# Bimbisara (బింబిసార) (film)
**Bimbisara** (బింబిసార) is a 2022 Indian Telugu-language fantasy action drama in which a ruthless ancient king is transported through a magic mirror to the 21st century and forced to face up to his actions.[1](https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/bimbisara-q29sbgvjdglvbjpwwc0xmda2ndc1) Written and directed by Mallidi Vassishta in his debut, it stars [Nandamuri Kalyan Ram](https://www.edgepedia.org/nandamuri-kalyan-ram) in the title role, alongside [Catherine Tresa](https://www.edgepedia.org/catherine-tresa), Samyuktha Menon, and Warina Hussain.[2](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14915198/) The film was produced by Hari Krishna K. under the NTR Arts banner and released in Indian theaters on August 5, 2022.[2](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14915198/) • [3](https://www.filmibeat.com/telugu/movies/bimbisara.html)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Director / writer | Mallidi Vassishta, in his directorial debut[2](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14915198/) • [4](https://www.teluguone.com/tmdb/news/Telugu-Cinema-News-tl-141311c1.html) |
| Lead cast | Nandamuri Kalyan Ram (King Bimbisara / Devadutta), Catherine Tresa (Princess Ira), Samyuktha Menon (S.I. Vyjayanthi), Warina Hussain[5](https://tv.apple.com/in/movie/bimbisara/umc.cmc.pahc47rsuowi8e76va5ku1c9) |
| Release | August 5, 2022 (India); 146 minutes; Telugu language[2](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14915198/) |
| Production | NTR Arts, produced by Hari Krishna K.[3](https://www.filmibeat.com/telugu/movies/bimbisara.html) |
| Music | Songs by Chirantan Bhatt; background score by M. M. Keeravani[6](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpb2H-WWfBE) |
| Box office | ₹646 million (₹64.60 crore) worldwide gross (₹581 million (₹58.10 crore) from India, ₹65 million (₹6.50 crore) overseas) against a budget of about ₹400 million (₹40 crore); judged a blockbuster by Sacnilk[7](https://www.sacnilk.com/movie/Bimbisara_2022) |
| Follow-up | A prequel, Bimbisara 2, was announced in July 2024 with Anil Paduri directing[8](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/telugu/news/2024/Jul/06/bimbisara-makers-announce-prequel-starring-nandamuri-kalyan-ram) |
## Spoilers
### Premise
Bimbisara (Kalyan Ram) rules the kingdom of Trigarthala as a cruel, arrogant emperor who seizes neighboring territories, hoards treasure looted from vassal kings in a vault only he can open, and even plots to kill his own brother Devadutta.[9](https://www.v6velugu.com/bimbisara-movie-review) • [10](https://ntvtelugu.com/reviews/bimbisara-telugu-movie-review-210114.html) Devadutta escapes and uses a magic mirror (మాయా దర్పణం) to trap [Bimbisara](https://www.edgepedia.org/bimbisara), who is transported through it to 2022 [Hyderabad](https://www.edgepedia.org/hyderabad).[9](https://www.v6velugu.com/bimbisara-movie-review) • [11](https://www.telugubulletin.com/telugu/bimbisara-movie-review-112149) In the present day, the power-hungry doctor Subramanya Sastry (Vivan Bhatena) and the godman Kethu ([Ayyappa P. Sharma](https://www.edgepedia.org/ayyappa-p-sharma)) have long awaited his arrival, seeking the treasure vault and the Dhanvantari manuscript.[12](https://tv9telugu.com/entertainment/tollywood/nandamuri-kalyan-ram-starrer-bimbisara-movie-review-in-telugu-au62-759335.html) • [13](https://telugu.abplive.com/movie-review/entertainment/bimbisara-movie-review-nandamuri-kalyan-ram-s-socio-fantasy-war-drama-starring-catherine-tresa-samyuktha-menon-bimbisara-review-rating-in-telugu-45263/amp) The story follows how the former tyrant confronts modern society, overcomes his ego, and moves toward humanity.[10](https://ntvtelugu.com/reviews/bimbisara-telugu-movie-review-210114.html)
