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Dammu
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Dhammu
Theatrical Poster
Directed byBoyapati Srinu
Written byStory & Screenplay:
Boyapati Srinu
Dialogues:
M. Rathnam
Produced byK. S. Rama Rao
K. A. Vallabha
StarringN.T. Rama Rao Jr.
Trisha
Karthika Nair
CinematographyArthur A. Wilson
Edited byKotagiri Venkateswara Rao
Music byM. M. Keeravani
Production
company
Distributed bySri Venkateswara Film Distributors (Nizam)[1]
Ficus Inc. (Overseas)[2]
Release date
  • 27 April 2012 (2012-04-27)
[3]
Running time
155 minutes[4]
CountryIndia
LanguageTelugu
Box office₹35 crores distributors' share[5]

Dhammu[a][6] (transl. Guts) is a 2012 Indian Telugu-language action drama film co-written and directed by Boyapati Srinu. The film stars N. T. Rama Rao Jr., Trisha, Karthika Nair, Nassar, Sampath Raj, Rahul Dev, Kishore, Suman, Brahmanandam, Ali, Bhanupriya, Kota Srinivasa Rao and Venu Thottempudi.

Dhammu was released theatrically on 27 April 2012 and received mixed to negative reviews from critics who praised cast performance and action sequences, but criticized its screenwriting, excessive violence, and double-meaning dialogues. Regardless, the film was a commercial success grossing over ₹58 crore at the box office with a distributor's share of ₹35 crore.[7] It was the 15th highest-grossing Telugu film at the time of release in terms of distributor's share.[7] The film was unofficially remade in Bengali (Bangladesh) as Rajababu - The Power starring Shakib Khan, Apu Biswas and Bobby. The film was dubbed into Tamil titled Singamagan.

Plot

[edit]

Rama Chandra is an orphan who leads a simple life along with his friend. He falls in love with Sathya, who is a rich girl. Sathya imposes a condition that Rama Chandra's family history should be important. At this very moment, Rama Chandra learns that a rich and powerful royal Suryavamsi family seeks to adopt an heir, where he seizes the chance.

Rama Chandra goes there and realizes that Suryavamsi family has a violent past and a bitter dispute with another rich and powerful royal Chandravamsi family headed by a Chandravamsi King and also realizes that thousands of people in the area are now dependent on him for their very survival. Rama Chandra also discovers that he is actually the real heir to the family. Despite his hatred towards violence, Rama Chandra tries his best to solve the problems peacefully, but the rival gang does not give him a chance. Vexed with the violence, Rama Chandra nearly kills the Chandravamsi King's eldest son and kills King's youngest son, where he opens the Chandravamsi King's eyes by placing a sword on his middle son. Chandravamsi King realizes that his mistakes and apologizes to Rama Chandra and the family, thus ending the violent nature of the village.

Cast

[edit]

Production

[edit]

Dhammu has music scored by M. M. Keeravani.[9] Shruti Hassan, who was originally signed to play the female lead, walked out citing date issues.[10] Later the producers approached Kajal Aggarwal who also couldn't accommodate bulk dates for the film.[11] The producers finalised Trisha as the first female lead.[12] According to reports, Bhanupriya, Kota Srinivasa Rao, Venu Thottempudi and Subhalekha Sudhakar play supporting roles.[13]

Soundtrack

[edit]
Dammu
Soundtrack album by
Released29 March 2012 (2012-03-29)
Recorded2012
GenreFeature film soundtrack
Length29:32
LanguageTelugu
LabelVel records
Sony Music Entertainment[14]
ProducerM. M. Keeravani
M. M. Keeravani chronology
Rajanna
(2011)
Dammu
(2012)
Eega
(2012)

The soundtrack of the film was released on 29 March 2012 at Shilpakala Vedika in Hyderabad. M. M. Keeravani's music label, Vel Records, and Sony Music Entertainment secured the film's audio rights. The lyrics for all the songs were written by Chandrabose.

Tracklist
No.TitleArtist(s)Length
1."Sound of Vel" (Instrumental) 00:46
2."O Lily"Baba Sehgal04:30
3."Ruler (Movie Version)"Prudhvi Chandra, Revanth, Sahiti, Geetha Madhuri04:55
4."Raja Vasi Reddy"M. M. Keeravani, Krishna Chaithanya04:44
5."Vaastu Bagunde Baby"Rahul Sipligunj, Sravana Bhargavi, Shivani04:32
6."Dhammu"Rahul Sipligunj, Sravana Bhargavi, Shivani04:21
7."Ruler (CD Version)"M. M. Keeravani, Geetha Madhuri05:44
Total length:29:32

Release

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The Telugu and Tamil versions released on 27 April 2012. Dammu released on approximately 2550 screens worldwide which was a record in Tollywood.[15] It released in approx of 140+ theatres in Karnataka which is considered to be a record by out of state movie.[16]

Critical reception

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B.V.S. Prakash of Deccan Chronicle wrote "Dhammu (Valour), as one of the Telugu films that made high on action and low on contents".[17] Sify wrote "Boyapati uses the same formula of Tollywood action movies with good dialogues, high voltage fight sequences and wraps ups with interesting twist and NTR's charged up performance".[18]

Mahesh K. S. of 123Telugu gave 3.25 out of 5 stars and wrote "‘Dhammu’ will work well with fans and mass movie lovers. We have seen a highly charged performance from Tarak after a long time and he carries the film completely on his shoulders. Good action sequences, dialogues and sentiment will work well at the Box office. On the flip side, tempo goes down a bit in the second half and care should have been taken here."[19] Radhika Rajamani of Rediff gave 2.5 out of 5 stars and wrote "Director Boyapati Seenu's new film Dammu has an outdated and clichéd storyline, regressive content, and mindless and excessive violence".[20]

