Pelli Choopulu
{{short description|2016 film by Tharun Bhascker Dhaassyam}}
{{for|the 1983 film|Pelli Choopulu (1983 film)}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2021}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Pelli Choopulu
| image = Pelli Choopulu poster.jpg
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = Tharun Bhascker
| producer = {{ubl|Raj Kandukuri|Yash Rangineni{{Cite web |date=17 July 2016 |title=D.Suresh babu presents "Pelli Choopulu" Releasing on July 29th |url=http://www.idlebrain.com/news/today/pellichoopulu-29july.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160924140511/http://www.idlebrain.com/news/today/pellichoopulu-29july.html |archive-date=24 September 2016 |access-date=25 October 2016 |website=Idlebrain.com}}}}
| writer = Tharun Bhascker
| starring = {{ubl|Vijay Deverakonda|Ritu Varma}}
| music = Vivek Sagar
| cinematography = Nagesh Banell
| editing = Ravi Teja Girijala
| studio = {{ubl|BigBen Cinemas|Dharmapatha Creations}}
| distributor = {{ubl|Suresh Productions|Freeze Frame Films{{br}}{{small|(Overseas)}} }}
| released = {{Film date|df=yes|2016|07|29}}
| runtime = 118 minutes
| country = India
| language = Telugu
| budget = {{INR|60 lakh}}–{{INR|1.2 crore}}{{Cite web |last=Hooli |first=Shekhar H. |date=7 August 2016 |title=Salman Khan to watch 'Pelli Choopulu' at special screening; is he planning to remake it in Hindi? |url=https://www.ibtimes.co.in/salman-khan-watch-pelli-choopulu-special-screening-he-planning-remake-it-hindi-689216 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200629130204/https://www.ibtimes.co.in/salman-khan-watch-pelli-choopulu-special-screening-he-planning-remake-it-hindi-689216 |archive-date=29 June 2020 |access-date=28 June 2020 |website=International Business Times}}{{Cite web |date=17 September 2016 |title=Pellichoopulu 50-days run: Director Tharun Bhascker shares his success story |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/regional/pellichoopulu-50-days-movie-review-run-director-tharun-bhascker-shares-his-success-story-3035619/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200630002327/https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/regional/pellichoopulu-50-days-movie-review-run-director-tharun-bhascker-shares-his-success-story-3035619/ |archive-date=30 June 2020 |access-date=28 June 2020 |website=The Indian Express}}
| gross = {{Estimation}} {{INR|30 crore}}{{Cite web |last=Sudhir |first=TS |date=4 September 2016 |title=Why The Success Of 'Pelli Choopulu' Is Great News For Telugu Cinema |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.in/2016/09/04/why-the-success-of-pelli-choopulu-is-great-news-for-telugu-cin_a_21465210/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200924013948/https://www.huffingtonpost.in/2016/09/04/why-the-success-of-pelli-choopulu-is-great-news-for-telugu-cin_a_21465210/ |archive-date=24 September 2020 |access-date=28 June 2020 |website=HuffPost}}
}}
Pelli Choopulu ({{translation|Matchmaking}}) is a 2016 Indian Telugu-language romantic comedy film written and directed by Tharun Bhascker and produced by Raj Kandukuri and Yash Rangineni. It features Vijay Deverakonda and Ritu Varma in the lead roles. Partly based on a real-life incident of "Spitfire BBQ" food truck,{{Cite web |last=Pasha |first=Gouse |title=Meet The Real-Life Couple Who Inspired The Lead Characters Of Pelli Choopulu! |url=https://chaibisket.com/real-life-pellichoopulu-couple/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200127101541/https://chaibisket.com/real-life-pellichoopulu-couple/ |archive-date=27 January 2020 |access-date=27 January 2020 |website=Chai Bisket}} the film revolves around a boy and a girl who meet during match-making and how their aspirations that bring them together form the rest of the story.
