>Jayanthkumar123 at 07:11, 22 June 2021

2021-06-22T07:11:16Z

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{{short description|2018 film directed by Prasanth Varma}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2017}}
{{Use Indian English|date=November 2017}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Awe
| image = Awe film poster.jpg
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = [[Prasanth Varma]]
| producer = [[Nani (actor)|Nani]] [[Prashanti Tipirneni]]
| writer = Prasanth Varma
| starring = [[Kajal Aggarwal]] [[Nithya Menen]] [[Regina Cassandra]] [[Eesha Rebba]] [[Priyadarshi Pullikonda]] [[Srinivas Avasarala]] [[Murali Sharma]]
| music = Mark K Robin
| cinematography = [[Karthik Ghattamaneni]]
| editing = Goutham Nerusu
| studio = Wall Poster Cinema
| released = {{Film date|2018|2|16|df=y}}
| runtime = 110 minutes
| country = India
| language = Telugu
| budget = {{INR|5 [[crore]]|link=yes}}<ref name="gross">{{Cite web|date=2018-12-22|title=2018 round-up: Six low-budget Tollywood films that grossed big at the box-office|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movies/news/2018-round-up-six-low-budget-tollywood-films-that-grossed-big-at-the-box-office/photostory/67196025.cms|access-date=2020-08-19|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref>
| gross = {{Estimation}} {{INR|14 crore}}<ref name="gross" /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ibtimes.co.in/2018s-tollywood-movies-box-office-collection-list-highest-grossing-telugu-films-year-780150|title= Tollywood box office report of 2018: highest grossing Telugu movies of year; List of hits and flops|date=23 November 2018}}</ref>
}}
'''''Awe''''' is a 2018 Indian [[Telugu language|Telugu]]-language [[psychological film|psychological]] [[Cross-genre|cross genre film]] written and directed by [[Prasanth Varma]] (in his feature debut). The film is produced by [[Nani (actor)|Nani]] and [[Prashanti Tipirneni]] under their maiden production banner Wall Poster Cinema. The film features an ensemble cast of [[Kajal Aggarwal]], [[Nithya Menen]], [[Regina Cassandra]], [[Eesha Rebba]], [[Srinivas Avasarala]], [[Priyadarshi Pullikonda]] and [[Murali Sharma]]. The film deals with psychological issues and social problems like [[child abuse]], [[sexual abuse]], and [[drug abuse]]. The film released worldwide on 16 February 2018 and received highly positive reviews from critics and audience.

At the [[66th National Film Awards]], the film won the award for [[National Film Award for Best Special Effects|Best Special Effects]], and [[National Film Award for Best Make-up Artist|Best Make-up]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=192564|title=66th National Film Awards for 2018 announced|publisher=Press Information Bureau Government of India Ministry of Information & Broadcasting}}</ref>

==Plot==
Shiva is a watchman and an aspiring scientist who is building a [[time travel|time machine]] to meet his parents whom he hasn't met for years, while Parvathy, a woman, suddenly shows up and claims that she is his future-self and has traveled back in time to prevent their parents' death, which she claims will occur in an hour.

Nala is a down-on-his-luck man who applies to be a chef at a restaurant. While he does not even know how to cook, he just follows instructions in [[YouTube]] cooking videos to finish jobs given by the restaurant owner. While he's cooking, he befriends Nani, a [[goldfish]] and Chanti, a [[bonsai tree]] in the kitchen, which both surprisingly can even talk and he is the only human that can hear, understand and communicate with them.

Radha is with her parents waiting for her partner, Krishnaveni "Krish," however when Krish shows up, her parents are surprised to see that it's a woman, and she and Radha are lesbian lovers. Radha's parents strongly object to Radha and Krish's relationship as they cannot accept same-sex marriage. However, Radha's parents are moved when Krish, a psychiatrist by profession, tells them that Radha hates men due to horrific incidents she faced in her childhood, which later prompted to change her sexual orientation towards women.

Moksha is an 8-year-old girl who works at her mother's restaurant and performs magic tricks to the customers. Yogi, an egoistic magician, visits her restaurant. He humiliates Moksha after watching her magic show but ends up being humiliated by someone claimed to be a magic master, who may actually be a soul.

Mira is a waitress at a restaurant who is also a drug addict. She and her boyfriend Sugar are gearing up to loot a rich investor whom they expect to come to the restaurant soon. Mira accidentally finds a necklace inside a tree in the restaurant and wears it. She serves a regular customer Raghuram, whose wife, according to an old staff in the restaurant, was buried alive years ago under the tree where Mira found the necklace. Mira is frightened on seeing the ghost of Raghuram's wife.

