| Oopiri / Thozha | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster in Telugu | |
| Directed by | Vamshi Paidipally |
| Screenplay by |
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| Story by |
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| Based on | The Intouchables byÉric Toledano and Olivier Nakache |
| Produced by |
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| Starring | |
| Cinematography | P. S. Vinod |
| Edited by |
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| Music by | Gopi Sundar |
Production company | |
Release date |
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Running time | |
| Country | India |
| Languages |
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Oopiri (transl. Breath) is a 2016 Indianbilingualcomedy-drama film directed byVamshi Paidipally and produced byPVP Cinema. The film is shot simultaneously inTelugu andTamil languages; the latter titledThozha (transl. Friend). It starsAkkineni Nagarjuna,Karthi (in his Telugu debut) andTamannaah Bhatia whilePrakash Raj,Ali,Vivek,Jayasudha,Kalpana andTanikella Bharani playing supporting roles. The narrative focuses on the lives of Vikramaditya, a quadriplegic billionaire, and Seenu, his ex-convict caretaker, highlighting their realisation of the importance of life and relationships over money and disability.
Oopiri is a remake ofÉric Toledano and Olivier Nakache's French filmThe Intouchables (2011). The rights to remakeThe Intouchables were acquired byKaran Johar andGuneet Monga in May 2014, who later authorised PVP Cinema to produce adaptations in regional languages, makingOopiri its first remake.Principal photography took place from March 2015 to February 2016 in locations includingChennai,Hyderabad,Paris,Belgrade andNovi Sad.Gopi Sundar composed the film's music, whileP. S. Vinod was responsible for cinematography. Madhu andPraveen K. L. edited the Telugu and Tamil versions, respectively.
Oopiri andThozha were released theatrically worldwide on 25 March 2016. Both films garnered critical acclaim for the performances of the lead actors, their cinematography and Vamshi Paidipally's direction in adapting the original story. The films won two awards at the64th Filmfare Awards South:Best Director (Telugu) for Paidipally andBest Cinematography forP. S. Vinod. Additionally, Paidipally received the Best Director Award at the6th South Indian International Movie Awards.Oopiri is regarded as one of the "25 Greatest Telugu Films of the Decade" byFilm Companion.[3]
Vikramaditya is a wealthy entrepreneur. Aparagliding accident in Paris leaves him aquadriplegic. For the sake of his girlfriend Nandini's happiness, Vikramaditya breaks off contact with her, hoping that she'll find and marry someone else.
Five years later, Vikramaditya leads a spiritless life with his secretary Keerthi, his cook Lakshmi, and a few house attendants. He and Keerthi interview candidates for a caretaker position- someone to help with everyday tasks like eating, getting clothed, and moving around. Many applicants seem obsequious and ingratiating. Seenu, a paroled convict, applies for the job in accordance with his lawyer's (Lingam) advice; the job would prove to the court that Seenu is leading a law-abiding life, closing his case. His mother, a railway clerk, disowns Seenu as she thinks that he is a bad influence on his siblings. He is detested by his mother and his siblings.
Vikramaditya, finding Seenu refreshingly honest and informal, hires him. He defends his decision to Prasad, his longtime friend and legal advisor, saying that Seenu is the right person for the time being since he is the only one who doesn't pity him. Though initially reluctant, Seenu learns to assists Vikramaditya with all his needs. He is attracted to Keerthi, but she often criticizes him for his irreverence.
Seenu learns that Vikramaditya has a purelyepistolary relationship with a woman called Priya. Seenu encourages him to meet her, but Vikramaditya opposes it, fearing her reaction when she discovers his disability.
Seenu's younger sister, Swathi, seeks approval from her boyfriend's family for marriage, but they think Swathi's family too poor and irrespectable. While Seenu seeks to intervene on her behalf, Swathi scorns Seenu for landing in trouble and making their family disrespectable. Vikramaditya learns about Swathi's situation, and convinces Kaalidasu / Kaalidasan (through Prasad) to go through with the marriage. The marriage is arranged, and Seenu earns Swathi's respect. Coming to know about this, Seenu tearfully thanks Vikram.