The film was released worldwide on 29 July 2016 to positive reviews from critics and became a commercial blockbuster .{{Cite news |date=29 July 2016 |title='Pelli Choopulu' review: A Refreshing and realistic love story |work=The New Indian Express |url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/telugu/Pelli-Choopulu-review-A-Refreshing-and-realistic-love-story/2016/07/29/article3553338.ece |url-status=dead |access-date=25 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161001114317/http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/telugu/Pelli-Choopulu-review-A-Refreshing-and-realistic-love-story/2016/07/29/article3553338.ece |archive-date=1 October 2016}}{{Cite news |date=29 July 2016 |title=Pelli Choopulu review: A gem of a film |work=The Hindu |url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/pelli-choopulu-review-a-gem-of-a-film/article8917019.ece |url-status=live |access-date=25 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211022042658/https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/Pelli-Choopulu-A-gem-of-a-film/article14517087.ece |archive-date=22 October 2021}} The film provided breakthrough for the film's cast and crew. It is considered one of the "25 Greatest Telugu Films Of The Decade" by Film Companion.{{Cite web |title=25 Greatest Telugu Films Of The Decade |url=https://www.filmcompanion.in/fc-decades/pages/telugu.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191017163531/https://www.filmcompanion.in/fc-decades/pages/telugu.html |archive-date=17 October 2019 |access-date=26 June 2021 |website=Film Companion}}
The film won two National Film Awards for Best Telugu Film and Best Screenplay, two State Nandi Awards for Best Feature Film and Best Actress, and two Filmfare Awards South including Best Telugu Film.{{Cite web |date=1 July 2017 |title=Nani and Jr NTR bag top honours at SIIMA-2017 | Telugu Movie News |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movies/nani-and-jr-ntr-walk-away-with-top-honours-at-siima-2017/articleshow/59397205.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171111113740/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movies/nani-and-jr-ntr-walk-away-with-top-honours-at-siima-2017/articleshow/59397205.cms |archive-date=11 November 2017 |access-date=6 September 2017 |website=The Times of India}}{{Cite press release |title=64th National Film Awards |publisher=Directorate of Film Festivals |url=http://www.dff.nic.in/writereaddata/NFA64PressNote2016.pdf |access-date=7 April 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170606051143/http://dff.nic.in/writereaddata/NFA64PressNote2016.pdf |archive-date=6 June 2017}} The film was remade in Hindi as Mitron (2018), in Malayalam as Vijay Superum Pournamiyum (2019) and in Tamil as Oh Manapenne! (2021).
Plot
Prasanth goes to Chitra's house for a matchmaking event. He is a guy who completes his B.Tech by clearing many subjects for almost 5 years, but he is also lazy and incapable of doing any work. His dream is to become a chef and open a restaurant, but he does not get any support from his father. Chitra is a very focused girl who works hard to fulfil her dreams of going to Australia. However, her father shows no interest, as she is a girl. When both of them meet at the matchmaking event her younger cousin, Subhash, accidentally locks the door which jams very often and they get stuck eventually. To pass time, they talk about their past.
Chitra reveals that she was in love with a North Indian guy named Vikram. They both wanted to start a food truck business. Vikram went to Delhi to talk with his father about their love and business. Meanwhile, Chitra started her plan eagerly, and was ready to surprise Vikram by buying the truck. Then things went wrong and Vikram did not come back overpowered by greed of getting dowry. Chitra and her father waited for him but when they realised Vikram wasn't coming back, her father decided to get her married to someone else.
On his turn, Prasanth reveals that he was unemployed and always went out with his two friends. He, along with his friends, made cooking videos, as he is passionate about cooking. But it wasn't profitable enough so, they plan to make prank videos and were caught red-handed by Prashant's father, which ended their plan. He then got a job in a call centre after he was recommended by his father. He started going out with a girl to show off to his friends, but she cheated on him. He found out about it only when her second boyfriend called him at work, and quit his job after having a fight with his boss.
