness. With Bimbisara , we too remind ourselves of how far the civilised society has moved forward.

The writing of Bimbisara’s character is fascinating as well. It is no mean feat to make the audiences buy the redemption of someone as vile as this character. He doesn’t even flinch before killing a child! Yet, Mallidi Vassishta manages to build the character progression gradually and convincingly. If not for a performer like Kalyan Ram, there is a high chance that a character with such an arc would have fallen flat, and with it, the film. Kalyan uses the big screen to its full potential and owns it all. He also draws a subtle distinction between Bimbisara and Devadutta in scenes featuring the siblings.

On the flip side, with the titular character consuming so much space, little is left for the female leads. Catherine Tresa, who plays a princess held captive by Bimbisara, vanishes for most parts of the film. Samyuktha Menon's SI Vyjayanthi also suffers the same fate. With no forewarning, the latter falls in love with Bimbisara but the romantic track goes nowhere. Srinivas Reddy as Bimbisara's lackey Zubeda, Vennela Kishore as constable Prasadam, and Brahmaji as private detective Brahmalokam add the much-needed levity.

Bimbisara is filled with intriguing ideas that could have made for an engaging watch. It's definitely a refreshing take on an age-old formula. However, the screenplay struggles to get to its points throughout the film. Even when we see where an idea is leading, we are asked to wait for it until the drama finishes unfolding. Add the unnecessary melodrama and the plotholes that the film doesn't address, it becomes a rather tedious watch. A tighter narrative would have worked wonders.

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Bimbisara review: A fantasy film saved by Kalyan Ram’s performance

Mallidi Vashishta’s debut film Bimbisara is about a king from 500 BC who arrives in our current world against his wishes. Full of ego and manic energy, he doesn’t spare anyone who stands in his way, be it a sparrow or a child. But unceremoniously removed from his position as the emperor of Trigarthala, he begins to discover humanity and the meaning of dharma.

Now this sounds like a very profound idea but Bimbisara , at its heart, is a masala film. For the first 20 minutes or so, it plays out like a terrible stage play. The visual effects are tacky; the sets look like they were borrowed from a school annual day. I was worried that a strong breeze would be enough for the whole palace to collapse on the actors. There’s also an item number with Warina Hussain – apparently, women dancers were gyrating in 500 BC in the exact same way as they do in our cinema now. There’s a historical fact I did not know. 

Also, Bimbisara (Kalyan Ram) has a bunch of ‘Cherokee’ tribal warriors guarding a secret cave of treasures. The descendents of these ‘Cherokee’ tribal people continue to guard the cave in our time too. I didn’t understand how any of this happened considering the Cherokee are indigeneous people who live in the Americas. The Cherokee people in the film also looked Indian, adding to my puzzlement. This cave has blood analysis and handprint and voice recognition as security measures. It’s almost like Tom Cruise time travelled to 500 BC and built it for Bimbisara. 

But there’s something to be said about Kalyan Ram’s conviction as an actor. When he walks over a crocodile that looks like it’s from Chhota Bheem , he does so with a certain regal air that makes you buy into Bimbisara’s character. Srinivasa Reddy as his lackey is quite hilarious with his caricaturish moustache. The film becomes a lot better when it escapes the no-budget Baahubali sets and lands in present day Hyderabad. Kalyan Ram brings his comic timing to the fore, and there are some moments in the film that are laugh-out-loud funny. The conduit between the past and the present is a mirror and director Vashishta uses this well to generate humour. 

Vivan Bhatena plays Subramanya Shastry, a modern day doctor who desperately wants something from Bimbisara’s cave of treasures – a book on Ayurveda called Dhanwantari . Assisting Subramanya in this mission is a scary-looking man in saffron robes called Ketu (Ayyappa P Sharma). Vashishta airdrops Ketu on us; we don’t know where he came from or how he knows so much about Bimbisara. 

The careless writing extends to the other characters too. Samyuktha Menon plays a senior police officer but she’s never in uniform; are those short dresses meant to be ‘mufti’, and if so, why is she in disguise to begin with? More remarkably, when Bimbisara kills people around him like an expert pest control operator with an electric mosquito bat, she does nothing at all. Catherine Tresa gets a blink-and-miss role as a princess. Warina probably got more screen time than her with the item number. 

Bimbisara is enjoyable when it doesn’t take itself too seriously, and the hero bumbles around his new world. When it tries to pull off something beyond that though, it falters. There are simply too many holes in the plot that cannot be compensated for by MM Keeravani’s bombastic music. Sample this: Prakash Raj is a super rich royal family descendent. Yet, when his family is threatened, he is completely helpless and just stands around fatalistically. We’re also told that the ancient Dhanwantari has an ‘antidote’ for a new age virus called ‘D-40’ that can instantly cure a patient. It can be argued that it is part of the fantasy but it seemed more like an earnest inspiration drawn from pseudo science. 

Bimbisara is entertaining in parts, and is anchored mainly by Kalyan Ram’s performance. It would have worked better if Vashishta hadn’t tried to tick every box in the masala film genre and trusted the material more. 

Disclaimer: This review was not paid for or commissioned by anyone associated with the series/film. TNM Editorial is independent of any business relationship the organisation may have with producers or any other members of its cast or crew.

Sowmya Rajendran writes on gender, culture and cinema. She has written over 25 books, including a nonfiction book on gender for adolescents. She was awarded the Sahitya Akademi’s Bal Sahitya Puraskar for her novel Mayil Will Not Be Quiet in 2015.

