Dookudu

Dookudu
Directed by	Sreenu Vaitla
Produced by	Ram Achanta Gopichand Achanta Anil Sunkara
Written by	Gopimohan Kona Venkat Srinu Vaitla
Starring	Mahesh Babu Samantha Kota Srinivasa Rao Vennela Kishore Prakash Raj Sonu Sood
Music by	Thaman
Cinematography	K. V. Guhan Prasad Murella
Editing by	M. R. Varmaa
Studio	14 Reels Entertainment
Release date(s)	September 23, 2011 (2011-09-23)[1]
Running time	176 mins
Country	India
Language	Telugu
Budget	35 crore (US$7.1 million)[2]
Box office	101 crore (US$20.48 million)[3][4]

Dookudu (Telugu: దూకుడు; English: Aggressive) is a 2011 Telugu action comedy film directed by Sreenu Vaitla and distributed by 14 Reels Entertainment. The ensemble cast, stars Mahesh Babu and Samantha.^[5] The film was released on September 23, 2011, with the largest worldwide opening for a Telugu film. Opening to generally positive reviews, the Los Angeles Times quoted 'Dookudu' as "the biggest hit you've never heard of."^[6] Dookudu became the first ever telugu movie to ever cross the 1 billion mark, a feat never heard of for southern movies.^[7]

Plot

Shankar Narayana (Prakash Raj) is a politician driven by idealistic values and social service. His followers are his brother (Rajiv Kanakala) and supporters (Sayaji Shinde) and Supreet. The people of Shankar's constituency elect him as an M.L.A during the political realm of late N. T. Rama Rao. Even though Shankar is an ardent follower of NTR, he does not wish to join NTR's party, and establishes his own independent political empire. Shankar's dream is to see his son as a Politician revered by people. During this time, Shankar meets with a fatal accident.

Years later, Shankar's son Ajay (Mahesh Babu) is a daring and dashing super cop in Mumbai. He is on a mission to apprehend mafia don Nayak (Sonu Sood) who is involved in illegal drug trade, extortion and arms trafficking. It is later revealed that Shankar actually survived the accident but ended up in a state of coma. However, this truth is hidden by Shankar's family from the people. Ajay maintains a low profile to catch Nayak. On an undercover operation in Istanbul, Ajay gets hold of Nayak's brother Bunty (Ajaz Khan). Later, it is revealed that corrupt opposition leader Mallesh Yadav (Kota Srinivasa Rao) who is also tied up with Nayak was the mastermind behind Shankar's accident, planned to derail Shankar's political empire revered by people.

Ajay falls in love with Prashanthi (Samantha Ruth Prabhu), whom he meets in Istanbul during his operation. Prashanthi is the daughter of Ajay's boss (Nassar), a cop, who obeys commissioner (Suman) in Hyderabad city. When Ajay's dad comes out of coma, doctors advise his family that Shankar is at risk if he encounters or hears anything upsetting, disturbing or shocking. Ajay hides the shocking events surrounding his dad's accident. Ajay shifts his family to his dad's previously abandoned mansion, which is now utilized for filmmaking.

Ajay creates a dummy political set up at this mansion. In the guise of a reality television program, Ajay tricks a film actor Padmasree (Brahmanandam) by making him believe that the television show is being sponsored by film Star Nagarjuna Akkineni's television channel and that Nagarjuna wants to offer him a great deal of remuneration for Padmasree's realistic performance in the show. On the other hand, an aspiring actor Bokka (M. S. Narayana) is also tricked by Ajay. Ajay also tricks Mallesh Yadav with a real estate business deal, to exploit mallesh Yadav's criminal nexus. Ajay keeps this drama under wraps from Shankar, by making Shankar believe that Ajay is now an M.L.A revered by people fulfilling his dad's sentiments. The rest of the plot reveals the politician-criminal nexus behind Shankar's accident and the comic travails which lead Shankar to know the truth and Ajay's retaliation over Mafia don Nayak and Mallesh Yadav's Political Corruption.

