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Adbhutham
Adbhutham
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Adbhutham
Official release poster
Directed byMallik Ram
Screenplay byLakshmi Bhupala
Story byPrasanth Varma
Produced byMogulla Chandrashekhar Reddy
Srujan Yarabolu
Starring
CinematographyVidya Sagar Chinta
Edited byGarry BH
Music byRadhan
Production
companies
Mahaateja Creations
S Originals
Distributed byDisney+ Hotstar
Release date
  • 19 November 2021 (2021-11-19)
Running time
142 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageTelugu

Adbhutham (transl. Wonder) is a 2021 Indian Telugu-language science-fiction romance film directed by Mallik Ram from the screenplay of Lakshmi Bhupala with a story by Prasanth Varma. The film stars Teja Sajja and Shivani Rajashekar. It was premiered on Disney+ Hotstar on November 19, 2021.[1] The film received mixed reviews. This movie was inspired from 2015 kannada movie 'Minchagi Neenu Baralu' which itself is inspired from 2000 South Korean film Il Mare.

Plot

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Surya and Vennela are standing on top of office building and near a lake respectively wanting to commit suicide. It is shown that 12 hours before Surya gets up with dream of car accident and answers his friend's call asking him to reach office early as he was late for music director interview to be hosted by him. He gets an unknown call which he disconnects and also gets food from an unknown person. He gets call from another person asking him to participate in some competition, however, he gets lost in his thoughts about his father and about to meet with an accident, however, nothing happens. During the interview, Surya insults the music director and gets insulted by his manager who happens to be his father's friend. The manager says that him being adamant about music was the primary reason behind his father's death. Meanwhile, at Vennela's house, the groom and his family have come to see her. She tries to cancel the marriage fix in order to follow her dreams, however, it turns out that the groom wants to marry her. Also, her father wants her to get married as she is unable to clear entrance exam for the past two years. She assures her father that she will pass the entrance test this time. It turns out that she has failed in the mock test. Because of the reasons, each of them wants to commit suicide.

Surya decides to message someone that he is going to commit suicide. Confused by whom to message he messages himself. The message is received by Vennela and they start to fight as to how the other person is sending message to their own number. In this confusion, Surya aborts his plan to commit suicide and his friend also comes to his rescue. Vennela gets call from her father saying her grandmother had had a heart attack. After a series of confusion and conflicts between the two, they become friends with conditions, one of them being that they should not meet each other. One day Vennela comes across one of her friends that she was cheated by her online boyfriend who has asked her money as help and he never returned. So she decides to meet Surya at clock tower, to which he agrees. Both reach the place, however, the place where Surya happens to be has strong winds while that of Vennela happens to be sunny. Though Surya explains this to Vennela, she does not understand. Surya gets an umbrella from a kid and reaches home and calls Vennela. Vennela, feeling cheated that Surya wanted to get money from her, answers the call and starts to fight. During the fight, Surya asks her to watch television wherein news mention cyclone, however, Vennela tells him that news is all about Telangana agitations, to which Surya responds that separate Telangana state has already been declared on February 18, 2014. Then he realises that Vennela happens to be in 2014, when she confirms the date to be February 14, 2014, while he is in 2019.

Vennela feels that she has been cheated by Surya, however, she gets surprised when separate Telangana was announced on February 18 as the same Surya had said to her. She asks Surya to come to clock tower and wants to know any other incident which has happened on that day to confirm that they are from different timelines. Unable to figure out any incident, she scribbles on the bench where they both are sitting in their respective timelines, which Surya confirms. Both of them try meeting the other person in their respective timelines on the advice of Vennela's grandmother but to no avail. Time passes and their friendship blossoms. On one day, Vennela proposes to Surya while sitting on the same bench to which Surya says that he never had feelings for her and that he may not love any person as he was rejected by the person whom he loved. Vennela gets angry on him and cuts the phone. She gets proposed by an unknown person and she slaps him and rejects his proposal. The unknown person happens to be Surya. Vennela and her grandmother start drinking thinking about her rejection. Meanwhile, Surya calls Vennela to find out if she is alright and explains his story where he reveals about his life and how he fell in love, him getting rejected by his love, getting drunk and his father's death.

