Fidaa
Fidaa is a 2017 Indian Telugu-language romantic comedy film written and directed by Sekhar Kammula. It features Varun Tej and Sai Pallavi in the lead roles which marks her debut in Telugu cinema. It is dubbed into Malayalam under the same title and in Tamil as Banumathi. Principal photography commenced in August 2016. The film won four Filmfare Awards from 9 nominations. Sai Pallavi’s performance was ranked by Film Companion in 100 Greatest Performances of the Decade.
Plot
Varun is a non-resident Indian who lives in Texas, United States of America with his elder brother Raju and adopted, younger brother Bujji. He is a medical student aiming to become a neurosurgeon. Varun comes to India along with his younger brother for Raju's marriage to Renuka, whose family hails from Banswada in Telangana. There he meets Bhanumathi, Renuka's younger sister. Bhanu is a beautiful and naughty girl who doesn't want to feel secondary to anyone. Gradually Varun and Bhanu develop a liking for each other but don't express it. Bhanu loves her father very dearly and doesn't believe in leaving him after her marriage. One day, she overhears Varun talking to his cousin Shailu about the opportunities in USA compared to India which he deems unfit for settling. Worse, his reference to a marriage between Shailu and her boyfriend is misconstrued by Bhanu as being between Varun and Shailu and so she feels cheated and misled by Varun. Heartbroken, Bhanu decides to forget Varun and kill her feelings for him and starts to ignore him. After his brother's marriage, Varun returns to USA but can't stop thinking about Bhanu all the time. He decides to confess his love to her. But Bhanumathi gives him a rude answer which enrages Varun creating a rift between them that widens further due to subsequent rude behaviors from both of them. Bhanu finally agrees to marry a man of her father's choice but realizes she isn't comfortable with him even before marriage.Meanwhile, Renuka becomes pregnant and is advised bed rest by the doctors. Bhanu is sent to USA by her father to help Renuka cope up with the pregnancy. Varun starts being inconsiderate towards Bhanu during her stay with them. This disturbs Bhanu and an argument ensues between them after which she decides to leave for India in a week. Before leaving, Bhanu decides to visit her friend in USA and Varun is asked to drop Bhanu at her friend's place. On the way when Varun drops her at a bus stop so she can take a bus, both have their final fight. Realizing he has hurt her, Varun makes amends and confesses to Bhanu how deeply he loves her and cannot imagine his life with anyone else and that his bad behavior towards her was but a dirty mask to try and get rid of, albeit unsuccessfully, his feelings for her, but since he seeks her happiness, will respect and value her going forward. They then decide to stay as friends and he offers to show her America. It is during this cross-country USA roadtrip that Bhanu realizes how deep Varun's love for her is and she also rediscovers her own deep feelings for him. Before leaving for India, at the airport, Bhanu runs to Varun and hugs him with tearful eyes. Varun understands that Bhanu still loves him and a few days later goes to India to ask for her hand in marriage. Bhanu's father who comes to know of their feelings for each other, advises her to follow her heart and marry Varun instead of the man he chose to which she agrees. Though happy that she is marrying Varun, she is apprehensive about leaving her father and her village. After the wedding ceremony, Bhanu starts packing her luggage to leave for the USA. Renuka then tells her the truth that Varun actually gave up his life in the US and his medical seat and has decided to settle and practice as a Doctor in their village. Overjoyed, Bhanu runs to Varun and asks him how he could make such a big sacrifice to which he answers that where ever she is, it is his world because he loves her a lot. Varun decides to establish a hospital in the village and they live happily ever after.