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Bimbisara Movie review: Fantasy delivered perfectly

“Bimbisara”, starring Nandamuri Kalyan Ram, is a very strong comeback film for the actor. The film belongs to the socio-fantasy genre and has an interesting plot about time travel. The film’s trailer looked very impressive and made a promising welcome for the audience to theatres. Jr NTR also backed the film after loving its output. Bimbisara was released in theatres. Let's see how it fares at box-office

Bimbisara (Kalyan Ram) is a harsh and ruthless ruler of Trigartala. He has an understanding and generous twin brother named Devadatta (Kalyan Ram). A fight between the brothers results in the miraculous porting of Bimbisara to the present. How does Bimbisara cope with it in the modern world? The story of how the heart and character of Bimbisara change is the primary plot of the film.

Director Vassishta needs to be commended for picking a larger-than-life subject of huge proportions for his very first film. Armed with MM Keeravani's majestic background score, he tells a riveting story that is consistently engaging. The first half and the second half are neatly bisected, with the last scene giving a brief lead to the second part.

In the mid-part of the film, reveals an interesting plot point, which was kept a secret in the trailer. This will be milked to the hilt in 'Bimbisara 2', it would appear.

The two timelines run in parallel. Unlike in the reincarnation stories, this is not a flashback-heavy film. The past and the present go hand-in-hand, complementing the drama and raising the stakes at regular turns. The screenplay has been handled with clarity, by and large. There are a couple of moments where we seek better clarity. Overall, though, it is a good story-telling exercise. There are as many sentimental dialogues as there are punchline-type ones.

On the whole, Bimbisara is a well made fantasy drama with a solid backdrop and entertainment. Kalyan Ram gives his career best performance and the narration is gripping. Apart from a few patchy scenes in the second half, this film has emotions, action, comedy and good visuals that will be lapped by the audience and ends as an interesting film to watch on the big screen.

Performances

Kalyan Ram not only made a strong transformation for the role of Bimbisara, but he also made a strong comeback. It’s pretty admirable how Kalyan Ram portrays an egotistical ruler. He is totally flawless. Every moment of the flashback segment showed him to be really violent. After viewing Kalyan Ram in Bimbisara, doubts would undoubtedly arise in the audience’s minds.

Both Catherine Tresa and Samyuktha Menon gave outstanding performances, with the former putting on significant weight. Catherine simply sparkled in O Tene Palukula. Srinivasa Reddy and Vennela Kishore receive notable roles, and they both successfully defend them. A young girl and Prakash Raj both had significant roles to play in the narrative of “Bimbisara”. In addition to the leads, they can be considered as the solid pillars.

Technicalities

Director Vasshist makes a sparkling debut and is the one to watch out for. His strength lies in the script as the time travel concept is not easy to convince today’s educated youth. But the director passes with flying Colours and narrated the film on a sensible note. The way he showcased Kalyan Ram as the ruthless king who gets transformed is the best part aspect of the film. Just when you think the film is losing grip, a new twist is revealed and makes things interesting. If he would have packed the second half with more drama, the output would have been even more intense.

Lot of money has been spent for the film and it is visible in every scene. The production design and camera work especially showcasing the kingdom are amazing. Songs are packed quite well in the narrative. The dialogue’s especially mouthed by Kalyan Ram are just amazing.

MM Keeravani and Chirrantan Bhatt made a huge impact on film with their background score and songs. The costumes picked for the king are good. The fight sequences are choreographed well and the VFX needs a special mention. The screenplay is quite interesting for the most part but becomes a bit dull in the latter part.

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Bimbisara Review: The Kalyan Ram-Starrer is an Intriguing Time Travel and Visual Treat

Curated By : Entertainment Bureau

Local News Desk

Last Updated: August 05, 2022, 18:32 IST

Hyderabad, India

Bimbisara features a host of artists playing interesting roles.

Filmmaker Mallidi Vassisht wrote the story of his directorial debut.

Kalyan Ram-starrer Bimbisara has hit the theatres and the first few reviews from Twitter users hint at an intriguing historical drama with some brilliant elements of time travel. The Mallidi Vassisht directorial also stars Catherine Tresa, Samyuktha Menon, Warina Hussain, Vennela Kishore, and others. Let’s talk a deep dive into what the film is all about.

What’s it about?

Bimbisara (Nandamuri Kalyan Ram) is the emperor of Trigartala empire. The cruel ruler goes to any length to achieve what he wants. He has a twin brother Devadatta (Kalyan Ram), who is the total opposite of Bimbisara. After a scuffle between the brothers, Bimbisara comes across Mayadarpini (a Magical mirror), and as he touches it without releasing its powers, Bimbisara time travels to the current time, 2022. The rest of the story is about how he adjusts to the current world and gets his redemption.

Filmmaker Mallidi Vassisht wrote the story of his directorial debut after taking inspiration from comic books like Chandamama and Balamitra. Not only did writing a story, but Vassisht also succeeded in executing the screenplay the right way. Notably, he succeeded in engaging the audience from the beginning to the end of the film. Especially the characterisation of Kalyan Ram, that’s just remarkable.

Music and Other Departments?

MM Keeravani, who provided the background score for the film, gave life to this movie with his re-recording. However, the songs could have been better. After Vassisht, the special mention can go to Chota K Naidu for cinematography, which was adequate.

It would have been better if more attention was paid to the graphics work. Editing by Tammi Raju is fine.