Kali prepares to shoot herself. She signs an organ donation document and a death note which reads, "I am going to conduct a mass murder, and I plead not guilty."

The above stories occur in parallel at the same restaurant.

Sugar conducts his plan to loot the investor but fails when his partner Mira is scared by the ghost. On being neither caught nor suspected, he sits naturally, waiting for another chance. Later, Moksha plays a magic trick for Sugar's target. Seeing this as a distraction, Sugar attempts to steal the money but is caught by the investor. The frustrated Sugar takes Moksha as a hostage to go away, only to bump into Yogi, who messes with him with magic tricks. Sugar accidentally shoots Radha and attempts to run away, but is knocked down by Nala (encouraged by Nani) with a nearby stick. Krish and Radha's parents try to take Radha to the hospital, but Shiva and Parvathy stop them with Sugar's gun, saying that if anyone leaves, their parents will die. It is implied by Parvathy, the future Shiva, that she had travelled back to this time many times to save her parents, with the time machine Shiva builds in the future. However, she fails every time because someone finally makes a way out of the restaurant one way or the other.

Moksha, Radha, Mira, Nala, Shiva, Krish, Yogi and Parvathi are the multiple personalities of Kali herself, who suffers from [[multiple personality disorder]] and they reflect the various phases of her life. Kali shoots herself to ease the burden she has been carrying in her mind, and, simultaneously, all the virtual characters die with her.

== Cast ==
{{colbegin}}
*[[Kajal Aggarwal]] as Kali, a troubled woman
*[[Nithya Menen]] as Krishnaveni, a psychiatrist
*[[Regina Cassandra]] as Mira, a waitress and drug addict
*[[Eesha Rebba]] as Radha, Krishnaveni's girlfriend who has a bad history with men
*[[Priyadarshi Pullikonda]] as Nala Bheema, a down-on-his-luck man who wants to be a chef
*[[Srinivas Avasarala]] as Shiva, a watchman who wants to become a scientist
*[[Murali Sharma]] as Yogi, an egoistic magician
*Kaitlyn "Kate" D’mello as Moksha, a child who engages in a war with Yogi
*[[Pragathi (actress)|Pragathi]] as Moksha's mother, who owns the restaurant where her daughter works
*[[Devadarshini]] as Parvathy, a woman who claims to be Shiva's future self
*[[Rohini (actress)|Rohini]] as Radha's mother
*C V L Narasimha Rao as Radha's father
*Jayasri Rachakonda as Devi, first customer
*Balakrishna as Raghuram, a man whom Mira waits at a restaurant and catches Lobo stealing the money
*Upen Reddy as Lobo/Sugar, Mira's boyfriend who wants to steal an investor's money only to be caught by Raghuram and knocked down by Nala
;Voice cast
*[[Nani (actor)|Nani]] as Nani, a [[goldfish]] that Nala befriends
*[[Ravi Teja]] as Chanti, a [[bonsai tree]] that Nala befriends
{{colend}}

==Production==
[[Nani (actor)|Nani]] met director [[Prasanth Varma]] who narrated the storyline to him. Nani reportedly loved the script and decided to produce the film himself. On 25 November 2017, the actor unveiled the title poster of the film at a star-studded event. The development has indeed brought cheers on the faces of Nani's ardent fans. The film was bankrolled by the actor's debut production house, Wallposter Cinema and co-produced by [[Prashanti Tipirneni]], who worked as a costume designer for the [[Baahubali (film series)|Baahubali film series]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movies/news/the-first-look-poster-of-awe-released/articleshow/61798374.cms|title=The first look poster of Awe released - Times of India|website=The Times of India|language=en|access-date=2019-12-24}}</ref>

The film features an ensemble cast, which includes [[Kajal Aggarwal]], [[Nithya Menen]], [[Regina Cassandra]], [[Eesha Rebba]], [[Srinivas Avasarala]], [[Murali Sharma]], [[Priyadarshi Pullikonda]], [[Rohini (actress)|Rohini]] and [[Devadarshini]]. [[Ravi Teja]] was brought in to play one of the two voiceover narrators, featuring as the voice of a bonsai. Nani is voicing a fish, who is the other narrator.

While [[Karthik Ghattamaneni]], [[P. Sai Suresh|Sahi Suresh]] and Gautham Nerusu were reported to be the cinematographer, art director and editor respectively. Newcomer Mark K Robin was hired to compose the score and songs.