It is then revealed that Prasanth came to the wrong address for his matchmaking event. Later, Prasanth goes to his actual matchmaking event, which was with a rich family. Meanwhile, Chitra tells the guy coming to her matchmaking event that she's not interested in marriage. The family of Prasanth's bride wanted him to be able to run a business, so he and Chitra decide to operate the food truck themselves, with Prasanth as the chef, and Chitra in charge of the business side of things. At first, they face many difficulties, mainly through Prasanth's and his friends' laziness as well as fighting with Chitra and giving up the food truck.
Prasanth visits Chitra's house and informs her father that he should be proud to have such a responsible daughter. He also claims that if he ever gets a child he would wish to have daughter like Chitra and insists him that he let her pursue her dreams. Chitra understands the good nature of Prasanth and later convinces his father that he is a natural cook by cooking them Prasanth's recipe. They kickstart their business with the support from both their parents. After this, their food truck becomes a smashing success. In the process, they fall in love without realising it, but both of them are engaged to other people, so they drift apart. After realising they love each other, they come back together through a radio show organised by their friend, with the support of their family and friends.
Cast
{{colbegin}}
- Vijay Deverakonda as Prashanth
- Ritu Varma as Chitra
- Priyadarshi as Kaushik
- Abhay Bethiganti as Vishnu
- Nandu as Vikram
- Anish Kuruvilla as Businessman
- Kedar Shankar as Prashanth's father
- Khenisha Chandran as Richa
- Yogi Khathri as Event Manager
- Padmaja Lanka as Satya, Prashanth's mother
- Gururaj Manepalli as Chitra's father
- Sujata Gosukonda as Chitra's mother
- Anisha Alla as Prashanth's ex-girlfriend
- Keshav Deepak as Prashanth's Boss
{{colend}}
Production
= Development =
After making numerous short films, Tharun Bhascker made his directorial debut with this film. According to Tharun, Pelli Choopulu "is a very urban comedy set in a middle class in Hyderabad. It shows the contrast between the old and young generations and the comedy of errors that can happen within the space."{{Cite news |last=Chowdhary |first=Y. Sunita |date=1 December 2015 |title=After short films, Tarun Bhasker to direct a feature |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/after-short-films-tarun-bhasker-to-direct-a-feature/article7936817.ece |url-status=live |access-date=7 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170506092436/http://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/after-short-films-tarun-bhasker-to-direct-a-feature/article7936817.ece |archive-date=6 May 2017}} Tharun had this basic idea of two contrasting personalities meeting for match-making, both getting stuck in a room is a metaphor for dating while food truck is a metaphor for live-in relationship.
= Casting =
Ritu Verma who earlier worked in Tharun's Anukokunda was selected as lead actress while Vijay Deverakonda, who portrayed a supporting role in Yevade Subramanyam (2015), made his debut as lead actor with this film.{{Cite web |date=30 April 2016 |title=From YouTube to 70MM |url=https://www.thehansindia.com/posts/index/Cinema/2016-04-30/From-YouTube-to-70MM/225117 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181020033624/http://www.thehansindia.com/posts/index/Cinema/2016-04-30/From-YouTube-to-70MM/225117 |archive-date=20 October 2018 |access-date=7 May 2020 |website=The Hans India}} Vijay agreed to do this role as he found it "realistically very lazy" and "so close to my heart because young attitude, irresponsible behaviour was a part of my personal life".{{Cite web |title=Interview with Vijay Devarakonda about Pelli Choopulu – Telugu cinema actor |url=http://www.idlebrain.com/celeb/interview/vijaydevarakonda.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200430132020/http://www.idlebrain.com/celeb/interview/vijaydevarakonda.html |archive-date=30 April 2020 |access-date=7 May 2020 |website=idlebrain.com}}
= Filming =
Tharun shot the entire film in sync sound as he feels it offers freedom for artists to improvise their dialogues. The sync sound equipment, from Mumbai, that was used for Gangs of Wasseypur was used for this film. The filming was completed within 35 days.
