''Jalsa'' () is a 2008 Indian

Telugu Telugu may refer to: * Telugu language, a major Dravidian language of South India ** Telugu literature, is the body of works written in the Telugu language. * Telugu people, an ethno-linguistic group of India * Telugu script, used to write the Tel ...

-language

action comedy film The action comedy is a film genre that applies to action films where humor plays a much more central role. While early films feature stuntwork and humor, academic Cynthia King wrote that the genre only came into its own as a mainstay of the Americ ...

written and directed by

Trivikram Srinivas Trivikram Srinivas (born Akella Naga Srinivasa Sarma; 7 November 1971) is an Indian film director and screenwriter known for his work in Telugu cinema. Recognised for his witty dialogues, humour, and philosophical themes, he is one of the high ...

and produced by

Allu Aravind Allu Aravind (born 10 January 1949) is an Indian film producer, film distributor, and businessman. He is regarded as one of the most successful producers in Cinema of South India, South Indian cinema. He is the founder of Geetha Arts, a majo ...

under the

Geetha Arts Geetha Arts is an Indian film production and distribution company known for its works in Telugu cinema. It is one of the largest and most successful production houses in South Indian cinema. It was established in 1972 by Allu Aravind. It has p ...

banner. The film stars

Pawan Kalyan Konidela Pawan Kalyan (born Konidela Kalyan Kumar; 2 September 1971) is an Indian politician, actor, philanthropist, and martial artist serving as the List of deputy chief ministers of Andhra Pradesh, 11th Deputy Chief Minister of Andhra Prade ...

Ileana Ileana is a feminine given name commonly used in Romanian and other Romance language-speaking countries such as Spain and Italy. Etymology and Meaning The name ''Ileana'' is derived from the Greek name ''Helénē'' (Ἑλένη), meaning "tor ...

Parvati Melton Parvati Melton is an American model and actress known for her works in Indian Telugu and Malayalam-language films. She was a 2004 Miss Teen India Bay Area winner and is a trained ballet and classical Indian dancer. She debuted in the film ind ...

and

Kamalinee Mukherjee Kamalinee Mukherjee is an Indian actress. She has predominantly appeared in Telugu films as well as a few Malayalam and Tamil films. After graduating with a degree in English literature, she completed a workshop on theatre in Mumbai. She made he ...

, with

Mukesh Rishi Mukesh Rishi (born 19 April 1956) is an Indian actor and film producer who works primarily in Hindi and Telugu films. He has also appeared in Malayalam, Kannada, Punjabi, Marathi and Tamil films. He got his first break in Hindi in 1993 with ...

Prakash Raj Prakash Raj (born Prakash Rai; 26 March 1965) is an Indian actor, film director, producer, television presenter, and politician. Known for his works in Telugu language, Telugu, Tamil language, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, English language, Engl ...

Brahmanandam Kanneganti Brahmanandam (born 1 February 1956) is an Indian actor and comedian known for his work in Telugu cinema. Recognised as one of India's finest and highest-paid comic actors, he holds the Guinness World Record for the most screen cred ...

Ali Ali ibn Abi Talib (; ) was the fourth Rashidun caliph who ruled from until his assassination in 661, as well as the first Shia Imam. He was the cousin and son-in-law of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. Born to Abu Talib ibn Abd al-Muttalib an ...

, and

Sunil Sunil (सुनील) is a first name for males, often found in the South Asian community. The Sanskrit word ' means "dark", "very blue", and is also an epithet of Krishna. Notable people * Sunil (actor), Indian Telugu film actor * Sunil ( ...

in supporting roles. The soundtrack of the film was composed by

Devi Sri Prasad Gandham Sriprasad (2 August 1979), known as Devi Sri Prasad or more commonly by his initials DSP, is an Indian music composer, singer, and lyricist primarily known for his work in Telugu cinema, along with Tamil cinema. He has received numerous ...

