C/o Kancharapalem | |
---|---|
Directed by | Venkatesh Maha |
Written by | Venkatesh Maha |
Produced by | Praveena Paruchuri Rana Daggubati (presenter) |
Starring |
|
Cinematography | Varun Chaphekar Aditya Javvadi |
Edited by | Ravi Teja Girijala |
Music by | Sweekar Agasthi |
Production company | Paruchuri Vijaya Praveena Arts |
Distributed by | Suresh Productions (India) Weekend Cinema (Worldwide) |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 151 minutes [1] |
Countries |
|
Language | Telugu |
Budget | ₹44–70 lakh [a] |
Box office | est.₹7 crore [5] |
C/o Kancharapalem (pronounced as Care of Kancharapalem) is a 2018 Telugu-language slice of life anthology film written and directed by debutant Venkatesh Maha. [6] [7] It was produced by American filmmaker Praveena Paruchuri and distributed by Rana Daggubati under the banner of Suresh Productions. [8] The film features a cast of over 80 non-actors, most of them native to Kancharapalem, a neighbourhood of Visakhapatnam where the film is set. [9] [10] The plot follows four unconventional love stories in parallel, all set in the neighbourhood of Kancharapalem.
C/o Kancharapalem premiered in May 2018 at the New York Indian Film Festival. [11] The film was released theatrically in India on 7 September 2018. The film received positive reviews from the audience and a majority of the film critics. [12] The film won Best Critics Movie award at 2019 Zee Cine Awards Telugu. [13] It was also screened at the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne. [14] It was honoured with "Best Film Award" at the "Critics' Choice Festival of Indian films" in Mumbai, [15] the "Caleidoscope Indian Film Festival" in Boston, where the lead actor Subba Rao received the "Best Actor" honour, [16] and Film Companion's "25 Best Telugu Films of the Decade". [17] The film was remade in Tamil as C/o Kaadhal (2021), in Kannada as Monsoon Raaga (2022) and in Malayalam as Kadha Innuvare (2024). [18] [19] [20]
The story focuses on four couples cutting across age, religion, caste and class barrier in the small area of Kancharapalem in Visakhapatnam city. It also shows how life and time plays a significant role in the fate of the four couples who break social norms for the sake of love.
The idea of C/o Kancherapalem struck director Maha while he was visiting an old friend living in the neighbourhood of Kancharapalem. After interacting with the local people and closely observing their lifestyle, Maha decided to make an independent film about the locality and its people. [21]
Maha later happened to meet Praveena Paruchuri, an Indian American cardiologist who was looking to make a film in India. Maha showed Parachuri a pitch video of his story, for which she was instantly impressed and told him, "This is made for Cannes." Parachuri offered to produce the film and paid Maha ₹3,000 as an initial amount. [22]
Maha recruited most of his cast, nearly 80 non-actors, who are from the town itself. [23] While no one in the town took seriously that he was making a film, they had shown great enthusiasm to act nonetheless. Maha also cast Paruchuri for a role when she flew down from U.S. to visit the sets. [24]
The film was shot for 62 days over two schedules in Kancharapalem and Bheemili suburbs of Visakhapatnam. [25] [23]
Post production work of the film is done at Ramanaidu Studios where its owner D. Suresh Babu happened to watch the film. Babu acquired the distribution rights of the film immediately. [25]
The soundtrack and background score was scored by Sweekar Agasthi, and the audio was released on 8 September 2018 on Aditya Music.