Cast
- Varun Tej as Varun
- Sai Pallavi as Bhanumati
- Sai Chand as Bhanumati and Renuka's father
- Satyam Rajesh as Ali, Varun's friend
- Gayathri Gupta as Sumathi, Bhanumati's friend
- Manisha Eerabathini as Shailu, Varun's cousin
- Raja Chembolu as Raju, Varun's elder brother
- Saranya Pradeep as Renuka, Bhanumati's elder sister
- Aryan Talla as Bujji, Varun's younger brother
- Geeta Bhaskar as Bhanumati and Renuka's aunt
- Dimple Hayati
- Katarina Richter as Suzie
- Nathan Smales
- Lydia Pagan
- Sri Harsha Jasti
- Harshvardhan Rane as Bhanumati's neighbor/suitor
Soundtrack
Release
Theatrical release
The film was released worldwide on July 21, 2017, and was received well by the audience. It was made on a budget of 13 crores and ended up grossing 90 crores, grossing over triple the budget in share. It made sixth on the list of highest-grossing Telugu films at the time and now stands at tenth.Home media
The film premiered on television in Star Maa channel on September 24, 2017, and received a massive 21.3 TRP just behind Bahubali & Magadheera.Critical reception
The film got mixed to positive reviews from critics. They criticized the movie for its routine simplistic plot line and others said that the Telangana dialect was mockery. Ironically, it was also praised for its simplicity and the organic dialect.- Times Of India gave it three stars and wrote, "The plot line is too flimsy and simplistic; the climax is also a la Anand. The cinematography is flawless and the frames have a rich visual appeal. The music is in line with Shekhar Kammula’s earlier films and although there’s nothing special about the songs, they’re not harsh on the ear either. The movie is absolutely bereft of any vulgarity. But after you leave the theatre, the only memory you’d carry back is that of Bhanu and her Telangana dialect. If that was what Kammula intended, then he has surely succeeded."
- The Hindu wrote, "The meeting and subsequent romance between Bhanu and Varun happens in a love-hate-love manner. They’re both enamoured, yet don’t go weak in the knees blinded by love. The setting adds to the charm. The Bhanswada house looks lived in, not like a make-believe set. The Telangana dialect is spot on and a lot of humour is woven in matter-of-factly. Jeevan’s background score adds mirth to the already lively proceedings."
- GreatAndhra gave it 3.25 stars and wrote, "All through the film, we see love and hate, hate and love sequences. But the love moments are lovely to some extent. The hate moments are not that impressive. We get a feeling that the misunderstanding scene should have had a stronger reason."
- Sify gave it 3.25 stars as well and wrote, "Fidaa is lovely. The love story, even though regular, is told in most endearing manner and with passionate approach. The story of Bhanumathi is likeable to the core and Sai Pallavi steals the show. Sekhar Kammula brings another good romantic story not worrying about commercial aspects. It may work with all kind of audiences but it is a good movie. Go watch it."
- Idlebrain Jeevi gave it 3.25 stars and wrote, "First half of the film is very good as Sekhar Kammula sets up the plot and make us travel with the characters in Banswada. Second half has less of story and most of the scenes appear repetitive. Yet, Sekhar makes sure that a few of scenes between hero and heroine are entertaining. Plus points of the film are writing, characterization of heroine and strong emotions. On the flipside, there are a few issues in the latter part of second half. After Pelli Choopulu, here comes another film that makes Telangana dialect and culture a trend! On a while, Fidaa has strong emotions with nicely sprinkled humor. You may watch it!"
- Firstpost was another to give it 3.25 stars, and wrote "Having said that, this is not a complaint, but a result of the angst that one goes through after watching a film which should have had a more befitting closing. The climax feels rushed and the story itself needed better closure. We get what we want in the end, but it feels like a chunk of beautiful moments which have held the story together."
- The News Minute wrote, "In the places where we expect a sob fest, we get a gentle touch of relevance and realism. The leads do cry buckets and buckets, yet they don’t grow into a dramatic nuisance. Varun, upset that his ‘proposal’ was turned down by Bhanu, drops her off at a bus station and tells her to use public transport to go to her friend’s house. She looks at him begrudgingly and doesn’t utter a word. He does come back for her. She does get into the car, after a five-second argument. When the rocky equation they share and the love-and-hate emotions they throw at each other come out in such good measure, it’s a story one would definitely feel for."
- Indian Express wrote "As a director, it was a great move to cast Sai Pallavi. However, the one thing that irks the audience a little is the absence of a strong supporting cast. Yes, there is great camaraderie between Varun and his brother, there is affection between him and his new sister-in-law, but in an important scene, a conversation between Varun and his sister-in-law falls flat."
Awards
[Filmfare Awards South]
;65th Filmfare Awards SouthWon
- Filmfare Award for Best Actress - Telugu - Sai Pallavi
- Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer – Telugu - Hemachandra for Oosupodhu
- Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer – Telugu - Madhu Priya for Vachchinde
- Filmfare Award for Best Dance Choreographer - South - Sekhar VJ
- Filmfare Award for Best Film - Telugu - Fidaa
- Filmfare Award for Best Director - Telugu - Sekhar Kammula
- Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress - Telugu - Saranya Pradeep
- Filmfare Award for Best Music Director - Telugu - Shakti Kanth
- Filmfare Award for Best Lyricist - Telugu - Chaitanya Pingali