Hola Venky!
{{Infobox film
| name = Hola Venky!
| image = Hola Venky!.jpg
| caption = Poster
| director = Sandeep Mohan
| producer = Sandeep Mohan
| writer = Sandeep Mohan
| starring = Roger Narayan
Sonia Balcazar
Giju John
Ashwin Mushran
Ramanathan Seshan{{Cite web|url=https://crawlingangelfilms.com/project/hola-venky/|title=Hola Venky|publisher=Crawling Angel Films|date=13 October 2017|access-date=10 March 2025}}
| cinematography =
| editing =
| music =
| studio = Crawling Angel Films
| distributor =
| released = {{Film date|2014|01|25|San Jose}}{{Cite web|url=https://indiacurrents.com/hola-venky/|title=Hola Venky!|last=|first=|publisher=india Currents|date=14 January 2014|access-date=14 March 2025}}
| runtime = 85 Minutes{{Cite web|url=https://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/others/health-lifestyle/film-gets-a-corner-office/articleshow/29204306.cms|title=Film gets a corner office|last=|first=|publisher=Mumbai Mirror|date=22 January 2014|access-date=14 March 2025}}
| country = India
| language = English
| budget = ₹10 lakh
| gross =
}}
Hola Venky! ({{translation|Hi Venky!}}) is a 2014 Indian English-language independent romantic comedy film written and directed by Sandeep Mohan. The film stars Roger Narayan, Sonia Balcazar, and Ashwin Mushran. Shot on a micro-budget of ₹10 lakh with a four-member crew, it explores the quirky journey of a techie in San Francisco, blending slapstick humor with an Indian-Mexican cultural flavor.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/through-a-mans-eyes/article5566393.ece|title=Through a man's eyes|last=|first=|work=The Hindu|date=19 January 2014|access-date=10 March 2025}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/mumbai/A-bitter-truth/article16670133.ece|title=A bitter truth|last=|first=|work=The Hindu|date=25 November 2016|access-date=10 March 2025}}
Plot
Hola Venky! follows Venky, a techie who embarks on a comedic journey in San Francisco, blending slapstick humor with natural acting. The film is noted for its quirky situations and exploration of life experiences.{{Cite web|url=https://bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com/entertainment/reviews/hola-venky/articleshow/46796308.cms|title=Hola Venky|last=Desai|first=Rahul|publisher=Bangalore Mirror|date=3 April 2015|access-date=10 March 2025}}
Cast
- Roger Narayan as Venky
- Sonia Balcazar as Inez
- Giju John as Kurian
- Ashwin Mushran as Psychiatrist
- Ramanathan Seshan as Bharatwaj
Production
Hola Venky! was produced on a shoestring budget of ₹10 lakh, with Sandeep Mohan taking on multiple roles as writer, director, and actor. He positioned the film as an accessible model for aspiring filmmakers.{{Cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/i-made-my-film-hola-venky-in-10-lakh-you-can-too/story-Gy7bd2jaogBStcbQsrHH4J.html|title=I made my film Hola Venky in 10 lakh, you can too|last=|first=|publisher=Hindustan Times|date=6 December 2014|access-date=10 March 2025}}
Release
Eschewing traditional theatrical release, Sandeep Mohan traveled across India to screen Hola Venky! directly for audiences, an approach described as bringing "cinema to doorsteps."{{Cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/independent-filmmaker-sandeep-mohan-takes-his-film-hola-venky-to-cinemalovers-doorsteps/article6552562.ece/amp/|title=Independent filmmaker Sandeep Mohan takes his film Hola Venky to cinemalovers' doorsteps|last=|first=|work=The Hindu|date=14 November 2014|access-date=10 March 2025}} This method contributed to discussions on alternative distribution for indie films in India.{{Cite web|url=https://www.screendaily.com/features/film-bazaar-indias-independents-seek-distribution-alternatives/5111697.article|title=Film Bazaar: India's independents seek distribution alternatives|last=|first=|publisher=Screen Daily|date=25 November 2015|access-date=10 March 2025}} The film was also slated for an online release to reach a wider audience.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/ready-for-online-release/article7054975.ece|title=Ready for online release|last=|first=|work=The Hindu|date=27 March 2015|access-date=10 March 2025}} The Hindu termed this mobility "movie on the move."{{Cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/movie-on-the-move/article5609711.ece|title=Movie on the move|last=|first=|work=The Hindu|date=2 February 2014|access-date=10 March 2025}}
Reception
Critical reception to Hola Venky! was mixed. Live Mint’s Nandini Ramnath praised its simplicity but found it unexceptional.{{Cite web|url=https://www.livemint.com/Leisure/1nVzZb2yv0jmhYuCgRGmoJ/Hola-and-goodbye.html|title=Hola and goodbye|last=Ramnath|first=Nandini|publisher=LiveMint|date=3 April 2015|access-date=10 March 2025}} Bangalore Mirror rated it 3 out of 5 stars, lauding its humor while pointing out narrative flaws. Mail Today's Vinayak Chakravorty hailed it as a "refreshing indie effort," particularly for its release strategy.{{Cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/dailymail_202503|title=Hola Venky! Review|last=Chakravorty|first=Vinayak|publisher=Wayback Machine|date=10 March 2025|access-date=10 March 2025}}
References
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