# Bheeshma (భీష్మ) (2020 film)
**Bheeshma** (భీష్మ) is a 2020 Telugu-language romantic comedy directed and written by Venky Kudumula, starring Nithiin and [Rashmika Mandanna](https://www.edgepedia.org/rashmika-mandanna), in which a single meme creator is unexpectedly appointed head of an organic farming company and fights a rival agrochemical firm[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/bheeshma) • [2](https://telugucinema.com/reviews/bheeshma). It was produced by Suryadevara Naga Vamsi under [Sithara Entertainments](https://www.edgepedia.org/sithara-entertainments) and released in Indian theaters on 21 February 2020[3](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8A9mJYprMl4) • [4](https://www.filmibeat.com/telugu/movies/bheeshma/ott.html).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Director and writer | Venky Kudumula, his second film after *Chalo* (2019)[5](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movie-reviews/bheeshma/amp_movie_review/74238190.cms) |
| Lead cast | Nithiin as Bheeshma Prasad; Rashmika Mandanna as Chaitra; Anant Nag as Bheeshma Sr.; Jisshu Sengupta as Raghavan[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/bheeshma) |
| Release | 21 February 2020 (India, UAE, New Zealand); 20 February 2020 (United Kingdom)[4](https://www.filmibeat.com/telugu/movies/bheeshma/ott.html) • [6](https://www.moviebuff.com/bheeshma-2020-telugu) |
| Runtime and certificate | 151 minutes; rated U in India[4](https://www.filmibeat.com/telugu/movies/bheeshma/ott.html) |
| Music and crew | Mahati Swara Sagar (music), Sai Sriram (cinematography), Naveen Nooli (editing)[3](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8A9mJYprMl4) |
| Reception | Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer 89% from 3 reviews; IMDb 6.6; US gross $722.5K[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/bheeshma) |
| Streaming | Released on OTT on 25 April 2020; currently streaming in India on Sun Nxt, VI movies and tv, and Goldmines Play Amazon Channel[4](https://www.filmibeat.com/telugu/movies/bheeshma/ott.html) • [7](https://www.justwatch.com/in/movie/bheeshma) |
## Spoilers
### Plot
Bheeshma Prasad (Nithiin) is a degree dropout who makes memes online and is embarrassed about staying single, making repeated attempts to find a girlfriend[2](https://telugucinema.com/reviews/bheeshma) • [8](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/reviews/telugu/2020/Feb/21/bheeshma-movie-review-a-breezy-and-funny-outing-17153.html). He falls for Chaitra (Rashmika Mandanna) at first sight; she works for Bheeshma Organics, a company founded by an elderly, self-made man also named Bheeshma ([Anant Nag](https://www.edgepedia.org/anant-nag)), a lifelong bachelor with no heirs who is searching for a successor to carry his ideology forward when he retires[8](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/reviews/telugu/2020/Feb/21/bheeshma-movie-review-a-breezy-and-funny-outing-17153.html) • [9](https://telugu.asianetnews.com/gallery/movie-reviews/nithin-s-bheeshma-2020-movie-review-q61jyk).
Through circumstances set in motion by this meeting, the young Bheeshma is appointed operational CEO of Bheeshma Organics for 30 days, with the chance to become full-time CEO if he proves his worth in a month[2](https://telugucinema.com/reviews/bheeshma). The company's rival is Raghavan ([Jisshu Sengupta](https://www.edgepedia.org/jisshu-sengupta)), owner of the Field Science Group, who develops harmful pesticides that raise crop yields and aims to overtake Bheeshma Organics in business[10](https://telugu.samayam.com/telugu-movies/movie-review/nithiin-rashmika-mandanna-bheeshma-movie-review-and-rating/moviereview/74236080.cms). Sampath Raj plays Chaitra's father, Deva, an ACP who takes a serious view of the romance[8](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/reviews/telugu/2020/Feb/21/bheeshma-movie-review-a-breezy-and-funny-outing-17153.html) • [9](https://telugu.asianetnews.com/gallery/movie-reviews/nithin-s-bheeshma-2020-movie-review-q61jyk). The film ends with Bheeshma and Chaitra overcoming the challenges and gaining their parents' approval to marry[11](https://filmyfocus.com/movies/bheeshma).
## Production
Venky Kudumula pitched the story to Nithiin while the actor was shooting for *Srinivasa Kalyanam*, offering a single line that Nithiin liked[12](https://www.dailypioneer.com/uploads/2020/epaper/february/hyderabad-english-edition-2020-02-20.pdf) • [13](https://telugucinema.com/interviews/athadu-fight-highlight-bheeshma-nithin/amp). After three consecutive flops, Nithiin asked the director to take his time and develop a complete bounded script before shooting began; the script took about a year to write, and the actor took a year's break while it was prepared[12](https://www.dailypioneer.com/uploads/2020/epaper/february/hyderabad-english-edition-2020-02-20.pdf). Kudumula wrote the role of Chaitra with Rashmika Mandanna in mind after working with her on *[Chalo](https://www.edgepedia.org/chalo)*, and she accepted immediately[14](https://www.123telugu.com/interviews/interview-venky-kudumula-i-took-a-lot-of-suggestions-from-trivikram.html).
The film was shot under the Sithara Entertainments banner, presented by PDV Prasad, with Sahi Suresh as art director[3](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8A9mJYprMl4). Kudumula set the love story against the backdrop of organic farming, saying the concept was conveyed in an entertaining way[14](https://www.123telugu.com/interviews/interview-venky-kudumula-i-took-a-lot-of-suggestions-from-trivikram.html). After watching the film, the director [Trivikram Srinivas](https://www.edgepedia.org/trivikram-srinivas) suggested that the organic farming episode be highlighted in the trailer, and the trailer was cut accordingly[14](https://www.123telugu.com/interviews/interview-venky-kudumula-i-took-a-lot-of-suggestions-from-trivikram.html).
