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Bro
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Samuthirakani
Screenplay by	Trivikram Srinivas
Story by	Sreevathson
Produced by	T. G. Vishwa Prasad Vivek Kuchibotla
Starring	Sai Durgha Tej Pawan Kalyan
Cinematography	Sujith Vaassudev
Edited by	Naveen Nooli
Music by	Thaman S
Production companies	People Media Factory Zee Studios
Release date	28 July 2023 (2023-07-28)
Running time	133 minutes
Country	India
Language	Telugu
Box office	₹115.50 crores

Bro (transl. Brother) is a 2023 Indian Telugu-language fantasy comedy film co-written and directed by Samuthirakani, from a screenplay by Trivikram Srinivas. Produced by People Media Factory and Zee Studios, it stars Sai Durgha Tej and Pawan Kalyan. The music is composed by Thaman S. It is a remake of director's own 2021 Tamil-language film Vinodhaya Sitham.

The film was announced in December 2021. Principal photography commenced in February 2023 and concluded in June 2023, with filming taking place in Hyderabad. Bro was released on 28 July 2023 without the special shows and ticket price hikes typically associated with major star-led films. This decision was linked to political tensions, as Pawan Kalyan had been critical of the Andhra Pradesh government, which also impacted his previous films, Vakeel Saab (2021) and Bheemla Nayak (2022). The film received mixed-to-average reviews from critics.

Plot

Markandeyulu "Mark" is an IT employee in Hyderabad, who prioritizes his own interests above those of his family, which includes his mother, sisters Veena and Gayathri, brother Arun (working in the United States), and girlfriend Ramya. One day, while returning from a road trip from Vizag to Hyderabad, Mark meets with an accident and dies. He wakes up in a strange dark place where he encounters a man dressed in black who introduces himself as "Time" or "Titan." Time informs Mark that his time on Earth is over.

Desperate, Mark pleads with Time to send him back, arguing that his family and company rely on his job. He promises to stabilize his personal and professional life before departing for good. Time grants him three months to get his affairs in order, with the conditions that he must keep the agreement secret and that Time will always accompany him. Mark survives the accident and returns home, with Time by his side.

Over the next three months, Mark faces numerous challenges, all witnessed by Time. He is overlooked for the General Manager position in favour of Venugopal, a young IIM graduate, prompting Mark to resign in protest. Shortly after, he learns that his mother, Easwari, has collapsed and is diagnosed with early-stage Parkinson's disease, requiring treatment in the United States. Realizing his savings are insufficient, Mark resumes his job.

Mark's elder sister Veena refuses an arranged marriage with Krishnamoorthy's son and leaves home with her boyfriend. Simultaneously, Arun returns home, having lost his job in the US, and reveals he is in a live-in relationship with an Indian American girl named Andrea, who introduces herself as Mahalakshmi. Arun confronts Mark about interfering in his life decisions, giving him an ultimatum to either accept his relationship or expel him from the house.

Mark arranges the marriage between Krishnamoorthy's son and his youngest sister Gayathri, who agrees despite wanting to study abroad, to protect her brother's reputation. Weeks later, Mark is humiliated in a board meeting for his absence during a discussion. He vents to Time in a bar, overheard by his MD. Mark's idea, discussed earlier, leads the company to high profits. The MD becomes chairman, and Mark is promoted to managing director, surpassing his ambitions.

Easwari, aware of Veena's relationship, convinces Mark to accept it. Mark learns from Time that Krishnamoorthy's son was involved with another woman who was pregnant with his child, and Krishnamoorthy was forcing her to abort. Mark cancels Gayathri's wedding and supports her decision to study abroad. He becomes more humble and responsible, spending quality time with his family and prepaying Gayathri's tuition for her graduate program in Switzerland.

Ten days before his three-month period ends, Mark pledges his organs, anticipating his impending death. That night, he confesses to Time that he cheated someone seven years ago to secure his current job. Time reveals that Venugopal is the brother of Madhanagopal, the person Mark cheated. Madhanagopal led the life originally intended for Mark, which explains Venugopal's promotion over him.

Recognizing Mark's genuine reformation, Time offers to accompany him to heaven. Mark accepts wholeheartedly. While he walks with Time, it is shown on Earth that he has died peacefully in his sleep.

