Challenge (1984 film)

Challenge
Directed by	A. Kodandarami Reddy
Produced by	K. S. Rama Rao
Written by	Yandamuri Veerendranath
Starring	Chiranjeevi, Rao Gopal Rao, Suhasini Mani Ratnam, Vijayashanti
Music by	Ilayaraja
Cinematography	Lok Singh
Editing by	Kotagiri Venkateswara Rao
Release date(s)	August 9, 1984
Country	India
Language	Telugu

Challenge (Telugu: ఛాలెంజ్) is a 1984 Telugu film directed by A. Kodandarami Reddy. It stars Chiranjeevi, Rao Gopal Rao, Suhasini Mani Ratnam, and Vijayashanti in the lead roles. Maestro Ilayaraja composed music for the film. This film is based on fiction work by Yandamoori Virendranath titled "Dabbu to the power of Dabbu"

Plot

Gandhi (Chiranjeevi) steals medicine for his mother who is on her deathbed. However, by the time he reaches the hospital, his mother is dead, and he is left without any money to cremate her. Wardboy Sai Kumar demands money to protect his mother's corpse safely in the mortuary.

Business tycoon Ram Mohan Rao (Rao Gopal Rao) rushes into the hospital, to get his sick wife cured. Gandhi plays a numerical trick with his daughter Harika (Vijayasanthi). This impresses her and she pays Rs.500/- for his mother's funeral. However, Saikumar takes advantage of his situation and steals that money. After his mother's funeral, Gandhi, left with no home and money and wandering on streets, saves a young woman, Lakshmi (Suhasini) from drowning, after she jumps off the bridge. They both reach Lakshmi's house and Gandhi finds an advertisement in newspaper for a job. Gandhi understands the trick behind that AD, and walks into Ram Mohan Rao's house for an interview. Gandhi gives a tit-for-tat for publishing an AD to fool people and both enter into an argument. When Gandhi says that it is not so difficult to make money and he can make Rs.50 lakhs in 5 years, Ram Mohan Rao throws a challenge that is Gandhi succeeds, he will marry his daughter with him. Both sign an agreement on this and Gandhi leaves. RamMohanRao throws that agreement into trash and forgets this incident, but determined Gandhi starts planning for his 50 lakhs. He wins his first Rs.100, through gambling and explains to Lakshmi, the difference between law and justice. Gandhi slowly progresses and buys a new house and moves in with Lakshmi, who now, is his secretary. Lakshmi's ill-charactered brother Hanumantha Rao (Gollapudi) enters their house with his wife Priyamvada (Silk Smitha), pretending to be homeless. Despite Lakshmi's warning, Gandhi lets them stay. Hanumantha Rao tries every possible trick to defame Gandhi and separate him from Lakshmi but fails. Also his wife Priyamvada tries to get close to Gandhi and realizes her mistake through him. Gandhi plans to start a paper mill to compete with Ram Mohan Rao, and accidentally meets a young guy named Vidyarthi (Rajendra Prasad). Gandhi realizes that Vidyarthi worked for RamMohanRao in the past and uses his experience and talent to promote his business. During his rise, Harika supports him by saving him from going bankrupt and starts adoring him. Hanumantha Rao manages to create problems in Gandhi's paper mill and Lakshmi revolts seeing Gandhi adamant about making money rather than bothering about his workers' welfare. On the last day of the bet, Gandhi is left with Rs.500 short of 50 lakhs and Saikumar, who is influenced by Gandhi's personality and thinking, brings about changes within himself and returns Rs.500, that he took from Gandhi at the hospital. Jubilant, Gandhi tries to reach RamMohanRao, but realizes that he is leaving the country with his daughter. On his way to airport, Gandhi is attacked by Hanumanth Rao and goons. Gandhi bashes them up and reaches Ram Mohan Rao to declare his victory. He throws away all the money and returns to Lakshmi to start his battle again.

External links

• Challenge at the Internet Movie Database