As her father wants to finalize marriage, she says that if she does not clear the entrance test, she will do as he says. Her grandmother comes up with an idea to get the answers from Surya in 2019 for 2014 exam. Vennela passes the exam with All India rank 87. Though her father is impressed by her, she feels guilty that she has cheated to which Surya asks her to disclose the same to her father. Surya, on his father's death anniversary, gets multiple calls from Vennela. When reverted, he realises that Vennela can save his father and guides her to the place where his father was found dead. It happens to be that his father died saving Vennela, who was being kidnapped by some thugs. Vennela realises the same but loses her phone during the tussle. She tries multiple times to meet Surya, however, she is unable to as the nature keeps stopping her meeting him. Not knowing any of this, Surya of 2019 tries contacting her but to no response as Vennela has lost her phone. Vennela's grandmother tells her that the nature does not want her to meet Surya and Surya in future does not have Vennela by his side. Surya, remembering one of the interactions with Vennela, goes to lake side where she keeps wishes in letters under Lord Rama idol. He reads one of those which has his father's last wish and finds the guitar which he loved as a gift. Surya decides to participate in music competition where he performs well.

Meanwhile, Surya asks one of his friends to find out what has happened to Vennela's number as be is unable to contact. His friend tells him that since the number was disabled in 2014, the same number was given to Surya. She also mentions that Vennela has died in a car accident on the same day as his performance. Looking at the newspaper, Surya understands that Vennela is none other than the person whom he proposed. Surya of 2014 receives his father's belongings and comes across Vennela's mobile phone and calls the last number. Surya of 2019 answers the call and realises that it's Surya of 2014 on the other side. He guides Surya of 2014 to reach Vennela and save her from her impending death. However, Vennela's car meets with accident. Surya, dejected, goes to the clock tower. He finds Vennela standing behind him and they hug each other. It is shown that Vennela sees one of Surya's friends and gets out of the car before car is met with accident. She explains that she left for higher studies after listening to her grandmother and since she came back, she tried meeting him but everytime she tried, there's some harm to his life, one of which happens to be the incident shown in the beginning. She mentions that she was always around him as she is the one who used to order him food daily and also she is the one who gave him umbrella. She also mentions that she waited for the day she lost her mobile phone in order to meet him and that happens to be the day of his performance. They understand that whatever has happened is nature driven and are brought together after each of them has fulfilled their goals.

Cast

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Soundtrack

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The soundtrack was composed by Radhan and released by Lahari Music.[2]

Adbhutham
Soundtrack album by
Released2021
Recorded2021
GenreSoundtrack
Length4:06
LabelLahari Music
ProducerRadhan
Radhan chronology
Paagal
(2021)
Adbhutham
(2021)
Sila Nerangalil Sila Manidhargal
(2022)
Track listing
No.TitleLyricsSinger(s)Length
1."Perenti Oorenti"Krishna KanthYogisekar, Sameera Bharadwaj4:06
2."Arrere Enti E Dorram"Krishna KanthSatya Yamini, Sweekar Agastya1:45

Release

[edit]

Initially planned as a theatrical film and a debut for both the leading actors, the film was postponed and eventually premiered on Disney+ Hotstar on November 19, 2021.[3][4]

Reception

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Mukesh Manjunath writing for Film Companion praised the film to be one of the best entertainers of the year.[5] Sangeetha Devi Dundoo writing for The Hindu, noted that this science fiction romance comedy does not leverage on its interesting premise.[6]

References

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Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Adbhutham (transl. Wonder) is a 2021 Indian Telugu-language directed by Mallik Ram. The story, penned by , and screenplay, written by Lakshmi Bhupala, revolve around two strangers, Surya and , who are linked by a miraculous : they share the same phone number despite existing in different timelines, sparking an improbable romantic connection. Starring as Surya and as , the film blends elements of , fate, and emotional intimacy in a narrative that emphasizes the wonder of human bonds across temporal barriers. Produced by Mahaateja Creations and S Originals, Adbhutham features by Vidyasagar Chinta, by , and a musical score by , whose soundtrack contributes to the film's romantic and ethereal atmosphere. It premiered directly on the streaming platform on 19 November 2021, bypassing a theatrical release amid the . With a runtime of 142 minutes, the movie garnered a 7.4/10 rating on from over 1,800 user reviews, reflecting its appeal to audiences interested in innovative . Critically, Adbhutham received mixed responses, praised for its novel premise and charming lead performances but critiqued for uneven pacing and reliance on stereotypical romantic tropes. Outlets like highlighted its breezy love story backed by sci-fi elements, awarding it 3 out of 5 stars, while noted that it falls short of fully realizing its wondrous potential. Despite the divided opinions, the film has been noted for advancing the sci-fi romance genre in , contributing to discussions on digital-age relationships and .