Cast

• Pawan Kalyan as God of Time "Titan"
• Sai Durgha Tej as Markandeyulu "Mark"/ also his father (in a portrait)
• Ketika Sharma as Ramya
• Rohini as Mark's mother
• Priya Prakash Varrier as Veena
• Brahmanandam as Shastri
• Subbaraju as Ramya's brother
• Vennela Kishore as Mark's boss
• Yuva Lakshmi as Gayathri
• Ali Reza in a dual role as Venugopal and Madhanagopal
• Tanikella Bharani as Krishnamoorthy "Singinaatham Mavayya"
• Surya Sreenivas as Arun
• Raja Chembolu as Ricky
• Devika Satheesh as Andrea/Mahalakshmi
• Pammi Sai as Cab driver
• Sanjay Swaroop as a Doctor
• Srinivasa Reddy as a Pathologist
• Rajashri Nair as Ricky’s mother
• Prudhvi Raj in a cameo appearance as "Sambabu" in "My Dear Markandeya"
• Samuthirakani as in a cameo appearance as Shankaranna
• Urvashi Rautela in a cameo appearance as Sithra Manjari in "My Dear Markandeya"

Production

In December 2021, after the success of Vinodhaya Sitham, Samuthirakani was invited to remake the film in Telugu. However, he did not want to return as an actor and intended to cast another star in it. In February 2023, the film was officially launched, with Pawan Kalyan alongside Sai Dharam Tej, who would essay the roles of Samuthirakani and Thambi Ramaiah respectively, from the original version.

The film was under the tentative title PKSDT, as it featured Pawan Kalyan and Sai Dharam Tej in the titular roles. Shortly, the title was announced as Bro in May 2023. The principal photography of the film began the same month in Hyderabad.

Later that month, Tej's character was announced as Markandeyulu "Mark".

Music

Bro
Soundtrack album by Thaman S.
Released	27 July 2023 (2023-07-27)
Genre	Film soundtrack
Length	25:32
Language	Telugu
Label	Mango Music
Thaman S. chronology
Veera Simha Reddy (2023) Bro (2023) Skanda (2023)
External audio Official Audio Jukebox on YouTube

The music for the film is composed by Thaman S in his third collaboration with Pawan Kalyan after Vakeel Saab and Bheemla Nayak, and his sixth collaboration with Sai Tej after Thikka, Winner, Jawaan, Prati Roju Pandage, and Solo Brathuke So Better. The first single "My Dear Markandeya" released on July 8, 2023. The second single "Jaanavule" was released on July 15, 2023. The third single, "Theme of BRO", was released on 25 July 2023.

Release

Theatrical

Bro was theatrically released on 28 July 2023.

Home media

Satellite rights are owned by Zee Telugu and digital streaming rights by Netflix. The film premiered on Netflix from 25 August 2023 in Telugu and dubbed versions of Hindi, Tamil, Kannada and Malayalam languages. It was premiered on television on Zee Telugu on 15 October 2023.

Reception

Neeshita Nyayapati of The Times of India rated the film 2 out of 5 stars and wrote, "BRO could’ve been the poignant tale of a man who had to grow up a little too fast and, in the process, forgets to make the most of his life. What you get instead is a film that loses steam as it progresses with the messaging lost in the chaos of it all. This one is a missed opportunity." Balakrishna Ganeshan of The News Minute rated the film 2 out of 5 stars and wrote, "The biggest drawback of BRO is its stage-play-like treatment of the story. It is too artificial to be believable. The predictable narrative makes us want more than the fun exchanges between Time and Markandeya." Raghu Bandi of The Indian Express rated the film 2 out of 5 stars and wrote, "Pawan Kalyan again plays god in a film that takes his political persona one step further."

Janani K of India Today rated the film 2 out of 5 stars and wrote, "What worked in the Tamil version failed to work in the Telugu reboot because of its commercialisation." Priyanka Sundar of Firstpost rated the film 1.5 out of 5 stars and wrote "A few good laughs in a movie that spans 2 hours 5 minutes is not enough. The film more often than not placed higher value on nostalgia than story telling." Subhash K Jha of Zoom TV rated the film 1.5 out of 5 stars and wrote "Poor Sai Dharam Tej! His character is constantly grumpy and cranky as if the actor, more than the character, knows time is running out." Sowmya Rajendran of Moneycontrol reviewed the film and wrote, "Bro could have been an interesting commentary on how patriarchy forces men into the provider role, and how pressuring that is."

