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{{Short description|1986 film by Kondandarami Reddy}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2015}}
{{Use Indian English|date=November 2015}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Veta
| image = Veta film poster.jpg
| caption = Poster
| director = [[A. Kodandarami Reddy]]
| producer = M. Tirupathi Reddy
| writer = '''Screenplay''': A. Kodandarami Reddy '''Dialogues''': [[Paruchuri brothers]]
| based_on = ''[[The Count of Monte Cristo]]'' by [[Alexander Dumas]]
| starring = [[Chiranjeevi]] [[Jaya Prada]] [[Sumalatha]]
| music = [[K. Chakravarthy|Chakravarthy]]
| cinematography = [[V. S. R. Swamy]]
| editing = M. Vellaiswamy
| studio = Samyuktha Movies
| distributor =
| released = {{Film date|df=yes|1986|5|28}}<ref name = "Veta (1986) IndianCine.ma">{{cite web | url = https://indiancine.ma/ABLL/info | website = indiancine.ma | title = Veta | access-date = 12 December 2021 | archive-date = 10 January 2022 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220110073633/https://indiancine.ma/ABLL/info | url-status = live}}</ref>
| runtime =
| country = India
| language = Telugu
| budget =
| gross =
}}
'''''Veta''''' ({{translation|''Hunt''}}) is a 1986 Indian [[Telugu language|Telugu]]-language [[Historical drama|period]] [[Action film|action]] film directed by [[A. Kodandarami Reddy|A. Kondandarami Reddy]]. The film stars [[Chiranjeevi]], [[Jaya Prada|Jayaprada]], and [[Sumalatha]] in lead roles. Produced by Samyuktha Movies, it is an adaptation of [[Alexandre Dumas]]' novel ''[[The Count of Monte Cristo]]''. The music was composed by [[K. Chakravarthy]], with cinematography by [[V. S. R. Swamy]].

The film brought together the successful team behind the 1983 blockbuster [[Khaidi (1983 film)|''Khaidi'']], including Chiranjeevi, Samyuktha Movies, director Kodandarami Reddy, composer Chakravarthy, and writers [[Paruchuri brothers]]. However, ''Veta'' failed to replicate the success of its predecessor and was a commercial failure at the box office.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Sri Atluri |date=15 March 2006 |title=Interview with Mega director Kodandarami Reddy |url=https://telugucinema.com/nostalgia/interview-with-mega-director-kodandarami-reddy |website=[[Telugucinema.com]]}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2023-08-22 |title=ఆ సినిమా ఫ్లాప్ అవడంతో దుప్పటి కప్పుకుని వెక్కివెక్కి ఏడ్చిన చిరంజీవి! |url=https://telugu.abplive.com/entertainment/cinema/these-are-the-flop-movies-in-megastar-chiranjeevi-s-40-years-film-career-111713 |access-date=2024-08-28 |website=[[ABP Desam]] |language=te |quote=మెగాస్టార్ ఎన్నో ఆశలు పెట్టుకున్న 'వేట' చిత్రం బాక్సాఫీస్ వద్ద డిజాస్టర్ అయింది. 'ఖైదీ' కాంబినేషన్ కావడంతో, అంతకు మించి హిట్ అవుతుందని చిరు హోప్స్ పెట్టుకున్నారు. ఎన్నో అంచనాలతో వచ్చిన సినిమా ఊహించని విధంగా ఫ్లాప్ అవడం ఆయన్ను బాగా కలిచివేసింది. ఆ బాధను తట్టుకోలేక ఇంట్లో దుప్పటి కప్పుకుని వెక్కివెక్కి ఏడ్చినట్లు చిరు ఓ ఇంటర్వూలో స్వయంగా వెల్లడించారు. దాన్నుంచి బయటపడటానికి చాలా రోజులు పట్టిందని చెప్పారు.}}</ref>

==Plot==
Set in 1939 during the [[British Raj|British rule of India]], Pratap is a sailor in love with a wealthy woman. However, her [[Parallel and cross cousins|cross-cousin]] Jayaram, who serves in the British army, also desires to marry her. When the ship's captain is poisoned by two crew members, Jayaram uses his influence to falsely accuse Pratap, resulting in his deportation to the secluded [[Cellular Jail|Andaman Jail]].

Trapped in prison for thirteen years, Pratap eventually escapes, diving into the [[Andaman Sea]] where he is rescued by two sailors. Consumed by thoughts of vengeance against those who wronged him, Pratap teams up with Mahendra Bhupathi, a fellow inmate and former zamindar who also seeks revenge against Jayaram. Mahendra, on his deathbed, reveals the location of a hidden treasure on Malabar Island.

Pratap escapes from prison by substituting himself for Mahendra's dead body in a burial sack. After retrieving the treasure, Pratap reinvents himself as a wealthy zamindar. He finds Mahendra’s daughter, Jyothirmayi, who is also seeking vengeance, and provides her shelter. With calculated precision, Pratap infiltrates the nobility and systematically destroys those who betrayed him.

