Chaavu Kaburu Challaga

Chaavu Kaburu Challaga (“Breaking News of Death, Coolly”) is a 2021 Telugu romantic comedy-drama written and directed by Peggalapati Koushik and produced by Bunny Vasu and Allu Aravind under GA2 Pictures. Kartikeya plays a hearse driver who falls for a young widow, played by Lavanya Tripathi, with Murali Sharma, Aamani, Srikanth Iyyengar and Rajitha in support and music by Jakes Bejoy. It was released in cinemas on 19 March 2021 and was a commercial failure.

What the story is about

Basthi Balaraju drives a hearse in Vizag and lives with his mother, Gangamma, and his bedridden father. Called to collect the body of a man named Peter, he sees Mallika at the house and falls for her, then realises she is Peter’s widow. Undeterred, Balaraju sets out to persuade Mallika to move on with her life and choose him, much to the anger of her father-in-law, Sekhar Samuel. At the same time he discovers that his own mother has long had a close friendship with another man, Mohan, and has to face her loneliness too.

Cast and crew

• Kartikeya as Basthi Balaraju
• Lavanya Tripathi as Mallika
• Aamani as Gangamma, Balaraju’s mother
• Murali Sharma as Sekhar Samuel
• Srikanth Iyyengar as Mohan
• Rajitha as Mallika’s mother-in-law
• Tanikella Bharani as Balaraju’s uncle (special appearance)

Writer and director: Peggalapati Koushik. Producers: Bunny Vasu and Allu Aravind (GA2 Pictures). Music: Jakes Bejoy, released by Aditya Music. Runtime: 137 minutes.

Making the film

Announced in December 2019, the film started shooting late that year, was held up by the COVID-19 pandemic and resumed in October 2020. Composer Jakes Bejoy had earlier scored the Telugu film Taxiwaala (2018). The Times of India reported the 19 March release date in early 2021.

Reviews and box office

Reviews were mixed. Neeshita Nyayapati of The Times of India praised its nerve, saying it “dares to go where few films would – show that a woman’s life does not have to end, begin and revolve around her family”, but felt its noble thoughts did not become an engaging film. Y. Sunitha Chowdhary of The Hindu said “a diluted plot spoils the party”. The Hans India credited the director with taking on a challenging story but not the execution, while Gabbeta Ranjith Kumar of The Indian Express found it “an engaging watch”. T2BLive puts its worldwide gross at ₹5.40 crore.

Where to watch Chaavu Kaburu Challaga

Chaavu Kaburu Challaga has been streaming on Aha since 23 April 2021 (checked against the platform’s own listing). Availability can vary by region and subscription.

Sources: the Wikipedia article on Chaavu Kaburu Challaga and the reviews and reports it cites, linked above; Aha’s listing; our own cast and crew records.