References

1. "Bro (12A)". British Board of Film Classification. 22 July 2023. Archived from the original on 24 July 2023. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
2. "Bro WW Closing Collections". News18 Telugu (in Telugu). 31 August 2023. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
3. "Bro Movie : బ్రో స్పెషల్ షోస్, టికెట్స్ రేట్ పెంపు లేదు.. ప్రీ రిలీజ్ ఈవెంట్ డేట్ ఫిక్స్.. పవన్ వస్తున్నాడా..?". 10TV (in Telugu). 19 July 2023. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
4. ^ "BRO Ticket Rates: టికెట్ ధరలు పెంచే ఆలోచన లేదన్న 'బ్రో' నిర్మాత.. సీఎంని అడగలేకేనా?". Samayam (in Telugu). 19 July 2023. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
5. "As Vinodhaya Sitham Wows Fans, Director Samuthirakani Planning its Telugu Remake". News18. 10 December 2021. Archived from the original on 6 June 2023. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
6. "Pawan Kalyan, Sai Dharam Tej's 'Vinodhaya Sitham' remake by Samuthirakani goes on floors". The Hindu. 22 February 2023. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 6 June 2023. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
7. "PKSDT: Time set for title reveal and first look". Telugu Cinema. 17 May 2023. Archived from the original on 6 June 2023. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
8. "Power star Pawan Kalyan resumes shooting for 'Bro'; makers share an interesting BTS video from the sets". The Times of India. 22 May 2023. ISSN 0971-8257. Archived from the original on 6 June 2023. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
9. "Sai Dharam Tej's First Look From Pawan Kalyan-starrer Bro Out". News18. 24 May 2023. Archived from the original on 6 June 2023. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
10. "@MusicThaman". Twitter. Archived from the original on 16 January 2024. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
11. "PKSDT – BRO movie title and motion poster released". Telangana Today. 18 May 2023. Archived from the original on 6 June 2023. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
12. "Pawan Kalyan's BRO seals its satellite partner". 123telugu.com. 23 May 2023. Archived from the original on 6 June 2023. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
13. "వరల్డ్ టెలివిజన్ ప్రీమియర్‌గా పవన్ కళ్యాణ్ బ్రో... టెలికాస్ట్ డేట్ ఖరారు." telugu.news18.com (in Telugu). 8 October 2023. Archived from the original on 1 November 2023. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
14. "Bro Movie Review : Banks more on Pawan Kalyan's fame than the story". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 28 July 2023. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
15. "BRO review: Pawan Kalyan's fantasy comedy fails to sustain interest". The News Minute. 28 July 2023. Archived from the original on 28 July 2023. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
16. "Bro movie review: Pawan Kalyan, Sai Dharam Tej film is meant for the fans only". The Indian Express. 28 July 2023. Archived from the original on 28 July 2023. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
17. "BRO Review: Sai Dharam Tej's film celebrates Pawan Kalyan more than the story". India Today. 28 July 2023. Archived from the original on 28 July 2023. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
18. "Bro movie review: A few good laughs and nothing more". Firstpost. 28 July 2023. Archived from the original on 28 July 2023. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
19. "Bro Movie Review: Pawan Kalyan, Stop Playing God". Zoom TV. Archived from the original on 28 July 2023. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
20. "Bro review: Pawan Kalyan plays Time in a dated fantasy film". Moneycontrol. 28 July 2023. Archived from the original on 28 July 2023. Retrieved 28 July 2023.

External links

• Bro at IMDb 

• 2023 films
• 2020s fantasy comedy films
• 2020s Indian films
• 2020s supernatural films
• 2020s Telugu-language films
• Films about the afterlife
• Films about wish fulfillment
• Films directed by Samuthirakani
• Films scored by Thaman S
• Films with screenplays by Trivikram Srinivas
• Heaven and hell films
• Indian fantasy comedy films
• Indian supernatural films
• Paranormal films
• Telugu remakes of Tamil films
• People Media Factory films