Hari Hara Veera Mallu: Part 1 – Sword vs Spirit, released on 24th July 2025, is the big comeback of Power Star Pawan Kalyan on the big screen, a high-octane period action drama set in the 17th-century Mughal Empire. Directed by Krish Jagarlamudi and A.M. Jyothi Krishna and with music by M.M. Keeravani, this Telugu film was one of the most awaited films of the year. With a star-studded cast, big budget and Kalyan’s star power, the expectations were sky high. Does it live up to the hype? Let’s see.
The Story: A Rebellious Outlaw’s Quest
Set in 1650s during Aurangzeb’s Mughal rule, Hari Hara Veera Mallu introduces Veera Mallu (Pawan Kalyan), the first Indian to challenge Mughal rule. The story is about Veera’s plan to steal Koh-i-Noor from the Mughal fort to fund a rebellion against the Mughal generals. Part 1 lays the foundation for this two-part series. It’s about Veera’s origin, his rise as a warrior and his early battles against big villains. Historical elements mixed with fictional stuff to make it a larger-than-life story of courage and rebellion.
What Works
Pawan Kalyan’s performance is the soul of Hari Hara Veera Mallu: Part 1 – Sword vs Spirit. He delivers a class act in balancing intensity and charm. Veera Mallu is a complete package with electrifying action and emotional depth. Everyone is praising his screen presence. His presence lights up the screen. M.M. Keeravani’s music is another asset. The background score is fantastic and songs like Asura Hananam make the emotional and dramatic moments unforgettable. First half is a crowd pleaser with a great setup, powerful title sequence and well-choreographed action. The production design is also top-notch. Gnana Shekar V.S. and Manoj Paramahamsa’s cinematography brings the Mughal era to life with intricate sets and vibrant visuals. The sets and visuals are grand and immersive and look authentic and majestic.
What Doesn’t
Despite the big ambitions, Hari Hara Veera Mallu fails in execution, especially in the second half, where the pace is slow and the climax is rushed and unsatisfying and we are disconnected from the story. The visual effects with 6000 VFX shots is a big letdown; many scenes look dated and are compared to old Telugu films like Bhairava Dweepam by critics and audience. The key characters, including Bobby Deol’s menacing but underutilized Aurangzeb, lack depth or screen time and we miss out on a good hero-villain equation. The screenplay is incoherent, with weak dialogue and an inconsistent mix of historical and fictional elements that feels forced. The dubbing is also poor, breaking the film's immersion.
Performances: Pawan Kalyan Steals the Show
Pawan Kalyan is the heart of Hari Hara Veera Mallu, delivering a performance that’s both brutal and charming. He’s fierce and nuanced as Veera Mallu and the action scenes and emotional moments are getting good applause. Nidhhi Agerwal as Panchami is good, but her role is so thin and lacks depth. Bobby Deol as Aurangzeb is menacing but underutilized and the critics are missing the hero-villain face-off. The supporting cast—Sathyaraj, Nassar and Nargis Fakhri—are good, but their characters are like afterthoughts in the story.
Final Verdict
Hari Hara Veera Mallu: Part 1 – Sword vs Spirit is a big but bad movie that rides on Pawan Kalyan’s star power and Keeravani’s music but falters with a weak narrative and technical issues. The first half is a mass entertainer for the fans, but the second half is slow and the climax is weak. For Pawan Kalyan fans, this is a must-watch in theaters for the big moments. For others, it’s a one-time watch that promises more than it delivers. With Part 2 coming up there is hope the series will get its act together and deliver a better conclusion.
Rating: 3.5/5