Performances by Actors

Bimbisara features a host of artists playing interesting roles. Speaking of Nandamuri Kalyan Ram, he has shown a new kind of fantasy role, something not done before in his acting career. His performance in the scenes where he realises the mistakes he made as a king in the past during his time in the modern-day period is impressive.

On the other hand, both female protagonists– Catherine Tresa and Samyuktha Menon — didn’t leave much of an impression that needs to be talked about.

Story, Screenplay

MM Keeravani’s re-recording

Chota Ke Naidu’s camera work

No strong female character

Zero impact by other characters

Final Word: An intriguing time travel visual thriller.

Rating: 3/5

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Bimbisara Movie Review: Kalyan Ram shines bright in this riveting fantasy drama

Rating: ( 3 / 5).

Telugu filmmakers' fascination with the fantasy genre dates back many decades. Films like Pathala Bhairavi (1951), Mayabazar (1957), Yamagola (1977), Jagadeka Veerudu Athiloka Sundari (1990), Bhairava Dweepam, Yamaleela (1994), Ammoru (1995), Yamadonga (2007) and Arundhati (2009) among others mesmerized the audience with their storytelling, special effects, costumes, grand sets, soothing music and lots of adventure and drama. The genre has evolved so much that filmmakers are finding new ways to blend fantasy, folklore, and mythology in a contemporary milieu. And one such attempt is Kalyan Ram-starrer Bimbisara , which marks the debut of director Vassishta.

The film was released with a lot of promise and let's see what worked for it.

Cast: Nandamuri Kalyan Ram, Catherine Tresa, Samyuktha Menon, Prakash Raj Director: Vassishta  

Bimbisara fits nicely within the impressive canon of Tollywood's fantasy entertainers. After all, the legend of Bimbisara, a ruthless tyrant, whose quest for power and his resolve to conquer the kingdoms of the region, has all the melodrama, adventure, and action that have become the debutant's mainstay.

Expectedly Vassishta delivers a film that is richly cinematic, but whose story – as it turns out – has little of the emotional complexity that powered the earlier films of this genre. Set in 500 BC in the Trigartha empire, Bimbisara tells the story of an invincible ruler, who threatens anyone who comes his way or at least, tries to cross paths with him. He slaughters anyone who opposes him in sight and is evil personified. What happens when this authoritarian king unexpectedly lands in the modern-day world?

Bimbisara is enhanced by uncompromising action, its striking camera work, and impressive visual effects, especially the ones set in the ancient period. In fact, Kalyan Ram's entry into his kingdom reminds us of the iconic NTR as Duryodhana from Dana Veera Soora Karna (1977). It's refreshing to see Kalyan make his character his own -- his sheer bulk adds to the overall evil of Bimbisara . His presence is freakishly powerful, shrewd, and stays with you.

The film has spectacular action sequences, striking the right balance between grand scale and chilling confrontations. In one sequence, a cloud of smoke fills up the screen when Bimbisara’s enemies kidnap a young girl, making it impossible to see what’s happening on the ground. The image that follows, of Bimbisara emerging from the cloud of smoke, is all you need to know about the severity and the intensity of the fight, and it quickly establishes the brutality that Bimbisara is capable of. In fact, it acts as a precursor to the climax.

There is opulence and ferocity in virtually every frame of the film and the director has made good use of the concept to present every scene on a grand scale.

Kalyan Ram breathes life into the character of the barbaric, eccentric, menacing, power-hungry king, giving us a villain for the ages. Sporting a beard, unkempt long hair, kohl in the eyes, pierced ears, and the swagger of an evil man, he is both fascinating and intense at once. Bimbisara finds loyalty in Zubeida (Srinivas Reddy), who indulges in goofy and slap-stick humour. Some of their moments are thoroughly entertaining in the film.

In comparison, the romance between Bimbisara and the two leading ladies (Catherine Tresa and Samyuktha Menon) is lackluster and slackens the film’s pace. Both these ladies lack substance in the story and were relegated as mere caricatures. Samyuktha, who plays a cop, is zany! It is where  Vassishta fails to weave magic and we are fortunate that these episodes were cut short.

Vivan Bhatena is passable as Subrahmanya Sastry, but a quirkier actor could have added more seriousness to the role. Ayyappa P Sharma as Ketu is at ease and gets a little more to work with. Of the supporting cast, Brahmaji, Chammak Chandra, and Vennela Kishore make efforts to generate silly laughs.

Dialogues by Vasudeva Muneppagari are catchy. The music of Chirranthan Bhat and the background score of MM Keeravani have their high points. The songs, especially, Eeswarude and the much-hyped special number featuring Warina Hussain stand out.

Overall, Bimbisara belongs to Kalyan Ram whose delicious performance is its biggest draw. The actor keeps you invested in the film even when it plods on for around 150 minutes.

• తెలుగు

Bimbisara Review: Works in Parts

Movie: Bimbisara Rating: 2.5/5 Banner: NTR Arts Cast: Kalyan Ram, Catherine Tresa, Samyuktha Menon, Warina Hussain, Vennela Kishore, Brahmaji, Srinivasa Reddy, and others Dialogues: Vasudev Muneppagari Music: MM Keeravani DOP: Chota K Naidu Editor: Tammi Raju Art: Kiran Kumar Manne  Stunts: Venkat & Ram Krishan Producer: Hari Krishna K Written and Directed by: Vassishta Release Date: August 5, 2022

Films mounted on a big scale and loaded with visual effects are being liked by the audiences these days. Following the trend, Kalyan Ram came up with “Bimbisara” with a similar setup. The film’s trailer wowed everyone and set the expectations soaring high.

