LarueVesely77 at 23:16, 12 March 2026

2026-03-12T23:16:31Z

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{{short description|2021 film by Vishvak Khanderao}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2021}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2021}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Skylab
| image = Skylab 2021 poster.jpg
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = Vishvak Khanderao
| writer = Vishvak Khanderao
| producer = Prithvi Pinnamaraju<br />[[Nithya Menen]]
| starring = Nithya Menen<br />[[Satyadev (actor)|Satyadev]]<br />[[Rahul Ramakrishna]]
| cinematography = Aditya Javvadi
| editing = Ravi Teja Girijala
| music = [[Prashanth R Vihari]]
| studio = Byte Features<br />[[Nithya Menen|Nithya Menen Company]]
| distributor = Niravana Cinemas (overseas)
| released = {{Film date|df=yes|2021|12|4}}
| runtime =
| country = India
| language = Telugu
| budget =
| gross =
}}

'''''Skylab''''' is a 2021 Indian [[Telugu language|Telugu]]-language [[Historical drama|period]] [[comedy drama]] film written and directed by debutant Vishvak Khanderao. Produced by Byte Features in association with [[Nithya Menen|Nithya Menen Company]], the film stars [[Nithya Menen]], [[Satyadev (actor)|Satyadev]] and [[Rahul Ramakrishna]]. The plot follows fictitious incidents in a [[Telangana]] village preceding the disintegration of the American space station [[Skylab]] in 1979. The film traces the fear looming among the villagers in a comical manner in light of these developments.

''Skylab'' was released theatrically on 4 December 2021.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|date=2021-12-02|title=Nithya Menen-starrer 'Skylab' finally set to hit theatres on December 4|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/telugu/2021/dec/02/nithya-menen-starrer-skylab-finally-set-to-hit-theatres-on-december-4-2390941.html|access-date=|website=[[The New Indian Express]]}}</ref>

==Plot==
The film is set in 1979, in the remote village of Bandalingampalli in [[United Andhra Pradesh]] (now [[Telangana]]). This is also the time when a US-based [[Skylab]] [[satellite]] fails and its [[Space debris|debris]] is all set to fall to Earth. Information about the satellite's fall is communicated to scientists in India.

Dr. Anand and Subedar Ramarao become friends over the bus journey to Bandalingampalli. Gowri returns from [[Hyderabad]] after learning about her father's illness. Because her car broke down, she travels on the same bus as Anand and Ramarao. On reaching the village, Gowri learns that her father is well and that her mother, along with the servant, had sent false information. Disappointed with the return from the city, she decides to write and post it. Gowri's mother and Seenu decide not to tell Gowri about the newspaper dismissal.

Meanwhile, Anand wants to earn [[Rupee|Rs]].5000 to re-establish his lost medical license. He decides to team with Ramarao to open the clinic, which has been shut for 25 years. Ramarao's family has a lot of debt, and they are against doing menial jobs. Ramarao decides to pawn another of the family's antique jewellery to restart the clinic. Despite the village [[Panchayati raj|panchayat]] asking him not to reopen the clinic, the duo decides to turn it into a major village event. Gowri starts looking into how she can get her big story published.

The possibility of Skylab falling in India is announced over the radio, and villagers begin talking about it. The clinic opens to fanfare, and the announcement is made. The villagers decide to close the clinic and demand that Anand and Ramarao pay a fine. Gowri, meanwhile, starts scaring the villagers about the real possibility of Skylab falling on the village. Immediately, the Panchayat chief falls, and Anand is called for medication. He tells the villagers that the chief needs to be cared for at the clinic, and they all agree to reopen it.

Over 40 days, everyone begins to worry about the real possibility of Skylab crashing in the village and looks for alternative places to seek protection. Gowri gets an idea from her school teacher to write a story about village life, and it is published. Anand, who had wanted to leave the village after his grandfather paid the fee to obtain his final license, decides against it. Anand and Ramarao successfully help with a [[childbirth]] and the entire village is content. Given the circumstances of the D-day, the untouchables enter the temple, the maids and servants use their owner's goods, and everyone attempts to fulfil their wishes. They eventually learn over the radio that Skylab has fallen into the [[Indian Ocean]], and everyone is elated.

== Cast ==
* [[Nithya Menen]] as Gowri
* [[Satyadev (actor)|Satyadev]] as Dr. Anand
* [[Rahul Ramakrishna]] as Subedar Ramarao
* [[Tanikella Bharani]] as Sadashivam, Anand's grandfather
* Vishnu Oi as Seenu
* [[G. V. Narayana Rao]] as Venkataraju, Gowri's father
* [[Tulasi (actress)|Tulasi]] as Padma, Gowri's mother
* [[Subbaraya Sharma]] as Sudarshan Rao, Telugu schoolmaster
* [[Tharun Bhascker]] as a scientist ([[Cameo appearance|Cameo]])

== Production ==
Debutant writer-director Vishvak Khanderao wrote ''Skylab'' from the stories he heard in his village in [[Karimnagar district]] of [[Telangana]] about the crashing American space station [[Skylab]] in 1979.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|last=Dundoo|first=Sangeetha Devi|date=2021-11-30|title=The curious case of Skylab space station crash and a new Telugu film|language=en-IN|work=[[The Hindu]]|url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/vishvak-khanderao-discusses-how-the-telugu-film-skylab-stemmed-from-incidents-in-karimnagar-in-1979/article37772268.ece|issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Kumar|first=Puli Sharat|date=2019-07-12|title=Karimnagar: Revisiting the day Skylab fell|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/current-affairs/120719/karimnagar-revisiting-the-day-skylab-fell.html|website=[[Deccan Chronicle]]}}</ref> In an interview with ''[[The Hindu]]'', Khanderao talked about the storyline. "The main characters are eccentric and the story not only explores what happens when the news of Skylab’s crash breaks out, but also the human psyche. The comedy is situational and in sync with the characters," he added.<ref name=":1" />

