Mario is a game designer from Hyderabad. He develops a game along with his friends Bhadram and Maggie, and although it's a success, they later discover a bug that causes the game to crash at higher levels. Mario calls his friend Kalyan, the programmer, but Kalyan tells them that he is getting married. He invites them to Kurnool district for his wedding, promising to fix the code.
Jai, Siddharth and Bhavana are childhood friends who study in the same college. They are joined by Nookaraju and Priya in the college. Soon they become a batch of cool buddies. As Nookaraju alias Nooks is a farmer's son from a village near Srikakulam, life in college turns out to be a culture shock for him and he finds it difficult to cope with studies. Bhavana comes to his rescue and they become thickest pals of all. Meanwhile, Sid falls in love with Priya the minute he sets eyes on her. He proposes to her with the help of friends and the touching way in which he proposes floors her, and she instantly accepts his love. Priya being a rich child, she showers gifts on Sid. She also pesters him saying she wants to meet his mother. But Sid, who is afraid of his strict mother, a principal of another college keeps postponing. Moreover, he also hidden the fact that he is doing music course instead of Mca course. Meanwhile, Jai rejects proposal from his classmate Tanisha revealing that he had fallen for a girl at first sight in a bus, but doesn't know her whereabouts and his only clue is the girl's lost Jumki (earring). He starts to search for her and finally tracks her with his intelligence. Manasvini is a career-oriented doctor who thinks relationships are hurdles in achieving her goals. She aspires to make it big by going for higher studies in Australia. Jai has super cool parents who support his love. While Jai tries to woo Manasvini, she keeps avoiding him. Jai is an optimistic, all is well type of guy who goes by his heart. He solves other people's problems and love issues and spreads happiness around. Everyone feels and says that he spells magic in their lives and even Manaswini likes him when he helped to sort out things in her friend Sonia's marriage.
Kalyan's father-in-law Bhooma Reddy is a chieftain who rules the village of Rudravaram. He plans hides his violent ways and weapons until Kalyan is married off to his daughter, Pushkala. Meanwhile, Nandini Reddy, the daughter of Bhooma's close aid Bukka Reddy, also arrives at the wedding. As Mario and his friends drive to Rudravaram, they accidentally hit a man on the road who bites Bhadram. An old man immediately arrives and takes him away. Further on their trip, the trio run into Veera Reddy, Bhooma's arch-rival, who tries to kill them. They escape. Mario finds out Veera Reddy plans to kill Kalyan after his marriage. Despite multiple warnings, Kalyan doesn't believe Mario.
Things take a U-turn when they face the harsh realities of their respective lives. Priya plans a great birthday surprise for Sid in a mall and while everything is going smoothly Sid finds his Mom in the mall and when Priya finally wishes him he ignores her saying that he doesn't know her. Priya is completely shell shocked and though Sid tries to reason with her later she refuses and asks him to first muster enough courage to speak to his mom. Jai, too, goes through bad luck as Manaswini thinks that love will distract her and she is planning for higher studies in Australia and thus can't say yes to Jai. Jai ultimately bids her goodbye and continues his life with a hope she will come back.
Meanwhile, Bhadram's condition begins to worsen as he transforms into a zombie. He bites a household maid, who in turn bites a labourer, spreading the zombie virus even further. Bhooma Reddy and his men leave to investigate the virus. Mario's efforts to stop Kalyan's marriage are all foiled by Nandini, and in the end, he witnesses Veera Reddy's men kidnapping Kalyan on his wedding night. He finds Nandini and the two begin to quarrel until they both witness a zombie attack on one of Bhooma's workers. They lock themselves in the house along with Maggie and Kasi Reddy, and manage to escape by tricking the zombies.
In the case of Nooks, he falls in a trap on online crime by befriending a fake girl account on Facebook mistaking her to be his classmate Shalini and transfers his father's hard-earned money into her account. Bhavana tries to warn him but he shouts at her making her angry and distancing herself from him. Later understands that he's been cheated and tries to harass Shalini under the influence of alcohol. Shalini files a police complaint and his friends come to his rescue. He then learns the value of friendship through Jai's words. After realising his mistake he asks Bhavana to accept his apologies but she refuses.
