Aay (film)

''Aay'' is a 2024 Indian Telugu-language romantic comedy film written and directed by Anji K. Maniputhra. The film features Narne Nithin, Nayan Sarika, Rajkumar Kasireddy and Ankith Koyya in important roles. ''Aay'' was released on 16 August 2024.

Plot

Karthik is a software engineer in Hyderabad who does not like to visit his hometown due to the issues he has with his father Burayya's attitude towards life. Burayya is frequently unwell and bedridden, relying on handouts from friends. In his childhood, Karthik lost his college seat due to his father's inability to afford it. Hence, Karthik decided to leave his hometown and study in hostels, which fostered a resentment towards his father's decision to help others in need when he himself has no income. Karthik also does not get along well with his childhood friends Subbu and Hari, but they still regard him as a close friend. However, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Karthik returns to his hometown for remote working. While Karthik begins to accept his friends' company, his conversations with Burayya remain limited.

During his stay in the village, Karthik falls for Pallavi, a college student and the daughter of the local politician Durga who belongs to a different caste. When Karthik and Pallavi strike a friendship, the former learns that Subbu was also in love with her for the last five years but never proposed to her. However, when Pallavi rejects Subbu and starts a relationship with Karthik, Subbu accepts and moves on. One day, Pallavi learns that Karthik belongs to a different caste and is sure that her father would not agree to their marriage. Hence, she accepts an arranged marriage proposal and asks Karthik to remain friends with her, plainly stating their caste differences cannot be resolved.

Karthik is increasingly confused by her behavior as she interacts with him as though nothing has happened and even invites him to help her shop for her wedding. Subbu and Hari then decide that the only way to unite Karthik and Pallavi is to kill Durga, as he is the only one who would object to their marriage. Without informing anyone, Subbu and Hari make several attempts to kill Durga, but each one fails in a comical manner. Subbu and Hari then approach Pallavi, who learns about their attempts and starts chasing them. Karthik stops her and chides the duo for their actions.

When Karthik asks Pallavi why she is ignoring his state of mind and refuses to run away with him, she tearfully explains that their love alone cannot overcome the caste issues in their villages and that Durga might even kill him because of it; this is why she agreed to the arranged marriage. Pallavi adds that she has been feeling depressed since then but has tried to maintain a cheerful demeanor to avoid suspicion and to spend more time with him. As she wishes him good luck and kisses him on the forehead, her uncle Bose catches them red-handed. During the chase, when Bose finally catches up with Karthik, Karthik pleads for him to reconsider hitting him, noting that doing so in front of onlookers would tarnish the reputations of both Durga and Pallavi. He promises to respect her decision and stay away from her. Bose lets him go, and the marriage preparations continue in full swing.

On the day of the wedding, as Karthik is getting ready to head to Hyderabad, Burayya questions why he seems so depressed. Karthik vents his frustrations, blaming Burayya for their financial troubles and lamenting that if they were as wealthy as Durga, his chances of marrying Pallavi might have been better. Burayya then goes to the wedding and requests Durga to approve Karthik and Pallavi's marriage. He tearfully explains that this might be the only thing he can offer Karthik, having denied him every wish since childhood. When Karthik hears from Subbu and Hari that Burayya has left the house for the first time in a long while, the three of them quickly head to the wedding hall, worried about Burayya's safety. Durga, however, wholeheartedly agrees and cancels the wedding, announcing the marriage of Karthik and Pallavi on a future date.

Pallavi, shocked and concerned that this might be Durga's scheme to harm Karthik, is reassured by Durga that he genuinely approves of their marriage. Durga explains that Burayya possesses something that outweighs their caste differences. Meanwhile, the trio discovers from an elderly man that Durga and Burayya were once close friends, with Burayya providing financial assistance to Durga when he was in debt. Burayya had asked Durga to keep this help a secret, as people from Durga's community might not accept aid from someone of a different caste. When Durga's finances improved, he offered Burayya a share of his profits, but Burayya declined, emphasizing that their friendship was more important and should remain private to avoid upsetting the caste dynamics in their village. The money Burayya gave to Durga was the reason he couldn't afford Karthik's college seat. This revelation shifts Karthik's perspective on his father, helping him understand why people in the village held him in high regard despite his lack of income and wealth. He starts to respect his father, as well as Subbu and Hari, who consistently supported him and wished him well, even though he often ignored them. The film ends with Durga and Burayya celebrating the marriage of Karthik and Pallavi, along with their friends and families.

Cast

Music

The film's soundtrack album is composed by Ram Miriyala and Ajay Arasada, while the background score is composed by Ajay Arasada. The first single "Sufiyana" was released on 20 March 2024.

Release

''Aay'' was initially scheduled release on 15 August 2024, thus having a three-way clash with '' Mr. Bachchan'' and ''Double iSmart'', which were released on the same day. To avoid the clash, the film was rescheduled to release on 16 August 2024. Post-theatrical digital streaming rights were acquired by Netflix and was premiered on 12 September 2024.

Reception

Appreciating the Anji K. Maniputhra's work, and the performance of Rajkumar Kasireddy and Ankith Koyya, Sangeetha Devi Dundoo of ''The Hindu'' stated, "An enjoyable, lighthearted social drama from the Godavari region". ''123Telugu'' gave a rating of 3 out of 5 saying "''Aay'' is a decent entertainer, driven by the hilarious performances of Narne Nithiin, Kasireddy Rajkumar, and Ankith Koyya", while particularly stating the performance of Rajkumar Kasireddy as "exceptional". Pratyusha Sista of ''Telangana Today'' echoed the same, calling it "worth watching".

References

External links

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2024 films
2020s Telugu-language films
2020s Indian films
Films shot in Andhra Pradesh
Films set in Andhra Pradesh
Films about social issues in India
Indian romantic comedy films
2024 romantic comedy films
Films set in Konaseema