''Bhale Unnade'' is a 2024 Indian

Telugu-language Telugu (; , ) is a Dravidian language native to the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, where it is also the official language. Spoken by about 96 million people (2022), Telugu is the most widely spoken member of the Dravidian langua ...

romantic comedy-drama film directed by J. Sivasai Vardhan. It stars

Raj Tarun Raj Tarun (born 11 May 1992) is an Indian actor who works in Telugu cinema, Telugu films. Tarun debuted with ''Uyyala Jampala'' (2013) for which won SIIMA Award for Best Male Debut – Telugu. He has appeared in many successful films including ...

and Manisha Kandkur in the lead roles, with supporting performances by Abhirami,

Singeetam Srinivasa Rao Singeetam Srinivasa Rao (born 21 September 1931) is an Indian film director, screenwriter, producer, composer, and actor. He is widely regarded as one of India's most versatile and innovative filmmakers. He has directed around sixty films across ...

, and others. The film explores contemporary themes of gender dynamics and relationships, focusing on a protagonist who defies traditional masculinity. Released theatrically on 13 September 2024, it received mixed reviews from critics, who praised its concept but criticized its execution and narration. The film was later made available on OTT platforms, where it was widely regarded as a commercial failure.

Plot

''Bhale Unnade'' revolves around Radha (Raj Tarun), a saree draper whose empathetic and unconventional approach challenges traditional masculinity, blending humor and emotion in his romantic journey with his love interest (Manisha Kandkur).The film attempts to explore modern gender dynamics but struggles with pacing in its second half, where the storyline lacks depth, a point critics noted as a missed opportunity.

Cast

as Radha *Manisha Kandkur as Krishna * Abhirami *

* Hyper Aadi

Production

The film was announced in mid-2024, with a trailer released on August 16 hinting at a light-hearted romantic comedy with a unique twist. Directed by J. Sivasai Vardhan, it was produced under Maruthi Films. Raj Tarun, marking his third release within a 30-day period, took on the role of a saree draper, an unconventional choice for a male lead in Telugu cinema. The film's release date was confirmed as 13 September 2024.

Themes

The film emphasizes "soft manhood," promoting qualities like empathy and emotional intelligence over traditional masculinity. Critics noted this as a refreshing yet underdeveloped angle in Telugu cinema.

Soundtrack

The soundtrack was composed by

Shekar Chandra Shekhar Chandra is an Indian music composer and singer known for his work in Telugu cinema. His debut film as music director was Anasuya (film), ''Anasuya'' (2007). He is considered as one of the most underrated music directors of Telugu film i ...

Release

''Bhale Unnade'' premiered in theaters on 13 September 2024.

Critical reception

Critics offered a mixed reception to ''Bhale Unnade''. ''

The Times of India ''The Times of India'' (''TOI'') is an Indian English-language daily newspaper and digital news media owned and managed by the Times Group. It is the List of newspapers in India by circulation, third-largest newspaper in India by circulation an ...

'' described it as a "light-hearted romantic dramedy with a fresh take on relationships and gender dynamics," appreciating its quirky approach. However, ''

OTTplay HT Media is an Indian mass media company based in Delhi. It has holdings in print, electronic and digital media. HT Media's flagship newspaper is the ''Hindustan Times'', the second most widely read English newspaper in India after ''The Times of ...

'' noted that while it had "a very good subject," the "underwhelming narration" hindered its potential, particularly in the second half. ''

The New Indian Express ''The New Indian Express'' is an Indian English-language broadsheet daily newspaper published by the Chennai-based Express Publications. It was founded in 1932 as ''The Indian Express'', under the ownership of Chennai-based P. Varadarajulu Naidu ...

'' similarly called it "a lost opportunity," citing its failure to capitalize on an unusual hero. Other reviews echoed these sentiments. ''

Eenadu ''Eenadu'' (; ) is the largest circulated Telugu-language daily newspaper In India predominantly distributed in the states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. It was founded by Ramoji Rao in 1974 in Visakhapatnam and has been a significant presen ...

'' and ''

TV9 Telugu TV9 Telugu (formerly TV9) is an Indian Telugu-language 24-hour news channel focusing on the states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. It formally launched on 1 February 2004 with a 15-day trial run before the formal launch. It is headquartered in ...

'' acknowledged the film's decent performances but criticized its ineffective storytelling. '' Samayam Telugu'' and '' NTV Telugu'' gave it moderate ratings, pointing to a lack of narrative coherence. '' Zee News Telugu'' and '' ABP Live Telugu'' noted some public appreciation for its emotional depth but agreed the execution fell short.

Box office

''Bhale Unnade'' underperformed at the box office and was labeled a "massive flop" upon its OTT release in October 2024.

Home media

The film was later streamed on

ETV Win ETV Win is an Indian Video on demand, subscription video on-demand and Over-the-top media service, over-the-top Streaming media, streaming service owned by ETV Network, a subsidiary of the Ramoji Group. The service primarily distributes origina ...

starting 6 October 2024.

References

External links

*{{IMDb title, 32089590 2024 romantic comedy films 2020s Indian films 2020s Telugu-language films Indian romantic comedy films Films scored by Shekar Chandra