Most Eligible Bachelor

Most Eligible Bachelor is a 2021 Indian Telugu-language romantic comedy written and directed by Bhaskar and produced by Bunny Vas and Vasu Varma under GA2 Pictures. It stars Akhil Akkineni and Pooja Hegde. After repeated delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, it was released on 15 October 2021 to largely positive reviews. According to the source, it grossed ₹51 crore worldwide and was Akhil’s first commercial success.

Story

Harsha is an NRI in New York who is eager to get married. His family gives him 20 days to find a bride, so he buys a house and flies to India to meet a line of prospective matches. Along the way he meets Vibha, a stand-up comedian. One review summed the film up as the story of a man who believes he has everything it takes to be a good husband, and a woman who gives him a reality check.

Cast

• Akhil Akkineni as Harsha, an NRI
• Pooja Hegde as Vibha, a stand-up comedian
• Murali Sharma, Vennela Kishore, Jayaprakash, Pragathi and Aamani in supporting roles
• Rahul Ravindran and Chinmayi, reported to appear in a cameo as a couple

Production

Bhaskar teamed up with Akhil for GA2 Pictures in February 2019, marking the director’s return to Telugu cinema after four years. The film was launched with a pooja at the Film Nagar temple in Hyderabad in May 2019, and Allu Aravind of Geetha Arts presented it. The casting team auditioned more than 100 actresses and models before choosing Pooja Hegde in August 2019. The title was announced in February 2020. Filming began in Hyderabad in July 2019, included a long schedule in New York in January 2020, and paused after Akhil was injured on set and again during the pandemic lockdown. Shooting resumed in September 2020 and finished in March 2021. Pradeesh Varma took over as cinematographer from V. Manikandan, and Marthand K. Venkatesh edited the film.

Music

Gopi Sundar composed the five songs, his second film with Bhaskar after the Tamil Bangalore Naatkal. The songs include “Manasa Manasa”, “Guche Gulabi” and “Leharaayi”, and Aditya Music released the album.

Release

First planned for 2 April 2020, the film was postponed several times during the pandemic and finally released for Dussehra on 15 October 2021. It began streaming on aha on 19 November 2021 and on Netflix four days later.

Reception

Many critics praised the lead pair, especially Pooja Hegde, along with the songs and the light romantic tone. The Hindu found Akhil much improved as an actor. Several reviews felt the second half was weaker and the story thin, and some called it preachy. Cinema Express was the most negative, finding the romance dull and the film tiring.

Sources: Wikipedia and Wikidata.