 | Some of this article'slisted sourcesmay not bereliable. Please help improve this article by looking for better, more reliable sources. Unreliable citations may be challenged and removed.(August 2024) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
| Double iSmart | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Puri Jagannadh |
| Written by | Puri Jagannadh |
| Produced by |
|
| Starring | |
| Cinematography |
|
| Edited by | Karthika Srinivas |
| Music by | Mani Sharma |
Production company | |
| Distributed by |
|
Release date |
|
Running time | 162 minutes[1] |
| Country | India |
| Language | Telugu |
| Budget | est.₹90 crore[2] |
| Box office | est.₹18 crore[2] |
Double iSmart is a 2024 IndianTelugu-languagescience fictionaction film directed byPuri Jagannadh, who co-produced withCharmy Kaur under Puri Connects. It is thespiritual sequel[citation needed] toiSmart Shankar. The film starsRam Pothineni, alongsideSanjay Dutt (in his Telugu debut),Ali,Kavya Thapar,Sayaji Shinde andBani J.[3][4] The music was composed byMani Sharma, while cinematography and editing were handled by Gianni Giannelli &Shyam K. Naidu andKarthika Srinivas.
Double iSmart was theatrically released on 15 August 2024, coinciding withIndian Independence Day. The film received negative reviews from critics and eventually became abox-office bomb.[2]
Big Bull, a notorious assassin, wants to achieve immortality and decides totransfer his memories to "iSmart" Shankar,who already has another's person's memories transferred to him, thus setting the stage for the intense confrontation between Shankar and Big Bull.
Adapted from the opening credits:[5]
Double iSmart was officially announced on 14 May 2023 byRam Pothineni andPuri Jagannadh.Sanjay Dutt joined the cast as the main antagonist, making his debut inTelugu cinema.[6]
Principal photography commenced on 12 July 2023, after a grand launch inHyderabad.[7] The first schedule wrapped on 31 July 2023, featuring an action sequence filmed inMumbai.[8] The second schedule commenced inThailand in August 2023.[citation needed] Some sequences of the film were shot in Mumbai in May 2024, following which the production faced delays due to financial constraints though later resolved.[9][10] The climax of the film was shot in Mumbai, where a large set worth ₹8 crore was made. The principal photography was wrapped on 5 July.[11]
| Double iSmart | |
|---|---|
| Soundtrack album by | |
| Released | 20 August 2024 |
| Recorded | 2023–24 |
| Genre | Feature film soundtrack |
| Length | 20:02 |
| Language | Telugu |
| Label | Aditya Music |
| Official audio | |
| Audio Jukebox onYouTube | |
Thesoundtrack album andbackground score for the film were composed byMani Sharma.[12] The audio rights were acquired byAditya Music.[citation needed]
The first single titled "SteppaMaar" was released on 1 July 2024.[13] The second single titled "Maar Muntha Chod Chinta" was released on 16 July 2024.[14] The third single titled "Kya Lafda" was released on 29 July 2024.[15] The fourth single titled "Big Bull" was released on 8 August 2024.[citation needed] The fifth single titled "Mother Song" was released on 17 August 2024.
| No. | Title | Lyrics | Singer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "SteppaMaar" | Bhaskarabhatla | Anurag Kulkarni,Sahithi | 3:52 |
| 2. | "Maar Muntha Chod Chinta" | Kasarla Shyam | Rahul Sipligunj, Keerthana Sharma, Dhanunjay Seepana | 3:51 |
| 3. | "Kya Lafda" | Sri Harsha Emani | Dhanunjay Seepana, Sindhuja Srinivasan | 4:31 |
| 4. | "Big Bull" | Bhaskarabhatla | Prudhvi Chandra, Sanjana Kalmanje | 4:07 |
| 5. | "Mother Song" | Krishna Kanth | Ramya Behara | 3:32 |
| Total length: | 20:02 | |||
The film was initially set to release on 8 March 2024 (Maha Shivaratri), but was later postponed to 15 August 2024 coinciding withIndependence Day.[16][17][18] The film received an A (adults only) certification from theCentral Board of Film Certification on the account of violence and strong language.[19]
The distribution rights of the film were acquired by Primeshow Entertainment andMythri Movie Makers.[20] The distribution rights were acquired to Sakthi Film Factory inTamil Nadu[citation needed].
The digital streaming rights to the film were acquired byAmazon Prime Video for₹ 33 crore.[21] The satellite rights were sold byZee Telugu andZee Cinemalu respectively. The film was premiered on Amazon Prime Video from 5 September 2024.[22]
BVS Prakash ofDeccan Chronicle gave 2/5 stars and wrote "After a flop likeLiger, noted director Puri Jagannadh returns withDouble iSmart, but the sci-fi plot he has chosen is not exciting enough."[23] Sashidhar Adivi ofTimes Now gave 2/5 stars and wrote "Double iSmart is a tedious affair!."[24] Sowmya Rajendran ofThe News Minute gave 1/5 stars and wrote "Puri fries our brain with double the torture."[25] In a negative review, Neeshita Nyayapati ofHindustan Times wrote "Puri Jagannadh focuses so much on making his protagonist likeable that this time around, he forgets to focus on a coherent story."[26]