= Distribution and Box-office =
The film's budget was {{Indian Rupee}}60 lakh to 1.2 crore. The producer had spent another {{Indian Rupee}}60 lakh on its promotion. D. Suresh Babu acquired the theatrical rights for an amount of {{Indian Rupee}}1.50 crore and released it under his banner Suresh Productions across Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
The film collected over {{Indian Rupee}}5 crore gross at the AP/TG box office in its opening week. In five weeks, the film has grossed over {{Indian Rupee}}30 crore. The film's theatrical rights in the US had been bought for $200,000 and it went on to gross over $1.22 million, making it the biggest overseas hit in terms of return on investment.{{Cite web |date=2016-08-21 |title=Pelli Choopulu box office collection: Telugu indie film mints Rs 6 cr in US |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/regional-cinema/story/pelli-choopulu-box-office-collection-telugu-salman-khan-remake-336374-2016-08-21 |access-date=2022-07-27 |website=India Today |language=en |archive-date=27 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220727175241/https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/regional-cinema/story/pelli-choopulu-box-office-collection-telugu-salman-khan-remake-336374-2016-08-21 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Hooli |first=Shekhar H. |date=2016-09-27 |title=Pelli Choopulu US box office collection: Vijay-Ritu's film grosses $1.22 million in 59 days |url=https://www.ibtimes.co.in/pelli-choopulu-us-box-office-collection-vijay-ritus-film-grosses-1-22-million-59-days-695392 |access-date=2022-07-27 |website=IBTimes |language=en |archive-date=27 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220727175727/https://www.ibtimes.co.in/pelli-choopulu-us-box-office-collection-vijay-ritus-film-grosses-1-22-million-59-days-695392 |url-status=live }}
Gemini TV had acquired its satellite rights for an amount of {{Indian Rupee}}2.35 crore.
= Themes and influences =
Tharun followed character arcs from Knocked Up (directed by Judd Apatow). For the food truck business thread, Tharun revealed he drew inspirations from films like 100 foot journey and Chef.{{Cite web |title=Post mortem – Pelli Choopulu by Tharun Bhascker – Telugu cinema news |url=http://www.idlebrain.com/movie/postmortem/pellichoopulu.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200201190744/http://idlebrain.com/movie/postmortem/pellichoopulu.html |archive-date=1 February 2020 |access-date=7 May 2020 |website=idlebrain.com}}
Soundtrack
{{Infobox album
| name = Pelli Choopulu
| type = Soundtrack
| longtype = to Pelli Choopulu
| artist = Vivek Sagar
| cover =
| alt =
| released = 29 July 2016
| recorded = 2016
| venue =
| studio = Tapeloop
| genre = Feature film soundtrack
| length = 19:18
| language = Telugu
| label = Madhura Audio
| producer = Vivek Sagar
| prev_title = Race
| prev_year = 2013
| next_title = Yuddham Sharanam
| next_year = 2017
}}
This film has six songs composed by Vivek Sagar and lyrics are written by Rahul Ramakrishna, Shreshta, Shri, & Nikhil Bharadwaj. Music released on Madhura Audio.