### Sequel
On July 5, 2024, coinciding with Kalyan Ram's birthday, NTR Arts announced Bimbisara 2 as a prequel promising to reveal the legend who ruled Trigarthala ages before Bimbisara, to be directed by Anil Paduri.[8](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/telugu/news/2024/Jul/06/bimbisara-makers-announce-prequel-starring-nandamuri-kalyan-ram) Cinema Express reported the first film, made on a budget of approximately ₹400 million (₹40 crore), was the biggest box office hit of Kalyan Ram's career.[8](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/telugu/news/2024/Jul/06/bimbisara-makers-announce-prequel-starring-nandamuri-kalyan-ram)
## Production and crew
Vassishta wrote the story and screenplay, with dialogues by Vasudev Muneppagari and script associates Sreedhar Ganta and Srikanth Nimmagadda.[6](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpb2H-WWfBE) • [2](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14915198/) Chota K. Naidu handled cinematography, Tammiraju edited, and Anil Paduri served as VFX producer, with visual effects by Advitha Creative Studios.[6](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpb2H-WWfBE) Chirantan Bhatt composed the songs and [M. M. Keeravani](https://www.edgepedia.org/m-m-keeravani) the background score; lyrics were written by Keeravani, Ramajogayya Sastri, Sreemani, and Varikuppala Yadagiri.[6](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpb2H-WWfBE) The supporting cast includes [Prakash Raj](https://www.edgepedia.org/prakash-raj) as Vishwanandan Varma, Srinivas Reddy as minister Zubeda, Vennela Kishore, Brahmaji, and [Tanikella Bharani](https://www.edgepedia.org/tanikella-bharani).[5](https://tv.apple.com/in/movie/bimbisara/umc.cmc.pahc47rsuowi8e76va5ku1c9) • [2](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14915198/)
The film was planned as a multilingual release in Telugu, Hindi, Tamil, and Malayalam.[14](https://www.dailypioneer.com/uploads/2022/epaper/august/hyderabad-english-edition-2022-08-02.pdf) Its trailer, published on YouTube by NTR Arts in July 2022, drew over 29 million views.[6](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpb2H-WWfBE)
## Release and certification
The film opened in India, the [United Arab Emirates](https://www.edgepedia.org/united-arab-emirates), and Singapore on August 5, 2022, with a limited United States release on August 4.[15](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14915198/releaseinfo/) In the United Kingdom, the distributor Dreamz Entertainment Limited chose to cut sequences of bloody violence to obtain a 12A classification from the [British Board of Film Classification](https://www.edgepedia.org/british-board-of-film-classification); an uncut 15 classification was available.[1](https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/bimbisara-q29sbgvjdglvbjpwwc0xmda2ndc1) The BBFC described the film as containing moderate violence, injury detail, and threat, including a child abduction theme.[1](https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/bimbisara-q29sbgvjdglvbjpwwc0xmda2ndc1) In India it streams on ZEE5.[2](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14915198/)
## Box office and reception
Sacnilk estimates place the film's worldwide gross at ₹646 million (₹64.60 crore), made up of ₹581 million (₹58.10 crore) from India and ₹65 million (₹6.50 crore) overseas, against a budget of about ₹400 million (₹40 crore), and assign it a blockbuster verdict.[7](https://www.sacnilk.com/movie/Bimbisara_2022) Box Office India 24 reports a slightly higher India net of ₹505.2 million (₹50.52 crore) and calls it a hit with 161.5 percent recovery.[16](https://www.boxofficeindia24.com/movie/bimbisara/box-office-collection) IMDb lists a worldwide gross of $2,965,226 and a user rating of 6.8/10 from about 8,400 voters.[2](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14915198/) Reported international grosses outside India were small: $18,373 in Australia and $35,809 in the United Kingdom.[17](https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Bimbisara-%282022-India%29)