== Themes ==
{{cleanup|section|reason=Section needs copyediting for grammar, and to link ideas together into a coherent narrative.|date=December 2019}}
The film deals with mental illness, abuse, gender and sexuality. Kali (played by [[Kajal Aggarwal]]), is the main protagonist who is suffering from [[Dissociative identity disorder|multiple personality disorder]], in the end of the film. [[Dissociative identity disorder|MPD]] is a mental illness characterized by alternating between multiple personality states and memory loss.

The concept of [[lesbianism]] portrayed in the film, became a popular topic, since Telugu films were subjected to strict censor formalities, while portraying lesbianism in films. ''Affair'' is the first Telugu film to portray lesbianism.{{citation needed|date=December 2019}} However, it did not have a theatrical release, since the [[CBFC India|CBFC]] refused to approve the film. It was directly released on [[YouTube]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Director of Telugu movie on lesbians vows to release it on Youtube if censors block it |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/director-telugu-movie-lesbians-vows-release-it-youtube-if-censors-block-it-36164?amp|website=www.thenewsminute.com|access-date=2019-12-24}}</ref>The film was withdrawn and sent back to the [[Central Board of Film Certification|Censor Board]].<ref name="BBCWithdrawFire">{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/229320.stm|title=Film star slams lesbian movie withdrawal|date=7 December 1998|work=BBC News|access-date=4 August 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140130192013/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/229320.stm|archive-date=30 January 2014}}</ref> But later it was released uncut.<ref name="BCCFireUncut">{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/279351.stm|title=India approves lesbian film|date=14 February 1999|work=BBC News|access-date=4 August 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140129063726/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/279351.stm|archive-date=29 January 2014}}</ref> The [[Supreme court|Supreme Court]] of India invalidated part of [[Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code|Section 377]] of the [[Indian Penal Code]] making homosexuality legal in India in September 2018.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-45429664|title=Historic India ruling legalises gay sex|date=2018-09-06|access-date=2019-12-24|language=en-GB}}</ref>

In an interview with Haricharan Pudipeddi of ''[[Hindustan Times]]'', [[Nithya Menen]] stated that "When Prashant pitched the character, I was absolutely excited. As artistes, we come across many stories but something like Awe doesn't come often; it's rare. I didn't see it as a lesbian character. I accepted the offer because I thought it'd be exciting and challenging. I love doing different, edgy roles."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/regional-movies/awe-actor-nithya-menen-telugu-cinema-needs-a-revolution-with-respect-to-content/story-U7GNan6cvIUgUIyJfh8e0K.html|title=Awe actor Nithya Menen: Telugu cinema needs a revolution with respect to content|date=2018-03-03|website=Hindustan Times|language=en|access-date=2019-12-24}}</ref>

== Music ==
The film score and soundtrack were composed by newcomer Mark K Robin. Initially, the film features only one song titled "Theme of Awe" which was played in the opening and end credits of the film. The song was digitally released in [[YouTube]] and other streaming platforms on 9 February 2018, while it was launched at the [[Radio Mirchi|Radio Mirchi FM Station]] in [[Hyderabad]] on 13 February 2018, in the presence of the film's cast and crew.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://moviegalleri.net/2018/02/awe-theme-song-launch-radio-mirchi-photos.html|title=AWE Theme Song Launch @ Radio Mirchi Photos {{!}} New Movie Posters|date=2018-02-13|language=en-US|access-date=2019-12-24}}</ref> Sung by Sharon, with lyrics written by Krishna Kanth, [[The Times of India]] stated that "The song is tailor made for the movie."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/music/awe-theme-song-the-music-is-tailor-made-for-the-movie/articleshow/62900795.cms|title=‘Awe’ theme song: The music is tailor made for the movie - Times of India|website=The Times of India|language=en|access-date=2019-12-24}}</ref> [[Lahari Music]] released the opening credits and ending credits video on 30 June and 1 July respectively, which features the theme song. Both the videos were released on two different [[YouTube]] channels.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/music/opening-and-end-credit-songs-of-prasanth-varma-and-kajal-aggarwals-awe-released/articleshow/64729726.cms|title=Opening and end credit songs of Prasanth Varma and Kajal Aggarwal's 'Awe!' released! - Times of India|website=The Times of India|language=en|access-date=2019-12-24}}</ref>

