Before Dasara, revisiting Nani's 7 finest performances. On Throwback Thursday

Before Dasara, revisiting Nani’s 7 finest performances. On Throwback Thursday

Nani is one of the biggest stars in the Telugu film industry. The Natural Star is gearing up for the release of Dasara, slated to open in theatres on March 30. It has garnered a fair deal of attention as it features him in a rustic new avatar. Its catchy tunes too, have become popular among the audience.

This, interestingly, is not the first time that a Nani film has made noise for the right reasons. The actor, who made his debut in 2008, has been part of some of Tollywood’s most memorable movies and floored many with his versatile performances.

On Throwback Thursday, here is a look at 7 unmissable films that bear testimony to Nani’s acting prowess.

Astha Chamma (2008)

Nani made his big screen debut with Ashta Chamma, which emerged as one of the biggest surprise hits of 2008. The film revolves around Lavanya (Colours Swathi), a charming young woman who adores Telugu star Mahesh Babu. She soon meets a simpleton named Mahesh (Nani) and falls in love with him.

Ashta Chamma received rave reviews, with critics praising the simple yet engaging performances and family-friendly storyline.

Ala Modalaindi (2011)

Nani and Nithya Menen impressed fans with their sweet and natural chemistry in Nandini Reddy’s romantic comedy. The film deals with what happens when the protagonist falls for a vivacious young woman shortly after suffering a heartbreak. Nani underplayed his role to perfection, impressing the audience.

Ala Modalaindi received positive reviews and emerged as a major commercial success. The film, shot on a budget of Rs 4 crore and earned Rs 15 crore at the box office.

Eega (2012)

The SS Rajamouli-helmed fantasy action drama featured Nani in the role of a Hyderabad-based young man who falls in love with an NGO worker (Samantha). The character is reincarnated as a fly after being killed by the suave womaniser, played by Kichcha Sudeep. Nani added a new dimension to the role with his coy and subtle mannerisms. This helped him make an impact despite limited screen time. Eega, shot simultaneously in Tamil as Naan Ee, was later dubbed in Hindi as Makkhi.

Ninnu Kori (2017)

The actor delivered an intense yet highly realistic performance in Ninnu Kori, which marked Shiva Nirvana’s directorial debut. The film revolves around the sweet yet complicated equation between ex-lovers Uma (Nani) and Pallavi (Nivetha Thomas).  Ninnu Kori collected nearly Rs 52 crore at the box office and proved to be a commercial success. The film was later remade in Tamil as Thalli Pogathey with Atharvaa in the lead.

Bhale Bhale Magadivoy (2015)

The romantic comedy featured Nani in the role of a junior botanist who tends to forget things and gave him ample scope to showcase his abilities. The actor did justice to the part, hitting the right notes with his body language and comic timing. Bhale Bhale Magadivoy did well at the box office and proved to be a commercial success. It was remade in Tamil as Ghajinikanth with Arya in the lead.

Jersey (2019)

Nani received critical acclaim for his portrayal of a 36-year-old cricketer who returns to the sport to make his son proud. The actor internalised the actor and captured his vulnerabilities to perfection. He also did justice to the cricket sequences by getting the body language right. Jersey emerged as a commercial success despite facing competition from Kanchana 3.

Shyam Singha Roy (2021)

The reincarnation saga featured Nani in two distinct roles and gave him a good platform to showcase his range as a performer. The Natural Star was particularly impressive in the flashback portions. They were an absolute treat for the audience as they featured the right mix of romance and action. Nani’s chemistry with Sai Pallavi was another highlight of  Shyam Singha Roy.

So, which is your Nani movie? Tell us in the comments section.

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