Billa(2009)
Billa is a 2009 Telugu-language action thriller film directed by Meher Ramesh. The film stars Prabhas in a dual role as David Billa and Ranga, alongside Krishnam Raju, Anushka Shetty, Namitha, and Rahman. The story follows a petty thief who is recruited by an Interpol officer to replace a dead gangster and infiltrate his criminal network in Malaysia. The film is the fourth remake of the 1978 Hindi film Don and was shot extensively in Malaysia over three months. It received mixed reviews for its stylish visuals but was praised for Prabhas's performance and production values. The film was a moderate box office success and was re-released in 4K in 2022.
Quick Facts
- Streaming on
- Zee5, Sun Nxt
- Theatrical Release
- 3 April 2009
- Director
- Meher Ramesh
- Language
- Telugu
- Runtime
- 2h 10m
- Rating
- 5.6/10
Storyline
A small-time thief named Ranga is forced to impersonate a dead gangster named Billa. He must infiltrate Billa's criminal empire in Malaysia to gather evidence for the police. But the gangsters are suspicious, and a woman wants revenge. Ranga must survive long enough to save his family and prove his innocence.
“One face, two lives, one deadly game”
Film Details
Parental Guide
Where to Watch
Vibe & Tags
Cast & Crew
Reunion Meter
Frequent partnerships reunited for Billa
Cast reunions in this film: Mani Sharma & Subbaraju (6 films together), Anushka Shetty & Prabhas (4 films together), Anushka Shetty & Subbaraju (4 films together), Prabhas & Subbaraju (3 films together), Hansika Motwani & Anushka Shetty (2 films together), and Anushka Shetty & Mani Sharma (2 films together).
Trivia
- This film is a remake of the 2007 Tamil blockbuster 'Billa', which itself was a remake of the 1980 Hindi film of the same name.
- The film's climax was shot in the scenic locations of Thailand, including Phuket and Bangkok.
- Actress Namitha made her Telugu debut with this film, playing a pivotal role originally performed by Nayanthara in the Tamil version.
- Composer Mani Sharma, known for many Telugu hits, was brought in to re-score the original Tamil music by Yuvan Shankar Raja.
- The film's release was delayed multiple times due to extensive post-production work on its visual effects.
- A key promotional strategy involved a massive cut-out of Prabhas erected in Hyderabad, which was one of the largest at the time.
- Despite mixed reviews, the film was a commercial success, cementing Prabhas's status as a leading action star.