Vedalam vs Bhola Shankar Remake – Ajith or Chiranjeevi, Which Hit Harder?
Movies with compelling stories often get a second life through remakes. In this Remake Review Series #2, we compare Vedalam (2015, Tamil) and its Telugu remake Bhola Shankar (2023), featuring two mega stars—Ajith Kumar and Chiranjeevi. We’ll explore budget vs earnings, performances, story handling, and overall impact. Let’s dive in!
💡 Story Synopsis
Vedalam (2015)
Ganesh (Ajith) arrives in Kolkata with his sister Thamizh. As a taxi driver, he gets embroiled in a violent conflict involving the underworld. When his sister is kidnapped, Ganesh’s hidden, darker persona takes over—and the gripping past unfolds.
Bhola Shankar (2023)
Shankar “Bhola” (Chiranjeevi) also relocates to Kolkata with sister Mahalakshmi for a fresh start. He becomes a cab driver and aids the police in combating a criminal ring led by Alex. The plot mirrors Vedalam, including kidnapping, reveal of a secret identity, and a high-octane climax—translated into a Telugu-style extravaganza.
📊 Performance & Reception
Vedalam
- Box Office: ₹125.7 Cr on ₹70–90 Cr budget = profitable hit
- Critics & Fans: Praised for Ajith’s transformation and emotional action mix
- Audience Feel: Nostalgic and powerful, earning solid IMDb/Google ratings
Bhola Shankar
- Box Office: ₹47–50 Cr on ₹100 Cr budget = commercial failure
- Critical Reception: Scathing criticism for being repetitive and predictable
- Audience Reaction: Described as “cringe” and “boring,” with poor ratings
✅ Verdict Table
| Aspect | Vedalam | Bhola Shankar |
|---|---|---|
| Storytelling | Well-paced masala with emotional stakes | Overly faithful, lacking new twists |
| Lead Performance | Ajith’s duality & charisma shine | Chiranjeevi delivers, but restricted by weak plot |
| Supporting Cast | Impactful performances | Limited depth in supporting roles |
| Music & BGM | High-energy and emotional soundtrack | Forgettable score |
| Emotional Impact | Strong brother–sister bond with intensity | Emotion feels forced and surface level |
| Commercial Success | Box office winner | Failed to recoup production cost |
🎬 Info Table: Vedalam vs Bhola Shankar
| Field | Vedalam (Original) | Bhola Shankar (Remake) |
|---|---|---|
| Year of Release | 2015 | 2023 |
| Director | Siva | Meher Ramesh |
| Lead Actor | Ajith Kumar | Chiranjeevi |
| Lead Actress | Shruti Haasan | Tamannaah Bhatia |
| Supporting Cast | Lakshmi Menon, Rahul Dev, Kabir Duhan Singh | Keerthy Suresh, Sushanth, Murali Sharma |
| Budget | ₹70–90 Crore | ₹100 Crore |
| Worldwide Earnings | ₹125.7 Crore | ₹47–50 Crore (approx.) |
| Industry | Tamil Cinema (Kollywood) | Telugu Cinema (Tollywood) |
| IMDb Rating | 6.2/10 | 3.5/10 |
| Google Audience Rating | ~4.0/5 | ~3.0/5 |
| Genre | Action Thriller, Emotional Drama | Action, Mass Masala |
🌍 Other Remake Context
Beyond Bhola Shankar (Telugu), Vedalam triggered several remake plans; and yet none of them is materialized yet.
- Telugu remake with Pawan Kalyan greenlit in 2016 but never materialized
- Kannada remake announced with Puneeth Rajkumar/Darshan between 2016–2018
- Hindi remake by T‑Series announced with John Abraham attached since 2019
Whether you prefer Ajith’s intense original Vedalam vs Bhola Shankar remake by Chiranjeevi’s mass-value take, Vedalam proves that faithful remakes can lose their edge without fresh innovation. Want more insights in our Remake Review Series? Comment your thoughts below and follow for the next showdown!