. Released on 1 April 2008, ''Jalsa'' set multiple box office records on its opening day, registering the highest first-day collection in

Telugu cinema Telugu cinema, also known as Tollywood, is the segment of Cinema of India, Indian cinema dedicated to the production of Film, motion pictures in the Telugu language, widely spoken in the states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Based in Film N ...

history at the time and the highest for any

South Indian film Cinema of South India, refers to the cinema of the four major film industries in South India; primarily engaged in making feature films in the four major Dravidian languages of the region, namely Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam and Kannada. They are ...

in a single state. It emerged as the highest-grossing Telugu film of the year and was a commercial success. The film received praise for its lead performances, music, humour, and witty dialogues, though the screenplay drew criticism. The film's marketing included an

action Action may refer to: * Action (philosophy), something which is done by a person * Action principles the heart of fundamental physics * Action (narrative), a literary mode * Action fiction, a type of genre fiction * Action game, a genre of video gam ...

video game A video game or computer game is an electronic game that involves interaction with a user interface or input device (such as a joystick, game controller, controller, computer keyboard, keyboard, or motion sensing device) to generate visual fe ...

based on its characters, making it the first movie-based video game in South Indian and Telugu cinema. Due to its enduring popularity, ''Jalsa'' was re-released in 2022, becoming the highest-grossing Telugu re-release until it was surpassed by '' Kushi'' (2001), another Pawan Kalyan film.

Plot

Sanjay Sahu aka Sanju is a post-graduate and works as an

aerobics Aerobics is a form of physical exercise that combines rhythmic aerobic exercise with stretching and strength training routines with the goal of improving all elements of fitness (Flexibility (anatomy), flexibility, Muscle, muscular strength, and ...

instructor. He is in love with Indu, who wishes to marry him. She makes him meet her father, who is a police officer and also happens to be his old acquaintance. Her father declines to approve of their love, and she is forced to marry according to her father's choice. Meanwhile, Indu's sister Bhagyamathi aka Bhagi and her friend Jyothsna aka Jo are chased by hoodlums before being rescued by Sanju. Furthermore, Jo and Bhagi are ragged in the college before being again rescued by Sanju. Both begin to like Sanju and even decide to propose their love to him without their knowledge of the other. However, it is Jo who proposes first to Sanju, who rejects her. Careful after seeing her friend's love rejected, Bhagi, with the help of Seenu, begins wooing Sanju. Bhagi keeps wooing Sanju in different ways under Seenu's supervision. Seenu keeps advising Bhagi with new ideas to impress Sanju. With Seenu's idea, Bhagi vacates the previous tenants in Sanju's house and gets into the house to woo Sanju. She keeps trying in many ways to impress him, which evokes comedy. Bhagi keeps meeting Sanju and tries to know more about him. After many comical situations coming their way, love blossoms between them, but unfortunately at a party where Jo is also one of the attendees, she spills all the beans about Bhagi. Sanju is infuriated and ends their relationship. Later that party, however, when having a conversation with Bhagi, a drunken Sanju begins to showcase that he is not a correct fit to her, yet the unending love of Bhagi towards Sanju makes him fall for her. Both again get into a relationship, marking it with a kiss. Meanwhile, Damodar Reddy, a powerful land grabber who takes care of all the settlements while still in jail, is out on

parole Parole, also known as provisional release, supervised release, or being on paper, is a form of early release of a prisoner, prison inmate where the prisoner agrees to abide by behavioral conditions, including checking-in with their designated ...

. He is in search of Sanju for spoiling his land deals in the past and thrashing his son, who was one of the goons who chased Bhagi. He makes an attempt on Sanju's life but in vain. However, Sanju's friend Abhi is taken hostage during the attack. Sanju rescues Abhi but is enraged when his friends stop him from assaulting the kidnapper by questioning his authority to take the law into his hands and bringing them troubles. Sanju then reveals his flashback, in which he hailed from a poor rural family. His brother dies of heart disease as a child. His father Janardhan Sahu kills himself as crops fail, and his mother too passes away. While going to the burial ground, he repeatedly slips and swoons at a stone pillar. He plucks it out, which enrages Damodar Reddy's henchmen. When they attack him, Sanju beats them up, disappears into a forest, and joins the

Naxalites Naxalism is the communist ideology of the Naxalites or Naxals, a grouping of political and insurgent groups from India. It is influenced by Maoist political sentiment and ideology. Inspired by Maoism, Charu Majumdar wrote the Historic ...

. During a combing operation, he joins hands with Indu and Bhagi's father (a police officer) and his team to eliminate the team in an encounter. Sanju is then rehabilitated as a college student in

Hyderabad Hyderabad is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Telangana. It occupies on the Deccan Plateau along the banks of the Musi River (India), Musi River, in the northern part of Southern India. With an average altitude of , much ...

