Ala Modalaindi (transl. 'That is how it started') is a 2011 Indian Telugu-language romantic comedy film written and directed by B. V. Nandini Reddy under the Sri Ranjith Movies banner. It stars Nani, Nithya Menen (in her Telugu debut) and Sneha Ullal with the music composed by Kalyani Malik. The film's cinematography is performed by Arjun Jena with editing by Marthand K. Venkatesh.

Ala Modalaindi
Promotional poster
Directed byNandini Reddy
Written byNandini Reddy
Produced byK. L. Damodar Prasad
StarringNani
Nithya Menen
Sneha Ullal
CinematographyArjun Jena
Edited byMarthand K. Venkatesh
Music byKalyani Malik
Distributed bySri Ranjith Movies
Release date
  • 21 January 2011 (2011-01-21)
Running time
135 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageTelugu
Budget40 million[1]
Box officeest. 150 million[1]

Released on 21 January 2011, the film opened to favorable reviews by critics and became a commercial success.[2][3] The film grossed 150 million (equivalent to 310 million or US$3.9 million in 2023) on a budget of 40 million (equivalent to 82 million or US$1.0 million in 2023).[1] Reddy won the Nandi Award for Best First Film of a Director SIIMA Award for Best Debut Director – Telugu. The film is considered one of the "25 Greatest Telugu Films Of The Decade" by Film Companion.[4] The film is remade in Tamil as Yennamo Yedho (2014), in Bengali as Olpo Olpo Premer Golpo (2014) and in Kannada as Bhale Jodi (2016).

Plot edit

The film begins with an accident. Gautam is abducted by John Abraham. On the way, Gautam is forced to narrate his tale as he talks of stopping a marriage and John too talks of preventing a wedding. Hence, the flashback. Gautam is ready to propose to Simran with a bunch of roses, but destiny has other plans. Elsewhere, Nithya is playing cricket and hits Gautam with her shot. He is then taken to the hospital in the stretcher. Simran falls in love with Dr. Anand, who was treating Gautam and they get married eventually. Gautam is invited and leaves for the wedding, but cannot face Simran. When he walks out, he gets drunk and meets a drunk Nithya who actually was in love with Anand. They go around freaking during the night and part ways the next day.

As destiny has it, they happen to meet in a pub after a few days. Gautam accompanies her everywhere. He realises he's in love with her, but before he could tell her, he finds out that she is already engaged. Gautam steps back and stays secluded. Nithya and her fiancé end their engagement over an argument about Gautam. Unaware of this and having moved on, Gautam starts dating a veterinary doctor Kavya, but they break up after an altercation. Nithya realizes that she loves Gautam and goes to his house after his mother dies, to propose to him, but is shocked to see Kavya in his house. Thinking that they both are married, she leaves to Bangalore and accepts the marriage proposal her parents set for her. After realizing Nithya misunderstood him, Gautam and his friends leave for Bangalore to stop the marriage.

On the way to Bangalore, their car stops and Gautam asks for a lift and they accept and that is where he was kidnapped. After a big fight between Gautam and John Abraham, it is revealed that John Abraham was looking for the one who gave Gautam a lift, not Gautam. He helps Gautam to reach the wedding. Gautam's friends, who reach the wedding hall, reveal the truth to Nithya. In order to meet Gautam, Nithya escapes from the wedding and ends up asking John Abraham for a lift, who accepts looking at the jewellery she is wearing. After listening to her, John realizes that she is Nithya that Gautam came for. He drives back the car to the wedding hall and Nithya take the gun and kidnaps Gautam. Then after a comical scuffle, Nithya reunites with Gautam.

Cast edit

Release edit

The film was released on 21 January 2011.

Dubbed versions edit

The film's Malayalam dubbed version, titled Angane Thudangi,[5] is released in Kerala on 28 July 2011.[6][7] The film got a wide release.[8][9] Angane Thudangi was the first Malayalam film (though dubbed) to be made available for online viewing on the same day as its release. This arrangement was made by Mathrubhumi, who also released the music for the Malayalam version.[10] The home video of Angane Thudangi was released by Hot & Sour on 2 December 2011.[11]

Reception edit

Rediff gave a four star rating, stating "All in all Ala Modalaindi is a fun ride" explaining "Nani and Nithya are at their natural best. Both are so effortless and at ease and share a great chemistry. They are expressive in a range of emotions too."[12]

Sify also gave a 4/5 star rating, noting "Nandini Reddy's plot is simple but her screenplay is knitted with many twists and turns and that makes the movie a pleasant watch. Nani and Nithya Menen score in performance."[13]

Review sites IdleBrain and GreatAndhra, which also gave 4 ratings, praised the lead pair's performance.[14][15]

The film ran for 100 days theatrically.[16]

Soundtrack edit

Kalyani Malik has composed the songs and soundtrack for the film.

Telugu original soundtrack edit

No.TitleLyricsPerformer(s)Length
1."Cheli Vinamani"Sirivennela Seetharama SastryVedala Hemachandra4:18
2."Innalu Naa Kallu"Anantha SreeramGeetha Madhuri, Kalyani Malik4:16
3."Edo Anukunte"Lakshmi BhupalNithya Menen, Deepu3:51
4."Oo Baby"Veena SahithiVeena Sahiti4:47
5."Ammammo Ammo"Anantha SriramNithya Menen, Kalyani Malik4:24

Malayalam dubbed soundtrack edit

The music for the Malayalam version was composed by Jassie Gift, based on the tunes in the original film.[5][17] The lyrics for Angane Thudangi were written by Siju Thuravoor.

