Welcome Obama | |
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Directed by | Singeetam Srinivasa Rao |
Based on | Mala Aai Vhhaychy! by Samruoddhi Porey |
Produced by | Bharati Krishna |
Starring | Urmila Kanetkar Rachel Esteban |
Cinematography | S. S. Darshan |
Edited by | Suriya |
Music by | Singeetam Srinivasa Rao |
Production company | Sandalwood Media |
Release date |
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Running time | 120 minutes |
Country | India |
Language | Telugu |
Welcome Obama is a 2013 Indian Telugu-language drama film directed by Singeetam Srinivasa Rao, who also composed the soundtrack. A remake of the Marathi film Mala Aai Vhhaychy! (2011), the film stars Urmila Kanetkar, Rachel and Esteban. It focuses on a surrogate mother who bears a foreigner's child. The film was released on 20 September 2013.
This article needs an improved plot summary.(February 2024) |
Lucy, an American woman, comes to India looking for a surrogate mother to bear her a child. She lands a deal with Yashodha, an impoverished single mother. Yashodha has an accidental fall when pregnant and the doctors conjecture that there is a risk of the baby being born deformed, leading to Lucy revoking the contract and returning to the United States. But Yashodha delivers a healthy and active boy named Krishna, and everyone calls him "Obama" due to his white skin. Years later, Lucy gets to know about the boy and comes to India to take him. But Yashodha, having developed a strong bond with Krishna, refuses to send him back.
Welcome Obama, directed by Singeetam Srinivasa Rao and produced by Bharati Krishna under Sandalwood Media, [1] is a remake of the Marathi film Mala Aai Vhhaychy! (2011). Urmila Kanetkar, the lead actress of that film, was chosen to reprise her role. [2] British actress Rachel was chosen to portray an American woman, and French child actor Esteban was cast as the surrogate child. [3] The dialogues were written by Rohini. [4] Cinematography was handled by S. S. Darshan. [1] Welcome Obama was shot on Eastmancolor film, as opposed to being shot digitally. [5] Shooting was completed in 33 days. [4]
The soundtrack was composed by Singeetham Srinivasa Rao who also worked as lyricist. [4] [6]
Welcome Obama was released on 20 September 2013. [7] Sandeep Atreysa of Deccan Chronicle wrote, "Certainly, this is not a runof-the-mill story Telugu audiences would watch often. But what went wrong? Slow-paced narration in the first half and a bad comedy track in second half." [8] Sangeetha Devi Dundoo of The Hindu wrote, "There was a time when Singeetam Srinivasa Rao gave us some of the most entertaining films that broke new grounds both in storytelling and technical departments [...] Now, at the age of 82, when the filmmaker with unbeatable fervour comes up with a story that discusses surrogacy, it is natural to expect a social family drama that tugs at your heart strings while making observations about surrogacy. But as the drama unfolds, you are left looking for the missing magic of a once-brilliant filmmaker." [9]
Pushpaka Vimana is a 1987 Indian black comedy silent film written and directed by Singeetam Srinivasa Rao, who co-produced it with Shringar Nagaraj. The film, which has no dialogue, stars Kamal Haasan leading an ensemble cast that includes Samir Khakhar, Tinu Anand, K. S. Ramesh, Amala, Farida Jalal, Pratap Potan, Lokanath, P. L. Narayana and Ramya. It revolves around an unemployed graduate who encounters a drunk rich man unconscious and takes over his lifestyle after keeping him prisoner. However, he does not realise the dangers he has brought upon himself because a hired killer believes him to be his target.
Annapurna Studios is an Indian film production company, founded in 1976 by the actor Akkineni Nageswara Rao (ANR). Located in the heart of Hyderabad, India, the 22-acre (8.9 ha) studio mainly provides services for films, including sound stages for set construction, outdoor sets, floors, back-lots, data storage, editing, dubbing, sound effects, visual effects, digital intermediate, Dolby Vision/HDR, stereo and near field mixing, Dolby Atmos sound mixing, 5.1/7.1/9.1 sound mixing, conforming and mastering, HD/UHD/DCP mastering, and screening theatres, among other amenities.