C/o Kancherapalem | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Soundtrack album by | |||||
Released | 6 September 2018 | ||||
Recorded | 2018 | ||||
Genre | Feature film soundtrack | ||||
Length | 15:53 | ||||
Language | Telugu | ||||
Label | Aditya Music | ||||
Producer | Sweekar Agasthi | ||||
Sweekar Agasthi chronology | |||||
| |||||
|
All music is composed by Sweekar Agasthi
No. | Title | Lyrics | Artist(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Patti Patti" (Additional Vocals: Master Srikar) | Raghukul | Sweekar Agasthi | 4:48 |
2. | "Sotta Buggala O Sinnadi" | Vishwa | Anurag Kulkarni | 1:05 |
3. | "Asha Pasham" (Additional Vocals: Sweekar, Damini) | Vishwa | Anurag Kulkarni | 4:20 |
4. | "Yemi Janmanu" | Classical Telugu song by Yedla Ramadasu | Kishore Polimera | 4:25 |
5. | "Kalakatta Kali" | Folk Song | Kishore Polimera | 1:15 |
Total length: | 15:53 |
The film premiered at the New York Indian Film Festival in May 2018. [26]
Sangeetha Devi Dundoo of The Hindu called it a "small film with a large heart", further appreciating it by remarking "a rare Telugu film that takes us beyond the habitual cinematic settings to familiarize us with the sights, sounds and lives of people of a locality." [27]
Baradwaj Rangan of Film Companion South reviewed, "A deeply moving romantic drama," and added "The format may suggest we are watching Love, Actually set in a village, in the midst of “what will people say?” considerations and drunks singing a Telugu song to the tune of Gori tera gaon bada pyara. But C/o Kancharapalem is a slow burn that builds and builds, and it goes far beyond the Love, Actually template. Yes, it’s cute and charming and very funny. But it’s also… real. [...] There’s a lot of mindfulness in the writing.[...] It’s been a while since a film showed us a side of love that’s so expansive, so generous, so attuned to the fact that love means… not just romantic love." [28]
Srivathsan Nadadhur of The Times of India rated it a "4/5" and reviewed, "C/O Kancharapalem raises a toast to sincere, uncinematic storytelling, gives power to those unheard regional voices and does its part in undoing the stereotypical portrayal of community-specific stories in Telugu cinema." [29]
At the US Box office, the film collected $36,000 on its first day, [30] and $185,000 in the opening weekend. [31]
By the end of theatrical run, C/o Kancharapalem grossed of ₹7 crore worldwide. [5]
The film was remade in Tamil and Kannada as C/O Kaadhal and Monsoon Raaga respectively. The Tamil version was directed by debutant, Hemambar Jasti. [32] [33] Kadha Innuvare is the official remake of this in Malayalam.
Date of ceremony | Award | Category | Recipient(s) and nominee(s) | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
5–9 September 2018 | Caleidoscope Indian Film Festival Boston | Best Actor | Subba Rao Vepada | Won | [16] |
6 January 2019 | Zee Cine Awards Telugu | Best Critic Movie | Paruchuri Vijaya Praveena | Won | [13] |
Special Appreciation Award | Subba Rao Vepada | Won | |||
Radha Bessi | Won | ||||
22 April 2019 | Critics' Choice Festival of Indian films | Best Film – Telugu | C/o Kancharapalem | Won | [15] |
21 December 2019 | Filmfare Awards South | Best Film – Telugu | C/o Kancharapalem | Nominated | [34] |
Best Director – Telugu | Venkatesh Maha | Nominated | |||
Best Supporting Actor – Telugu | Mohan Bhagat | Nominated | |||
Best Supporting Actress – Telugu | Praveena Paruchuri | Nominated | |||
Best Music Director – Telugu | Sweekar Agasthi | Nominated | |||
Best Male Playback Singer – Telugu | Anurag Kulkarni | Nominated |
Daggubati Venkatesh, also known as Victory Venkatesh, is an Indian actor and film producer known for his work predominantly in Telugu cinema and a few Hindi films. Venkatesh has a prolific career spanning over 37 years and is known for portraying a variety of challenging characters. He has received many accolades including six Filmfare Awards and five Nandi Awards.
Chiranjeevi is an Indian actor, politician, philanthropist and television host who predominantly works in Telugu cinema. He has also appeared in Hindi, Tamil and Kannada films. Chiranjeevi made his acting debut in 1978, with the film Punadhirallu. However, Pranam Khareedu was released earlier at the box office. Known for his break dancing skills, Chiranjeevi has starred in more than 150 feature films. He rose to stardom after playing the lead in the action film Khaidi (1983). His 1987 film Swayamkrushi premiered at the Moscow International Film Festival. He co-produced Rudraveena (1988), which won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration. In a film career spanning forty-five years, he has won four state Nandi Awards and nine Filmfare Awards South.
Raashii Khanna is an Indian actress who works predominantly in Telugu and Tamil films. She made her acting debut in a supporting role with the Hindi film Madras Cafe (2013) and subsequently had starring roles in the Telugu film Oohalu Gusagusalade (2014), Tamil film Imaikkaa Nodigal (2018) and Malayalam film Villain (2017).
Satyadev Kancharana, known professionally as Satyadev is an Indian actor who predominantly works in Telugu films. Satyadev has received nominations for a Filmfare Award South and two South Indian International Movie Awards.
Hebah Patel is an Indian actress who predominantly appears in Telugu films. After working as a model, Patel made her acting debut in 2014, with the Kannada film Adyaksha and then made her Tamil film debut Thirumanam Enum Nikkah both (2014).
Nivetha Pethuraj is an Indian actress who appears in Tamil and Telugu films. She made her acting debut with the Tamil film Oru Naal Koothu (2016). She then made her Telugu debut with Mental Madhilo (2017). Her notable productions include Chitralahari (2019), Paagal (2020), Das Ka Dhamki (2023) and the crime thriller television series Paruvu.