No.TitleArtist(s)Length
1."Ammammo Ammo"Najim Arshad, Nithya Menon4:32
2."Entho Nedunne"Nithya Menon, Salin3:41
3."Kandille Nee"Najim Arshad, Sindhu Premkumar4:28
4."Nenjin Veena Meetti"Jassie Gift4:09
5."Oh Baby"Ranjini Jose & chorus3:33

Awards and nominations edit

Award Date of ceremony Category Nominee Result Ref.
Filmfare Awards South 7 July 2012 Best Director – Telugu B. V. Nandini Reddy Nominated
Best Actress – Telugu Nithya Menen Nominated
Best Music Director – Telugu Kalyani Malik Nominated
Best Lyricist – Telugu Sirivennela Seetharama Sastry

for "Ammammo Ammo"

Nominated
Best Female Playback Singer – Telugu Nithya Menen

for "Ammammo Ammo"

Nominated
South Indian International Movie Awards 22 June 2012 Best Film (Telugu) Ala Modalaindi Nominated [18]
Best Debut Director (Telugu) B. V. Nandini Reddy Won [19]
Best Female Debut (Telugu) Nithya Menen Nominated [18]
Best Supporting Actor (Telugu) Ashish Vidyarthi Nominated [18]
Best Comedian (Telugu) Thagubothu Ramesh Nominated [18]
Best Female Playback Singer (Telugu) Nithya Menen

for "Ammammo Ammo"

Nominated [18]
Best Music Director (Telugu) Kalyani Malik Nominated [18]
Nandi Awards 05 August 2011 Best First Film of a Director B. V. Nandini Reddy Won [20]
Best Actress Nithya Menen Won [21]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c IANS (23 May 2013). "Camera rolls for 'Ala Modalaindi' Tamil remake". Business Standard India. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
  2. ^ "'Overwhelmed by response for Ala Modalaindi' – Rediff.com Movies". Rediff.com. 6 April 2011. Retrieved 17 September 2011.
  3. ^ "Ala Modalaindi reaches its 75-day run". The Times of India. 14 April 2011. Archived from the original on 14 June 2012. Retrieved 17 September 2011.
  4. ^ "25 Greatest Telugu Films Of The Decade | Film Companion". www.filmcompanion.in. Archived from the original on 17 October 2019. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
  5. ^ a b "Angane Thudangi (2011) [Jassie Gift, Siju Thuravoor] | Angane Thudangi [ജാസ്സി ഗിഫ്റ്റ്‌ ,സിജു തുറവുര്‍ ]". Malayalasangeetham.info. Archived from the original on 16 February 2013. Retrieved 13 November 2011.
  6. ^ "Angane Thudangi – Movie Reviews, Videos, Wallpapers, Photos, Cast & Crew, Story & Synopsis on". Popcorn.oneindia.in. 28 July 2011. Archived from the original on 13 July 2012. Retrieved 13 November 2011.
  7. ^ "Angane Thudangi Malayalam Movie Preview cinema review stills gallery trailer video clips showtimes". IndiaGlitz. Archived from the original on 28 July 2011. Retrieved 13 November 2011.
  8. ^ "Angane Thudangi stills Malayalam movie Angane Thudangi Nithya Menon stills". Moviesmalayalam.com. Retrieved 13 November 2011.[permanent dead link]
  9. ^ "Angane Thudangi Malayalam Movie Review, Angane Thudangi Malayalam Film Review, Malayalam Cinema Review, Malayalam Movie Review". Metromatinee.com. 28 July 2011. Archived from the original on 24 November 2011. Retrieved 13 November 2011.
  10. ^ "'Angane Thudangi' for online viewers, Malayalam – Mathrubhumi English Movies". Mathrubhumi.com. 28 July 2011. Archived from the original on 26 November 2011. Retrieved 13 November 2011.
  11. ^ ""Melvilasom", "The Film Star", "Angane Thudangi" VCD/DVD released". Kottaka. Archived from the original on 5 December 2011. Retrieved 3 December 2011.
  12. ^ "Ala Modalaindi is entertaining – Rediff.com Movies". Rediff.com. 21 January 2011. Retrieved 17 September 2011.
  13. ^ "Movie Review:Ala Modalaindi". Sify. Archived from the original on 1 November 2013. Retrieved 17 September 2011.
  14. ^ Date : 20 January 2011 22:00:00 GMT (20 January 2011). "'Ala Modalaiyindi' Review: Commendable Attempt". Greatandhra.com. Retrieved 17 September 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  15. ^ "Ala Modalaindi film review – Telugu cinema Review – Nani & Nitya Menon". Idlebrain.com. 21 January 2011. Retrieved 17 September 2011.
  16. ^ "Ala Modalaindi's success party". The Times of India. 1 May 2011. Archived from the original on 14 June 2012. Retrieved 17 September 2011.
  17. ^ "Nani-Nithya Menen's Angane Thudangi releasing on July 28th". Ragalahari.com. 26 July 2011. Retrieved 13 November 2011.
  18. ^ a b c d e f "SIIMA nominations for Telugu films - Telugu cinema news". Idlebrain.com. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  19. ^ "SIIMA 2012 Winners Telugu". SIIMA. Archived from the original on 6 July 2019. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  20. ^ "Nandi Awards 2010 announced". IdleBrain. 5 August 2011. Archived from the original on 19 May 2011. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  21. ^ "Nani-Nithya Menen film 'Ala Modalaindi' is a classic millennial Telugu rom-com". The News Minute. 4 September 2020. Retrieved 15 May 2021.

External links edit