Cast

• Mahesh Babu as G. Ajay Kumar
• Samantha as Prashanthi
• Prakash Raj as Shankar Narayana
• Sonu Sood as Nayak
• Brahmanandam as Padma sree
• M. S. Narayana as Bokka Venkata Rao
• Kota Srinivasa Rao as Mallesh Yadav
• Sayaji Shinde as Meka Narsingh Rao
• Vennela Kishore as Sastry
• Master Bharath as Muddhu Krishna
• Nassar as Murthy
• Dharmavarapu Subramanyam as Cool Baba
• Sonia Deepti
• Vinaya Prasad
• Suman as Commissioner of Police
• Shafi Nayak's hench men
• Rajiv Kanakala as Satyam
• Supreet as Ambarpet Ganesh
• Tanikella Bharani as Ajay's Uncle
• Shiva Reddy Mimicry artist
• Adithya
• Chandra Mohan as Ajay's Uncle
• Parvati Melton in a special appearance
• Sanjay Swaroop Shankar's doctor
• Meenakshi Dixit in a special appearance
• Ajaz Khan as Bunty

Release

The film had the largest worldwide opening for a Telugu film, releasing globally in 1600 screens,^[8] including 71 screens in Hyderabad, India.^[9] It also shattered records by releasing in 15 screens in Chennai and 79 theaters in the United States, the highest ever for a Telugu film in both the cases.^{[10] [11]} The satellite rights of the film were sold to MAA TV for 5.4 crore.^[12]

It also became the first Telugu film to release in Botswana and was opened in a single screen with one show by the Telugu Association of Botswana.^[13] Further, it was released in Netherlands, Germany, South Africa and Dubai, the first for a Telugu film, and in regular overseas markets like Singapore, Malaysia and UK, making it the biggest overseas release for a Telugu film as well.^[14] The producers of the film approached the high court for a John Doe order to prevent piracy of the film.^[15]

Critical response

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Times of India	[16]
CNN-IBN	[17]
Deccan Chronicle	[18]
Rediff	[19]

CNN-IBN gave three and half stars said "Dookudu is a treat for Mahesh's fans. But others can also enjoy this film for its comedy elements and Mahesh's powerful presence."^[20] The Times Of India also gave a three and half rating noted ""Dookudu" is a typical Srinu Vytla film with a generous sprinkling of comedy. His narrative manages to keep the audience engaged until the end of the movie."^[21] Deccan Chronicle rated three stars commented "Although, it is a tale of a honest cop who is on the trail of a dreaded don, director Sinu Vaitla relies on a band of comedians like Brahmanandam and M.S. Narayana to sustain audience interests, before his protagonist accomplishes his mission."^[22]

Sify praised the lead performances writing "Mahesh Babu`s role, particularly in the action episodes, rocks."^[23] NDTV stated "Mahesh Babu's style, dialogues and his fight sequences are a plus. Samantha Ruth Prabhu is largely an eye-candy in the film. Despite the star cast, the film's biggest flaw is the weak screenplay and several illogical sequences".^[24] Venkat of Greatandhra.com said "Overall, the film has the right ingredients to appeal the family audience and though most of it is expected, it is the pace and ability with which the audience is engaged and the entertainment value they get."^[25]

On the other hand, the film also received some mixed and negative reviews from other critics. Pavithra Srinivasan of Rediff gave it 2.5 out of 5 and criticized the film's screenplay and logic-defying sequences, while praising the performance of Mahesh Babu, calling his role a "cakewalk" and recommending the film for his fans in particular.^[26] Prakash of Oneindia.in said "To sum up, Dookudu is just another average entertainer and not in the same league as Mahesh Babu’s earlier blockbusters like Athadu and Pokiri."^[27] Haricharan Pudipeddi of nowrunning.com said "Mahesh shines in Dookudu but movie falls short." giving it 3 out of 5 stars.^[28]

Box office

The film had the largest opening for a Telugu film and collected a share of 10.11 crores and gross of 12.58 crores on the first day of its release.^[29] It collected a share of 25.01 crores and grossed 40crores in its first week.^[30] After two weeks, it grossed 70 crores^[31] and at 47 days, it grossed 101 crores.^[32] The movie crossed the million dollar mark in USA and grossed 1.5 crores within two days in UK, Australia, Dubai and Canada.^[33] The film Completed successfully for 50-days in 312 centres.^[34] Some reports say that the movie has grossed about 60 Crore in first 8 weeks ^[35]