Critics generally credited Kalyan Ram's performance as the film's main strength. The Times of India gave 3.5/5, calling his Bimbisara probably his best performance to date while judging the second half weaker than the first.[18](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/bimbisara) A Cinema Express review described him as both fascinating and intense in the role, but found the romance with the two leading ladies lackluster and the heroines underwritten.[19](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/telugu/review/2022/Aug/05/bimbisara-movie-review-kalyan-ram-shines-bright-in-this-riveting-fantasy-drama-33466.html) Telugu-language reviewers praised Keeravani's background score and Naidu's cinematography while faulting the thin villain role and a slower second half.[4](https://www.teluguone.com/tmdb/news/Telugu-Cinema-News-tl-141311c1.html) • [9](https://www.v6velugu.com/bimbisara-movie-review) [The Hindu](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-hindu)'s later review called it an intriguing film that needed tighter treatment.[18](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/bimbisara)
## References
1. [Bimbisara, British Board of Film Classification](https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/bimbisara-q29sbgvjdglvbjpwwc0xmda2ndc1)
2. [Bimbisara (2022), IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14915198/)
3. [Bimbisara Telugu Movie: Release Date, Cast, Story, OTT, Review, Box Office, Filmibeat](https://www.filmibeat.com/telugu/movies/bimbisara.html)
4. ['బింబిసార' మూవీ రివ్యూ, TeluguOne](https://www.teluguone.com/tmdb/news/Telugu-Cinema-News-tl-141311c1.html)
5. [Bimbisara, Apple TV](https://tv.apple.com/in/movie/bimbisara/umc.cmc.pahc47rsuowi8e76va5ku1c9)
6. [Bimbisara Trailer, NTR Arts on YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpb2H-WWfBE)
7. [Bimbisara (2022) Box Office Collection, Sacnilk](https://www.sacnilk.com/movie/Bimbisara_2022)
8. [Bimbisara makers announce prequel starring Nandamuri Kalyan Ram, Cinema Express](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/telugu/news/2024/Jul/06/bimbisara-makers-announce-prequel-starring-nandamuri-kalyan-ram)
9. ['బింబిసార'.. నిలువెల్లా అహంకారమే, V6 Velugu](https://www.v6velugu.com/bimbisara-movie-review)
10. [Bimbisara Telugu Movie Review, NTV Telugu](https://ntvtelugu.com/reviews/bimbisara-telugu-movie-review-210114.html)
11. [బింబిసార మూవీ రివ్యూ – టైం ట్రావెల్ సోషియో డ్రామా, TeluguBulletin](https://www.telugubulletin.com/telugu/bimbisara-movie-review-112149)
12. [Bimbisara Review, TV9 Telugu](https://tv9telugu.com/entertainment/tollywood/nandamuri-kalyan-ram-starrer-bimbisara-movie-review-in-telugu-au62-759335.html)
13. [Bimbisara Review, ABP Desam](https://telugu.abplive.com/movie-review/entertainment/bimbisara-movie-review-nandamuri-kalyan-ram-s-socio-fantasy-war-drama-starring-catherine-tresa-samyuktha-menon-bimbisara-review-rating-in-telugu-45263/amp)
14. [The Pioneer, Hyderabad edition, August 2, 2022](https://www.dailypioneer.com/uploads/2022/epaper/august/hyderabad-english-edition-2022-08-02.pdf)
15. [Bimbisara (2022) Release info, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14915198/releaseinfo/)
16. [Bimbisara Box Office Collection, Box Office India 24](https://www.boxofficeindia24.com/movie/bimbisara/box-office-collection)
17. [Bimbisara (2022) Box Office and Financial Information, The Numbers](https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Bimbisara-%282022-India%29)
18. [Bimbisara, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/bimbisara)
19. [Bimbisara Movie Review: Kalyan Ram shines bright in this riveting fantasy drama, Cinema Express](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/telugu/review/2022/Aug/05/bimbisara-movie-review-kalyan-ram-shines-bright-in-this-riveting-fantasy-drama-33466.html)
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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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