Oopiri

''Oopiri'' () is a 2016 Indian bilingual comedy-drama film directed by Vamshi Paidipally and produced by PVP Cinema. The film is shot simultaneously in Telugu and Tamil languages; the latter titled ''Thozha'' (). It stars Akkineni Nagarjuna, Karthi (in his Telugu debut) and Tamannaah Bhatia while Prakash Raj, Ali, Vivek, Jayasudha, Kalpana and Tanikella 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 of Éric Toledano and Olivier Nakache French film ''The Intouchables'' (2011). The rights to remake ''The Intouchables'' were acquired by Karan Johar and Guneet Monga in May 2014, who later authorised PVP Cinema to produce adaptations in regional languages, making ''Oopiri'' its first remake. Principal photography took place from March 2015 to February 2016 in locations including Chennai, Hyderabad, Paris, Belgrade and Novi Sad. Gopi Sundar composed the film's music, while P. S. Vinod was responsible for cinematography. Madhu and Praveen K. L. edited the Telugu and Tamil versions, respectively.

''Oopiri'' and ''Thozha'' 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 the 64th Filmfare Awards South: Best Director (Telugu) for Paidipally and Best Cinematography for P. S. Vinod. Additionally, Paidipally received the Best Director Award at the 6th South Indian International Movie Awards. ''Oopiri'' is regarded as one of the "25 Greatest Telugu Films of the Decade" by ''Film Companion''.

Plot

Vikramaditya is a wealthy entrepreneur. A paragliding accident in Paris leaves him a quadriplegic. 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 purely epistolary 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 to Visakhapatnam (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.

Cast

Cameo appearance

Production

Development

Karan Johar and Guneet Monga acquired the Indian remake rights to Éric Toledano and Olivier Nakache French comedy drama film, ''The Intouchables'' (2011) in May 2014. They planned a Hindi version, directed by Mohit Suri. Johar and Monga later authorised PVP Cinema to remake the film in regional languages, postponing their previous plans. Vamshi Paidipally was chosen to direct a Telugu film titled ''Oopiri''. ''Oopiri'' is the first Indian remake of ''The Intouchables''. It was also the first Indian remake of a film produced by Gaumont Film Company.

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 producer Nagarjuna 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. Production was scheduled to begin in December 2014, when Nagarjuna would be available. In an interview with ''Deccan Chronicle'', the actor said that the film's theme would be similar to ''Missamma'' (1955). Rama Rao Jr. left the project due to scheduling conflicts with ''Nannaku Prematho'' (2016), and was replaced by Karthi in October 2014. Karthi's inclusion in the film led the makers to make the film as a bilingual titled ''Thozha'' in Tamil.

Gopi Sundar was signed as the film's music director, his first collaboration with Paidipally. ''Oopiri'' had two launch ceremonies: the first on 11 February 2015 in Hyderabad and the second on 15 March in Chennai. P. S. Vinod was the film's cinematographer. Paidipally worked on the screenplay, assisted by Hari and Solomon with the adaptation. Abburi Ravi wrote the dialogue for ''Oopiri'', and Karthi asked filmmaker Raju Murugan to do the same for ''Thozha''. Madhu and Praveen K. L. edited the Telugu and Tamil versions, respectively.

Casting

Nagarjuna played the wheelchair-using quadriplegic in the film, and a ₹25 lakh customised wheelchair was imported from Sweden for the role. 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. ''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 told ''The Hindu'' that Karthi was cast to combine actors who were audience favourites and had not collaborated before.

Karthi played the caretaker, reprising Omar Sy role in the original. He called his character "terribly insensitive", but becoming refined at the end. 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. He had to be louder in ''Oopiri'', and used local Tamil slang in ''Thozha''. 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". Shruti Haasan was chosen as the female lead in January 2015. After she walked out in March, citing scheduling conflicts, she was replaced by Tamannaah Bhatia. Her character, Keerthi, was modelled on the secretary and the caretaker in the original. 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".

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. According to Haasan's spokesperson, neither the actress nor Raaj Kamal Films International were legally notified. Haasan withdrew her defamation suit in April 2015 after R. Sarathkumar and Kalaipuli S. Thanu intervened, and the court dismissed PVP Cinema's case.

Prakash Raj, Ali, Vivek, and Tanikella Bharani were cast in key supporting roles, with Jayasudha and Nikkita Anil playing Karthi's mother and sister. Kalpana made her Telugu-film debut in ''Oopiri'', but she died in her sleep at age 50 during filming in Hyderabad. Anushka Shetty and Adivi Sesh made cameo appearances as a couple; the former played Nagarjuna's ex-girlfriend in the film. Gabriella Demetriades was cast in August 2015 after auditioning with five other international models in Hyderabad, and the film was her South Indian acting debut. Nora Fatehi made a special appearance in a song, and Shriya Saran had a cameo appearance. The Telugu and Tamil versions had a slightly different supporting cast to suit the nativity of both audiences.

