Happy Birthday Puri Jagannadh: 5 films of ace director that redefined commercial cinema

After working as an erstwhile assistant director to maverick filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma, Puri Jagannadh made his directorial debut with the film Badri (2000). The stupendous success of Badri became the testimony to Jagannadh's filmography. His Pokiri was not only a path-breaking film but also ruffled the traditional Telugu audience with its newness.

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With 29 film as a director, Puri Jagannadh directed Bbuddah.. Hoga Terra Baap (2011) with Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan, which was archived in the Oscar library. Now, Puri Jagannadh is the most sought after director in Telugu cinema. As Tollywood filmmaker Puri Jagannadh turns a year old today, we take a look at five films that redefined commercial cinema.

Badri (2000):

While delivering a blockbuster in one's directorial debut is still a rarity, Puri Jagannadh is an exception. When Jagannadh made Badri with Tollywood megastar Pawan Kalyan, the film was an out-and-out money spinner at the box office. Badri (Pawan Kalyan), an adman, is challenged by his lover Vennela (Renu Desai) that no one can love him more than she does. Badri meets Sarayu (Ameesha Patel), who falls in love with him. However, the best person to take the call is Sarayu's brother Nanda (Prakash Raj).

Amma Nanna O Tamila Ammayi (2003):

Loosely based on the Hollywood film Dance with Me, the film tells the story of Chandru (Ravi Teja), an aspiring kick-boxer, who lives with his mother. His father separates from his mother to pursue his career in kickboxing. But after the death of Chandru's mother, he is forced to live with his estranged father and the rest of the film deals with how his father trains Chandru for a kickboxing tournament. Amma Nanna O Tamila Ammayi became instrumental in establishing Puri Jagannadh as the commercially viable director.

Pokiri (2006):

Pokiri was quite the sensation when it hit the screens. It is by far the best commercial entertainer Puri Jagannadh has ever directed. The story deals with police officer Krishna Manohar IPS (Mahesh Babu) masquerading as a thug, Pandu, and joining the Mafia gang headed by Ali Bhai (Prakash Raj), and how then he wipes the gang out. Pokiri was a huge hit for its perfect blend of action and mass masala extravaganza. Pokiri was remade in Tamil with actor Vijay reprising Mahesh's role once again. The Tamil version too, was a blockbuster. The success of Pokiri crossed borders and Bollywood actor Salman Khan reprised Mahesh's role in the Hindi version titled Wanted. Also, Salman's transition from an actor to 'Sallu Bhai' began with Wanted delivering the adequate. Of course, who can't forget the dialogue "Okkasari commit ayittey, naa maata nene vinanu." (Once I commit myself, I'll never back off.)

Iddarammayilatho (2013):

The film happens to be Jagannadh's first collaboration with Tollywood star Allu Arjun. The film tells the story of Akanksha (Catherine Tresa), daughter of a corrupt minister, who comes across a personal diary. It imprints the love story of Sanju (Allu Arjun) and his sweetheart Komali (Amala Paul), who was murdered by the henchmen of her father. The rest of the story deals with how Sanju seeks blood for retribution. Despite opening to mixed reviews from the critics and audience, the film shattered the box office records upon release. The song Violin became a smash hit when it released.

Temper (2015):

The film focuses on two people - Daya (Jr NTR), a corrupt police officer earning illegal money by leveraging his capacity as an official and an influential smuggler Waltair Vasu (Prakash Raj) with whom Daya joins hands. Vasu wants to murder Lakshmi who has an evidence of a crime made by his brothers. The rest of the film is about the roles of Daya's girlfriend Shanvi (Kajal Aggarwal), Lakshmi and an honest constable Murthy in helping Daya become a sincere police officer. Despite a predictable storyline, Temper was lauded for its solid screenplay and an uncompromising performance of Jr NTR and Prakash Raj.