Gundello Godari

About the film

Gundello Godari is a 2013 Indian Telugu-language adventure drama film directed by Kumar Nagendra and produced by Lakshmi Manchu. The film stars Aadhi Pinisetty, Taapsee Pannu, Lakshmi Manchu, and Sundeep Kishan.

The film was released on 8 March 2013. Manchu won critical accolades for her Performance winning Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress – Telugu and SIIMA Award for Best Supporting Actress in Telugu. The film got positive response at the box office, and was showcased at the Daring Independent Film Festival, Toronto. The film was also nominated for Best film at the International Indian Film Festival in South Africa.

Plot

The film is set in 1986, in Bangarappeta village near Rajahmundry. Malli (Aadhi) and Chitra (Lakshmi Manchu) are a newlywed couple who are forced to battle it out against a devastating flood of the Godavari River. They lose all hope of survival and decide to narrate the darkest moments of their lives to each other after they find a support to rest on.

First, Malli narrates his story to Chitra. Malli is an honest fisherman who works under Sambasivayya, a shrewd man at the port. Malli's ambition is to own a fishing boat, for which he strives hard. His encounter with Sarala (Taapsee), Sambasivayya's daughter, leads to certain disturbances in his life as Sarala, who lusts after Malli, blackmails him to escort her to a film and if not, she will report their intimacy to her father. Malli escorts her and finally tells that her that he cannot go much further as his life and ambition is getting disturbed due to her. That night, police arrest Malli for preparing illegal ganja. Malli is fired from his job, and his mother loses confidence in him. He finds out that Chandra, a fellow fisherman prepared Ganja. Chandra, after being beaten up by Malli, confesses that Sambasivayya has ordered him to do so as he felt that Sarala and Malli are in love. An enraged Malli goes to Sambasivayya's home to settle the score but finds that he is not in town. As an inebriated Malli is walking away after threatening to outrage Sarala's modesty, she challenges him by saying that he has forgotten that he is a man after the beating he received from police due to her father. Out of anger on her father, Malli has steamy sex with Sarala that night before learning that she is going to marry soon.

Chitra, after patiently listening to Malli's story, starts telling her story. Chitra was found by a couple when she was four years old. They took her to their house, and she started being friendly with their son Suri. Due to financial problems, Suri's mother starts an illicit relationship with Mohan Rao, the town's doctor, in order to gain money, which is misunderstood by Suri. Suri starts hating his mother along with his father, getting much closer to Chitra. Years pass by, and Suri (Sundeep Kishan), now a man, is a mason and extremely fond of cockfights, while Chitra works under Dhorababu (Ravi Babu), a womaniser. One day, Chitra and Suri's mother go to Mohan Rao's clinic. There, Mohan Rao misbehaves with Chitra, and the ladies leave the clinic, which is seen by Suri. Suri misunderstands that Chitra is also romantically involved with Mohan Rao and starts roaming with Bangari (Suja Varunee), a native of that town, much to Chitra's agony. Meanwhile, Suri's mother passes away, and Chitra's marriage is held with an old man. Chitra pleads Suri to annul the marriage, and Suri refuses by telling her what he saw at Mohan Rao's place. Chitra tells the truth, leading to a change in Suri's heart. That night, Dhorababu tries to molest Chitra only to be attacked by Suri. Suri proposes to Chitra but is attacked by his father. Suri attempts to kill his father but is accidentally impaled and…

Production

The project was first reported in January 2011, where it was claimed that Lakshmi Manchu would produce a love film titled Gundello Godari, which would feature her as the protagonist for the first time. In April 2011, Ilaiyaraaja was signed on to compose the music for the film and he recorded songs during a trip with the producers to Munnar. The film was dubbed in Tamil as Maranthen Mannithen. Ravi Babu was hired to play a vital negative role in the film. The film is based on the lives of four people during the 1986 floods in Godavari districts.

The first schedule of the film began in Rajahmundry in January 2012, while the second schedule was wrapped up by the end of that month. An eco-friendly set is erected with 120 huts and houses in 27 acres of land.

Soundtrack

Ilaiyaraaja composed the music for this film. On 18 October 2012, he flew down from Chennai to attend the audio launch ceremony that was held at a specially erected village set at Gandharva Mahal in Hyderabad. Mohan Babu felicitated the maestro on the occasion in the presence of other Telugu composers M M Keeravani and Koti. Lyrics in the film are penned by Chandrabose, Anantha Sreeram, and R. Ramu.

Reception

Gundello Godari got positive reviews. The Hindu gave a review stating "Gundello Godari is not a linear story of how these two protagonists battle the fury of nature. It’s a story of how they share their secrets, battle their inner demons, rise above their tumultuous past and discover love. The film is worth a watch. As a bonus, there’s the maestro’s musical treat." The Times of India gave a review stating "It's the story telling that stands out, and is bereft of the silly cliches that dominate Tollywood potboilers. But if "masala" is your thing, you'll have to look elsewhere." Deccan Chronicle gave a review stating "In the midst of clichéd potboilers and slapstick comedies, this period movie comes as a breath of fresh air and strikes a chord for its simplicity, rooted characters and raw emotions."

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