. Bhagi confesses to her father about her intention to marry Sanju, but her father rejects it by revealing to her about Sanju being an ex-lover of her sister Indu, and an ex-Naxal. Shocked, Bhagi agrees to get married as per her father's choice. Her father arranges the engagement of Bhagi with Raghuram. Sanju is disgusted that Bhagi has given her assent to the engagement and decides to break it. Meanwhile, Sanju learns that the man who attempted on his life is none other than Damodar Reddy and that Raghuram is Damodar Reddy's elder son. Sanju confronts Damodar Reddy in jail and challenges him. Damodar Reddy leaves jail and forcibly arranges the marriage of Raghuram with Bhagi. Sanju, meanwhile kidnaps Damodar Reddy's younger son. He then takes Damodar Reddy head-on and defeats him, ensuring that he fears death, and walks out without killing Damodar Reddy and his son, proclaiming that the art of winning a war is to defeat the enemies, not to kill them. Sanju ends up marrying Bhagi. After a few months, Damodar Reddy, now paralyzed, dies of a heart attack on the same road on which Sanju defeated him.

Cast

as Sanjay 'Sanju' Sahu *

as Bhagyamathi 'Bhagi', Indu's younger sister, Jyo's friend and Sanju's love interest (dubbed by

Swathi Reddy Swathi Reddy (born 19 April 1987) is an Indian actress and television presenter who predominantly works in Telugu films, along with Tamil and Malayalam films. She has acted in over 29 movies. Her nickname ''Colours Swathi'' comes from her sti ...

) *

as Jyothsna 'Jyo', Bhagi's Friend and Sanju's one-sided lover * Kamalinee Mukerji as Indu, Bhagi's elder sister and Sanju's former love interest *

as Damodar Reddy *

as Rammohan Reddy, Indu and Bhagyamati's father *

as Head Constable Pranav *

as Abhi, Sanju's friend *

as Seenu *

Tanikella Bharani Tanikella Bharani (born 14 July 1954) is an Indian actor, screenwriter, poet and playwright who works predominantly in Telugu cinema. He has worked as an actor in more than 750 films, including few in Tamil, Kannada and Hindi; while he was al ...

as Bulli Reddy *

Sivaji Sontineni Sivaji (born 30 June 1971), is an Indian actor and voice actor who works in Telugu cinema. He had won the Nandi Award for Best Male Dubbing Artist for '' Dil''. His notable performances include ''Missamma'' (2003), '' Adirindayya Chan ...

as Raghuram Reddy, Damodar Reddy's elder son *

Aditya Redij Aditya Redij is an Indian television actor known for portraying Raghav Saghvan in ''Na Aana Is Des Laado'', Prithvi Khanna and Ishwar Pandey in ''Junoon – Aisi Nafrat Toh Kaisa Ishq ''Junoon – Aisi Nafrat Toh Kaisa Ishq'' is a soap o ...

as Damodar Reddy's younger son *

Kamal Kamaraju Kamal Kamaraju is an Indian actor and screenwriter known for his works in Telugu cinema and theatre. Early and personal life Kamaraju was born on 3 September 1981 in Sevagram, Maharashtra in a Telugu family to Jawaharlal Kamaraju and Nirmala Gu ...

as Indu's husband *

Makarand Deshpande Makarand Deshpande (born 6 March 1966) is an Indian actor, writer, and director in Hindi, Kannada, Marathi, Telugu, Malayalam, Tamil films, and Indian theatre. He is often seen in supporting and pivotal roles in films like ''Jungle'', '' Sarfa ...

as a naxalite *

Abhimanyu Singh Abhimanyu Singh is an Indian actor who predominantly works in Hindi, Telugu and Tamil films. He is notably known for his roles in the political films '' Gulaal'' (2009) and '' Rakta Charita'' (2010). Career Abhimanyu Singh made his debut wi ...

as Durga *

Shishir Sharma Shishir Sharma (born 10 January 1955) is an Indian film and television actor. He appeared in Zee TV's ''Ghar Ki Lakshmi Betiyann'', and is known for playing the role of Jagmohan Prasad in '' Yahaaan Main Ghar Ghar Kheli''. Currently, he can be ...

as Janardhan Sahu, Sanju's father *

Dharmavarapu Subramanyam Dharmavarapu Subrahmanyam (20 September 1954 – 7 December 2013) was an Indian actor, comedian and film director who worked in Telugu cinema. He was established as one of the highly paid and top most leading comedians in Telugu film industry. ...

as Doctor * Mallikarjuna Rao as Minister *

Bianca Desai Bianca Desai or Biyanka Desai is an Indian actress who has starred in predominantly Kannada and Telugu films. Career Bianca Desai has been part of more than 9 films in Kannada. Filmography See also * List of people from Karnataka *Cinema o ...

as Bhagyamathi's friend *

Ravi Varma Ravi Varma or Ravivarma is a Hindu male name used in India. It may refer to: People * Ravivarman Kulaśēkhara, 14th century warrior king of Quilon, Kerala * Ravi Varma of Padinjare Kovilakam (1745–1793), rebel prince regent of Calicut, Malabar ...