Let’s find out whether “Bimbisara” reaches the expectations.

Story: There lived a king named Bimbisara (Kalyan Ram) many centuries ago. He is power-thirsty and evil. He hides all his wealth (money and jewelry) in a secret room.

He doesn’t spare anyone who talks or goes against him. He even kills an innocent girl. One day, an artist presents him with a magical mirror that transports him to the future (to 2022). 

In the modern era, a doctor is in search of a book stashed in the locked room belonging to Bimbisara. Meanwhile, Bimbisara gets saved by a young girl from an accident. The girl looks exactly like the one he killed in his kingdom.

Will this incident transform him into a good man?

Artistes’ Performances: Kalyan Ram has a role that has him showing three shades. He plays the role of Bimbisara and his twin brother Deva Datta. As an evil king of Bimbisara, he does justice but he shines better in the modern version. The film entirely revolves around him.

Except for Kalyan Ram’s role, all the characters are cardboard. Catherine Tresa in the role of princess Ira is there for a song.

Samyuktha Menon’s role is silly. The heroine’s roles are forgettable.

Srinivasa Reddy’s comedy is typical. Vivan Bhatena in the role of the villain makes no impact.

Technical Excellence: Lavishly made and shot, the visual effects are top-class. Touted to be the costliest movie in Kalyan Ram’s career, the movie boasts a grand production design.

The 5th-century setting is a right mix of artwork and VFX. The cinematography is rich. Music is a mixed bag. “Eeswarude” song stands out, while Keeravani’s BGM is effective.

Highlights: Time travel concept Kalyan Ram Grand visuals

Drawback: Heroines  Villain’s characterization Weak second half

Analysis Time travel is the concept of “Bimbisara”. We have seen a couple of films in this genre but the new director has brought some novelty to this theme: an evil king gets transported to the future to realize how evil he was and how bad king he was. The idea is exciting.

New director Vashisht doesn’t beat around the bush to come to the point. King Bimbisara’s evil acts and his story are presented without wasting time. After negatively painting Kalyan Ram, the film introduces the second character – his twin brother, again played by Kalyan Ram.

The first hour is entirely set in the fifth century and the drama. The time travel angle comes just before the interval and the story cuts to the current era. Unlike the previous movies, the past and the present go parallel here.

The toughest job for any director to handle time-travel concepts is with the present-day sequences. We have seen films where Yama or angels come to earth and are confused about the lifestyle of modern humans and gadgets. Director Vashist briefly treads the same path as those movies but he thankfully keeps it short. The comedy portions involving Vennela Kishore and Chammk Chandra are one such example. 

The problem with “Bimbisara” is it doesn’t have a proper conflict. The villain’s character is so weak. There is no emotional connection. Even the thread of Bimbisara going all out to save the child, who he killed in the past, is clumsy. The resolution (the final part) is the biggest problem with this story.

While Bimbisara is evil, we also get the second character Deva Dutta to balance the good. So, it is like a regular mass film, when a hero plays a bad character, the other character has to be a good guy. 

And Samyuktha Menen plays a cop. Do cops behave like that? New director Vashisht has a grip on production design and visuals but his writing needed sharpness. 

Despite not so rousing the second half, “Bimbisara” makes a decent watch for its grander setting and time-travel element. And the film is a better-made film among Kalyan Ram’s recent films. 

Bottom line: Mixed bag

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Bimbisara Movie Review: It Feels Like An Abandoned Rajamouli Film

Cast:   Nandamuri Kalyan Ram, Vennela Kishore , Samyuktha Menon , Catherine Tresa

Director: Mallidi Vasishta

I know the heading sounds harsh, but I partly mean it as a compliment. And as for the other part, I meant to be, well, harsh. I think you'll agree with me, too. Here's the story writer-director Vasishta has chosen to tell. 

A ruthless king Bimbisara gets rid of his opponents, including his own twin brother Devadatta to rule the Trigartala Kingdom. He doesn't stop even if he has to kill children. He's a despot, but he also leaves you in awe with the sheer power he commands. One day Devadatta reemerges and dethrones Bimbisara and sends him through a magical portal into the modern world. This despot now must adjust and learn to be human in today's Hyderabad, while also protecting his descendants. The anti-hero finally becomes the hero Trigaratala and his descendants need. 

Bimbisara lacks a powerful enough villain and it's near impossible for the stakes to be high once Bimbisara transforms. Oddly, that happens at the interval mark. Worse, one can sense the change coming early on in the first half. 

The biggest reason this film feels like a let down probably has nothing to do with Vasishta and his vision. Because if told like a folk tale and narrated by a storyteller, this story would have been powerful as it has all the makings of a masala film. But the production values never match the director's vision. The CGI is too tacky. The sets are awkwardly constructed. There's a scene involving a hidden treasure that once belonged to an emperor. So nearly two thousand years later when his modern descendants rediscover the spot, the film wants to show that the place is now covered in moss, weeds and grass. But the sets are so badly staged that the moss looks like blotches of green paint often found after a paintball fight, and the grass and weeds look like rejected set décor from a school play. 

Even when the production values meet his vision, Vasishsta chooses to mount the film almost similarly to Baahubali . The costumes during battle are similar. The way the kingdoms of Asmaka and Trigartala are imagined seem like second drafts of Maahishmathi kingdom. The courting scene between Ira (Cathere Teresa) and Devadatta (Kalyan Ram) is too similar to the first time the elder Baahubali sees Devasena in Baahubali 2 . Even Bimbisara feels eerily similar to Bhallala Deva. At some point, it feels so similar to Rajamouli's vision that it feels like the film Rajamouli rejected before he went on to make Yamadonga . 