[[Nithya Menen]], [[Satyadev (actor)|Satyadev]] and [[Rahul Ramakrishna]] play the principal characters of ''Skylab''.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2021-07-12|title=Nithya Menen, Satya Dev and Rahul Ramakrishna rev up 'Skylab'|work=[[The Hindu]]|url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/nithya-menen-satya-dev-and-rahul-ramakrishna-rev-up-skylab/article35277841.ece|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> The film also marked Menen's maiden production venture. She also spoke in [[Telangana dialect]] for the first time in the film.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-12-03|title=Nithya Menen: Produced Skylab to create good content|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/telugu/nithya-menen-skylab-telugu-movie-7647391/|website=[[The Indian Express]]}}</ref> ''Skylab'' began its production in March 2020 but was halted after a day of shoot due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]] and resumed later.<ref name=":1" /> The film was released on 4 December 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-12-03|title=Nithya Menen's 'Skylab' to release in theatres on December 4. See new posters - Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movies/news/nithya-menens-skylab-to-release-in-theatres-on-december-4-see-new-posters/articleshow/88053679.cms|access-date=|website=[[The Times of India]]}}</ref>

== Reception ==
Writing for ''[[The Hindu]]'', Sangeetha Devi Dundoo called the film "a charming tale of a peculiar village." Dundoo appreciated the performances, stating, "Nithya is credible as the aristocrat who yearns for her identity but hasn’t yet worked enough for it and Satya Dev looks every bit the opportunist who later has a change of heart and has a homecoming of sorts."<ref>{{Cite news|last=Dundoo|first=Sangeetha Devi|date=2021-12-04|title='Skylab' movie review: A charming tale of a peculiar village|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/skylab-movie-review-a-charming-tale-of-a-peculiar-village/article37837215.ece|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> Rating 3 stars of 5, Thadagadh Pathi of ''[[The Times of India]]'' wrote, "This is a rare film where there’s no such thing as a ‘lead’ because it’s the story that’s the hero of the tale. Director Vishvak Kanderao truly pours life into the character inhabiting this world, aided by heart-touching dialogues."<ref>{{Cite web|date=4 December 2021|title=Skylab Movie Review : The film will put a smile on your face|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movie-reviews/skylab/movie-review/88088832.cms|website=The Times of India}}</ref>

Appreciating the storyline and performances, ''[[The News Minute]]'' critic Balakrishna Ganeshan said, "While ''Skylab'' is largely fun, sans violence, and a well-intentioned film, some of the scenes are inorganic."<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-12-04|title=Skylab review: A fun, good-hearted film with decent performances|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/skylab-review-fun-good-hearted-film-decent-performances-158379|website=The News Minute}}</ref> In his review for [[The New Indian Express|''Cinema Express'']], Ram Venkat Srikar praised the technical values of the film, writing, "Prashanth R Vihari’s lovely score wonderfully captures the varying moods without overselling the emotion. Ravi Teja Girijala’s editing finds simple yet inventive methods to exalt simple scenes and montages. Aditya Javvadi’s camera and lighting are in a duet throughout, and yet the frames never come across as flashy."<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-12-04|title=Skylab Movie Review: A light-hearted comedy with tons of heart|url=https://www.cinemaexpress.com/telugu/review/2021/dec/04/skylab-movie-review-nithya-menen-satyadev-rahul-ramakrishna-28218.html|access-date=|website=[[Cinema Express]]}}</ref>

Anji Shetty of [[Sakshi (newspaper)|''Sakshi'']] appreciated Khanderao for picking a novel storyline but opined that he couldn't translate the humour and narration well onto the screen.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-12-04|title='స్కైలాబ్‌' మూవీ రివ్యూ|url=https://www.sakshi.com/telugu-news/movies/skylab-movie-review-and-rating-telugu-1416977|website=Sakshi|language=te}}</ref> A reviewer from ''[[Eenadu]]'' also felt the same, saying that the film's pacing could have been better.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-12-04|title=Skylab review: రివ్యూ: స్కైలాబ్‌|url=https://www.eenadu.net/cinema/latestnews/telugu-news-satyadev-and-nithya-menon-skylab-telugu-movie-review/0201/121247918|access-date=|website=[[Eenadu]]|language=te}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==

* {{IMDb title|tt15029058}}

[[Category:2021 comedy-drama films]]
[[Category:2021 films]]
[[Category:Indian comedy-drama films]]
[[Category:Films set in 1979]]
[[Category:Films set in Telangana]]
[[Category:Films shot in Telangana]]
[[Category:Film productions suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic]]
[[Category:2021 directorial debut films]]
[[Category:Indian films based on actual events]]
[[Category:Indian historical drama films]]
[[Category:Skylab program]]
[[Category:Films about outer space]]
[[Category:Films set on spacecraft]]
[[Category:Films about space hazards]]
[[Category:Films scored by Prashanth R Vihari]]

Skylab (film) - Revision history

LarueVesely77 at 23:16, 12 March 2026