Story and characters

Plot

Adbhutham centers on , a depressed newsreader and aspiring who has faced significant personal losses, including the of his , leading him to contemplate amid his unfulfilling career and failed dreams. Just as he prepares to end his life, Surya receives an unexpected phone call from , a young woman struggling with her own failures in failing her GRE exams and facing pressure from her family to marry, and also on the brink of . Unbeknownst to them initially, Vennela exists in a parallel timeline, and the "miracle" connecting them is a temporal that allows cross-timeline communication through their shared phone number, despite the physical impossibility of meeting. Their initial conversation interrupts Surya's , sparking curiosity and a series of phone exchanges that reveal their respective timelines—Surya's grounded in present-day struggles and Vennela's oriented toward a subtly altered future. As their dialogues deepen, and form an emotional bond that blossoms into romance, providing mutual support during moments of despair and fostering personal growth. 's arc transforms from isolation and hopelessness to renewed purpose, inspired by 's resilience and their shared , while similarly finds strength in 's encouragement to persevere in her goals. The narrative explores the sci-fi premise of the time anomaly without delving into technical mechanics, emphasizing how this enables their connection and challenges their understanding of fate and possibility. Key events include further interrupted attempts at replaced by late-night calls, joint explorations of daily life across timelines to bridge their worlds, and building tension toward a climax where the anomaly demands resolution.

Cast

Teja Sajja portrays Surya, the protagonist, a young man grappling with professional setbacks as a TV anchor and personal despair that leads him to contemplate , only to find solace through an inexplicable time anomaly connecting him to another era. His performance captures the emotional turmoil and gradual hope, emphasizing Surya's vulnerability in the film's phone-mediated romance across timelines. Shivani Rajashekar makes her acting debut as , Surya's optimistic counterpart from a parallel timeline, a spirited student whose aspirations and warmth provide emotional upliftment to the narrative's sci-fi elements. She infuses the role with lively energy, highlighting 's role in balancing the story's themes of wonder and connection despite physical separation. In supporting roles, plays Prasad, Surya's close friend, delivering through humorous interactions that lighten the film's heavier emotional tones. Tulasi appears as Vennela's grandmother, contributing poignant mythological references, such as allusions to the , that underscore the story's theme of miraculous wonders. Other minor characters include as Surya's father Chandra Mohan, Devi Prasad as Vennela's father, and Mirchi Kiran as a colleague, who collectively flesh out the familial and social contexts without overshadowing the leads. The casting prioritized actors capable of conveying deep emotional nuance in scenes reliant on phone conversations, allowing the leads to build chemistry through voice and subtle expressions amid the sci-fi constraints. Shivani's debut marks a notable entry into , leveraging her fresh presence to authentically portray youthful optimism.

Production

Development

The concept for Adbhutham was developed by writer , who crafted a around a cross-timeline romance where two strangers connect through the same phone number across different eras, blending elements of with emotional intimacy. This premise positioned the film as a light science-fiction romance, drawing on familiar tropes of destined love while incorporating subtle temporal anomalies to drive the plot. Lakshmi Bhupala adapted Varma's story into the screenplay and dialogues, expanding it into a structured script that balanced speculative elements with character-driven storytelling. Director Mallik Ram shaped the project's vision to prioritize the emotional wonder and relational dynamics over intricate scientific explanations, aiming for a breezy tone that emphasized human connections amid the fantastical setup. The production was launched under the banners of MSK Films, Mahaateja Creations, and S Originals, with the project conceived during a period when the heightened interest in themes of virtual and serendipitous linkages. Marketed as a low-to-mid budget Telugu science-fiction romance, the film opted for a direct OTT premiere on in November 2021 to circumvent ongoing theatrical disruptions from the pandemic. and were brought on board as the leads to anchor the central romance.

