''Play Back'' is a 2021 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

science fiction Science fiction (often shortened to sci-fi or abbreviated SF) is a genre of speculative fiction that deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts. These concepts may include information technology and robotics, biological manipulations, space ...

drama Drama is the specific Mode (literature), mode of fiction Mimesis, represented in performance: a Play (theatre), play, opera, mime, ballet, etc., performed in a theatre, or on Radio drama, radio or television.Elam (1980, 98). Considered as a g ...

film written and directed by Jakka Hari Prasad. The film stars Dinesh Tej,

Ananya Nagalla Ananya Nagalla is an Indian actress who appears in Telugu language, Telugu films. She made her debut with ''Mallesham'' (2019) and went onto appear in films such as ''Play Back'' (2021) and ''Vakeel Saab'' (2021). Her performance in ''Pottel'' ( ...

, Arjun Kalyan, and Spandana. ''Play Back'' is marketed as the first Indian film based on cross time connection. The plot follows Karthik (Tej) and Sujatha (Nagalla), two people from different time periods who connect together through a phone call. The film was released on 5 March 2021. The director remade the film in Kannada as ''

Gana The word ( ) in Sanskrit and Pali means "flock, troop, multitude, number, tribe, category, series, or class". It can also be used to refer to a "body of attendants" and can refer to "a company, any assemblage or association of men formed for t ...

'' (2025).

Plot

In 2019, crime reporter Karthik, who works in TV5, moves into an old house. The

landline A landline is a physical telephone connection that uses metal wires or optical fiber from the subscriber's premises to the network, allowing multiple phones to operate simultaneously on the same phone number. It is also referred to as plain old ...

in his house receives a phone call from Sujatha which is intended for someone else. Sujatha's landline, however, repeatedly connects only to Kathik's landline. With no choice left, Sujatha seeks Karthik's help on her passport issue which he obliges. He tries to help her out but soon they realize that they are in different time periods, Karthik in 2019 and Sujatha in 1993.

Cast

Production and release

Hari Prasad Jakka who worked as a co-writer for

Sukumar Bandreddi Sukumar is an Indian film director, screenwriter, and producer who works in Telugu cinema. He is known for his intricate screenplays and for depicting protagonists with grey shades. He is the third highest-grossing Indian film director ...

's films such as '' 100% Love'' (2011) and '' 1: Nenokkadine'' (2014) helmed the project. The film was theatrically released on 5 March 2021. It was later released on the streaming platform Aha on 25 May 2021.

Reception

Venkata Chari of ''

HMTV HMTV is an Indian 24-hour Telugu news channel launched on 12 February 2009. The channel is operated by Hyderabad Media Pvt. Ltd, which also runs the English newspaper ''The Hans India''. HMTV is a part of Kapil Group, promoted by K. Vaman Rao. ...

'' appreciated Jakka's direction and his handling of the cross-time concept, stating: "This is a film that would thrill the audience." He opined that the film could have been better had the loop-holes been addressed. Surya Prakash of ''Asianet News'' rated the film 2.75/5 also echoed the same and lauded the novel attempt. He compared the film with the 2016 South Korean TV series ''Signal'' but added that Jakka adapted the script to Telugu nativity with more emotion and drama. A reviewer of ''

Zee Cinemalu Zee Telugu is an Indian Telugu-language general entertainment pay television channel in India. It was launched on 12 September 2004 as '' Alpha TV Telugu''. and was rebranded as ''Zee Telugu'' on 18 May 2005. The channel is owned by Zee Ente ...

'' rated the film 2.5 out of 5 and opined that the casting could've been better. "Ananya was decent but none of the other actors could do justice for their characters," they added. ''123Telugu.com'' also rated it 2.5/5 and concluded: "On the whole, Play Back is a family thriller that has a fresh concept that deals with a cross-time telephone conversation. Though the movie has a few interesting moments here and there, lack of proper narration in the second half comes as a speed breaker."

References

External links