''Pottel'' () is a 2024 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

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 ...

thriller film written and directed by Sahit Mothkuri. It stars Yuva Chandraa,

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'' ( ...

Noel Sean Noel Sean (born 28 November 1982) is an Indian rapper and actor working in the Telugu cinema and Telugu music. An actor, music producer, television host, Radio Jockey, lyricist and composer. In 2020, he participated in a Telugu reality TV sho ...

and Ajay in primarily roles. The film showcases the traditions and culture of rural

Telangana Telangana is a States and union territories of India, state in India situated in the Southern India, south-central part of the Indian subcontinent on the high Deccan Plateau. It is the List of states and union territories of India by area, ele ...

. It also won the state Gaddar Award for Second Best Feature Film.

Plot

The film is set in the remote village of Gurramgattu in Telangana during the 1970s, where a powerful and oppressive social hierarchy dominates rural life. Pedda Gangadhar (Yuva Chandraa), a local shepherd, has a singular mission: to educate his daughter Saraswati and challenge the village's deeply entrenched social norms. He is assigned the sacred responsibility of caring for a special sheep (Pottel) that is to be sacrificed during a traditional ritual held every 12 years. The village is controlled by Patel (Ajay), a tyrannical leader who actively prevents lower-caste villagers from accessing education and perpetuates systemic oppression. Patel believes that education empowers people to question authority and therefore works to suppress the villagers' aspirations. Gangadhar, supported by his wife Bujjamma (Ananya Nagalla), persistently fights against Patel's dominance and attempts to secure a better future for his daughter. When Gangadhar loses the sacred Pottel sheep intended for the ritual, Patel threatens to sacrifice Gangadhar's daughter if the sheep is not recovered. The narrative explores themes of education, social empowerment, caste dynamics, and individual resilience against systemic oppression. Gangadhar's journey becomes a powerful statement about challenging traditional power structures and fighting for a child's right to education.

Cast

* Yuva Chandraa as Gangadhari *

as Bujjamma * Ajay as Patel *

* Priyanka Sharma *

Srikanth Iyengar Srikanth Krishnaswamy Iyengar is an Indian actor and director who works in Telugu cinema. He is a medical doctor by profession and turned actor due to passion towards the acting. Srikanth has acted in films like '' Veerapan, Dear Comrade, Mehabo ...

as Teacher Duryodhana * Chatrapati Sekhar * Baby Thanasvi as Saraswathi

Music

The film's soundtrack album and background were composed by

Shekar Chandra Shekhar Chandra is an Indian music composer and singer known for his work in Telugu cinema. His debut film as music director was Anasuya (film), ''Anasuya'' (2007). He is considered as one of the most underrated music directors of Telugu film i ...

Release

The film released on 25 October 2024, and was distributed by

Mythri Movie Makers Mythri Movie Makers is an Indian film production and distribution company established by Naveen Yerneni, Yalamanchili Ravi Shankar, and Mohan Cherukuri (CVM) in 2015. The production company mainly produces and distributes in Telugu films. Not ...

Reception

Sangeetha Devi Dundoo of ''

The Hindu ''The Hindu'' is an Indian English-language daily newspaper owned by The Hindu Group, headquartered in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. It was founded as a weekly publication in 1878 by the Triplicane Six, becoming a daily in 1889. It is one of the India ...

'' stated that "Yuva Chandra, Ananya and Ajay are pitch-perfect in their characters and hold the film together", further opining that "If ''Pottel'' had relied less on amplifying Patel’s brutality and resorted to smarter storytelling, it would have made for a compelling, less explored story from the hinterlands". Writing to ''

The New Indian Express ''The New Indian Express'' is an Indian English-language broadsheet daily newspaper published by the Chennai-based Express Publications. It was founded in 1932 as ''The Indian Express'', under the ownership of Chennai-based P. Varadarajulu Naidu ...

'', Aditya Devulapally felt that the story was powerful but was effected by complicated narration. He further appreciated the performances of lead cast, score, cinematography and production design. ''

The Hans India ''The Hans India'' is an Indian English-language daily newspaper published in the states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana as well as in New Delhi. The newspaper was launched on 15 July 2011 and is owned to Hyderabad Media House Ltd., which also ...

'' stated, "''Pottel'' is a well-meaning film that combines social commentary with strong performances, offering a touching narrative about defiance and hope".

References

External Links

* {{Gaddar Award for Best Feature Film 2024 drama films 2024 films 2020s Telugu-language films Films shot in Telangana Films set in Hyderabad, India 2024 thriller films Films about social issues in India Films about education Films about the caste system in India Films scored by Shekar Chandra