Vivek Sagar earlier composed music for Tharun Bhascker's short film Sainma, he revealed that the film's music was conceived only after the film was shot.{{Cite news |last=Dundoo |first=Sangeetha Devi |date=11 September 2017 |title=Vivek Sagar: Career not driven by an agenda |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/music/engineer-turned-composer-vivek-sagar-revels-in-the-joy-of-making-music/article19660463.ece |url-status=live |access-date=7 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112015423/https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/music/engineer-turned-composer-vivek-sagar-revels-in-the-joy-of-making-music/article19660463.ece |archive-date=12 November 2020}} "With no lip sync songs, the music blended in with the narrative", he said.{{Cite news |last=Nadadhur |first=Srivathsan |date=27 July 2016 |title=Eclecticism, his signature |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/Eclecticism-his-signature/article14511348.ece |url-status=live |access-date=7 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191221075952/https://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/Eclecticism-his-signature/article14511348.ece |archive-date=21 December 2019}}
{{Tracklist
| collapsed =
| headline = Track listing
| extra_column = Artist(s)
| total_length = 19:18
| title1 = Ee Babu Gariki
| note1 =
| lyrics1 = Rahul Ramakrishna
| extra1 = Sooraj Santhosh
| length1 = 3:10
| title2 = Chinuku Taake
| note2 =
| lyrics2 = Shreshta
| extra2 = Amritavarshini KC
| length2 = 4:38
| title3 = Raalu Raaga Poolamala
| note3 =
| lyrics3 = Rahul Ramakrishna, Shri
| extra3 = Shri, Wilson Herald
| length3 = 3:23
| title4 = Merise Merise
| note4 =
| lyrics4 = Shreshta
| extra4 = Haricharan, Pranavi Acharya
| length4 = 5.04
| title5 = Aanandamayenu
| note5 =
| lyrics5 = Instrumental
| extra5 = Tejas Mallela (violin), Ranjani Sivakumar (singer)
| length5 = 1:41
| title6 = Spitfire Friends
| note6 =
| lyrics6 = Nikhil Bharadwaj
| extra6 = Nikhil Bharadwaj
| length6 = 3:22
}}
Accolades
Remakes
Pelli Choopulu was remade in Hindi as Mitron (2018),{{Cite web |title='Mitron' movie review: A hit and a miss kind of film |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/review/2018/sep/21/mitron-movie-review-a-hit-and-a-miss-kind-of-film-1875355.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190909165432/http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/review/2018/sep/21/mitron-movie-review-a-hit-and-a-miss-kind-of-film-1875355.html |archive-date=9 September 2019 |access-date=7 May 2020 |website=The New Indian Express}} in Malayalam as Vijay Superum Pournamiyum (2019),{{Cite web |title=Vijay Superum Pournamiyum review: A watchable romantic comedy |url=https://www.sify.com/movies/vijay-superum-pournamiyum-review-a-watchable-romantic-comedy-review-malayalam-tbmn9bhicabje.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200811164455/https://www.sify.com/movies/vijay-superum-pournamiyum-review-a-watchable-romantic-comedy-review-malayalam-tbmn9bhicabje.html |archive-date=11 August 2020 |access-date=7 May 2020 |website=Sify}} and in Tamil as Oh Manapenne! (2021).{{Cite web |last=Aiyappan |first=Ashameera |date=22 October 2021 |title=Oh Manapenney movie review: Harish Kalyan, Priya Bhavanishankar lead a faithful remake |url=https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/oh-manapenney-movie-review-harish-kalyan-priya-bhavanishankar-lead-a-faithful-remake-10074461.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211022041539/https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/oh-manapenney-movie-review-harish-kalyan-priya-bhavanishankar-lead-a-faithful-remake-10074461.html |archive-date=22 October 2021 |access-date=22 October 2021 |website=Firstpost}} A Kannada remake Shaadi Bhagya with Gurunandan and Shraddha Srinath in the lead was being planned as of 2017.{{Cite news |date=2017-02-22 |title=Pelli Choopulu is Shaadi Bhagya in sandalwood |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/kannada/movies/news/pelli-choopulu-is-shaadi-bhagya-in-sandalwood/articleshow/57289114.cms |access-date=2024-05-17 |work=The Times of India |archive-date=24 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170224215833/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/kannada/movies/news/pelli-choopulu-is-shaadi-bhagya-in-sandalwood/articleshow/57289114.cms |url-status=live }}
Notes
{{notelist}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb title|5824826}}
{{National Film Award Best Feature Film Telugu|state=collapsed}}
{{Filmfare Best Telugu Film}}{{SIIMA Award for Best Film – Telugu}}{{Pelli Choopulu and its remakes}}
Category:2010s Telugu-language films
Category:2016 directorial debut films
Category:2016 romantic comedy films
Category:Best Telugu Feature Film National Film Award winners
Category:Films about Indian weddings
Category:Films directed by Tharun Bhascker
Category:Films shot in Telangana
Category:Films whose writer won the Best Dialogue National Film Award
Category:Indian romantic comedy films