InMilan, wheelchair-bound business tycoon Raghunandan reveals to his grandson, Gautham Nanda, his wish to mend relations with his estranged daughter Sunanda, whom he disowned for marrying Rajashekar against his wishes. Determined to reconcile the family before Raghunandan's 80th birthday, Gautham travels to Hyderabad, India. Disguised as a driver named Siddhartha, he earns the trust of Rajashekar, who has suffered a heart attack, and his family by admitting Rajashekar to the hospital.
Trivikram Srinivas planned to direct Pawan Kalyan in a film produced by D. V. V. Danayya and narrated the script in late January 2011.[6] However, Srinivas later began Julayi (2012) while Kalyan was working on Gabbar Singh (2012) and Cameraman Gangatho Rambabu (2012). The technical crew of Kalyan's and Srinivas's previous collaboration, Jalsa (2008), were selected to work on the film.[7] B. V. S. N. Prasad was expected to produce Attarintiki Daredi while Kalyan was expected to allot dates in his schedule from October 2012.[8] Srinivas gave finishing touches to the script in late September 2012 and Reliance Entertainment was confirmed to co-produce.[9] Devi Sri Prasad was selected as the music director and the music sittings were held at Barcelona during the location scout in December 2012.[10]
Attarintiki Daredi was launched on 23 November 2012 at Venkateswara temple in Film Nagar.[11] He hinted that the script will depict the Telugu culture and traditions with a strong message.[12] Prasad Murella handled the cinematography and few sequences were shot using a Milo robotic camera which B. V. S. N. Prasad brought in from Mumbai as it was unavailable in Hyderabad.[13] In mid July 2013, the title was confirmed to be Attarintiki Daredi.[14]
Kalyan opted for a complete makeover and sported a look resembling the one he sported in his previous films Kushi (2001) and Jalsa.[15][16] After Srinivas narrated the script to Kalyan, he asked him who would play the role of his aunt and Srinivas replied it would be Nadhiya. Kalyan gave his approval for Srinivas's selection and Nadhiya was selected before she signed her comeback film in Telugu, Mirchi (2013). Srinivas narrated the script in a conversation with her over the telephone. After she accepted, he said that he would ask her dates after their schedules were planned.[17] She later revealed that she was scared of being typecast but did the role only on Srinivas' insistence and added that the character's emotions were set quite well.[18]
Srinivas decided to cast Ileana D'Cruz as the female lead who worked with him on Jalsa and Julayi.[7] Samantha was confirmed as the female lead in late October 2012 which marked her first collaboration with Kalyan.[19] The second female lead was yet to be selected. By the end of December 2012, most of the films which were in the pre-production phase were confirming their female leads. Because of this the production unit decided to begin the shoot without confirming the other heroine.[20]
Pranitha Subhash was selected as the second female lead in early January 2013 and was confirmed to play Samantha's sister.[21] Pranitha called it a lifetime opportunity and said that she would be seen in a "very sweet, girl-next-door character."[22] Boman Irani made his debut in Telugu with Attarintiki Daredi;[23] he played Raghunandan, the grandfather of Kalyan's character.[24] Kota Srinivasa Rao played the role of Sidhappa Naidu for which he sported a realistic and rugged look.[25] Navika Kotia was selected for the role of the younger sister of Samantha and Pranitha in April 2013.[26]
Srinivas did not cast his regular associate Sunil in the film. Since Sunil's success of Maryada Ramanna (2010) and Poola Rangadu (2012) as a lead actor, Srinivas felt that it would not be fair to make him play a comedian.[27] Rao Ramesh, Mukesh Rishi, Brahmanandam, Ali, M. S. Narayana and Posani Krishna Murali were cast in supporting roles.[28]
Mumtaj and Hamsa Nandini were confirmed to make special appearances in the song "It's Time To Party" marking the former's comeback in Telugu cinema after 12 years after anchor Anasuya refused the offer.[29][30]
"While shooting scenes with Nadhiya, I used to laugh out loud due to her dialogue delivery. Since she wasn't perfect in Telugu, I used to laugh whenever she tried to mouth dialogue. Nadhiya complained to Pawan that she can't do the scene if Trivikram is there on sets. Then Pawan took over the charge and sent me out and he directed the whole scene. I came after a while and saw the output and said okay."
