# Anukoni Prayanam

Anukoni Prayanam (transl. An Unexpected Journey) is 2022 Indian Telugu-language philosophical film, written and directed by Venkatesh Pediredla. It is produced by Jaganmohan DY, under the banner of Apple Creations. The film stars Rajendra Prasad, Narasimha Raju in the lead roles with music composed by S. Siva Dinavahi.

## Plot

The film begins at Bhubaneswar Odisha, where migrant laborers from various places work in a construction company. Among them are two best friends, Rajendra and Ramu. Rajendra views the world cynically, whereas Ramu firmly believes in relations. Ramu resides in a small village near Rajahmundry where his wife, their widowed daughter and grandson are staying. Once, their co-worker Nagulu is glad tidings birth of a baby girl. The supervisor refuses to grant leave as the bond. However, things changed quickly with the ambuscade of COVID-19 pandemic in India when the Govt declared lockdown, and everyone was about to go to their native places. Thereby, Nagulu rushes, but hard luck strikes him, and he becomes an electric shock victim. Due to stipulations, the contractor does not even dispatch his body to his place. The same night, the mates discuss amidst alcohol setting when Ramu affirms that he discards this kind of death and longs for his funeral, engulfed in mourning around all his men.
The following day, Ramu requests Rajendra to accompany him; despite rejection initially, he too boards the bus. Suddenly, the burglars are onslaught when, as a flabbergast, everyone detects it is Ramu's corpse. Then, Rajendra expresses that, tragically, Ramu had broken down at the bus stop and left his breath caused by Cardiac arrest. Spotting, Rajendra laments with genuine hurt and pledges to fulfill his dear friend's last wish. Listening to it, the bandits salute their friendship and get down without harm. The passengers expel Rajendra with the stiff be frightened of the pandemic. Yet, with grit, Rajendra sets foot further by holding Ramu on his back. Ramu's family and his intimate Veerayya eagerly await his arrival.
Meanwhile, a truck solaces Rajendra, so he crosses all the states and steps in Andhra Pradesh. From there, a deaf-tempo driver drops them in the delusion that Ramu is in a faint state. He takes them to the hospital when Rajendra quietly skips and halts at a motel. Out of the blue, a thief heists his total sum with the phone by dumping him in defenseless form. In that period, Rajendra encounters an Ayurvedic Doctor, Sudhakar. By hiding Ramu, both mutually share their grief when Dr. Sudhakar clarifies Rajendra about the better half's eminence and provides a few chemicals to preserve the carcass. Hence, self-will Rajendra advances when confronting a frenzy cop; he detests lies and shoots them to death on the spot. Here, he tactically checkmates by forging Ramu as a strange patient who falls unconscious frequently. Next, Rajendra secures a woman from the goons; fortuitously, she is the cop's spouse, and they leave them till Vizag. Along the way, Rajendra somehow tricks by counterfeiting Ramu's existence.
Rajendra currently walks to the Govt hospital by veiling the body in a safe place, where Kasthuri, a nurse, stands by him after hearing his story. She follows up on all the required medical procedures and conveys them, arranging an ambulance. During this trial, Rajendra endears Kasthuri's benevolence and aspires to propose on his way back. Now, while Rajendra is collecting the body all at once, the cop surrounds him, but he lets him go, bowing down for his adherence to camaraderie. Ultimately, Rajendra reaches his goal by landing with Ramu's corpse, which sinks his family into deep sorrow. However, by bad fortune, no one presents themselves with Corona 's terror. At last, Rajendra volunteers them by rousing humanity. Finally, the movie ends with Rajendra grandly performing Ramu's funeral as he pleases.

## Cast

* Rajendra Prasad as Rajendra
* Narasimha Raju as Ramu
* Ravi Babu as SI
* Subhalekha Sudhakar as Dr.Sudhakar
* Narayana Rao as Veerayya
* Prabhas Sreenu as Thief in Bus
* Mahesh Achanta as Thief in Dhaba
* Thagubothu Ramesh as Drunkard at crematorium
* PD Srinivas as Doctor
* Dhanraj as Nagulu
* Ananth Babu as Astroleger in Bus
* Gemini Suresh as Tempo Driver
* Kancharapalem Kishore
* Jogi brothers as Villagers playing Snakes & ladders
* Prema as Gayatri
* Tulasi as Raju's wife
* Satya Krishnan as SI's wife
* Sonia Chowdary as Sita

## Soundtrack

The music was composed by S Siva Dinavahi. ADITYA Music Company released the music.

## Reception

Anukoni Prayanam received mixed reviews from critics. Deepthi Nandan from SOUTHFIRST gave a 2.5 out of five rating: "Rajendra Prasad is the pilot. Heavy drama entwined with comedy, and being old-school, appreciate its genuineness." The Times of India states it as "This well-intentioned dramedy is a lengthy commentary on life" with the same rating.