Sachin Soni at 02:32, 23 April 2026

2026-04-23T02:32:31Z

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{{More citations needed|date=February 2026}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2026}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2026}}
{{Infobox film
| image = Hey Balwanth.jpg
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = Gopi Atchara
| screenplay = Gopi Atchara
| story = Shanmukha Prashanth
| producer = B. Narendra Reddy
| starring = {{Plain list|
* [[Suhas (Telugu actor)|Suhas]]
* Shivani Nagaram
* [[Naresh (actor)|Naresh]]
}}
| cinematography = Mahi Reddy Pandugula
| editing = Viplav Nyshadam
| music = [[Vivek Sagar]]
| studio = Trishul Visionary Studios
| distributor = {{Plain list|
* BV Works
* Vamsi Nandipati Entertainments
}}
| released = {{Film date|2026|02|20|df=y}}
| runtime = 134 minutes
| country = India
| language = Telugu
| gross = ₹9.25 crore<ref>{{cite web |title=హే బల్వంత్ మూవీ టోటల్ కలెక్షన్స్….హిట్టా-ఫట్టా!! |url=https://t2blive.com/heybalwanth-total-collections/ |website=T2BLive |language=en |date=5 April 2026 |access-date=8 April 2026}}</ref>
}}

'''''Hey Balwanth''''' (internationally released as '''''Hey Bhagawan''''') is a 2026 Indian [[Telugu language|Telugu]]-language [[comedy drama]] film co-written and directed by Gopi Atchara, in his directorial debut.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-02-20 |title=Hey Balwanth movie review: VK Naresh shines in an otherwise uneven film |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/movie-review/hey-balwanth-movie-review-vk-naresh-shines-in-an-otherwise-uneven-film-10542019/ |access-date=2026-03-30 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref> The film stars [[Suhas Pagolu|Suhas]], Shivani Nagaram, and [[Naresh (actor)|Naresh]]. Produced by B. Narendra Reddy under the banner of Trishul Visionary Studios, the film was released theatrically on 20 February 2026 to mixed reviews from critics and audiences and emerged as a commercial failure at the box office, grossing over only ₹9.25 crore globally.<ref>{{Cite web |last=M |first=Raghu |date=April 5, 2026 |title=హే బల్వంత్ మూవీ టోటల్ కలెక్షన్స్….హిట్టా-ఫట్టా!! |trans-title=Hey Balwant Movie Total Collections |url=https://t2blive.com/heybalwanth-total-collections/ |access-date=April 22, 2026 |website=T2BLive}}</ref><ref name="indianexpress">{{Cite web |date=16 February 2026 |title=Suhas' Hey Bhagawan renamed to Hey Balwanth at last minute amid censor objection |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/telugu/suhas-hey-bhagawan-renamed-to-hey-balwanth-at-last-minute-amid-censor-objection-10534840/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260217200319/https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/telugu/suhas-hey-bhagawan-renamed-to-hey-balwanth-at-last-minute-amid-censor-objection-10534840/ |archive-date=17 February 2026 |access-date=20 February 2026 |website=[[The Indian Express]]}}</ref>

== Plot ==
Krishna (Suhas) is a Guntur-based postgraduate who idolizes his father, Rao Balwanth (VK Naresh). Though Krishna wants to join the family business, Balwanth refuses and encourages him to work elsewhere. Krishna eventually joins an NGO run by Mithra (Shivani Nagaram) and the two fall in love.

When Balwanth suffers a heart attack, Krishna takes over the family’s operations and discovers "Balwanth Lodge" is a front for a brothel. Distraught by the discovery, Krishna attempts to sell the property while hiding the truth from the idealistic Mithra. He and his friend Banka (Sudharshan) pretend the lodge is a "nature cure center" to maintain the deception.

The situation escalates when Mithra’s grandfather (Babu Mohan) was found dead at the lodge, drawing the attention of local political rivals Durga Rao (Ajay Ghosh) and Mithra’s father PVB (Harsha Vardhan). Further problems arise when Durga Rao’s son Yuvan (Vennela Kishore) falls in love and wishes to marry a prostitute Champa (Sravanthi Chokkarapu) who works in that lodge. After a series of confrontations, Balwanth reveals the personal sacrifices and social circumstances that led to his career choice. Krishna accepts his father's reasoning and the two reconcile.