Anjanadri is agonized under the tyranny of the polygar, Gajapathi. has a huge crush on Meenakshi who constantly combats Gajapathi's oppression, prompting the tyrant to launch a false bandit attack on her. Mario manages to avert the ambush and rescue Meenakshi, but is severely wounded and falls into the sea. While underwater, he gets hold of a strange glowing gem. Meanwhile, Meenakshi pines to uncover the identity of her savior, who has been aiding her since childhood.
The group try to rescue Kalyan from Veera Reddy's house, where it is revealed that Nandini is actually Sailaja Reddy, Veera Reddy's daughter, who was sent as a spy. The group manage to escape with Kalyan, and Veera Reddy and Sailaja follow. When Veera Reddy is attacked and swarmed by a crowd of zombies, a grief-filled Sailaja joins forces with Mario. In the fight that follows, Kasi is trapped up palm tree, and Maggie is bitten because she was unable to shoot her friend Bhadram. A heartbroken Mario is forced to flee.
Mario is found unconscious with serious wounds, but miraculously recovers due to the gem, surprising his elder sister, Anjamma, and best friend, Kasi. He also discovers that he has attained superhuman strength and figures out that the gem only works when exposed to sunlight. Meanwhile, Meenakshi confronts Gajapathi and he challenges her to a wrestling match. Mario comes forward to represent Meenakshi, and defeats him after a ray of sunshine falls on him and the gem. He proposes democratic elections to decide the new leader, impressing Meenakshi.
Meanwhile, Mario realizes Anjamma's unconditional love for him and repents hurting her; he undertakes the household's responsibility and arranges her wedding. Siri abducts to get him to reveal the source of his powers. zombies observes the interrogation remotely and discovers the gem's potential as Mario breaks free and beats up all the goons. Later, Mario reveals his powers to Meenakshi, and they confess their feelings for each other. He also heals Gajapathi, encourages him to stand in the upcoming elections and warns him to stay away from Meenakshi.
Mario remembers Bhadram getting bit on the road and decides to confront the old man from earlier. They find the original zombie, trapped in a glass cage along with a hidden lab. The old man reveals that he was once a world-famous virologist but the government banned him, citing his practices as unethical and inhumane. Desperate to recover his former reputation, he began developing a vaccine for Covid-19 and tested it directly on humans, leading to the creation of the zombie virus. The old man tries to show Mario the location of the cure in his camera, but the caged zombie breaks free, killing the old man. The others are rescued by Bhooma Reddy. Mario manages to see that the cure is near a symbol in a temple
Sid on other hand patches with Priya by saying that he has spoken to his mother and she has accepted Priya and wants her to meet the following week. In the turn of events Priya finds Sid's mother shopping in the mall and she approaches her but Sid's mother just says she doesn't know Priya and Sid's has not made any mention of her. Priya finally confronts Sid and says that she cannot tolerate any more lies and is leaving India permanently. Nooks, on the other hand, learns that Bhavana is leaving to her hometown. Jai encourages both Sid and Nooks to open up their hearts and console their loved ones without having to lose them.
On Anjamma's wedding day, Zombie accuses Mario of robbing him of his money and an ancestral gem; Upon Anjamma's instructions, Mario returns the gem, but it turns out to be a magnifying glass that damages Michael's eye and exposes his true colours. As Mario divulges to the villagers about the gem, Zombie instructs his henchmen to kill him, but Anjamma fights for her brother and takes a bullet in the process, killing her. Frustrated with the gem's inability to rescue Anjamma due to cloudy weather, Mario throws it away and tearfully cremates her, while zombies releases toxic smoke through drones into the village that freezes all the villagers. Discovering his plot, Meenakshi rushes to seek Mario out.
On their way to the temple, Sailaja realises she was scratched by the original zombie, but Mario brings her inside despite her protests. While searching for the symbol, they come upon Veera Reddy, who's alive. Although Bhooma Reddy and Veera Reddy are initially furious, they eventually decide to forget their enmity and join hands to hold off the zombie while the others continue looking for the symbol.
