It’s been five days since Hari Hara Veera Mallu, Pawan Kalyan’s much-anticipated pan-Indian debut, hit the big screens. However, the film received a lukewarm response, prompting the makers to take quick action.
Director Jyothi Krishna and the team took note of the feedback and decided to make significant edits to improve the viewing experience. As a result, a trimmed version of the film began screening in theatres starting yesterday.
Among the scenes that were altered, the one following the interval, where Pawan Kalyan and his men ride horses along a cliff’s edge, was shortened and its pace slightly increased to keep the momentum tighter.
One of the most talked-about deletions was the “flag scene,” where a distorted visual of Pawan Kalyan’s face had received negative attention. That scene has now been completely removed.
Another action sequence, where Pawan Kalyan fires arrows, has been subtly modified for better impact.
But the most significant changes were made to the climax. The final showdown was heavily trimmed, with several face-off moments and the elaborate cyclone sequences being taken out. Now, the film concludes on a crisper note, ending with Bobby Deol’s line, “Aandhi Vachesindhi.”
In total, nearly 10 to 15 minutes of footage has been removed from the original version. Some viewers who caught the updated version during late-night shows shared that the changes felt effective and improved the pacing.
Today, Monday, marks a critical point for the film. Despite starring a major hero, bookings remain modest. Whether this revised version can bring fresh momentum and pull more crowds into theatres is something we’ll have to wait and watch.