== Cast ==
* [[Suhas (Telugu actor)|Suhas]] as Krishna Balwanth
* Shivani Nagaram as Mithra
* [[Naresh (actor)|Naresh]] as Rao Balwanth, Krishna's father
* [[Vennela Kishore]] as Yuvan
* [[Ajay Ghosh]] as Durga Rao, Yuvan’s father
* [[Sudharshan]] as Banka, Krishna’s friend
* [[Annapurna (actress)|Annapurna]] as Krishna’s grandmother
* [[Harsha Vardhan]] as PVB, Mithra’s father
* [[Babu Mohan]] as Mithra’s grandfather
* Sravanthi Chokarapu as Champa
* Lavanya Reddy as Madalasa
* Rocket Raghava as Surendra, PVB's [[Personal assistant|PA]]
* Jabardasth Dorababu as Kamlesh, PVB’s right-hand man
* Jaya Naidu as Mithra’s mother
* Appaji Ambarisha Darbha as Party President

== Release ==

=== Theatrical release ===
''Hey Balwanth'' was theatrically released on 20 February 2026. The film was initially titled ''Hey Bhagawan'', but just four days prior to its release, the [[Central Board of Film Certification]] (CBFC) requested a title change due to concerns over religious sentiments.<ref name="indiatoday">{{Cite web |date=16 February 2026 |title=Suhas' Hey Bhagawan retitled Hey Balwanth after censor objection |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/regional-cinema/story/hey-balwanth-title-change-cbfc-buzz-telugu-comedy-release-2869235-2026-02-16 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260227005610/https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/regional-cinema/story/hey-balwanth-title-change-cbfc-buzz-telugu-comedy-release-2869235-2026-02-16 |archive-date=27 February 2026 |access-date=20 February 2026 |website=[[India Today]]}}</ref>

=== Home media ===
The digital streaming rights for the film were acquired by [[Zee5]], while the satellite rights were secured by [[Zee Telugu]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Telugu |first=TV9 |date=2026-03-29 |title=Hey Balwanth: OTTలోకి వస్తున్న సుహాస్ న్యూ ఫిల్మ్ |url=https://tv9telugu.com/videos/entertainment-videos/hey-balwanth-ott-release-suhas-starrer-now-streaming-on-zee5-from-march-31-video-1779652.html |access-date=2026-03-30 |website=TV9 Telugu |language=te}}</ref> The film began premiering on Zee5 on 31 March 2026.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-03-08 |title=Suhas-starrer Hey Balwanth's digital premiere locked for this date |url=https://www.cinemaexpress.com/telugu/news/2026/Mar/27/suhas-starrer-hey-balwanths-digital-premiere-locked-for-this-date |access-date=2026-03-30 |website=Cinema Express |language=en}}</ref>

== Critical reception ==
Suhas Sistu of ''[[The Hans India]]'' wrote, "''Hey Balwanth'' works best as a feel-good social dramedy that balances humour with emotion. Its clean comedy, heartfelt dialogues, and relatable father-son dynamics give it strong emotional grounding".<ref name="hansindia">{{Cite web |last=Sistu |first=Suhas |date=20 February 2026 |title=Hey Balwanth: A heartfelt, clean comedy-drama |url=https://www.thehansindia.com/cinema/hey-balwanth-a-heartfelt-clean-comedy-drama-1050267 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260227004503/https://www.thehansindia.com/cinema/hey-balwanth-a-heartfelt-clean-comedy-drama-1050267 |archive-date=27 February 2026 |access-date=20 February 2026 |website=[[The Hans India]]}}</ref> Suresh Kavirayani of ''[[Cinema Express]]'' wrote, "''Hey Balwanth'' offers intermittent laughs and a few emotional moments. While the story’s backdrop isn’t entirely convincing, the director manages to present it in an entertaining way".<ref name="cineexpress">{{Cite web |last=Kavirayani |first=Suresh |date=20 February 2026 |title=Hey Balwanth Movie Review: A message-laden film that entertains in parts |url=https://www.cinemaexpress.com/telugu/review/2026/Feb/20/hey-balwanth-movie-review-a-message-laden-film-that-entertains-in-parts |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260227003629/https://www.cinemaexpress.com/telugu/review/2026/Feb/20/hey-balwanth-movie-review-a-message-laden-film-that-entertains-in-parts |archive-date=27 February 2026 |access-date=20 February 2026 |website=[[Cinema Express]]}}</ref> Divya Shree of ''[[The Times of India]]'' wrote, "Despite a few tonal inconsistencies, director Gopi Atchara effectively weaves together familial conflict and situational humour, shaping the film into a fairly engaging and dependable comedy entertainer".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Shree |first=Divya |date=21 February 2026 |title=Hey Balwanth Movie Review: A sensitive comedy drama that blends heart and humour |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movie-reviews/a-sensitive-comedy-drama-that-blends-heart-and-humour/movie-review/128639590.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260227004813/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movie-reviews/a-sensitive-comedy-drama-that-blends-heart-and-humour/movie-review/128639590.cms |archive-date=27 February 2026 |access-date=27 February 2026 |website=[[The Times of India]] |language=en}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
*{{IMDb title|37342587}}
* [https://www.zee5.com/movies/details/hey-balwanth/0-0-1z5934774 Hey Balwanth] at [[Zee5]]

[[Category:2026 Telugu-language films]]
[[Category:2026 comedy-drama films]]
[[Category:2026 films]]
[[Category:2026 Indian films]]
[[Category:Films scored by Vivek Sagar]]
[[Category:Films set in Hyderabad, India]]
[[Category:Films shot in Hyderabad, India]]
[[Category:Indian comedy-drama films]]
[[Category:Telugu-language comedy-drama films]]

Hey Balwanth - Revision history

Sachin Soni at 02:32, 23 April 2026