If I was being bitter, I would have said it feels like a straight-up copy, but because Vasishta shows some flair and creativity in the first half, I'll assume that like most young storytellers in the Telugu states, Vasishta is just too influenced by Rajamouli. It might take him a film or two to shake it off. 

But is in the second half that you see Vasishta begin to lose control of the film. With a fantastical movie like this, there are obviously some physical laws that are broken, and as an audience member, you accept them. For example, this film argues that one of the mirrors in Salarjung Museum is the other end of a portal that connects the modern world to Trigartala. But at least early on, the mirror is hidden so that explains why others haven't accessed it. Later on, the same mirror is in full display and for the sake of a 'fat-kid-eats-anything' joke, the laws of this universe are bent, which makes us want to question the film's own universe. Similarly, Bimbisara is shown to not understand any modern lingo, but close to the climax he understands what viruses are, how touch-screens and most modern equipment functions. 

I understand this film in particular faced a lot of production issues — they started shooting in 2019 and the rising budget costs would have made life harder for debutante Vasishta. But there's only so much leeway I can give for the film it wanted to be and not the film it is. 

Kalyan Ram in particular struggles to maintain consistency in character, never getting the balance between villain and anti-hero. And as the straight-faced Devadatta, he is a bore. Because the film adores Bimbisara, there isn't much growth for anyone else. All the characters set up in the first half such as Ira, Vyjayanthi (Samyuktha Menon) and Subramanya Sastry (Vivan Bhatena) are wasted and have no pay offs. 

But the one person who manages to do his best to stitch together the difference between the film's vision and its execution is MM Keeravaani. I've always felt that he gives his best for Rajamouli. Not that he gives others a bad album, but he seems to go the extra mile for his younger brother.  The music he composed for this film feels a grade above most of his recent non-Rajamouli masala work. It's as if he doesn't know it's not a Rajamouli film. The Eeshwara song is excellent and it needed more creatively imagined visuals when the lines are as deep as Bhikshuvayye Bimbisaarude  (Bimbisara himself has become a beggar). Even the rap on Bimbisara has those classic Keeravaani rap elements, where he just repeats the word 'Bimbisara' until you realise there's a tune in there somewhere, breaks the word into pieces, and rhymes words like 'plethora' with Bimbisara. It starts off as somewhat cringy, but he's so committed to it you walk out of the theatre humming the tune. 

This is a film that makes you realise how far the difference between a director's vision and execution can be. But luckily for Vasishta, Keeravaani saves the day. A little at least. You might not be thinking about Bimbisara the character as much, but you definitely walk out humming BIMB BIMB BIMB BIMB BIMBISAARA. It's Bimbing Time. 

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Bimbisara Movie Review

Article by Suman M Published by GulteDesk --> Published on: 1:25 pm, 5 August 2022

2 Hrs 27 Mins   |   Socio Fantasy   |   05-08-2022

Cast - Kalyan Ram, Catherine Tresa, Samyuktha Menon, Warina Hussain

Director - Mallidi Vashist

Producer - Harikrishna K

Banner - NTR Arts

Music - MM Keeravani

Kalyan Ram is always inclined towards versatility in films. The actor-producer once again picked a unique concept to execute. Kalyan Ram acted and produced Bimbisara, the movie claims to be based on time travel concepts, and many more. The trailer of Bimbisara is interesting with mythological fantasy concepts. The movie was released today in theaters. Here is the review.

What Is It About?

Bimbisara (Kalyan Ram) is a ruthless emperor of Trigarala in 500 BC. In unexpected circumstances, Bimbisara travels in time and reaches the current day not knowing that a power-thirsty doctor Subramanya Sastry and Kethu (Ayyappa P Sharma) are already waiting for him to come. What made Bimbisara travel in time and what did he do? The answers to these questions are all about Bimbisara.

Performances

Kalyan Ram had to appear as the same person in two different worlds. He did justice for the role.

Catherine Tresa is confined to a limited role and a song. She is alright as the princess.

Srinivasa Reddy gets a meaty role and he did very well. He reminds us of the comedy from great fantasy films from the past.

Samyuktha Menon’s role is small and there is nothing much for her to perform. Prakash Raj, Rajeev Kanakala, and Vennela Kishore were given routine roles. For a story like Bimbisara, a powerful villain would be great, but here the villain character is too weak and hollow.

Technicalities

The first thing that impresses Bimbisara is the graphics. Just like the trailer hinted at good VFX work, the movie has got the graphics part done very well. Though the movie did not have any foreign technicians, Bimbisara has got that visual effects part done well.

Bimbisara’s storyline starts as a unique line, but the commercial elements in the second half pull the graph down a bit. The screenplay is good. There are many dragged scenes in the second half. The cinematography is fine. The background music is very good, but the songs are just okay.

Sci-fi storyline Kalyan Ram Keeravani music

Thumbs Down

Weak villain Rushed climax

Besides Aditya 369, not many Telugu films have the time travel concept for a full-length movie. Bimbisara uses the idea of traveling in time and blends some commercial and fantasy elements.

The director cleverly made it uncomplicated with the parallel worlds concept. He also chose a simple mirror as a medium of non-stop travel. The logical question arises on why the travel is specific to two particular times, but the answer is just the relevance to the story.

The first half has got a few surprises that worked well. Though the introduction to the brutality of Bimbisara took a while, it slowly falls in track with the story until the interval.

