Paisa Vasool

Paisa Vasool (transl. Worth the Money) is a 2017 Indian Telugu-language action comedy directed by Puri Jagannadh and produced by V. Anand Prasad under Bhavya Creations. It stars Nandamuri Balakrishna, Shriya Saran, Musskan Sethi and Vikramjeet Virk. It was Balakrishna’s 101st film and the first in which he sang a song in his own voice. According to the source, it drew an average response and grossed ₹36 crore against a budget of ₹28 crore.

Story

Bob Marley, a powerful crime boss, runs Hyderabad’s underworld from Portugal and seems impossible to catch. The chief of RAW asks an IPS officer, ACP Kiranmayi, to find a ruthless criminal for a secret operation. She recruits Theda Singh, a dangerous gangster just released from Tihar Jail. He moves into a new neighbourhood next door to Harika, a young woman searching for her sister, who went missing in Portugal.

Production

Puri Jagannadh announced in February 2017 that he would direct Balakrishna’s 101st film. The launch ceremony was held in Hyderabad on 9 March 2017. S. S. Rajamouli gave the clap, and Boyapati Srinu directed the first shot. The title and first look were unveiled on 9 June 2017, the day before Balakrishna’s birthday.

Music

Anup Rubens composed the soundtrack, released by Aditya Music. As promotion, Puri Jagannadh released a separate track, “Jai Balayya”, composed by Sandeep Chowta, on 27 August 2017. The film also remixes N. T. Rama Rao’s old song “Kanti Choopu Cheptondi” from Jeevitha Chakram.

Release and box office

The film received an average response. According to the source, it grossed ₹36 crore against a production budget of ₹28 crore.

Reception

Mirchi9 found the story very ordinary and said it felt like a mix of the director’s earlier films. It called the film average fare that would mainly appeal to Balakrishna’s fans.

Sources: Wikipedia and Wikidata.