Balagam () is a 2023 Indian Telugu-language family drama film written and directed by actor Venu Yeldandi, in his directorial debut. It was produced by Hanshitha Reddy and Harshith Reddy, respectively, under Dil Raju Productions.
The film features Priyadarshi, Kavya Kalyanram, Sudhakar Reddy, Kota Jayaram, Mime Madhu and Muralidhar Goud in primary roles. Balagam was released on 3 March 2023 to critical acclaim with particular praise for Yeldandi’s direction, soundtrack, emotional weight of the story, screenplay and acting performances by the lead cast.
Balagam received various awards and nominations. The film is considered to be one of the best slice of life films of the year by various international juries.
Plot
Gajula Komurayya, a typical elderly inhabitant of a village in Telangana, sustains an apparently peaceful life with his elder son Ailayya, the latter's wife Swaroopa and their son Sayilu. Unbeknownst to his short-tempered father, Sayilu owes a massive sum of money to a cruel moneylender, whom he reassures that he will pay off the loan once he receives dowry from his fiancee's family. Nevertheless, Komurayya's untimely death prompts Sayilu's forthcoming marriage to be adjourned indefinitely and also, brings about the return of his estranged daughter Lakshmi, whose husband Narayana and Ailayya have been inhospitable to each other from past twenty years. As their rivalry persists, Komurayya is traditionally cremated and Narayana is desperate to leave; Komurayya's brother, however, urges him to extend his stay by eleven days. Komurayya's sister considers Sayilu's fiancee inappropriate for the family, holding Sayilu's betrothal to her responsible for Komurayya's death. This accusation leads to a conflict and ultimately, the wedding is called off.
Sayilu discerns Narayana to be a wealthy industrialist and realizes that marrying his only heiress Sandhya would bring him a huge fortune; Sandhya being his cross cousin makes his intentions legitimate. His efforts to court Sandhya are perpetually rebuffed; on the third day after Komurayya's cremation, a crow is supposed to be feeding on a feast offered by the family to Komurayya's soul and if doesn't, the soul is believed to be dissatisfied. As the crow doesn't devour, Narayana humiliates Ailayya for his failure and challenges to content the soul on the fifth day. He too remains unsuccessful, prompting Ailayya to mock and provoke him leading to a physical altercation; Narayana angrily storms out of the village with Lakshmi and Sandhya, disappointing Sayilu. Parallelly, Narsi is a tailor who had flippantly wished for Komurayya to die; as soon as he discovered that he really died, Narsi began to hold himself responsible for it and develops fever out of guilt. At the same time, two other villagers fall sick; the indirect cause of it is Komurayya's death. Intending to bring Lakshmi's family back, Sayilu takes advantage of this situation.
He and his friend purposefully argue publicly; the latter pretends to blame the restlessness of Komurayya's soul for mishaps in the village. Considering the reason adequate, Sarpanch of the village summons Komurayya's family to the Panchayat. He commands them to please Komurayya's soul by the eleventh day and if not, they will have to claim responsibility and accept banishment. Consequently, Lakshmi's family returns and Sandhya appreciates Sayilu's contribution to reuniting the families, displaying reciprocation. Ailayya recounts his affection for Lakshmi as Komurayya's sister narrates a story pertaining to their childhood, prompting a change in his conduct. Komurayya's brother imparts to everyone that Komurayya had had an inclination for Sayilu and Sandhya's marriage and believes that Narayana and Ailayya agreeing to do so might please his soul; as Narayana consents to his advice, Ailayya repents his misbehavior and apparently reconciles with him. Elsewhere, Mogilayya and his wife Sujata intend to sell a plot of their land to the latter's brother but the latter contemplates it ominous to buy a land with gravestone as Ailayya hopes to construct one for Komurayya in his favorite place: one that is included in Mogilayya's plot of land. As they fight over it, Komurayya's brother berates their disunity and selfish conduct; he laments over the despicable fact that his brother, who lived a long life, is being denied a land measuring just 3 ft for his gravestone. That night, Sayilu resents his own selfish intentions, realizes that he won't get to see his grandfather again and profusely mourns his death.