The second half hardly touches the 5th century BC because the story goes completely into the commercial mode. Though the little girl’s sentiment is linked to the treasure from a parallel world, it slows down the pace at times.

The curiosity factor from the first half slowly falls back after the interval with the commercial formula approach dominating after each scene. The loud but weak villain remains one of the main drawbacks of the movie.

There are few scenes and dialogues that immediately remind us of Yamagola and Yamaleela, except that Bimbisara has the time travel theory. The villain gang kidnapping the whole family to get things done by the protagonist is a vintage idea that our filmmakers could avoid for good.

Overall, Bimbisara is a storyline that has a new concept of time travel that starts good but slows down with routine narrative later on. With the sci-fi storyline and Kalyan Ram’s performance, Bimbisara has got fair chance to impress the audience.

Bottom Line: Box Office ki Aasara

Rating: 3 /5

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Bimbisara Movie Review and Rating

Movie Review:  Bimbisara

Director :  Mallidi Vashist

Producer :  Hari Krishna K

Music :  M. M. Keeravani, Chirrantan Bhatt, Varikuppala Yadagiri

Starring :   Nandamuri Kalyan Ram, Catherine Tresa, Samyuktha Menon and others

Release date:  5th August 2022

Rating :   3/5

Bimbisara movie review:  Nandamuri Kalyan Ram, Catherine Tresa, Samyuktha Menon and others starrer Bimbisara has hit the theaters today. Let’s see the story of Bimbisara.

 Story:  Bimbisara (Kalyan Ram) is a ruthless ruler of Trigartala, and his aim of the life is to conquer kingdoms. But due to a curse,  Bimbisara is sent to the present day. How does he cope with it in the modern world?  What is the curse?  To get these answers, one should watch  the movie Bimbisara on the screen.

 Plus Points:

·         Kalyan Ram

·         Screenplay

·         Story

·         Cinematography

 Minus points:

·         Weak villain

·         Second half little bit slow

Performance:  Kalyan Ram as ruthless King delivers fantastic performance. It takes guts for any actor to do this role and Kalyan Ram accepts it and delivers a great performance. Nandamuri hero transforms himself into the character. Bimbisara is a kind of scene that works only when an actor gives his absolute best. He is extremely good in the movie. The actress Catherine Tresa, Samyuktha Menon do not get much to do in their characters.  They are just filler. Rest of the cast of Bimbisara perform accordingly.

 Technical:    The story of Bimbisara is good. The music is a huge asset. Background music is also excellent. Cinematography by  Chota K Naidu is of top notch quality. Cinematography and visual effects went hand in hand. Production design deserves a great applause. Dialogues are good and the  editing by Tammi Raju is sharp. Costumes are excellent with a lot of detailing. Action choreography is quite extraordinary. Production values are world class.

Analysis:  Overall Bimbisara is a fantasy drama and Kalyan Ram gives his career best performance. Bimbisara movie has emotions, comedy, action and good visuals. One of the biggest drawback  of this film is the main villain who is weak. Definitely worth a watch!.

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• What is the release date of 'Bimbisara'? Release date of Nandamuri Kalyanram and Catherine Tresa starrer 'Bimbisara' is 2022-08-05.
• Who are the actors in 'Bimbisara'? 'Bimbisara' star cast includes Nandamuri Kalyanram, Catherine Tresa, Samyuktha Menon and Warina Hussain.
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Bimbisara Review – A Decent Fantasy Drama

OUR RATING 2.75/5

‘UA’

Bimbisara (Kalyan Ram) is a cruel and ruthless king of Trigartala. He has a twin brother Devadatta (Kalyan Ram), who is kind and benevolent. Bimbisara is magically ported to the current time after a scuffle between the brothers.

How does Bimbisara, now in the current world, adjusts to it? His change of heart is the movie’s core story.

Performances

When it comes to performances, it is a one-man show by Kalyan Ram. It does take time to get used to the body language and heavy dialogues, but soon one gets adjusted. The actor gets to don two different characters and pulls it off neatly.

Effort-wise, Kalyan Ram has given his hundred percent, and that’s the best thing about the act. Any appreciation coming his way, therefore, is deserved for the effort.

Catherine Tresa and Samyuktha Menon play the female leads. They look good, but there is nothing to speak about performance-wise. They are mere fillers and are seen before or after the some scenes and songs.

Vassishta makes his directorial debut with Bimbisara. He has picked an exciting folklore subject for the first attempt and given it a fantasy twist usually seen with the Yama movies in Telugu. 

There is a long tradition of Yama Dharma Raju based movies in Telugu cinema. Many elements from those movies have become standard tropes over the years. In Bimbisara, Vassishta cleverly mixes those tropes in a typical folklore setting that involves a big kingdom and twin brothers as heirs. 

It is this Yama fantasy element redesigned with an evil king trope that works for Bimbisara. Right from the start, one is hooked due to the smooth screenplay. It is despite the various visible deficiencies in execution and content. One can feel it more in the first half. 

Things take a good turn in the second half, after an intriguing interval that connects the two timelines. What happens later continues to hold attention even though some of it might look illogical if one thinks about it. 

The treasure and young girl tracks are neatly integrated into the story. The screenplay further adds strength to the proceedings, and finally, the changing character arc of Bimbisara does the trick. 

Amidst all these, one feels that a strong villain could have enhanced the drama and escalated the conflict further, though. When the whole thing is over, despite all that has happened, we remember nothing (and feel nothing) except Kalyan Ram. His characterisations are well done, and that helps sail things through. 