Filming

Principal photography for Adbhutham was impacted by the , with strict protocols limiting crew sizes and emphasizing safety measures, leading to delays from an intended 2020 theatrical release. Health protocols complicated logistics, reducing crew numbers and enforcing frequent testing and sanitization. Post-production focused on integrating for the temporal motifs, aligning with the director's vision of prioritizing emotional depth over elaborate spectacle.

Music

Soundtrack

The soundtrack for Adbhutham was composed by , featuring four songs that incorporate romantic and emotional elements to align with the film's romance narrative. The lyrics for all tracks were penned by Krishna Kanth. The was released on November 30, 2021. The tracklist includes:
No.TitleSingersDuration
1Arrere Entee DhoorameSatya Yamini, 3:57
2Perenti OorentiYogi Sekar, Sameera Bharadwaj4:08
3Itu Raave, Sameera Bharadwaj4:28
4Vennello Godhari5:39
The songs were recorded in and picturized with the lead actors and , integrating into key emotional sequences such as romantic interactions and reflective moments in the storyline. For instance, "Vennello Godhari" appears in a duet-style sequence emphasizing the protagonists' connection, while "Itu Raave" underscores poignant narrative turns. Prior to the film's theatrical release on , 2021, the songs achieved moderate standalone popularity on streaming platforms and , with individual video songs garnering views in the hundreds of thousands through promotional releases starting in mid-November. However, to the soundtrack was mixed, with some reviewers noting the tunes as adequate but unremarkable compared to Radhan's prior work, and others critiquing their integration into the film as underwhelming.

Background score

The background score for Adbhutham was composed by . It has been described in reviews as impressive and effective in elevating the sci-fi narrative, though some found it adequate.

Release and reception

Release

Adbhutham premiered exclusively on the streaming platform on November 19, 2021. The film opted for a direct-to-OTT release, bypassing a theatrical run amid the second wave of the that had disrupted cinema operations across . This decision was facilitated by acquiring the digital streaming rights, enabling wide accessibility to Telugu audiences through their partnership. The marketing campaign for the film centered on its unique premise of a miraculous connection via a shared phone number. The official trailer was unveiled on November 9, 2021, via and promoted with the "Oka Adbhutamaina love story," translating to "A miraculous love story," which underscored the sci-fi romance elements. Due to ongoing restrictions, promotional activities were conducted virtually, including digital poster releases that prominently featured the phone motif to symbolize the story's central twist. Following its premiere, Adbhutham remained available for streaming on , with no physical home media release reported. The platform also extended international access to audiences in regions like through localized Hotstar services.

Critical reception

Adbhutham received mixed reviews from critics, who praised its innovative sci-fi romance premise but criticized its execution and pacing, while audiences appreciated the emotional depth and lead performances, resulting in a higher user rating. Professional outlets assigned average scores of 2.5 to 3 out of 5, with giving it 3/5 for its breezy take on timeline-crossed love despite not fully realizing its potential. Similarly, Cinema Express rated it 2.5/5, noting the film's earnest storytelling but sombre tone. 123telugu.com awarded 2.75/5, highlighting a decent first half marred by a dull second. GreatAndhra was more critical at 2/5, pointing to prolonged narration and lack of grip. On , the film holds a 7.4/10 rating from over 1,800 user votes, reflecting a divide where fans lauded the concept and romance. Critics commended the premise of a story spanning timelines, creating engaging situations through phone conversations between and selves. Teja Sajja's performance as the lead was frequently highlighted for its sincerity, with stating he "tries his best to salvage the film," and Shivani Rajashekar received praise for her neat screen presence. The background score by was effective in elevating emotional scenes, particularly the poignant phone interactions, as noted in several reviews for adding dreamy romantic depth. Cinema Express described the as "fascinating," appreciating how actions influence outcomes in the . However, common criticisms focused on predictable plot twists, uneven pacing—especially in the second half—and underdeveloped supporting characters, which prevented the film from fully exploring its sci-fi elements. remarked that Adbhutham "doesn’t live up to its title," failing to leverage its interesting premise due to weak execution. GreatAndhra pointed to slapdash romance and forced twists that spoiled the initial promise, while 123telugu.com lamented the lack of emotional touch in key situations. Reviewers like those at Cinema Express wished for more fun and lighter moments, criticizing the overly sombre tone and autopilot from the leads. This mixed response underscored a gap between the film's conceptual ambition and its stereotypical love story constraints.

References

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