Oka Laila Kosam

Oka Laila Kosam (transl. For One Girl) is a 2014 Indian Telugu-language romantic comedy written and directed by Vijay Kumar Konda and produced by Nagarjuna under Annapurna Studios. It stars Naga Chaitanya and Pooja Hegde, in her Telugu debut. Released on 17 October 2014 to positive reviews, it was, according to the source, a commercial success, even though its run was affected by Cyclone Hudhud.

Story

Karthik, a well-off ISB postgraduate, turns down a job offer to take a year off and returns to India after a world tour. He falls head over heels for Nandana, but she mistakes him for a playboy and rejects his proposal outright. Without his knowing it, his family has already arranged his marriage to Nandana, while his uncle Pandu schemes to wreck the match.

Development

Vijay Kumar Konda wanted to tell a story in which a young man wins a woman’s love the right way. He narrated it to Nagarjuna and Naga Chaitanya on the set of Manam, and the project was announced in July 2013. The title comes from a song in Ramudu Kaadu Krishnudu, starring Chaitanya’s grandfather Akkineni Nageswara Rao. The director said he wanted clean family humour this time. The film was launched at Annapurna Studios on 12 December 2013.

Cast

Naga Chaitanya described his character, Karthik, as a fun-loving 24-year-old who is not interested in marriage and believes in love at first sight. Pooja Hegde, runner-up at Miss Universe India 2010, was cast as the heroine. Shyamala plays Karthik’s sister, and Ali plays his uncle in a comic role.

Filming and music

Shooting began on 12 December 2013 in Hyderabad and resumed in February 2014 after a break following Akkineni Nageswara Rao’s death. Three songs were shot in Switzerland in June and July 2014, including a paragliding sequence at Interlaken. Anoop Rubens composed the music, I. Andrew was the cinematographer and Praveen Pudi the editor.

Release

The film opened worldwide on 17 October 2014 to positive reviews from critics. Cyclone Hudhud hit its collections, but it still succeeded at the box office.

Sources: Wikipedia and Wikidata.