Soundtrack

Dookudu
Soundtrack album by Thaman
Released	18 August 2011 (2011-08-18)
Recorded	2011
Genre	Film soundtrack
Length	24:30
Label	Aditya Music
Producer	Thaman
Thaman chronology
Kandireega • (2011) Dookudu • (2011) Osthe • (2011)

The soundtrack of the film, composed by S. Thaman, was released worldwide on 18 August 2011. Lyrics were provided by Ramajogayya Sastry, Viswa and Bhaskarbhatla.^[36] The music was launched on 18 August 2011 at Shilpakala Vedika.

Song	Singer(s)	Duration	Lyrics
"Nee Dookudu"	Shankar Mahadevan	3:49	Viswa
"Guruvaram March Okati"	Rahul Nambiar	4:25	Ramajogayya Sastry
"Chulbuli Chulbuli"	Karthik, Rita	4:26	Ramajogayya Sastry
"Poovai Poovai"	Ramya N.S., Navin Madhav	4:20	Ramajogayya Sastry
"Dethadi Dethadi"	Ranjith, Divya	4:11	Bhaskarbhatla
"Adara Adara"	Karthik, Koti, Ramajogayya Sastry, Vardhini, Ranina Reddy, Megha	4:21	Ramajogayya Sastry

References

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2. ^ "Salman Khan to star in Mahesh Babu's Dookudu remake?". Oneindia.in. http://entertainment.oneindia.in/bollywood/gupshup/2011/salman-khan-mahesh-babu-dookudu-remake-300911.html. Retrieved October 2011. 
3. ^ "Mahesh Babu's Dookudu collects 101 cr in 50 days". NDTV. http://movies.ndtv.com/PhotoDetail.aspx?Page=2&ID=11164#talk. 
4. ^ "Dookudu crosses 100 crore mark at Box Office!". Oneindia.in. http://entertainment.oneindia.in/telugu/news/2011/dookudu-crores-box-office-211111.html. Retrieved November 21, 2011. 
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7. ^ Karthik Paspulatte, TNN, Nov 20, 2011, 12.00AM IST (2011-11-20). "Dookudu touches the one billion mark". Times Of India. http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-11-20/news-interviews/30419726_1_telugu-film-bollywood-films-mahesh-babu-starrer. Retrieved 2011-21-11. 
8. ^ 'I knew Dookudu would be a blockbuster'. Rediff, retrieved on October 06, 2011]
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18. ^ "Dhookudu review: Mahesh Babu goes overboard to make his fans happy". Sep 24, 2011. http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/showbiz/tollywood/dhookudu-review-mahesh-babu-goes-overboard-make-his-fans-happy-973. 
19. ^ "Review: Dookudu is Mahesh Babu's show all the way". September 23, 2011. http://www.rediff.com/movies/review/review-dookudu/20110923.htm. 
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22. ^ B.V.S. Prakash (2011-09-24). "Dhookudu review: Mahesh Babu goes overboard to make his fans happy". Deccan Chronicle. http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/showbiz/tollywood/dhookudu-review-mahesh-babu-goes-overboard-make-his-fans-happy-973. Retrieved 2011-10-24. 
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24. ^ "Review in pics: Mahesh Babu's Dookudu". NDTV. http://movies.ndtv.com/PhotoDetail.aspx?Page=8&ID=11164#talk. 
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31. ^ "Dookudu, a storming success". Rediff. http://www.rediff.com/movies/slide-show/slide-show-1-south-dookudu-a-storming-success/20111012.htm. Retrieved October 12, 2011. 
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33. ^ "Mahesh’s Million US Dollar Dookudu.". idlebrain. http://idlebrain.com/trade/dookudu-milliondollarsusa.html. 
34. ^ "Celebrating Dookudu's enormity". Indiaglitz. http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/telugu/article/73910.html. Retrieved November 12, 2011. 
35. ^ "Dookudu and Magadheera: Both claims are true!". greatandhra. http://www.greatandhra.com/viewnews.php?id=33689&cat=1&scat=4. 
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