as a naxalite *

Krishnudu Krishna, more commonly known as Krishnudu, is an actor in the Telugu film industry.Chowdhary, Y. Sunita (2011)A comic caper", ''The Hindu'', 2 July 2011, Retrieved 2011-07-12 He has mostly done supporting roles until ''Vinayakudu (film), Vinay ...

as Damodar Reddy's aide *

Uttej Uttej is an Indian actor and screenwriter who works in Telugu films. He won the Nandi Award for Best Male Comedian for the film ''Chandamama'' (2007). Personal life Uttej was born and brought up in Nalgonda district. He is the nephew of no ...

as Sanju's friend *

Satyam Rajesh Rajesh Babu, better known as Satyam Rajesh, is an Indian actor who primarily appears in Telugu films. He has worked in more than 350 films. Rajesh got the moniker 'Satyam' following his appearance in the 2003 film of the same name. Early lif ...

as College student * Bharath Reddy *

Mahesh Babu Ghattamaneni Mahesh Babu (born 9 August 1975) is an Indian actor who works in Telugu cinema. He is one of the highest-paid actors in Indian cinema and has featured in ''Forbes India''s Celebrity 100 list since 2012. He has appeared in more tha ...

as Sekhar (voiceover)

Soundtrack

The film's soundtrack, composed by

, was released on 29 February 2008, with

Aditya Music Aditya Music India Private Limited is an Indian music record label company, which owns the label Aditya Music. It produces music for the Telugu cinema industry and is headquartered at Hyderabad, Telangana. Overview The company was founded b ...

acquiring the audio rights for ₹90

lakh A lakh (; abbreviated L; sometimes written lac) is a unit in the Indian numbering system equal to one hundred thousand (100,000; scientific notation: 105). In the Indian 2, 2, 3 convention of digit grouping, it is written as 1,00,000. F ...

, the highest for a Telugu film at the time. The album received widespread critical acclaim and was well received by audiences. It topped music charts for several months after its release. Devi Sri Prasad won the 2008 Santosham Best Music Director Award for his composition. In addition to strong physical and digital sales, the film’s music generated significant revenue from mobile ringtone downloads, contributing approximately ₹1.45 crore, marking a notable expansion of the Telugu music market.

Marketing

As part of its marketing campaign, ''Jalsa'' became the first Telugu and South Indian film to have an official video game. The game was launched at a function held at Hotel Novotel in Hyderabad on 22 March 2008. The online version was developed by RZ2 Games (Chris Whaley), while FX Labs (Sashi Reddy – Aplabs) developed the mobile version. The online game was available for free, whereas the mobile game was priced at ₹50 per download. It was made available across 42 Big C outlets in

Andhra Pradesh Andhra Pradesh (ISO 15919, ISO: , , AP) is a States and union territories of India, state on the East Coast of India, east coast of southern India. It is the List of states and union territories of India by area, seventh-largest state and th ...

Release

Theatrical

''Jalsa'' was released on 1 April 2008 in theaters worldwide. The film was originally scheduled to be released on 27 March 2008, but because of delays in the

digital intermediate Digital intermediate (DI) is a motion picture finishing process which classically involves digitizing a motion picture and manipulating the color and other image characteristics. Definition and overview A digital intermediate often replaces or a ...

(DI) process. ''Jalsa'' was later released with 400 prints in 800 theaters worldwide across 1000 screens.Jalsa
/ref>

Remastered re-release

''Jalsa'' was re-released in theaters worldwide on 3 September 2022, coinciding with Kalyan's birthday, with remastered picture and sound. ''Jalsa'' grossed over ₹3.25

crore Crore (; abbreviated cr) denotes the quantity ten million (107) and is equal to 100 lakh in the Indian numbering system. In many international contexts, the decimal quantity is formatted as 10,000,000, but when used in the context of the India ...

in its 2022 re-release and became the highest grossing Telugu re-release of all time until surpassed by another Pawan Kalyan film ''Kushi''. The collections of the special shows were reported to be donated to charity.

Awards and nominations

References

External links

* {{Trivikram Srinivas 2008 films Films directed by Trivikram Srinivas Films with screenplays by Trivikram Srinivas Geetha Arts films Films scored by Devi Sri Prasad 2000s Telugu-language films 2000s Indian films Indian action comedy films Films shot in Hyderabad, India Films about Naxalism 2008 action comedy films Films adapted for other media