When Sailaja begins to turn into a zombie, Mario accidentally discovers that the cure is in the water falling from the Shiva Lingam, which is where the Symbol is. Mario blows a conch to make the zombies chase him, and jumps into a pond fed by the same water. As the zombies follow him into the water, they are cured. Mario is hailed as a hero for stopping the virus as both the families, a cured Maggie and Bhadram joyfully re-unite.
Nooks reaches to bus stand and opens up his feelings to Bhavana to which she reacts positively. Mustering enough courage, Sid takes his mother to airport and says that he loves Priya and want to marry her. He also reveals about his music course. Angry at first Sid's mother agree to it and asks Priya to help her contacting her parents. In the end, it is shown Bhavana is speaking to Nooks' parents (they are married) and going to attend a marriage of Jai. At the registrar's office, Manaswini turns up along with Sonia and confesses to Jai and Meenakshi that she loves him and wants to marry him. But it turns out to be marriage of Sid and Priya. Now nooks explains the actual story that he learned that Manaswini still loves Jai through Sonia and he wanted her to open up so he lied to Manaswini that Jai is marrying Tanisha. This with uniting couples the movie ends on happy note.
The film was officially announced on 8 August 2020 by releasing a motion poster of the film.[7][8][9] The film is Prasanth's third film after Awe and Kalki.[10] The music is composed by Mark K. Robin who is known for his works in 2019 film Agent Sai Srinivasa Athreya.[11] The film is Sajja Teja's debut film as a lead actor.[12][13]Amritha Aiyer was cast as the film's lead actress, and her character name Meenakshi was revealed in December 2018. Varma said he selected Amritha Aiyer after watching "Ghoomar" song. Varalaxmi Sarathkumar was roped in a pivotal role, and her inclusion was confirmed on 4 March 2019, on Eve of her birthday.
IndiaGlitz stated about "GO Corona" single that "This song is 2020 in a nutshell. The rap draws material from some of the most popular memes of the year when the pandemic played havoc. The very title of the song is drawn from a notoriously funny slogan that a political leader gave. And there is a smattering of meme-worthy stuff like 'Aipayee', which was triggered by a spiritual sermon. Modi's call for lighting diyas and clapping for COVID warriors also gets a comical interpretation. The rap is enjoyable, while the singers immerse do their job well. Sri Krishna, Anudeep Dev, PVNS Rohit, and Hymath are the chorus singers. The female ones are Harika Narayan, Sahithi Chagunti, and Sony Komanduri."[14]
Release
The film was released on 5 February 2021. It collected a gross of ₹2.26 crore (equivalent to ₹2.5croreorUS$320,000 in 2023) on its first day of release.[15]
Home media
The digital rights of the film were acquired by Aha, while the satellite rights were purchased by Star Maa. It was premiered on 28 March 2021, and registered an average TRP rating of 9.72.
Reception
Critical response
Sangeetha Devi Dundoo of The Hindu wrote that "In one stroke, director Prasanth Varma juxtaposes different worlds — a pandemic looming large, zombies, Rayalaseema faction rivalry — to hilarious effect. Zombie Reddy is a satirical potpourri replete with pop culture references at every turn."[16]
Neeshita Nyayapati of The Times of India stated "Zombie Reddy does have its moments, and all the cast, including Teja, Anandhi and Daksha, seem to have fun with what they're offered. This is not a bad film by any means, if only Prasanth had not gone down the predictable route, it would've been something more."[17] Hemanth Kumar from Firstpost gave 3 out of 5 stars and stated "Zombie Reddy is the first zombie film in Telugu cinema and to its credit, it does a fairly good job in simplifying the storytelling to the bare essentials."[18] A review from The Hans India rated the film 3 stars of 5 and wrote: "Zombie Reddy makes a decent attempt to entertain the audiences."[19]
Box office
The film collected a gross of ₹2.26 crore (equivalent to ₹2.5croreorUS$320,000 in 2023) on its first day of release.[15]
Sequel
After the success of the film, a sequel titled Zombie Reddy: Revenge of the Dead is in development.
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