Raja Paarvai is a 1981 Indian Tamil-language romance film directed by Singeetam Srinivasa Rao. It was simultaneously made and released as Amavasya Chandrudu in Telugu. The story was written by Kamal Haasan, for whom the film was his 100th as an actor and first as a producer. The score and soundtrack was composed by Ilaiyaraaja. It is loosely based on the 1972 film Butterflies Are Free. Despite being a box office failure, the film received critical acclaim, and Haasan's performance won him the Filmfare Award for Best Tamil Actor. Thota Tharani made his debut as an art director with the film.
Apoorva Sagodharargal is a 1989 Indian Tamil-language masala film directed by Singeetam Srinivasa Rao. The film features an ensemble cast including Kamal Haasan, Jaishankar, Nagesh, Gautami, Rupini, Manorama, Srividya, Janagaraj, Moulee, Delhi Ganesh and Nassar. The plot centers on the twins Raju and Appu, who were separated during childhood, and Appu's quest for revenge against the criminals who killed his father.
Urmilla Kothare (née Kanetkar) is an Indian actress in Marathi cinema and television. She is known for her roles in the Marathi films Duniyadari, Shubha Mangal Saavadhan, Ti Saddhya Kay Karte and Hindi TV serials Maayka and Mera Sasural and the Marathi serials Asambhav, Uun Paus and Goshta Eka Lagnachi. She is a classical dancer and made her Telugu cinema debut in 2014 with Welcome Obama.
Singeetam Srinivasa Rao is an Indian film director, screenwriter, producer, composer, and actor. He is widely regarded as one of the most versatile filmmakers of India. He is credited with having revolutionised the South Indian cinema with experimental films. He has directed about sixty films in Telugu, Kannada, Tamil, Hindi, and English languages across multiple genres. He has garnered two National Film Awards, five Nandi Awards, three Karnataka State Film Awards, and three Filmfare Awards South. In 2011, Rao was honored with Life Achievement Award from the Film Federation of India.
Maharashtra State Film Awards, one of the prestigious awards of Marathi cinema, are awarded by the Government of Maharashtra to Marathi language films and artists. They were first awarded in 1963.
The Bombay Sisters, C. Saroja and C. Lalitha (26 August 1938 – 31 January 2023), were an Indian Carnatic music singing duo. They received the Padma Shri, India's fourth highest civilian honour, in 2020.
Sommokadidhi Sokokadidhi is a 1979 Indian Telugu-language action comedy film directed by Singeetam Srinivasa Rao. Kamal Haasan plays a double role as an honest doctor and a happy-go-lucky youth. He was paired with Jayasudha and Roja Ramani. Prabhakar Reddy, Sarathi, Pandari Bai, Kanta Rao, Ramaprabha and C. S. Rao play supporting roles. This was the first film of Singeetam Srinivasa Rao and Kamal Haasan together.
America Ammayi is a 1976 Indian Telugu-language film directed by Singeetam Srinivasa Rao. The cross over film was based on the story of Telugu cultural importance in comparison to the western culture. French dancer Annick Chaymotty, known under her stage name Devayani, acted in the main role. She was learning Kuchipudi dance from Vempati Chinna Satyam. The film was a remake of the 1975 Tamil film Melnaattu Marumagal.
Sri Sarathi Studios is a film studio facility located in Ameerpet, Hyderabad, India. It was established in 1956 and was the first film studio facility built in Hyderabad. It was built by the Raja of Challapalli, Yarlagadda Sivarama Prasad. The first film shot in the studio was Maa Inti Mahalakshmi (1959). It was also the first Telugu film to be completely filmed in Hyderabad.
Brundavanam is a 1992 Indian Telugu-language comedy film co-written and directed by Singeetam Srinivasa Rao. It stars Rajendra Prasad and Ramya Krishna, with music composed by Madhavapeddi Suresh. The film was produced by B. Venkatarama Reddy under the Chandamama Vijaya Combines banner. The film won two state Nandi Awards.