== Marketing ==
The pre-release event took place at B. R. Ambedkar University Grounds at [[Hyderabad]] on 31 January 2018, where the film's trailer was released and received positive responses.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movies/news/nanis-production-venture-awes-trailer-is-out/articleshow/62738350.cms|title=Nani's production venture 'Awe's' trailer is out - Times of India|website=The Times of India|language=en|access-date=2019-12-24}}</ref>

==Release and reception==
{{cleanup|section|reason=Section focusses too heavily on ratings and quotations without providing summaries or organising these ideas into topics like cinematography, direction, writing, etc.|date=December 2019}}
The film received a [[U/A certificate]] from the [[Central Board of Film Certification]] and was released worldwide on 16 February 2018.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/telugu/nani-debut-production-venture-awe-gets-a-release-date-5043896/|title=Nani's debut production venture Awe gets a release date|date=2018-01-29|website=The Indian Express|language=en-US|access-date=2019-12-24}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movies/news/nanis-awe-completes-censor-formalities/articleshow/62872583.cms|title=Nani's 'Awe' completes censor formalities! - Times of India|website=The Times of India|language=en|access-date=2019-12-24}}</ref> The film was premiered exclusively in the [[United States]], a day before its original release, on 15 February 2018.<ref name=":1" />

Neetishta Nyayapati, from ''[[The Times of India]]'', rated 4 out of 5 stars, and stated that "Go watch this film if you're looking for something definitely out of the box and fresh, ‘Awe’ will not disappoint you."<ref>{{Citation|title=Awe! Review {4/5}: Go watch this movie if you're looking for something definitely out of the box and fresh, ‘Awe’ will not disappoint you|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movie-reviews/awe/movie-review/62944963.cms|access-date=2019-12-24}}</ref> ''[[The Indian Express]]'' gave it 4 stars stating that "Awe has high entertainment value, strong emotions, progressive characters, thrills, chills, comedy and some philosophy. Prasanth could have even made this film work without big actors or fancy sets in it."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/movie-review/awe-movie-review-nani-kajal-aggarwal-nithya-menen-star-rating-5066330/|title=Awe movie review: Prasanth Varma's film is awe-inspiring indeed|newspaper=[[Indian Express]]|date=16 February 2018}}</ref> ''[[Hindustan Times]]'' rated the film 5/5, summarising that the film is "technically brilliant".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/movie-reviews/awe-movie-review-in-awe-of-this-nani-film-its-director-prasanth-varma/story-DtVNKVlpQxLMNrhLiDUMXM.html|title=Awe movie review: Nani and Prasanth Varma's film is technically brilliant|newspaper=[[Hindustan Times]]|date=17 February 2018|access-date=17 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180224041255/https://www.hindustantimes.com/movie-reviews/awe-movie-review-in-awe-of-this-nani-film-its-director-prasanth-varma/story-DtVNKVlpQxLMNrhLiDUMXM.html|archive-date=24 February 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>

''[[India Today]]'' rated 3 out of 5 stars, stating that "Awe has several astonishing moments only if you can look past the sequences that are not in sync with the story."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/reviews/story/awe-movie-review-nani-kajal-aggarwal-nithya-menen-regina-cassandra-1171068-2018-02-16|title=Awe Movie Review: This Kajal Aggarwal film has both awesome and awful moments|last=Janani K.|date=July 31, 2018|website=India Today|language=en|access-date=2019-12-24}}</ref> Behindwoods rated 3 out of 5, stating it as "a welcome trendsetter"<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.behindwoods.com/telugu-movies/awe/awe-review.html|title=Awe (aka) Awee review|date=2018-02-16|website=Behindwoods|access-date=2019-12-24}}</ref> Deccan Chronicle rated 4 out of 5 stars, and summarised that "The narration is slow and be careful… If you do not understand the climax, you do not understand the film. The film's key point is the last 15 minutes in which the director very cleverly reveals the connection between the characters. Prashanth Varma has tried something different here. People, who are on the lookout for a new genre cinema, should watch this film definitely."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/amp/entertainment/movie-reviews/180218/awe-movie-review-awe-is-a-must-watch.html|title=‘Awe’ movie review: Awe is a must watch|website=www.deccanchronicle.com|access-date=2019-12-24}}</ref> [[Baradwaj Rangan]] of [[Film Companion]] South wrote "Awe certainly leaves you thinking – about the film itself, and about what an exciting time it is in Telugu cinema, with so many rebels plotting these little coups against one of the country's most deeply entrenched cinematic empires."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.filmcompanion.in/awe-movie-review-baradwaj-rangan/|title=Awe Movie Review|publisher=[[Film Companion]]|date=1 March 2018}}</ref>

