# Pandem

Pandem (transl. A Bet) is a 2005 Indian Telugu-language romantic comedy film directed by Sabapathy Dekshinamurthy in his Telugu debut. It stars Jagapati Babu, Kalyani and music composed by Chakri. It was dubbed into Hindi as Mera Challenge.

## Plot

The film begins in a village where Seenu is a slacker the public considers hopeless. Lingaraju is its venomous president who has been unanimously elected for 25 years and behested on the town. Seeta, a native, returned after several years as a school teacher in the same city. Seenu & Seeta are childhood friends, and he falls for her in the first instance. From there, Seenu makes several efforts to gain her love, which ends humorously but to no avail. So, he directly proceeds to proclaim his love. At that point, Seenu discovers Seeta's intentions and the qualities that her spouse should hold. Firstly, an upright altruistic may not be a millionaire, but everyone praises him. Above all, he must be of a higher rank than her. Listening to it, Seenu backs and determines to acquire the eligibility which Seeta aspires.
Meanwhile, Lingaraju ploys a revolting deal with a few industrialists to construct a hazardous factory in the village. Simultaneously, it's time for elections, and Lingaraju is under brash given the absence of opposition. Here, Seenu decides to stand for reaching the heights that Seeta desires and knit her. At the outset, Seenu faces the loathsome knock-back from the public as he is considered a no-hoper. Consequently, he shoots several cheap shots when hostility toward him arises. During that plight, Seeta boosts his courage, guides him to put the village right, and amends the people's lifestyles. Moreover, she inquires about the cause behind his deeds when he reveals that he is to win a girl's heart but puts off who she is. He also asserts to first divulge the girl's whereabouts to her only when the time is right.
Now Seenu, with his wit, tactically procures the necessities required for the village, which Lingaraju cannot satisfy, including digging wells, laying roads, allotting houses for people in need, etc. Plus, he serves as domestic to whoever is in trouble and enforces Lingaraju to spend his corrupted earnings for the welfare of the villagers. Step-by-step flourishes and gains the credence & hearts of the public. Spotting it, Lingaraju trembles for severe alarm bells from his industrial partners. Simultaneously, Lingaraju is conscious that his son Rajesh likes Seeta and detects Seenu's motive. Whereupon, he ruses by engaging Seeta with Rajesh, which demoralizes Seenu. Despite that, Seenu stands firm and challenges Lingaraju to defeat him. Thus, Lingaraju backstabs Seenu and warns the villagers not to move forward; otherwise, all will be mass murder.
Yet, they boldly face the danger and safeguard Seenu. Next, everyone pleads with Seenu to withdraw because, as of today, they all treasure him. Additionally, they abuse Seeta, who is liable for these disputes. Forthwith, Seenu rebukes and dedicates his entire credit to Seeta, which molded him as worthy. Overhearing it, Seeta starts adoring him, but as affianced, she departs. Presently, The day of the election has arrived. During this, Lingaraju intrigues by hiding supporters of Seenu, and the remaining make in his favor as they have taken loans from him. Anyhow, Seenu valorously relieves his men and successfully conducts the polling when the two parties are given equal. At last, Seenu triumphs with a postal ballot polled by Seeta, who goes on election duty to the adjacent village, which collapses Lingaraju's domain. Finally, the movie ends on a happy note with the marriage of Seenu & Seeta.

## Cast

* Jagapati Babu as Seenu
* Kalyani as Seeta
* Ramaraju as Lingaraju
* Ahuti Prasad as Satya Murthy
* M. S. Narayana as Surinarayana
* Kondavalasa as Jilla Rambabu
* Krishna Bhagawan as Muriki Appala Naidu
* Sivaji Raja as Abbulu
* Chinna as RMP Doctor
* Prudhviraj
* Ravi Varma as Rajesh
* Subbaraya Sharma as Villager
* Sarika Ramchandra Rao as Pamula Narsaiyya
* Chitram Basha
* Jeeva as Police Inspector
* Apoorva
* Mahathi as Pankajam
* Drasharamam Saroja as Saroja
* Lavanya
* Shobha Rani
* Sakhi

## Soundtrack

Music was composed by Chakri.

## Reception

Idlebrain rated the film 3.25 out of 5 stars and noted that "On the whole, Pandem is a minimum guarantee film which you would never regret watching". Full Hyderabad wrote that "But the script is nowhere near taut, and the individual moments of the film completely undo the potential of the plot".