B. V. S. N. Prasad stated during the film's launch that principal photography would begin in mid-December 2012.[31] Kalyan searched for new locations in Spain as the story demanded a foreign location and around 30 to 45 days of shooting schedule was planned there. It was the first time Kalyan went for a location hunt and returned in the last week of December 2012.[32] Due to unknown reasons, the film's shoot was postponed to 8 January 2013 in late December 2012.[33]
Shooting finally commenced from 24 January 2013 at a private hotel in Hyderabad.[34] The team planned a new schedule from 4 February 2013 in Pollachi where scenes on Kalyan, Samantha and other support cast were planned to be shot.[35] The schedule was postponed to 15 February 2013 and Srinivas continued the shoot in Hyderabad.[36] After shooting for a few days in Hyderabad at a private mall, the planned schedule at Pollachi began from 12 February 2013.[37]
Scenes featuring the lead cast were shot in the end of April 2013 in a railway station set erected at Ramoji Film City.[42] A new schedule began at Ramoji Film City from 2 May 2013.[43][44] That schedule ended on 28 May 2013. Samantha informed the media that the film's speaking portions had been completed and that an overseas schedule was remaining.[45]
The song "Its Time to Party", which primarily features Kalyan, Samantha, Pranitha, Mumtaj and Hamsa Nandini was choreographed by Ganesh and was shot in a pub set erected by Anand Sai at Annapurna 7 Acres Studios.[5] Principal photography wrapped on 14 July 2013.[49]
Attarintiki Daredi focuses on a young man's journey trying to convince his estranged paternal aunt to reconcile with the family.[50] In its review, Sify felt that the film's story was a reversal of Nuvvu Naaku Nachav (2001) and Parugu (2008).[51] Kalyan's character, Gautham, is shown watching a few films,[a] where the protagonist is in disguise trying to win over people who matter to him.[53] In the film, Brahmanandam's character spoofs the Ridley Scott film, Gladiator (2000) named Radiator and wins the Bascar awards founded by himself after being inspired from the Academy Awards.[28]
The mythological tale of Indra seducing Ahalya after disguising as her husband Gautama and the curse cast by Gautama on them is parodied in the film with Brahmanandam playing a key role.[53] Two songs were parodied: one of them being a devotional song "Kaatama Rayuda" written by the poet Etla Ramadasa and composed by V. Nagayya for the film Sumangali (1940),[54] and the other an item number "Kevvu Keka" written by Sahithi and composed by Devi Sri Prasad for the film Gabbar Singh (2012).[55] A scene from the film, popularly known as the "badam tree" episode, was based on a similar scene from the 2012 English film A Thousand Words.[56]
Devi Sri Prasad composed the soundtrack album which consists of six songs. Sri Mani, Ramajogayya Sastry and Prasad himself wrote the lyrics for the soundtrack album, which was marketed by Aditya Music.[57] The album was released on 19 July 2013 in a promotional event at the Shilpakala Vedika with the film's cast and crew attending the event. The soundtrack album received positive reviews from critics.[58]
In late April 2013, Attarintiki Daredi was expected to release on 7 August 2013.[59] It was then scheduled for a release on 9 August 2013, the Friday before India's Independence Day. But due to then-ongoing Telangana movement, the release was put on hold. Later B. V. S. N. Prasad officially announced that the film would release on 9 October 2013 along with Ramayya Vasthavayya (2013).[60] But the makers were forced to reschedule the release date to 27 September 2013 after 90 minutes of the footage was leaked onto the internet.[61] On an average, 80% of the film's tickets were sold out in all screens for the first three days in Hyderabad. Apart from India, the film released in United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Canada and Dubai.[62]
Sai Gopal, who assisted Trivikram since Swayamvaram (1999), was in-charge of the film's promotional activities.[69] The first look poster featuring Kalyan in a red shirt and dark cargo pants was unveiled on 13 July 2013.[70] The first look teaser of 23 seconds was released a day later. Within a day of its release, the video posted by Idlebrain on YouTube fetched more than 190,000 hits and around 6,200 likes.[71] As of 16 July 2013, the teaser fetched over 300,000 hits and about 9,000 likes thus setting a record for any Telugu video uploaded on YouTube at that time. By the end of the next day, the teaser was viewed 706,927 times and received more than 6,000 comments.[72]
The theatrical trailer was released on 19 July 2013 to positive reviews. IANS wrote in its trailer review, "High on commercial value, the slick trailer of Attarintiki Daaredhi is a mix of action, comedy, romance and drama in appropriate proportions. Trivikram hasn't compromised on anything, including special punch lines for Pawan Kalyan, which he mouths in his signature style with a hint of sarcasm."[73] Oneindia Entertainment wrote "Attarintiki Daredi appears to be an out-and-out entertainer with an apt tag-line 'celebration of entertainment'. It is also going to be high in entertainment quotient as some noted comedians Bramhanandam, Srinivas Reddy, Ali tickle the funny bones of the audiences".[74]
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