Filming

According to PVP Cinema's Kamineni, a substantial portion of ''Oopiri'' would be filmed abroad. Principal photography began in Chennai on 16 March 2015. Scenes with Karthi and Jayasudha were filmed in a purpose-built house set. By the time Haasan left the film, the first shooting schedule had wrapped. After completing schedules in Chennai and Hyderabad, Karthi and Tamannaah joined the film set in Dubai in May; several scenes were filmed in a rented, palatial house. Paidipally, who planned a 25-day shooting schedule in Paris and Lyon beginning in June, left to scout locations. A month-long European shooting schedule began in July in Belgrade and Novi Sad, and ''Oopiri'' was the first South Indian film made there. After Belgrade and Novi Sad, filming continued in Paris, Lyon and Ljubljana. 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 the Eiffel Tower, which Paidipally called the "obvious choice to show the moment of triumph" in Vikramaditya's life. On 1 August, Nagarjuna tweeted that the shooting schedule would wrap in ten days. A song including Nagarjuna, Karthi, and Fatehi was filmed in November in Hyderabad. Principal photography wrapped in February 2016, and post-production commenced shortly. ''Thozha'' filming was delayed due to Nagarjuna's lack of fluency in Tamil, but at Karthi's insistence he delivered his own lines. Tamannaah found her dialogue simple and realistic and delivered her own lines in ''Oopiri'', the first Telugu film to include her voice.

Music

Gopi Sundar composed the film's score and seven-song soundtrack. Ramajogayya and Sirivennela Seetharama Sastry wrote the Telugu version's lyrics, and the lyrics for ''Thozha'' soundtrack were by Madhan Karky. According to Karky, all the lyrics in ''Oopiri'' except "Door Number Okati" had different meanings in ''Thozha'', and Karthi and Paidipally wanted ''Thozha'' songs to suit the Tamil audience's sensibilities. The soundtrack of the Telugu version was unveiled on 14 February 2016 (Valentine's Day) at the Hitex Convention Centre in Hyderabad, while the Tamil version was released on 21 February 2016, at St. Bede's School in Chennai amid much fanfare. Both the albums were marketed by Times Music South.

''The Times of India'' gave ''Oopiri'' soundtrack four stars, calling it a "winner on all counts" and Sunder is "increasingly becoming a force to be reckon with in elugu cinema. Karthik Srinivasan, writing for ''The Hindu'', praised Sunder's usage of solo violin pieces and chorus hooks in ''Thozha'' "Pudhidhaa" ("Oka Life" in ''Oopiri''). Siddharth K of ''Sify'' noted that the soundtrack of ''Thozha'' 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.

Release

Theatrical

''Oopiri'' and ''Thozha'' were theatrically released worldwide on 25 March 2016.

Home media

The digital rights of ''Oopiri'' and ''Thozha'' were purchased by YuppTV, a leading television content provider in South. The premiere of the film took place on 3 May 2016 after its theatrical run ended. The television broadcast rights were acquired by Sun TV Network; and the global television premiere of the Tamil version ''Thozha'' was held on 2 October 2016 coinciding with Gandhi Jayanti.

Reception

Critical response

The films received positive critical reception.

Baradwaj Rangan, writing for ''The Hindu'', found ''Thozha'' enjoyable despite its lack of narrative finesse and called it a light, pleasant film comparable to ''Bangalore Days'' (2014). Sangeetha Devi Dundoo, also in ''The Hindu'', gave ''Oopiri'' 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. Pranita Jonnalagedda of ''The Times of India'' gave ''Oopiri'' 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.

According to Anupama Subramaniam of ''Deccan Chronicle'', ''Thozha'' had an "alluring story" supported by "extraordinary performances, sound technical departments and rich production values". Suresh Kavirayani, also in ''Deccan Chronicle'', found ''Oopiri'' a "beautiful and emotional journey". Both gave the film 3.5 stars out of five. Writing for ''India 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". Karthik Keramalu of ''News18'' also gave ''Oopiri'' 3.5 stars out of five. Keramalu called it the best of Paidipally's career so far and praised the principal cast's performances.

S. Saraswathi of ''Rediff.com'' gave ''Thozha'' three stars out of five, praising the film's screenplay, visuals, and performances. ''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. Gautaman Bhaskaran, writing for the ''Hindustan Times'', gave ''Thozha'' 2.5 stars out of five; Bhaskaran found the film " duly verbose" and wrote that it "loses its sense of male bonding—particularly after it veers into love stories".

Box office

''Oopiri'' and ''Thozha'' grossed ₹20 crore at the box office within four days, as reported by trade analyst Trinath. 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 to ''Firstpost''.

Accolades

Legacy

Inspired by the film, paraplegic television personality Sujatha Barla established the Challengers on Wheels-Celebrating Life community for physically disabled people in April 2016. Judge G. Neelima took 60 underprivileged female students in Balasadan, Warangal to a special screening of ''Oopiri'' on the eve of Ugadi.

See also

* List of multilingual Indian films
* Pan-Indian film
* List of longest films in India

Notes

References

External links

*

{{Vamsi Paidipally

2016 films
Films directed by Vamsi Paidipally
Films about people with paraplegia or tetraplegia
Films scored by Gopi Sundar
Indian comedy-drama films
2016 comedy-drama films
Films set in Paris
Films set in Hyderabad, India
Films set in Chennai
Indian remakes of French films
Indian multilingual films
Films shot in France
Films shot in Paris
2010s Telugu-language films
2010s Tamil-language films
Films shot in Serbia
Films shot in Dubai
Films shot in Hyderabad, India
Films shot in Slovenia
Films about disability in India
Films shot in Chennai
Films shot at Ramoji Film City
2016 multilingual films
Films directed by Vamshi Paidipally
Films shot in Lyon
Indian buddy comedy-drama films
Films about criminals
Films about writers
Films shot in Belgrade
Films shot in Novi Sad
Films about letters (message)
Films about friendship
Films about nurses