Aditya 369 is a 1991 Indian Telugu-language science fiction film written and directed by Singeetam Srinivasa Rao. It is considered to be the first time travel film made in Indian cinema. The film stars Nandamuri Balakrishna and Mohini while Amrish Puri, Tinnu Anand, and Suthivelu play supporting roles. The music was composed by Ilaiyaraaja and Jandhyala wrote the dialogues. The film was produced by S. Anitha Krishna on Sridevi Movies banner with S. P. Balasubrahmanyam as the presenter. Upon release, the film received critical acclaim and was a commercial success. It received two Nandi Awards. Aditya 369 is considered a landmark film in the science fiction genre in Indian cinema. The film explored dystopian and post-apocalyptic themes in a satirical manner.
Anand is a 1986 Indian Kannada-language film directed by Singeetham Srinivasa Rao. It stars Shiva Rajkumar and Sudha Rani with both making their debuts. The film went on to be a huge success running for 38 weeks.
Mala Aai Vhhaychay! is a 2011 Indian Marathi-language film produced and directed by Samruoddhi Porey. The story deals with growing surrogacy practices in India, where women are used as surrogates by foreigners. The film is an emotional drama telling the story of one such surrogate mother who bears a foreigner's child.
Bhagyada Lakshmi Baramma is a 1986 Indian Kannada-language comedy film. The title of the film was borrowed from a devaranama written by 12th century Haridasa Purandara Dasa. This film was written and directed Singeetham Srinivasa Rao who also composed and scored the film's soundtrack. The film stars Rajkumar, Madhavi and K. S. Ashwath in the pivotal roles.
Priyadarshi Pulikonda is an Indian actor and comedian who works in Telugu films. He gained recognition for his role in Pelli Choopulu (2016). In addition to supporting roles, Priyadarshi played the lead in films such as Mallesham (2019), Mithai (2019), and Mail (2021). His performance in Mallesham (2019) appeared in the "100 Greatest Performances of the Decade" by Film Companion.
Nani is an Indian actor, producer and television presenter who works predominantly in Telugu films and appears in a few Tamil films. He made his acting debut with Mohana Krishna Indraganti's 2008 comedy film Ashta Chamma, an Indian adaptation of Oscar Wilde's play The Importance of Being Earnest. After Ashta Chamma's commercial success, Nani played the lead roles in three Telugu films in the next two years: Ride (2009), Snehituda (2009) and Bheemili Kabaddi Jattu (2010). In 2011, Nani collaborated with B. V. Nandini Reddy on the romantic comedy film Ala Modalaindi which was profitable. The same year, he made his Tamil cinema debut with Anjana Ali Khan's Veppam, a crime drama set in the backdrop of North Chennai. The following year, Nani collaborated with S. S. Rajamouli and Gautham Vasudev Menon on the Telugu-Tamil bilingual Eega and the romance film Yeto Vellipoyindhi Manasu respectively. The former, which was about a murdered man reincarnating as a housefly and avenging his death, earned Nani an award in the Best Hero category at the 2013 Toronto After Dark Film Festival. He received the Nandi Award for Best Actor for his performance in Yeto Vellipoyindhi Manasu.
Chitralahari is a 2019 Indian Telugu-language comedy drama film written and directed by Kishore Tirumala and produced by Mythri Movie Makers. The film stars Sai Dharam Tej, Kalyani Priyadarshan, and Nivetha Pethuraj, while Sunil, Vennela Kishore, Posani Krishna Murali, and Brahmaji, among others, play supporting roles. The music was composed by Devi Sri Prasad with cinematography by Karthik Ghattamaneni and editing by A. Sreekar Prasad. The film released on 12 April 2019 to mixed to positive reception and become a commercial success.
Vijayam (transl. Victory) is a 2003 Indian Telugu-language social problem film directed by Singeetam Srinivasa Rao and produced by D. Ramanaidu. The film stars Raja and Gajala. It was released on 9 May 2003.