In a contrast review, [[Firstpost]] rated 3 out of 5 and stated that "The moment you figure out an answer, you will know whether ''Awe!'' is ‘Awesome’ or ‘Awful’. The truth lies somewhere in between."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/awe-movie-review-prasanth-varmas-genre-bender-pushes-the-envelope-but-doesnt-quite-hit-the-mark-4354319.html|title=Awe! movie review: Prasanth Varma's genre-bender pushes the envelope, but doesn't quite hit the mark- Entertainment News, Firstpost|date=2018-02-16|website=Firstpost|language=en|access-date=2019-12-24}}</ref> Indiaglitz rated 2.75/5, and gave a verdict: "AWE is a crafty anthology movie which relies too heavily on the strength of its climax. Too psychological, too poetic at times. The lengthiness of many scenes makes one say, 'It's more of the same'. Genre shifts were an oversold idea. The performances are praiseworthy. Technical departments put up a solid show."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiaglitz.com/awe-review-telugu_amp-movie-22134|title=Awe review. Awe Telugu movie review, story, rating - IndiaGlitz.com|website=IndiaGlitz|language=en|access-date=2019-12-24}}</ref> [[Sify]] rated 2.5 out of 5 stars, stating that "''Awe'' is psychological thriller of a traumatized woman told in episodic stories. There are many individual episodes that are strangely funny but the overall drama seems too far-fetched. The final twist in the tale is unconvincing. Second half is mostly bore."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sify.com/movies/awe-review-a-psychological-thriller-that-doesnt-offer-much-review-telugu-scqqeAegcecec.html|title=Awe review: A psychological thriller that doesn't offer much|date=16 Feb 2018|website=Sify}}</ref>

== Legacy ==
Celebrities such as actors [[Rahul Ravindran]], [[Anupama Parameswaran]], [[Adivi Sesh]], [[Vennela Kishore]], [[Shashank (actor)|Shashank]], director [[Madhura Sreedhar Reddy]], producer [[Shobu Yarlagadda]] and costume designer [[Neeraja Kona]] , praised [[Nani (actor)|Nani]] and Prashanth Varma for the latter's scripting and direction and the former's production values.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movies/news/tollywood-celebs-heap-praises-on-awe/articleshow/62932178.cms|title='Awe' Celeb Review: Tollywood celebs heap praises on 'Awe' - Times of India|website=The Times of India|language=en|access-date=2019-12-24}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movies/news/awe-celebrity-show-response-it-creates-a-new-genre-of-film-making/articleshow/62947823.cms|title='Awe' celebrity show response: It creates a new genre of film making - Times of India|website=The Times of India|language=en|access-date=2019-12-24}}</ref> The film was presented at the [[World Congress of Psychiatry]] in [[Mexico]], by an Indian medical student from the US who presented at the conference as "[[Dissociative identity disorder|Dissociative Identity Disorder]] in Indian Cinema."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movies/news/prasanth-varmas-awe-presented-at-world-congress-of-psychiatry-in-mexico/articleshow/66096622.cms|title=Prasanth Varma's 'Awe!' presented at World Congress of Psychiatry in Mexico - Times of India|website=The Times of India|language=en|access-date=2019-12-24}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb title|tt7797658}}

{{National Film Award Best Special Effects|state=collapsed}}{{Prasanth Varma}}
[[Category:2018 films]]
[[Category:Telugu-language films]]
[[Category:Indian films]]
[[Category:Hyperlink films]]
[[Category:Films that won the Best Special Effects National Film Award]]
[[Category:Indian nonlinear narrative films]]
[[Category:Indian psychological thriller films]]
[[Category:Films that won the National Film Award for Best Make-up]]
[[Category:2018 directorial debut films]]
[[Category:2018 LGBT-related films]]
[[Category:Indian LGBT-related films]]
[[Category:LGBT-related thriller films]]
[[Category:Films directed by Prasanth Varma]]
[[Category:Mental illness in films]]
[[Category:Films about depression]]
[[Category:Films about suicide]]
[[Category:Films about child abuse]]
[[Category:Films about sexual abuse]]
[[Category:Films about drugs]]
[[Category:Films about magic and magicians]]
[[Category:2010s Telugu-language films]]

Awe (film) - Revision history

>Jayanthkumar123 at 07:11, 22 June 2021