Overall, Bimbisara works mainly due to the story that presents old tropes freshly and a smooth screenplay. They hold the attention, and that’s a job well done. Give the movie a try if you like folklore tales. There is an additional tweak to it, which helps, however, have the expectations in check.

Bimbisara has a host of artists playing bits and pieces roles. They are all forgettable. We have the likes of Tanikella Bharani, Prakash Raj, etc., but none have an impactful role.

Srinivas Reddy playing the comedian is alright. Vennela Kishore is wasted, whereas Brahmaji is okay. The rest of the cast, which includes the antagonist, is adequate and serviceable at best.

MM Keeravani provides the music for the movie. The veteran has become the go-to musician for period and folklore ventures like Bimbisara. He does well on the background score. It is adequate. However, when it comes to the songs, they could have been better. It also doesn’t help cause the placement (item song, for example) is also poor.

Chota K Naidu’s cinematography also belongs to the adequate category. There is an apparent effect of the budget on it. Tammi Raju’s editing is fine in that he helps create a clutter-free narrative. The writing is passable. The visual effects could have been better, as we can see tackiness on screen. The artwork and graphics (the kingdom) in parts are good.

Highlights?

Folklore Story Screenplay Kalyan Ram

Weak Antagonist Patchy In Parts All characters have zero impact except hero

In the end, Bimbisara feels very a simplistic tale with a folklore background. It would have been further impactful with more drama and a powerful villain.

Did I Enjoy It?

Yes in parts

Will You Recommend It?

Yes, with reservations

Bimbisara Movie Review by M9News

Final Report:

The fantasy time travel element holds things together and gives a fresh appeal to Bimbisara. The story, therefore, makes the movie a one-time watch despite some patchy parts.

— Bimbisara second half started. Bimbi is now leading a different life as a normal person. The story shifts between two time lines.

First Half Report:

Bimbisara begins on an exciting note but doesn’t quite maintain it. Still, it’s a passable watch in the first half, and everything now depends on the second half to see where it ends.

— Second Kalyan Ram has been introduced and the story shifts to current. Bimbisara lands in Hyderabad.

— The first song is similar to a regular item number with a heavy dose of glamour show.

— Bimbisara starts on an interesting note, introducing its lead. The VFX work is visible from the beginning itself. Story shifts to current.

Bimbisara USA Premiere will begin shortly. Stay tuned to the report.

Bimbisara Pre-Release Talk:

Bimbisara is the new film of Nandamuri Kalyan Ram. It is his first outing after a gap and introduces a new director, Vassishta, to Telugu cinema. The period cum time-travel epic movie hits the screens all over on August 5th worldwide.

First, the theatrical trailer and the story idea involving the mixture of past and present have worked for the target mass audience. There is a curiosity about the story, which is the movie’s biggest USP. Debutant Vassishta has scored here in grabbing the attention.

Apart from the story, the banner Nandamuri Arts is known for new subjects and themes. Bimbisara is the latest addition to the list. Kalyan Ram, with a debut director on the home banner, has been a recipe for success. Who can forget Athanokkade and Pataas?

The trade is hoping that Bimbisara is another addition to the list and will end the dry run at the box office in Telugu states. More than anyone else, a success here will be a big boost to Kalyan Ram, though.

Bimbisara stars Catherine Tresa and Samyuktha Menon as the female leads. Vennela Kishore, Brahmaji and Srinivas Reddy play other critical roles. MM Keeravani provides the music to the period cum contemporary tale.

M9News, as always, will bring you the ‘First-On-Net’ Bimbisara review genuinely and honestly. Watch this space for our updates.

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• Cast & Crew

Bimbisara Story

Bimbisara cast & crew.

Bimbisara Crew Info

Director
Story
Dialogue
Cinematography
Editor
Music
Producer
Production	N. T. R. Arts
Satellite Rights	Zee Telugu
Budget	40 cr Cr
Box Office	0.00 Cr
OTT Platform	Zee5
OTT Release Date	2022-10-21
Addtional Info
Lyrics
Singers
Art Direction
VFX
Costume Design

Bimbisara Critics Review

Bimbisara trailer.

Bimbisara Videos

Bimbisara Songs

• Eeswarude Singers: Kaala Bhairava Lyricist: Sree Mani 3.6
• O Tene Palukula Singers: Hymath , Satya Yamini Lyricist: Varikuppala Yaadagiri 3.9
• Neetho Unte Chalo Singers: Mohana Bhogaraju , Sandilya Lyricist: M.m. Keeravani 4

Bimbisara News

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Bimbisara

In this Bimbisara film, Kalyan Ram , Catherine Tresa played the primary leads.

The Bimbisara was released in theaters on 05 Aug 2022.

The Bimbisara was directed by Vashist

Bimbisara was made with a budget of 40 cr crores.

Movies like Double iSmart , RT 75 , Kalki 2898 AD and others in a similar vein had the same genre but quite different stories.

The Bimbisara had a runtime of 146 minutes.

The soundtracks and background music were composed by Chirantan Bhatt for the movie Bimbisara.

The cinematography for Bimbisara was shot by Chota K Naidu .

You can watch the Bimbisara movie on Zee5,.

On 21 Oct 2022 Bimbisara was released on the Zee5, platform.

The movie Bimbisara belonged to the Action, genre.