## Reception
**Critical response.** The Times of India gave 3 out of 5, with reviewer Neeshita Nyayapati writing that Kudumula had a style of filmmaking becoming unique to him, while calling the film "a whole bunch of irrational but sometimes fun scenes strung together"[5](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movie-reviews/bheeshma/amp_movie_review/74238190.cms). The New Indian Express, also 3/5, called it a breezy entertainer that works largely because of its original writing, praising Vennela Kishore's witty one-liners and [Mahati Swara Sagar](https://www.edgepedia.org/mahati-swara-sagar)'s use of trumpet and water phone in the score[8](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/reviews/telugu/2020/Feb/21/bheeshma-movie-review-a-breezy-and-funny-outing-17153.html). Film Companion's Karthik Keramalu wrote that the film is watchable chiefly for its continuous flow of one-liners, with most characters under-written[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/bheeshma). On Rotten Tomatoes the film holds an 89% Tomatometer from 3 reviews[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/bheeshma); aggregated critic scores elsewhere ranged from 2.5/5 (Mirchi9) to 3.5/5 (123telugu.com)[15](https://www.indianfilmhistory.com/movie/bheeshma-1).
**Commercial performance.** Rotten Tomatoes lists the US gross as $722.5K[1](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/bheeshma). The film reached streaming platforms on 25 April 2020, shortly after Indian theaters closed in the COVID-19 lockdown of March 2020[4](https://www.filmibeat.com/telugu/movies/bheeshma/ott.html). In a later interview, Kudumula said the OTT response matched the theatrical one, with family audiences and children enjoying the film[16](https://www.123telugu.com/?p=490242).
## Music
Mahati Swara Sagar composed the music. The songs *Singles Anthem* and *Whattey Beauty* were placed to complement the narrative, and the film also used the old Telugu song *Gaali Vaanalo* from the [Sobhan Babu](https://www.edgepedia.org/sobhan-babu) film *Swayamvaram* for a nostalgic sequence[8](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/reviews/telugu/2020/Feb/21/bheeshma-movie-review-a-breezy-and-funny-outing-17153.html). Nithiin named *Singles Anthem* as his favorite song from the film[12](https://www.dailypioneer.com/uploads/2020/epaper/february/hyderabad-english-edition-2020-02-20.pdf).
## Availability
In India the film currently streams on Sun Nxt, VI movies and tv, and Goldmines Play Amazon Channel, and is free with ads on VI movies and tv; it is not on Netflix, Prime Video, or JioHotstar in India[7](https://www.justwatch.com/in/movie/bheeshma). In the United States it streams on Sun Nxt[17](https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/bheeshma).
## References
1. [Bheeshma, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/bheeshma)
2. [Bheeshma Movie Review: An organic 'Fun'ta, TeluguCinema](https://telugucinema.com/reviews/bheeshma)
3. [Bheeshma Theatrical Trailer, Haarika & Hassine Creations, YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8A9mJYprMl4)
4. [Bheeshma OTT Release Info, FilmiBeat](https://www.filmibeat.com/telugu/movies/bheeshma/ott.html)
5. [Bheeshma Movie Review, The Times of India](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movie-reviews/bheeshma/amp_movie_review/74238190.cms)
6. [Bheeshma (2020), Moviebuff](https://www.moviebuff.com/bheeshma-2020-telugu)
7. [Bheeshma streaming, JustWatch India](https://www.justwatch.com/in/movie/bheeshma)
8. [Bheeshma movie review: A breezy and funny outing, The New Indian Express / Cinema Express](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/reviews/telugu/2020/Feb/21/bheeshma-movie-review-a-breezy-and-funny-outing-17153.html)
9. [Nithin's Bheeshma (2020) Movie Review, Asianet News Telugu](https://telugu.asianetnews.com/gallery/movie-reviews/nithin-s-bheeshma-2020-movie-review-q61jyk)
10. [భీష్మ Movie Review, Samayam Telugu](https://telugu.samayam.com/telugu-movies/movie-review/nithiin-rashmika-mandanna-bheeshma-movie-review-and-rating/moviereview/74236080.cms)
11. [Bheeshma, Filmy Focus](https://filmyfocus.com/movies/bheeshma)
12. ['Will Never Do 3 Films a Year', The Pioneer, Hyderabad, 20 February 2020](https://www.dailypioneer.com/uploads/2020/epaper/february/hyderabad-english-edition-2020-02-20.pdf)
13. [Athadu fight is a highlight in Bheeshma: Nithin, TeluguCinema](https://telugucinema.com/interviews/athadu-fight-highlight-bheeshma-nithin/amp)
14. [Interview: Venky Kudumula, 123telugu.com](https://www.123telugu.com/interviews/interview-venky-kudumula-i-took-a-lot-of-suggestions-from-trivikram.html)
15. [Bheeshma, Indian Film History](https://www.indianfilmhistory.com/movie/bheeshma-1)
16. [Exclusive Interview: Venky Kudumula, 123telugu.com, 2 May 2020](https://www.123telugu.com/?p=490242)
17. [Bheeshma streaming, JustWatch US](https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/bheeshma)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Individual films by title and year › Indian films (individual works) › Telugu films of the 2020s › Telugu films of 2020–2022*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 3, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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