Ori Devuda
Ori Devuda is a 2022 Indian Telugu-language fantasy romantic comedy film directed by Ashwath Marimuthu and produced by Pearl V. Potluri, Param V. Potluri, and Dil Raju under the PVP Cinema and Sri Venkateswara Creations banners.[1][2] The film stars Vishwak Sen as Arjun, Mithila Palkar as Anu, Asha Bhat, and Venkatesh in prominent roles.[3] The storyline centers on Arjun, a young man who marries his childhood best friend Anu out of familial pressure but quickly regrets the decision, only to receive a mystical second chance to alter his fate through a golden ticket from a enigmatic figure.[3] This narrative explores themes of love, regret, and the value of second chances, blending elements of fantasy with relatable romantic comedy tropes.[1] Ori Devuda marks the Telugu remake of the 2020 Tamil film Oh My Kadavule, retaining the core premise while adapting it for a Telugu audience.[4] The music, composed by Leon James—who also worked on the original—features a soundtrack including tracks like "Gundellonaa" and "Avunanavaa," which contributed to the film's emotional depth and commercial appeal.[5] Released theatrically on 21 October 2022, the movie received mixed reviews for its engaging premise and performances but was critiqued for occasional logical inconsistencies; it later premiered on the aha streaming platform on 11 November 2022.[1][6]Production
Development
The development of Ori Devuda began in November 2021 when it was announced as the Telugu-language remake of the 2020 Tamil film Oh My Kadavule, with Ashwath Marimuthu—who made his feature-length directorial debut with the original—directing the remake.[7] The title Ori Devuda, translating to "Oh My God," was revealed alongside a motion poster featuring lead actor Vishwak Sen on November 9, 2021.[8] Production was handled by Pearl V. Potluri and Param V. Potluri under their banner PVP Cinema, in association with Dil Raju and Sirish's Sri Venkateswara Creations.[9] The script was adapted by Tharun Bhascker Dhaassyam and Ashwath Marimuthu, preserving the original's fantasy romantic comedy premise of a second chance at love granted through divine intervention while incorporating contemporary Telugu dialogues to localize the narrative for regional audiences.[10] Marimuthu opted to maintain the source material's scene-by-scene structure with minimal changes, emphasizing a faithful retelling enhanced for Telugu viewers.[11] The film's estimated budget was approximately ₹10 crore, allowing for an expanded scale compared to the original while keeping production efficient.[12] Casting efforts were spearheaded by Vishwak Sen's commitment to the lead role, which helped secure the project's momentum early on.[13]Casting
Vishwak Sen was cast in the lead role of Arjun Durgaraju, a regretful husband who gets a second chance at love, with the announcement made alongside the film's title reveal on 9 November 2021, following his rising popularity from the 2019 hit Falaknuma Das.[7] Mithila Palkar was selected for the female lead role of Anu Paulraj, Arjun's best friend turned wife, marking her debut in Telugu cinema after auditions that highlighted her suitability for the part opposite Sen.[14][15] Asha Bhat was chosen to play Meera, the love interest who sparks marital conflict, drawing on her prior experience in supporting roles within Telugu and Kannada films.[16][3] The supporting cast includes Venkatesh Kakumanu as Mani, a close friend of the protagonist, and Rahul Ramakrishna in a comedic sidekick role, both selected to enhance the film's humorous and relational dynamics.[3][16] Venkatesh Daggubati joined for a special appearance as the god-like figure who grants Arjun's wish for a second chance, with his portions shot in a condensed schedule in Hyderabad during September 2022.[17] The casting process emphasized natural on-screen chemistry between the leads to adapt the original Tamil film's dynamics for Telugu audiences.[13]Filming