Bimbisara User Review

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Kalyanram’s Bimbisara Movie Review

Bimbisara Movie Review

Telugu360 Rating 3/5

Nandamuri Kalyanram took a break and picked up a socio fantasy entertainer titled Bimbisara. The film is packed with action and VFX work. The trailer caught everyone’s attention and kept good expectations on the film. Vassishta is making his directorial debut and Bimbisara is the costliest attempt in the career of Kalyanram. Catherine, Samyuktha are the heroines and MM Keeravani scored the music. NTR Arts bankrolled Bimbisara and here is the film’s review:

The story happens in 5th century and Bimbisara (Kalyanram) is the king of Trigarthala Kingdom who is ruthless. He never shows any mercy and he intends to conquer all the existing kingdoms. He imposes a ban on his own brother from the kingdom. Dhanvantaripuram from his kingdom is known for Ayurvedic treatment and the people there treat the enemies if injured. Bimbisara kills the entire people of the village ruthlessly and he hides the Ayurveda Grandham in his Secret Treasure where his wealth is preserved. It is during this time, that his brother Devadatha returns back and fights against Bimbisara. The rest of the film is all about how Bimbisara lands in the present and what happens next.

Bimbisara has all the elements needed for epic fantasy. The story itself is quite interesting. The director has taken a new angle from the history that narrates about king Bimbisara and his acts. The presentation is perfect and the audience will thoroughly enjoy the film. Bimbisara looks curious right from the first frame. The director takes the audience to a new world in the kingdom of Bimbisara. The characterization and presentation of Bimbisara are quite impressive. At the same time, the episodes of Ayurvedic Grandham and Maya Darpanam are not presented well. They should have told in a much more better manner.

Some of the episodes remind us about films like Yamaleela and Ghatotkachudu. The interval bang is quite interesting. The second half of Bimbisara looks pretty normal as the ruthless Bimbisara turns normal in a simple manner. The second half of the film has a couple of unwanted fights and the climax looks simple. Bimbisara is a one-man show of Kalyanram and the audience will not remember about any other characters. The first half is impressive while the second half is passable with some flaws.

Performances:

Kalyanram steals the show as Bimbisara and he is a perfect match for the role. The amount of efforts the actor kept into the role is clearly visible on screen. Right from his looks to the body language and the expressions, Kalyanram took special care on everything. There is no scope to perform for Catherine, Samyuktha and their roles are limited. Srinivas Reddy and Vennela Kishore are good. All the other actors and their roles are limited.

Bimbisara is a technically sound film. The makers relied on the VFX for most of the shots. The action episodes are well designed. Keeravani adds life to Bimbisara with his background score. The songs are not catchy. Debutant Vassishta should be appreciated for picking up a fantasy film in his first attempt. There is enough scope for the sequel. He has enough clarity and command on his work. The cinematography work and the editing work are good.

Bimbisara is a passable fantasy film that is excelled by the performance of Kalyanram and the background score of MM Keeravani.

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‘The Exorcism’ Review: Losing Faith

Russell Crowe stars as an actor playing an exorcist who’s battling his own demons.

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By Alissa Wilkinson

“The Exorcism” starts from an instantly compelling premise: On the set of a horror movie about an exorcist, demons lurk. Horror films often tap into ancient fears rooted in myth; this is just a more modern one. As one character tells another, “All kinds of things happen on the sets of devil movies.” Then she names a few examples: “‘The Omen,’ ‘The Exorcist,’ ‘Poltergeist.’” It’s true — over decades, stories of freak accidents and deaths on those sets have grown into the kind of lore that can power its own horror film.

That “The Exorcist” is named in this list is a little funny, since the film-within-the-film is clearly just a variant on William Friedkin’s influential 1973 classic. The nested movie is even called “The Georgetown Project,” a reference to the setting of “The Exorcist.” (“The Exorcism,” directed by Joshua John Miller from a screenplay he wrote with M.A. Fortin, seems named to provoke the comparison, too, though that also makes talking about it a little confusing.) What’s more, the first scene in “The Exorcism” reveals that “The Georgetown Project” is about a priest having a crisis of faith who is called to cast a demon out of a teenage girl, and that the house built on the soundstage is a dead ringer for the more famous movie’s set. In other words: In “The Exorcism,” they’re basically making “The Exorcist.”

Religious horror — which is to say, horror movies that specifically evoke religious imagery — can be hopelessly hokey, thoughtlessly appropriative, or thoughtful. I’d put “The Exorcist,” one of Hollywood’s best meditations on faith and doubt, in the thoughtful camp, and for the first half-hour of “The Exorcism,” I though it would land there too. It’s about a famous actor named Tony Miller (Russell Crowe, looking sufficiently tortured), whose addictions and grief have recently derailed his career and life. He is given a chance to star as a priest in “The Georgetown Project” by its cranky jerk of a director (Adam Goldberg) after the role is suddenly and violently vacated. Tony thinks it is the salvation he needs.

Catholic symbology plays an outsized role in horror — thanks, in no small part, to the influence of “The Exorcist.” Often movies end up grappling with whether the words, rites and sacramental objects of the Catholic church have power of their own, regardless of the beliefs and righteousness of the wielder. “The Exorcism” dips into this inquiry but goes further. In this movie, Catholicism is both the villain and the hero.

Tony’s sardonic 16-year-old daughter, Lee (Ryan Simpkins), for instance, shows up at home because she has been suspended from her Catholic boarding school for protesting the principal’s choice to fire her gay guidance counselor. She and Tony have a fraught relationship given Tony’s checkered past, which, we come to realize, has something to do with a horrifying experience from his days as an altar boy.

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