Hari Hara Veera Mallu Review – Promising Idea But Poor Execution

The era of Baahubali propelled almost every reigning filmmaker and production house in the Indian film industry to chase massive box office success. In a short span of time, almost all industries started delving into the same domain, desiring the same success rate. Unfortunately, 98% of the films stumbled, despite embracing the Pan-Indian concept. From Sye Raa Narasimha Reddy and Rudramadevi to Chhaava and many others, they all had power-packed concepts but couldn’t make it big. One project that gave a fresh lease of hope was Hari Hara Veera Mallu, thanks to the production studio of A. M. Rathnam, who has delivered several blockbuster hits over the past decades. Hari Hara Veera Mallu revolves around historical incidents involving Aurangzeb, laced with fictional, fantasy, and adventurous elements.

The film is directed by Krish and Jyothi Krishna and features Power Star Pawan Kalyan in the lead role. Bobby Deol, Nidhhi Agerwal, and several prominent actors are part of the ensemble cast.

In the shadow of a crumbling empire, one outlaw dares to defy a dynasty. Veera Mallu (Pawan Kalyan), a legendary thief forged by survival and sharpened by rebellion, is summoned by a powerful regional king (Sachin Khedekar) for a task only the fearless would attempt — to steal a set of rare imperial diamonds. But when destiny calls louder, his mission shifts to the impossible: infiltrate the heart of the Mughal Empire and seize the fabled Kohinoor from Emperor Aurangzeb (Bobby Deol). The setup crackles with the promise of spectacle and stakes fit for legends, yet the narrative falters, never quite unleashing the fire its premise ignites.

Pawan Kalyan’s performance needs no elaboration. He is, as always, natural and powerful, and suits the role of Veera Mallu to the core. However, his absence in many sequences is strongly felt. Nidhhi Agerwal is graceful and elegantly portrayed. She plays a devadasi in the film, but her role lacks depth and intensity, barring one small twist. The show-stealer is Bobby Deol, who delivers 100% commitment to the role of Aurangzeb. His screen presence is magnetic and truly outstanding.

On the technical front, the film scores a perfect 100 in some moments, and then suddenly drops below zero. Such is the overall experience of watching Hari Hara Veera Mallu. Films of this scale rely heavily on VFX, and here, the visual effects are a major letdown. Thotta Tharani’s set design is spectacular and deserves awards for its realistic portrayal of iconic places like the Charminar. Unfortunately, the poor execution of VFX undermines his brilliance. MM Keeravani, an Academy Award-winner, has the talent to elevate any film with his music, but when the narrative lacks depth, even his background score fails to create the desired impact. Editing is a major drawback, with poorly executed transitions that disrupt the flow.

The first half starts at a slow pace, but there’s hope that the story will gradually build. A few minutes before the interval, the riveting Charminar sequence offers a glimmer of promise and gives goosebumps, hinting at an engaging second half — but it ultimately disappoints. The core story is strong, but the screenplay and emotional arcs fail to engage and elevate the cinematic experience.

On the whole, Hari Hara Veera Mallu has a story that could have created magic on the big screen but sadly misses the mark by not staying loyal to the genre and scale it demands. It’s a major letdown despite featuring some of the country’s finest actors and technicians.