Chintakayala Ravi is a 2008 Indian Telugu‑language romantic comedy film produced by Nallamalupu Bujji and directed by Yogi (credited as Yogi K. Mohan). The screenplay was written by Kona Venkat. The film stars Venkatesh in the titular role, with Anushka Shetty and Mamta Mohandas in the lead female roles, and features Venu Thottempudi in a supporting part. Music for the songs was composed by the duo Vishal–Shekhar, while the background score was provided by Mani Sharma. The film was released on 2 October 2008 and has a runtime of 152 minutes.
Plot
Chintakayala Ravi (Venkatesh) works as the head waiter at a bar called Cyber Wave in New York City. Though he aspires to become a software engineer, circumstances keep him in the hospitality sector. To spare his mother Seshamamba (Lakshmi) from disappointment, Ravi perpetuates a falsehood that he is a successful software engineer in the United States. When his mother arranges his marriage to a village girl, Lavanya (Mamta Mohandas), the deception is uncovered, leading to humiliation for Ravi when he returns to his native Andhra Pradesh village. The narrative follows Ravi’s attempts to rectify the situation, his evolving relationship with Sunitha (Anushka Shetty)—the friend who initially helped expose his lie—and eventual resolution of his personal and familial conflicts.
Cast
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Venkatesh | Chintakayala Ravi |
| Anushka Shetty | Sunitha |
| Mamta Mohandas | Mavidikayala Lavanya |
| Lakshmi | Chintakayala Seshamamba (Ravi’s mother) |
| Venu Thottempudi | Srikanth |
| Brahmanandam | Pinky |
| Giri Babu | Rama Chandra Murthy |
| (additional supporting cast) | — |
Production
- Director: Yogi (Yogi K. Mohan)
- Writer: Kona Venkat (screenplay)
- Producer: Nallamalupu Bujji (Lakshmi Narasimha Productions)
- Cinematography: K. Ravindra Babu
- Editing: A. Sreekar Prasad
Music
The soundtrack, released by Aditya Music, consists of six songs composed by Vishal–Shekhar, with lyrics by Chandrabose. Notable tracks include “Bagundey Bagundey,” “Oh Sunitha,” and “Enduko.” The background score was composed by Mani Sharma.
Release and Reception
Chintakayala Ravi premiered on 2 October 2008 across India. Critical response highlighted its status as a commercial family entertainer. Radhika Rajmani of Rediff.com praised Venkatesh’s performance and described the film as a “proper commercial family entertainer.” The film received several nominations at the 56th Filmfare Awards South, including Best Music Director (Telugu) for Vishal–Shekhar, Best Female Playback Singer (Telugu) for Shreya Ghoshal (“Merupulaa”), and Best Lyricist (Telugu) for Chandrabose (“Enduko”).
Legacy
The film is noted for its blend of comedy, romance, and diaspora themes, depicting the cultural tensions faced by Indian expatriates and the expectations of rural families. It contributed to the continued popularity of Venkatesh as a leading star in Telugu cinema during the late 2000s.