Synopsis:
Hari Hara Veera Mallu: Part 1 – Sword vs Spirit (with tagline Battle for Dharma) is a 2025 Indian Telugu-language period action-adventure film directed by Krish Jagarlamudi and A. M. Jyothi Krishna from a screenplay by Jagarlamudi and Sai Madhav Burra.
CAST: Pawan Kalyan, Nidhhi Agerwal, Bobby Deol, Nargis Fakhri, Nora Fatehi and others.
TELUGU SWAG RATING: [usr 2.25]
Top Reviewers:
TELUGU360 (Rating: 2.5/5):
A decent first half followed by an abruptly concluded and poor second half makes this a one-time watch for fans. The climax is easily the film’s weakest point. For viewers beyond the core fan base, the abysmal VFX and relentless stream of unimpressive action sequences in the entire second half can be exhausting. In the end, HHVM misses the mark. The only highlights are Pawan Kalyan’s superstardom and a couple of well-executed episodes in the first half.
GREAT ANHRA (Rating: 2/5):
Hari Hara Veera Mallu kicks off strong and sets up an intriguing interval, but the second half totally crashes and fails to match the vibe or pace of the first half with its awful VFX and dull content.
INDIA TODAY (Rating: 2.25/5):
‘Hari Hara Veera Mallu: Part 1’ is a film full of ideas, ambition, and star power, but its execution doesn’t quite rise to match them. It sets the stage, offers glimpses of what could be an epic, but stumbles too often to leave a lasting impact. What it needed was tighter writing, better tonal control, and sharper visual storytelling.
123TELUGU (Rating: 3/5):
On the whole, Hari Hara Veera Mallu is a decent cinematic experience. Pawan Kalyan anchors this period film with a performance that balances strength and restraint, while Keeravaani’s music amplifies its emotional and dramatic highs. The action sequences are a major highlight and bring energy to the narrative. On the downside, underdeveloped characters, underutilisation of Bobby Deol, the absence of a central hero-villain showdown, poor CG work, and a sluggish second half hold it back. That said, the movie still packs enough power to entertain. It lays the groundwork for an even bigger sequel. Watch it on the big screen this weekend.
Times Of India (Rating: 2.75/5):
Overall, the core point of Hari Hara Veera Mallu had potential to become a very good period action drama and it has a decently engaging first half with a couple of well-executed action sequences. However, the lacklustre second half with poor visual effects and lack of emotional depth and a tedious climax worked against the film. Pawan Kalyan’s stardom may pull in audience to the theatres until the end of the first weekend but it is likely to be difficult for the film to sustain at the box office after the first weekend.