== Cast ==
* [[Chiranjeevi]] as Prathap, a sailor
* [[Jaya Prada]] as Saroja
* [[Sumalatha]] as Jyothirmayi
* [[Jaggayya]] as Mahendra Bhupathi
* [[Ranganath (actor)|Ranganath]] as Benarjee
* [[Nutan Prasad]] as Chowdappa
* [[Mohan Sharma]] as Jayaram
* [[Mikkilineni (actor)|Mikkilineni]]
* [[Mada Venkateswara Rao|Mada]]

== Production ==
''Veta'' is a [[Telugu language|Telugu]] adaptation of [[Alexandre Dumas]]' novel ''[[The Count of Monte Cristo]]'', which has been adapted into several films in [[French language|French]] and [[English language|English]]. The Telugu version, translated in the 1950s, follows a man wrongfully imprisoned due to a conspiracy who seeks revenge against his betrayers.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=2022-05-30 |title=Veta Movie: మెగాస్టార్ వేట గురించి ఈ విషయాలు మీకు తెలుసా? |url=https://telugu.filmyfocus.com/interesting-facts-about-chiranjeevi-veta-movie |access-date=2024-08-28 |website=Filmy Focus |language=te}}</ref> It was Tirupathi Reddy's idea to adapt this story as a film in Telugu and the writers Paruchuri Brothers adapted the story as pre-independence era.<ref name=tiru>{{cite web|url=http://www.telugucinema.com/c/publish/stars/interview_tirupathireddy_2008_2.php|page=2|title=Interview with Tirupathi Reddy|website=Telugucinema|access-date=11 January 2025|date=8 October 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081011085234/http://www.telugucinema.com/c/publish/stars/interview_tirupathireddy_2008_2.php|last=Sri|archive-date=11 October 2008}}</ref>

During the development phase of ''Veta'', it was reported that [[Nandamuri Balakrishna]] had shown interest in the film's story. Despite his initial interest and exploration of various adaptations, Balakrishna was unable to participate in the film. Consequently, the film was produced with Chiranjeevi in the lead role. Subsequently, the film was produced by the head of Samyuktha Movies, Tirupati Reddy, who pitched the story to Chiranjeevi and director A. Kodandarami Reddy. ''Veta'' was made with a significant budget of around {{Indian Rupee}}1 [[crore]]. ''Veta'' featured Chiranjeevi in new looks, with him working for 60 days on the film. [[Jaya Prada]], his co-star, worked for 38 days.<ref name=":2" />

==Music==
{{Infobox album
| name = Veta
| type = Soundtrack
| artist = [[K. Chakravarthy]]
| cover =
| caption =
| alt =
| released = 1986
| recorded = 1986
| venue =
| studio =
| genre = [[Feature film soundtrack]]
| length = 22:06
| language = [[Telugu language|Telugu]]
| label = [[Lahari Music]]
| producer = K. Chakravarthy
| prev_title =
| prev_year =
| next_title =
| next_year =
}}
The music was composed by [[K. Chakravarthy]] and released through Saptaswar music label.<ref name = "Veta (1986) IndianCine.ma" /> Lyrics were written by [[Veturi]], [[Sirivennela Seetharama Sastry]] and [[Rajasri (writer)|Rajasri]].<ref name = "Veta (1986) IndianCine.ma" />

{{track listing
| headline = Track list<ref name = "Veta (1986) IndianCine.ma" />
| extra_column = Singer(s)
| total_length = 22:06

| title1 = O Raani
| lyrics1 = [[Veturi]]
| extra1 = [[S. P. Balasubrahmanyam]], [[P. Susheela]]
| length1 = 4:29

| title2 = Singari Eedu
| lyrics2 = Veturi
| extra2 = S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki & Chorus
| length2 = 4:22

| title3 = O Ledi Koona
| lyrics3 = [[Sirivennela Seetharama Sastry]]
| extra3 = [[K. J. Yesudas]]
| length3 = 4:18

| title4 = Oorevitammaa Perevitammaa
| lyrics4 = [[Rajasri (writer)|Rajasri]]
| extra4 = S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, P. Susheela & Chorus
| length4 = 4:35

| title5 = Eduru Choosina Jaabili
| lyrics5 = Veturi
| extra5 = S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, P. Susheela
| length5 = 4:22
}}

== Reception ==
''Veta'' was released on 28 May 1986 with high expectations, due to its association with the successful team behind [[Khaidi (1983 film)|''Khaidi'']] (1983), including Chiranjeevi, director Kodandarami Reddy, composer Chakravarthy, and writers Paruchuri brothers. However, the film was a box office failure and did not live up to the expectations set by its predecessor.<ref name=":1" />

In 2006, Kodandarami Reddy reflected on the film's failure, attributing its poor performance to the elevated expectations set by the success of ''Khaidi'', coupled with the audience's dissatisfaction with the plot, particularly the heroine's marriage to another character.<ref name=":0" /> Tirupathi Reddy too opinionated the same.<ref name=tiru /> Chiranjeevi also expressed his deep disappointment, acknowledging the emotional toll the film's failure took on him and revealing that it took a considerable time for him to recover. In recent years, however, some viewers have re-evaluated ''Veta'', now considering it an underrated film.<ref name=":1" />

==References==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{IMDb title|id=0246313|title=Veta}}

{{The Count of Monte Cristo}}

[[Category:1986 films]]
[[Category:Films set in 1939]]
[[Category:Films based on The Count of Monte Cristo]]
[[Category:Films directed by A. Kodandarami Reddy]]
[[Category:1986 Telugu-language films]]
[[Category:Films scored by K. Chakravarthy]]
[[Category:Indian action thriller films]]
[[Category:Indian action drama films]]
[[Category:Indian films about revenge]]
[[Category:1986 action thriller films]]
[[Category:1980s action drama films]]
[[Category:1980s masala films]]
[[Category:Films set in the British Raj]]
[[Category:1986 drama films]]
[[Category:Films set in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands]]
[[Category:Indian Army in films]]
[[Category:Films about treasure hunting]]
[[Category:Films about prison escapes]]
[[Category:Films set on ships]]
[[Category:Films set in the Indian Ocean]]
[[Category:Indian Navy in films]]

Veta (1986 film) - Revision history

Dr.Sanjeev Narayani: Put up basic post w/ refs