After celebrating his birthday, Vikramaditya becomes ill during the night, having trouble breathing, and is saved by his doctors. Seenu learns about Vikramaditya's adventurous past from Prasad, and suggests a vacation in Paris. Vikramaditya agrees and he, Seenu, and Keerthi leave for Paris. Seenu keeps Vikramaditya happy and boosts his morale, which impresses Keerthi. He makes a bet that he will ask Keerthi out if Vikramaditya impresses Jenny, a French dancer, on a date. Despite his disability, Vikramaditya charms Jenny with his wit and charm. Seenu is then forced to ask out Keerthi, who later accepts.
Seenu secretly arranges for Vikramaditya to meet Nandini, telling her about Vikramaditya's accident and its aftermath. Nandini is glad to see him and brings her husband Abhinav, and their daughter Aadhya to show him that she is happy.
Later, Seenu takes Vikramaditya on a motorcycle ride, and for one of the first times since the accident, Vikramaditya feels free, like the man he used to be.
Seenu's younger brother, Kanna, gets in trouble with a gang, and meets Seenu at Vikramaditya's mansion. Vikramaditya, recognising Seenu's need to support his family by being present, releases him from his obligations and suggests that he may not want to push a wheelchair all his life. Seenu becomes a cab driver and leads a responsible life, this time with his family's love and acceptance, but Vikramaditya becomes unhappy and becomes a recluse.
A worried Prasad contacts Seenu, who arrives and drives Vikramaditya off in a car toVisakhapatnam (Pondicherry in Tamil version). They dress elegantly and visit a restaurant with a beautiful ocean view. Seenu leaves moments before Priya arrives. Vikramaditya looks outside through the window and sees Seenu, who smiles at him and walks away.
Karan Johar andGuneet Monga acquired the Indian remake rights toÉric Toledano and Olivier Nakache's Frenchcomedy drama film,The Intouchables (2011) in May 2014. They planned aHindi version, directed byMohit Suri.[4] Johar and Monga later authorisedPVP Cinema to remake the film in regional languages, postponing their previous plans.Vamshi Paidipally was chosen to direct aTelugu film titledOopiri.[5]Oopiri is the first Indian remake ofThe Intouchables. It was also the first Indian remake of a film produced byGaumont Film Company.[6]
N. T. Rama Rao Jr. was signed to play one of the two male leads. At Rama Rao's suggestion, Paidipally forwarded the script to actor and producerNagarjuna for the other male lead. Nagarjuna asked the director to remove the flashback scenes, opting for a realistic version closer to the original. Paidipally agreed, and the script was reworked in two months.[7] Production was scheduled to begin in December 2014, when Nagarjuna would be available. In an interview withDeccan Chronicle, the actor said that the film's theme would be similar toMissamma (1955).[8] Rama Rao Jr. left the project due to scheduling conflicts withNannaku Prematho (2016),[9] and was replaced byKarthi in October 2014.[10] Karthi's inclusion in the film led the makers to make the film as a bilingual titledThozha inTamil.[10]
Gopi Sundar was signed as the film's music director, his first collaboration with Paidipally.[11]Oopiri had two launch ceremonies: the first on 11 February 2015 inHyderabad[12] and the second on 15 March inChennai.P. S. Vinod was the film's cinematographer.[13] Paidipally worked on the screenplay, assisted by Hari and Solomon with the adaptation.[14]Abburi Ravi wrote the dialogue forOopiri,[15] and Karthi asked filmmakerRaju Murugan to do the same forThozha.[16] Madhu andPraveen K. L. edited the Telugu and Tamil versions, respectively.[5]
I couldn't use any gestures apart from speech and facial expressions. For a few scenes, they tied my hands beneath my jacket so that, involuntarily, I wouldn't move my limbs. I felt like a Bharatanatyam dancer, having to emote with my eyes.
