PremiumBholaa Shankar on OTT: A Chiranjeevi film packed with ‘mega’ references
Director Meher Ramesh did the unthinkable in the Telugu remake of Vedalam
Last Updated: 03.39 PM, Nov 14, 2023
Bholaa Shankar, the Telugu remake of the Ajith hit Vedalam, directed by Meher Ramesh, featured Chiranjeevi, Tamannaah, Keerthy Suresh and Sushanth in key roles. Anil Sunkara bankrolled the film under AK Entertainments while Mani Sharma’s son Mahati Swara Sagar scored the music. Amidst huge expectations, the film released in theatres worldwide on August 11.
Also read: Chiranjeevi’s Mega 156, Mega 157: All you need to know about the mega star’s upcoming projects
Upon its theatrical release, the film failed to meet expectations with several fans criticising Meher Ramesh’s execution and his inability to incorporate the strengths of the original into the remake. Nearly a month after its theatrical release, the film gears up for its OTT premiere. Streaming giant Netflix acquired the rights of the action entertainer and will premiere it on September 15.
Prior to its release and even after it opened in screens worldwide, the film stayed in the news for the many references of ‘mega’ actors. While it’s usual to notice Chiranjeevi references in the films of other actors, Bholaa Shankar is a rare occasion where the veteran tried to emulate his brother and star Pawan Kalyan’s style besides a dialogue also referring to his son Ram Charan.
The actioner, besides the reference of the title song of Pawan Kalyan’s Gabbar Singh, also has a sequence where Chiranjeevi and Sreemukhi recreate the iconic pre-interval scene from Kushi (Pawan Kalyan is caught staring at Bhumika’s waistline). In another scene in a courtroom where Chiranjeevi acts as a fake witness in a case, Tamannaah says he’s like the father of Ram Charan in Rangasthalam in terms of his acting credentials.
The backdrop of Kolkata in Bholaa Shankar also reminded Chiranjeevi fans briefly of the star’s blockbuster Choodalani Vundhi. Raghu Babu, Murali Sharma, Ravi Shankar, Vennela Kishore, Tulasi, Bithiri Sathi, Satya, Getup Srinu, Rashmi Gautam, Uttej played other crucial roles in the film. Dudley cranked the camera and Marthand K Venkatesh was the editor.