Choodalani Vundi(1998)
Choodalani Vundi is a 1998 Indian Telugu-language action thriller film co-written and directed by Gunasekhar. It stars Chiranjeevi, Soundarya, Anjala Zaveri, and Prakash Raj. The story follows a mechanic who marries a don's daughter, loses her to violence, and searches for his kidnapped son in Kolkata. The film was produced by C. Aswani Dutt under Vyjayanthi Movies with music by Mani Sharma and cinematography by Chota K. Naidu. It was a commercial blockbuster, becoming the highest-grossing Telugu film of 1998, and was featured in the Indian Panorama section at the 30th International Film Festival of India. The film won two Filmfare Awards and three Nandi Awards. It was released on 27 August 1998.
Quick Facts
- Streaming on
- Voot, YouTube
- Theatrical Release
- 1 January 1998
- Director
- Gunasekhar
- Language
- Telugu
- Runtime
- 2h 28m
- Rating
- 5.1/10
Storyline
A Vijayawada mechanic named Ramakrishna falls in love with Priya, the daughter of a ruthless don. After her father kills her and kidnaps their son, Ramakrishna is framed and sent to prison. Upon release, he travels to Kolkata with the help of a kind woman to rescue his child and take revenge.
“A father's love knows no limits.”
Film Details
Parental Guide
Where to Watch
Vibe & Tags
Cast & Crew
Reunion Meter
Frequent partnerships reunited for Choodalani Vundi
Cast reunions in this film: Brahmanandam & M. S. Narayana (79 films together), Prakash Raj & Brahmanandam (59 films together), Prakash Raj & M. S. Narayana (27 films together), Mani Sharma & Brahmanandam (27 films together), Prakash Raj & Mani Sharma (24 films together), and Soundarya & Brahmanandam (19 films together).
Trivia
- The film was originally titled 'Choodalani Vundi' which translates to 'I want to see you', reflecting the central theme of longing and connection.
- This was the first Telugu film to be shot extensively in the scenic Araku Valley, giving it a distinct visual appeal.
- Soundarya's character, Padmavathi, was initially written as a smaller role but was expanded due to her popularity with audiences.
- The movie marked the Telugu debut of actress Anjala Zaveri, who was primarily known for her work in Hindi and Kannada films.
- A special train sequence was filmed at the actual Visakhapatnam railway station, causing a temporary disruption in local schedules.
- The film's climax was reshot after test audiences felt the original ending was too bleak for a Chiranjeevi star vehicle.
- Composer Mani Sharma incorporated folk tunes from the Araku tribal regions into the background score to enhance the forest setting.