Varudu Kaavalenu
Varudu Kaavalenu () is a 2021 Indian Telugu-language romantic comedy film directed by debutant Lakshmi Sowjanya and produced by Suryadevara Naga Vamsi through Sithara Entertainments. The film features Naga Shaurya and Ritu Varma in lead roles. Plot. Bhoomi runs an eco-friendly start-up business in Hyderabad. Her mother wants her to marry soon and is on the hunt for a suitable groom. But Bhoomi is reluctant to marry. At her workplace, she is a strict boss who holds employees accountable for their actions and doesn't compromise at work. Aakash is a successful architect in Paris who  now decides to come to India in search of a life partner. The owner/financier of Bhoomi's startup is the father of Aakash's friend. They both meet at his house. It is not their first meeting, since they already knew each other from college. After a few meetings, Aakash finds Bhoomi interesting and wants to travel with her. He manages to become an architect for a project that Bhoomi is leading. Bhoomi on the other hand doesn't show any interest in Aakash. At Bhoomi's office, two employees who are in love with each other now face  a problem as the girl is an orphan and the boy's family wants to marry him off to a well-off family. Aakash convinces the boy's parents into accepting the girl in a good manner. Bhoomi seems impressed with the conversation and starts enjoying his company. Aakash helps in catching a thief who stole the purse of Bhoomi's mother and they start talking to each other about his love and her efforts in getting a groom for her daughter without knowing it is the same person involved. She gives advice to Aakash that if he pretends to  move away from his lover, his lover might come out to confess her feelings. However, the plan goes awry. When Bhoomi meets Aakash to express her feelings, he lies about his plans of going to his hometown to find a bride. Infuriated, Bhoomi tells Aakash that she has been wrong again in loving him, for the second time. Bhoomi reveals that she was in love with Aakash during their college. She goes back home and opens a book with memories from college. Bhoomi first meets Aakash in the institute's library where he saves her from a group of rogue  students. She was appealed and couldn't thank him properly. On the next day, she loses a watch that her father gifted her and Aakash comes to return it to her and they become friends. Bhoomi finally gathers the courage to propose on the last day of college but stops when she overhears Aakash lecturing a fellow student on how love is an obstacle for growth. She simply bids farewell but couldn't completely take him out of her life. Her startup is based on the idea of the "Save Nature campaign" Aakash was part of during college. She only  wears a saree because of his compliment. Bhoomi's mother, who knew that Bhoomi liked someone but didn't work out, suggests that she can get better a groom if she wishes. An engaging conversation happens between Bhoomi's parents where her father is fully supportive of his daughter's choices and tries to make a point on why they should leave the decision to Bhoomi rather than suffocating her with marriage proposals. Bhoomi listens to the conversation and decides to move on from the past. She closes the book and throws it in the attic and agrees with her  mother's idea. Bhoomi and Aakash leave to Araku to take care of marriage preparations of the employee pair. Bhoomi doesn't give Aakash a chance to express his side. She gives her nod to a marriage proposal her mom sent. Before leaving Araku, Aakash confronts Bhoomi about her actions and he reveals his side of the story. He got to know about Bhoomi's love for him from her roommate from college whom he accidentally meets in the US. He came to India to see her and he fell in love with her during the journey. In spite of  his proposal, Bhoomi leaves to Hyderabad for her engagement. On the day of engagement, she is shocked to see Aakash there. That is because Bhoomi's mother finds the book previous night which has a picture of Aakash and calls him and confirms the story. Finally, they unite. Production. Filming began in November 2020, and was shot in Hyderabad. Initially, Naga Chaitanya was cast for the lead role, who was later replaced by Naga Shaurya. Production of the film was completed in August 2021. Release. The film was scheduled to be theatrically released on 15 October 2021, but then pushed  to 29 October. Soundtrack. The soundtrack album of the film is composed by S. Thaman and Vishal Chandrashekhar while the latter did the film score. The music rights were acquired by Aditya Music. Reception. "The Times of India" critic Thadagadh Pathi rated the film 3/5 and said that it was a "sincere attempt at a light-hearted film." Pathi appreciated the performances, writing "Naga Shaurya seems to have developed a maturity when it comes to picking unique scripts. Ritu grabs more screen-time than Shaurya and is graceful as ever. Nadiya, Murli Sharma, Vennela Kishore and others too perform well ." Sangeetha Devi Dundoo of "The Hindu", on the other hand, felt that "Varudu Kaavalenu" didn't hit the mark. "[The film] is a mature urban rom-com but not compelling enough," she added. Writing for "The News Minute", Balakrishna Ganeshan termed it a "superficial but refreshing romcom."