Tribanadhari Barbarik, starring Sathyaraj in the role of a psychiatrist, has drawn flak from the reviewer community. The Baahubali actor plays a grandfather who has to trace his missing granddaughter with the help of a midwit police department. Set in Hyderabad, the film's mediocre writing is blunted by cheap production values.
"Despite Sathyaraj’s presence and some intriguing ideas, the film never finds the intelligence or restraint needed to truly grip. It’s a film that wears its philosophy so loudly on its sleeve that it forgets to actually be a thriller," TNIE stated in its review.
Directed by Mohan Srivatsa, the film stars Vassishta Simha as a cabbie who dreams of flying to the US by hook or crook. VTV Ganesh plays an unempathetic cop who moves heaven and earth to trace the missing pet of a Minister. Udaya Bhanu (yes, the TV anchor from 2000s) plays a don who looks like a Telangana Shakuntala-type character; she has a transgender for company, as if this is the 1980s cinema. Satyam Rajesh plays a good-natured constable who faints at the sight of a dead body (are we supposed to be amused?).
The Hindu stated that Tribanadhari Barbarik has a "worn-out, formulaic story". But the review also made positive comments. "Like the recent Fahadh Faasil-Vadivelu film Maareesan and Vijay Sethupathi’s Maharaja, it veers towards vigilante activism, but the restrained treatment is its saviour. The climax, in particular, is effective," it opined.
Tribanadhari Barbarik has largely failed at the box office.