Nagarjuna played the wheelchair-using quadriplegic in the film, and a ₹25 lakh customised wheelchair was imported fromSweden for the role.[17] An assistant checked to see if the actor moved his limbs during filming, and scenes had to be re-shot a number of times. Nagarjuna found the process "extremely challenging", and his legs sometimes became numb.[18]Oopiri was Karthi's first Telugu film, although he was popular with Telugu-speaking audiences who saw dubbed versions of his Tamil films. Rajeev Kamineni of PVP Cinema toldThe Hindu that Karthi was cast to combine actors who were audience favourites and had not collaborated before.[19]
Karthi played the caretaker, reprisingOmar Sy's role in the original.[20] He called his character "terribly insensitive", but becoming refined at the end.[21] Despite his fluency in Telugu, Karthi wanted to practice his dialogue in advance since scenes in both languages would be shot at the same time.[22] He had to be louder inOopiri, and used local Tamil slang inThozha.[23] The actor said that some changes were made in the remake, since some situations in the original "just could not work in the Indian scenario".[20]Shruti Haasan was chosen as the female lead in January 2015.[24] After she walked out in March, citing scheduling conflicts, she was replaced byTamannaah Bhatia.[25] Her character, Keerthi, was modelled on the secretary and the caretaker in the original.[26] The actress had to look corporate for the role, which she called a "bridge of sorts between the protagonists"; she was a "constant spectator to every emotion they go through".[27]
After Haasan left the film, PVP Cinema claimed that her scheduled dates (from 10 December 2014 to 8 April 2015) were assigned for her convenience and the actress was civilly and criminally liable. The Nampally city court restricted her from agreeing to any new film and ordered a police investigation.[28] According to Haasan's spokesperson, neither the actress norRaaj Kamal Films International were legally notified.[29] Haasan withdrew her defamation suit in April 2015 afterR. Sarathkumar andKalaipuli S. Thanu intervened, and the court dismissed PVP Cinema's case.[30]
Prakash Raj,Ali,Vivek, andTanikella Bharani were cast in key supporting roles,[14][15] withJayasudha and Nikkita Anil playing Karthi's mother and sister.[31][32]Kalpana made her Telugu-film debut inOopiri,[15] but she died in her sleep at age 50 during filming in Hyderabad.[33]Anushka Shetty andAdivi Sesh made cameo appearances as a couple;[34] the former played Nagarjuna's ex-girlfriend in the film.[35] Gabriella Demetriades was cast in August 2015 after auditioning with five other international models in Hyderabad,[36] and the film was her South Indian acting debut.[37]Nora Fatehi made a special appearance in a song,[38] andShriya Saran had a cameo appearance.[39] The Telugu and Tamil versions had a slightly different supporting cast to suit the nativity of both audiences.[5]
According to PVP Cinema's Kamineni, a substantial portion ofOopiri would be filmed abroad.[19]Principal photography began inChennai on 16 March 2015. Scenes with Karthi and Jayasudha were filmed in a purpose-built house set.[31] By the time Haasan left the film, the first shooting schedule hadwrapped.[28] After completing schedules in Chennai and Hyderabad, Karthi and Tamannaah joined the film set inDubai in May; several scenes were filmed in a rented, palatial house.[41] Paidipally, who planned a 25-day shooting schedule inParis andLyon beginning in June, left to scout locations.[42] A month-long European shooting schedule began in July inBelgrade andNovi Sad, andOopiri was the first South Indian film made there. After Belgrade and Novi Sad, filming continued in Paris, Lyon andLjubljana.[43] Key scenes, including a car chase, and some songs were filmed as part of the schedule.