Principal photography for Ori Devuda commenced in early 2022, primarily in Hyderabad, with additional schedules in Goa to film the romantic sequences.[18] The production wrapped up by September 2022, after several months of shooting, including a brief five-day schedule for Venkatesh's key role as the divine figure.[19][17] Cinematographer Vidhu Ayyanna captured the visuals using advanced techniques to enhance the film's fantasy-romantic tone.[1] Post-production, including editing by Garry BH and visual effects for the fantasy elements such as divine intervention scenes, was completed in the lead-up to the film's October release.[16][20] Director Ashwath Marimuthu focused on faithfully replicating shots from the original Tamil film Oh My Kadavule, incorporating minor adjustments to align with Telugu cultural nuances.[21] Casting had been finalized prior to the major shoots, allowing the lead actors time for rehearsals.[22]Story and characters
Plot
Arjun and Anu, portrayed by Vishwak Sen and Mithila Palkar respectively, are childhood friends who enter a marriage of convenience, hoping to build a stable life together, only for their union to unravel amid misunderstandings and Arjun's infidelity with his colleague Meera.[23][21][24] Arjun's profound regret over his choices peaks during divorce proceedings, where he encounters a mysterious divine figure who grants him a second chance to go back in time and potentially alter his wedding decision.[23][21] Through this fantastical element, the narrative delves into themes of friendship evolving into romance, the far-reaching consequences of personal choices, and self-discovery, blending humor and emotion across its phases.[1] The story is structured into three distinct segments: the pre-marriage period highlighting their platonic bond, the marital conflict exposing relational strains, and the time-rewind exploration allowing reflection on past actions, all culminating in a redemptive arc focused on emotional growth during the climax.[24] With a runtime of 2 hours 25 minutes, the film allocates significant time to its climactic resolution, emphasizing character development over rapid pacing.[3]Cast
The film features an ensemble cast of approximately 20 principal characters, contributing to its comedic tone through interplay among friends, family, and colleagues. The casting process emphasized authentic chemistry among the leads to enhance the film's humorous dynamics.[25]| Actor | Role | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Vishwak Sen | Arjun Durgaraj | The protagonist who regrets his marriage. |
| Mithila Palkar | Anu Paulraj | Arjun's best friend turned wife; dubbed her own lines in Telugu. |
| Asha Bhat | Meera | Arjun's colleague and object of his infidelity. |
| Nagineedu | Arjun's father | Arjun's supportive parent. |
| Vennela Kishore | Friend | Arjun's comedic friend. |
| Sudarshan | Colleague | Arjun's workplace colleague. |
| Venkatesh | The deity | Special appearance as the divine figure. |
Music
Composition
The film's score and soundtrack were composed by Leon James, who previously scored the original Tamil film Oh My Kadavule (2020), on which Ori Devuda is based.[26] The soundtrack consists of seven original songs that align with the narrative's emotional progression in this fantasy romantic comedy.[5] Lyrics were provided by Ananta Sriram, Ramajogayya Sastry, Kasarla Shyam, and Kittu, contributing to the melodic structure tailored for Telugu audiences.[27] Recording sessions for the songs occurred at Voice and Vision Studios in Chennai, handled by engineer Lijesh Kumar.[28] The background score, also by Leon James, was developed to support key sequences, including fantastical and comedic moments, and integrated in post-production to synchronize with the film's visual effects. This approach helped preserve the essence of the original film's musical identity while adapting it for the remake.Track listing
The soundtrack album for Ori Devuda was released digitally on 27 October 2022 by Saregama Telugu.[29] It features seven tracks composed by Leon James, with a total runtime of 22 minutes and 29 seconds.[30] The album includes contributions from singers such as Armaan Malik, Sameera Bharadwaj, Sid Sriram, Anirudh Ravichander, Ravi G, Leon James, Yazin Nizar, and Harish Sivaramakrishnan.[31]| No. | Title | Singer(s) | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Paathashala Loo | Armaan Malik, Sameera Bharadwaj | 3:50 |
| 2 | Avunanavaa | Sid Sriram | 4:43 |
| 3 | Gundellonaa | Anirudh Ravichander | 3:31 |
| 4 | Marachipolene | Ravi G | 4:05 |
| 5 | Yendhi Ra Life Idhi | Leon James | 2:38 |
| 6 | Ninna Monnalaage | Yazin Nizar | 3:19 |
| 7 | Evariki Vaaree | Harish Sivaramakrishnan | 0:43 |