Two direct Telugu films hit theatres today, and an interesting connection between them is that both underwent title changes before release. One is Hey Balwanth (earlier titled Hey Bhagawan), and the other is Nawab Cafe (earlier Chai Wala).
When the title changes were first announced, many pointed fingers at the CBFC. However, those who have watched the film now feel that the censor board’s objections in the case of Hey Bhagawan appear more understandable.
In the film, Suhas’ character was originally named Krishna Bhagawan. Following the CBFC’s objection, the name was changed to Krishna Balwanth. Reports suggest that the character is involved in running a brothel business in the story. Had the original name been retained, it might have led to controversy, as “Bhagawan” refers to a term associated with God and is revered by millions. The board likely felt that combining such a name with the character’s profession could spark unnecessary backlash.
The word “Bhagawan” was also removed from other elements in the film. The lodge name and Naresh’s character name were changed accordingly. What was earlier Bhagawan Lodge became Balwanth Lodge, and the character’s name was modified to Rao Balwanth. These changes appear to have been made to avoid potential controversy and public objections.
Interestingly, these alterations apply only to the Indian version. In the USA region, the film continues to be screened with the original title and character names intact.
As for the film’s reception, Hey Balwanth has opened to mixed reviews. It remains to be seen how the movie performs at the box office in the coming days.