The car-chase scene was filmed over eight nights, due to changes in the weather. It was shot near theEiffel Tower, which Paidipally called the "obvious choice to show the moment of triumph" in Vikramaditya's life.[44] On 1 August, Nagarjuna tweeted that the shooting schedule would wrap in ten days.[45] A song including Nagarjuna, Karthi, and Fatehi was filmed in November in Hyderabad.[38] Principal photography wrapped in February 2016, andpost-production commenced shortly.[46]Thozha's filming was delayed due to Nagarjuna's lack of fluency in Tamil,[7] but at Karthi's insistence he delivered his own lines.[47] Tamannaah found her dialogue simple and realistic and delivered her own lines inOopiri, the first Telugu film to include her voice.[26]
Gopi Sundar composed the film's score and seven-song soundtrack.[48][49]Ramajogayya andSirivennela Seetharama Sastry wrote the Telugu version's lyrics, and the lyrics forThozha's soundtrack were byMadhan Karky.[50] According to Karky, all the lyrics inOopiri except "Door Number Okati" had different meanings inThozha, and Karthi and Paidipally wantedThozha's songs to suit the Tamil audience's sensibilities.[50] The soundtrack of the Telugu version was unveiled on 14 February 2016 (Valentine's Day)[48] at the Hitex Convention Centre inHyderabad, while the Tamil version was released on 21 February 2016,[49] atSt. Bede's School inChennai amid much fanfare.[51] Both the albums were marketed byTimes Music South.
The Times of India gaveOopiri's soundtrack four stars, calling it a "winner on all counts" and Sunder is "increasingly becoming a force to be reckon with in [Telugu cinema]".[52] Karthik Srinivasan, writing forThe Hindu, praised Sunder's usage of solo violin pieces and chorus hooks inThozha's "Pudhidhaa" ("Oka Life" inOopiri).[53] Siddharth K ofSify noted that the soundtrack ofThozha has influences of Malayalam film soundtracks in the slow-paced songs despite being designed keeping the Telugu and Tamil sensibilities in mind. He found the songs "Baby Odathey" ("Baby Aagodhu" in Telugu), "Nagarum" ("Eppudu" in Telugu), and "Eiffel Mele" ("Ayyo Ayyo" in Telugu) likeable and gave the soundtrack three stars.[54]
All lyrics are written byRamajogayya Sastry andSirivennela Seetharama Sastry..
| No. | Title | Singer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Baby Aagodhu" | Shankar Mahadevan | 2:39 |
| 2. | "Oka Life" | Karthik | 4:46 |
| 3. | "Ayyo Ayyo" | Ranjith,Suchitra | 3:48 |
| 4. | "Nevvemicchavo" | Vijay Prakash | 2:07 |
| 5. | "Podham" | Haricharan | 4:45 |
| 6. | "Door Number Okati" | Geetha Madhuri | 4:05 |
| 7. | "Eppudu" | Karthik | 4:47 |
| Total length: | 27:36 | ||
All lyrics are written byMadhan Karky..
| No. | Title | Singer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Baby Odadhe" | Shankar Mahadevan | 2:39 |
| 2. | "Pudidha" | Karthik | 4:46 |
| 3. | "Eiffel Mele" | Ranjith,Suchitra | 3:48 |
| 4. | "Enadhuyire" | Vijay Prakash | 2:07 |
| 5. | "Thozha" | Anirudh Ravichander,Haricharan | 4:45 |
| 6. | "Door Number One" | Geetha Madhuri | 4:05 |
| 7. | "Nagarum" | Karthik | 4:47 |
| Total length: | 27:36 | ||
Oopiri andThozha were theatrically released worldwide on 25 March 2016.[55]
The digital rights ofOopiri andThozha were purchased byYuppTV, a leading television content provider in South.[56] The premiere of the film took place on 3 May 2016 after its theatrical run ended.[57] The television broadcast rights were acquired bySun TV Network; and the global television premiere of the Tamil versionThozha was held on 2 October 2016 coinciding withGandhi Jayanti.[58]
The films received positive critical reception.[59]