Tharun Bhascker Dhaassyam is an Indian film director, actor and screenwriter who works in Telugu cinema. He directed the romantic comedy Pelli Choopulu (2016), which won him the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu and Best Screenplay – Dialogues. He later directed Ee Nagaraniki Emaindhi (2018), and made his acting debut in a lead role with Meeku Maathrame Cheptha (2019).
Shalini Pandey is an Indian actress who works in Telugu, Tamil and Hindi films. She made her acting debut in the Telugu film Arjun Reddy (2017), and has since acted in the Tamil film 100% Kadhal (2019), the Telugu films Mahanati (2018) and 118 (2019), and the Hindi films Jayeshbhai Jordaar (2022) and Maharaj (2024).
Samantha Ruth Prabhu is an Indian actress who has appeared predominantly in Telugu and Tamil films. She made her acting debut with a small role in Gautham Vasudev Menon's Tamil film Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa. She had her first lead role in 2010 with Gautham Vasudev Menon's Telugu romance film Ye Maaya Chesave. The film earned her the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut – South and a Nandi Award. In 2012, Samantha featured in live action Telugu-Tamil bilingual project Eega. The film received positive reviews in both Telugu and Tamil languages and it was one of the highest-grossing Telugu films of the year, earning ₹1.15 billion globally. Her performance as a micro artist who runs a NGO and takes revenge for the murder of her lover earned her the Filmfare Award for Best Telugu Actress. In the same year, she appeared in the trilingual romantic drama Neethaane En Ponvasantham (2012). The film earned her praise from critics, and Samantha won her first Filmfare Award for Best Tamil Actress. 2012 became her most prolific award-winning year and she secured further recognition for Best Actress at the Vijay Awards, Santosham Film Awards and the CineMAA Awards. Popular playback singer and dubbing artist Chinmayi Sripada has been the voice of Samantha in most of her Telugu language films right from her debut in Ye Maaya Chesave. She has also dubbed for Samantha in a few of her Tamil and Hindi language films.
Sathyan Sooryan is an Indian cinematographer who predominantly works in Tamil and Telugu films. He is an alumnus of the College of Fine Arts, Chennai. He has won the Filmfare Award for Best Cinematographer – South for his work in Dasara (2023).
Karthik Rathnam is an Indian actor who works in Telugu theatre and Telugu cinema. Rathnam made his debut with the critically acclaimed film C/o Kancharapalem (2018), which was the first Telugu film to be screened at New York Film Festival. Followed by his appearance in ZEE5's Gods of Dharmapuri (G.O.D), Rathnam reprised his role in Tamil remake of C/o Kancharapalem.
Uma Maheswara Ugra Roopasya, also known by the initialism UMUR, is a 2020 Indian Telugu-language comedy drama film, directed by Venkatesh Maha. It was produced by film producer duo Shobu Yarlagadda and Prasad Devineni alongside Vijaya Praveena Paruchuri, under their respective banners Arka Media Works and Manayana Motion Pictures. The film stars Satyadev as Uma Maheswara Rao, alongside Naresh, Suhas, Raghavan, Hari Chandana and Roopa Koduvayur.
Venkatesh Maha is an Indian film director, screenwriter and actor who works in Telugu cinema. He's known for directing films such as C/o Kancharapalem (2018) and Uma Maheswara Ugra Roopasya (2020).
Chandini Chowdary is an Indian actress who works in Telugu films. Her notable works include Colour Photo (2020), Sammathame (2022) and Gaami (2024).
Smaran is an Indian music composer who works in Telugu cinema. He made his debut with Ajay Bhupathi's RX 100 in 2018 and worked on Krish's Masti's and Anvesh Michael's Kotha Poradu that released on aha in the year 2020.
Aadavallu Meeku Johaarlu is a 2022 Indian Telugu-language romantic comedy drama film written and directed by Tirumala Kishore. Produced by SLV Cinemas, the film stars Sharwanand, Rashmika Mandanna, Khushbu Sundar, Radhika Sarathkumar and Urvashi.
Vepada Subba Rao, better known as Kancharapalem Raju, is an Indian actor who works in Telugu-language films. He received wide popularity for the character "Raju" in his debut film C/o Kancharapalem (2018).
Sweekar Agasthi is an Indian music composer, playback singer, guitarist and audio engineer, who works predominantly in Telugu music. He is best known for composing score and soundtrack of C/o Kancharapalem (2018) and Middle Class Melodies (2020).
Jarajapu Viraj Ashwin is an Indian actor who has appeared in Telugu film. He debuted as a lead in Anaganaga O Premakatha (2018) and gained recognition for his role in Baby (2023).
Komalee Prasad is an Indian film actress who predominantly works in Telugu films.