The Telugu thriller that pivoted from theaters to streaming during the pandemic
In short: Originally slated for a March 2020 release, the action thriller V faced indefinite postponement due to COVID-19. Instead, it made history as the first mainstream Telugu film to debut on a digital platform, becoming the most watched Telugu film on streaming in 2020.
Directed by Mohana Krishna Indraganti, V marked a significant milestone for actor Nani, serving as his 25th lead role and his first foray into playing an antihero. The film follows a decorated police officer, DCP Aditya, who is challenged by a serial killer to prevent a series of murders. The plot weaves together a complex web of past conspiracies, including a communal riot in Hyderabad and a mission in Jammu and Kashmir involving the character Vishnu.
The production was a global undertaking, with principal photography spanning from May 2019 through January 2020. Filming took place across Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Thailand, including action sequences in a Phuket forest. While the film faced significant hurdles—including a legal dispute in March 2021 when the Bombay High Court ordered Amazon Prime Video to remove versions of the film due to the unauthorized use of an image of actress Sakshi Malik—it eventually secured a theatrical re-release on January 1, 2021.
Critical reception for the film was notably mixed. While many reviewers praised the performances of Nani and Sudheer Babu, as well as the cinematography and soundtrack, others were critical of the script and pacing. Some critics, such as Haricharan Pudipeddi of The Hindustan Times, described it as a disappointment, while others, like Manoj Kumar of The Indian Express, suggested it was a necessary watch during the current climate. Despite these critiques, the film's digital release on 5 September 2020 proved to be a major success for the platform.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: V (2020 film)
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