Baradwaj Rangan, writing forThe Hindu, foundThozha enjoyable despite its lack of narrative finesse and called it a light, pleasant film comparable toBangalore Days (2014).[60] Sangeetha Devi Dundoo, also inThe Hindu, gaveOopiri four stars and called it a "rare film that justifies its hype". She wrote that Nagarjuna's portrayal of Vikramaditya was "age-defying, graceful and restrained" and praised the rest of the cast, Vinod's cinematography, and Sunder's score.[61] Pranita Jonnalagedda ofThe Times of India gaveOopiri four stars out of five, writing that it "sets a benchmark for adaptations in Telugu cinema" and "paves the way for more exciting genres". She praised the principal cast's performances and the film's climax.[62]
According to Anupama Subramaniam ofDeccan Chronicle,Thozha had an "alluring story" supported by "extraordinary performances, sound technical departments and rich production values". Suresh Kavirayani, also inDeccan Chronicle, foundOopiri a "beautiful and emotional journey". Both gave the film 3.5 stars out of five.[63][64] Writing forIndia Today, Kirubhakar Purushothaman also gave the film 3.5 stars out of five, calling it a decent remake which "retains the soul of the original" with "the right cast and the perfect team".[65] Karthik Keramalu ofNews18 also gaveOopiri 3.5 stars out of five. Keramalu called it the best of Paidipally's career so far and praised the principal cast's performances.[66]
S. Saraswathi ofRediff.com gaveThozha three stars out of five, praising the film's screenplay, visuals, and performances.[67]Sify also gave the film three stars out of five and called it a "breezy feel good ride"; its reviewer praised its performances and visuals, but criticised its length.[68] Gautaman Bhaskaran, writing for theHindustan Times, gaveThozha 2.5 stars out of five; Bhaskaran found the film "[u]nduly verbose" and wrote that it "loses its sense of male bonding—particularly after it veers into love stories".[69]
Oopiri andThozha grossed ₹20 crore at the box office within four days, as reported by trade analyst Trinath.[70] The film further increased its total gross to ₹27 crore in its first week and earned $1 million in the overseas market during that time, according toFirstpost.[71]
| Date of ceremony | Award | Category | Recipient(s) and nominee(s) | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28—29 March 2017 | IIFA Utsavam | Best Film – Telugu | Oopiri | Nominated | [72] |
| Best Director – Telugu | Vamshi Paidipally | Nominated | |||
| Best Supporting Actor – Tamil | Nagarjuna | Won | |||
| Best Actor – Tamil | Karthi | Nominated | |||
| Best Supporting Actress – Telugu | Jayasudha | Nominated | |||
| Best Actor In A Comic Role – Telugu | Prakash Raj | Nominated | |||
| Best Music Director – Telugu | Gopi Sundar | Nominated | |||
| Best Lyricist – Telugu | Sirivennela Seetharama Sastry ("Podham") | Nominated | |||
| Best Male Playback Singer – Telugu | Haricharan ("Podham") | Nominated | |||
| Best Female Playback Singer – Telugu | Suchitra ("Ayyo Ayyo") | Nominated | |||
| 17 June 2017 | Filmfare Awards South | Best Film – Telugu | Oopiri | Nominated | [73] |
| Best Director – Telugu | Vamshi Paidipally | Won | |||
| Best Cinematographer – Telugu | P. S. Vinod | Won | |||
| Best Actor – Telugu | Karthi | Nominated | |||
| Best Supporting Actor – Telugu | Nagarjuna | Nominated | |||
| Best Lyricist – Telugu | Sirivennela Seetharama Sastry ("Oka Life") | Nominated | |||
| 30 June — 1 July 2017 | South Indian International Movie Awards | Best Director – Telugu | Vamshi Paidipally | Won | [74] [75] |
| Best Actor – Telugu | Nagarjuna | Nominated | |||
| Best Supporting Actress – Telugu | Jayasudha | Nominated |
Inspired by the film, paraplegic television personality Sujatha Barla established the Challengers on Wheels-Celebrating Life community for physically disabled people in April 2016.[76] Judge G. Neelima took 60 underprivileged female students in Balasadan,Warangal to a special screening ofOopiri on the eve ofUgadi.[a][78]