Box office

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Domestic

[edit]

Dhammu earned a total share of ₹8.04 crore on its opening day at the AP+Nizam box office which was an all time record day 1 opening.[21] It earned a share of ₹14.31 in its opening weekend in AP+Nizam.[22] Within 1 week, the film grossed over ₹20.8 crore at the AP+Nizam box office and ₹23.9 in India. [23] In 10 days, it collected a share of ₹27.65 crore at the domestic box office out of which ₹24.1 crore came from AP+Nizam alone.[24] In 2 weeks, the film collected a share of ₹29.95 crore domestically.[25] By the end of its theatrical run, Dammu collected a total share of ₹29.25 at the AP+Nizam box office and additional ₹3.95 crore from ROI for a total share of ₹33.20 crore in India.[7]

Overseas

[edit]

Dhammu earned a total share of ₹1.80 crore at the overseas market.[7]

Pre-release revenues

[edit]

After selling distribution and satellite rights, the film earned pre-release revenue up to 45 crore (US$5.3 million).[26]

Home media

[edit]

The satellite and digital rights were sold to Zee Telugu and ZEE5 for 6.6 crore (US$780,000), the highest buy-over for any film in 2012.[27] The VCDs, DVDs and Blu-ray discs of the film were released through Bhavani Company into the market on 10 August 2012, six days after completing 100 days in theatres.[28]

Awards

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Ceremony Category Nominee Result
2nd South Indian International Movie Awards Best Actress in a Supporting Role Bhanupriya Nominated

Notes

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Dhammu is a Indian Telugu-language action drama co-written and directed by . Starring as the protagonist Ramachandra, alongside Trisha Krishnan as Ashwini and as Nilaveni, the film explores themes of love, , and vengeance amid rural factionalism. Released on 27 April , it is the first collaboration between and The story follows Ramachandra, an orphan raised in the city who values human life and dreams of marrying his love interest, Ashwini, after amassing enough wealth to lead a peaceful existence. His life takes a dramatic turn when he is adopted by the Vasireddy in the village of Bhairavapalli, which is locked in a brutal with the rival Simhadri led by the antagonist Bhanu Simha (). As Ramachandra grapples with his adoptive dark history of violence, he is compelled to wield weapons and confront the enemies to restore and protect his loved ones, ultimately transforming from a pacifist into a fierce . The emphasizes high-octane action set pieces, , and romantic elements, with supporting roles played by actors such as Nassar, , and . Produced by K. S. Rama Rao and K. A. Vallabha under Creative Commercials Ltd., Dhammu features cinematography by Arthur A. Wilson and editing by Kotagiri Venkateswara Rao. The film's soundtrack and score were composed by M. M. Keeravani, receiving acclaim for songs like "O Kausalya" and "Roolar," which contributed to its mass appeal. Despite mixed critical reception—praising the star power, action choreography, and music while critiquing the predictable plot, excessive violence, and formulaic dialogues—the movie emerged as a commercial blockbuster, collecting over ₹31 crore worldwide in its first week and achieving a distributors' share of approximately ₹35 crore.

Plot and Cast

Plot

Rama Chandra, an raised in the city alongside his friend, leads a modest life by assisting those in need while aspiring to amass enough wealth to marry Sathya, the affluent woman he falls in love with at first sight. Sathya agrees to the relationship only if Rama Chandra belongs to a prominent family, prompting him to accept by the royal Suryavamsi in their remote village. Upon arriving, Rama Chandra uncovers the Suryavamsi family's turbulent history of factional violence stemming from a decades-old dispute with the rival Chandravamsi family, led by the Chandravamsi King (Nassar), whose sons have targeted Suryavamsi heirs to eradicate their lineage. As , now renamed Raja Vasireddy Vijayadwaja Srisimha, integrates into the Suryavamsi household, he forms bonds with his adoptive mother () and other family members, including a connection with Neelaveni (), involved in the familial dynamics. A flashback reveals his true origins: is the biological of the Suryavamsi family, hidden at birth to protect him from the Chandravamsi forces during the feud's peak. Committed to his principle of valuing life and rejecting killing, confronts the Chandravamsi forces in escalating clashes, discovering he is the real heir. Despite his ideals, he nearly kills the Chandravamsi King's eldest (), kills the youngest , and places a on the middle , opening the king's eyes to his atrocities. In the climax, overcome with remorse, the Chandravamsi King apologizes, leading to reconciliation and the unification of the feuding clans, thereby restoring peace to the village. Rama Chandra's arc of self-discovery and reluctant use of violence culminates in his marriage to Sathya, embracing his heritage.

Cast

The principal cast of Dammu (2012) is led by N. T. Rama Rao Jr. as the protagonist, with Trisha and Karthika Nair as the female leads, alongside veteran actors in key supporting positions. The ensemble brings to life the film's themes of family legacy and conflict resolution.
ActorRoleDescription
N. T. Rama Rao Jr.Rama Chandra / Raja Vasireddy Vijayadwaja SrisimhaThe protagonist, an adopted (and true) heir who navigates and resolves a longstanding between rival clans.
TrishaSathyaThe love interest of Rama Chandra, providing emotional support amid the central conflict.
NeelaveniThe second female lead, involved in the familial dynamics.
NassarChandravamsi KingThe leader of the rival family, central to the feud.
Chandravamsi King's elder sonA key from the rival family, escalating the central .
Rajeswari DeviThe maternal figure in the protagonist's adopted family, influencing key decisions.
Supporting roles include as a elder; as Rama Chandra's friend, providing comic relief; and as a comedic character, contributing to the film's humorous elements, with additional performances by Venu Madhav and in minor supporting capacities.

Production

Development

Dammu was conceived as an action-drama in the Telugu film industry, with director taking on the of co-writer and director to craft a centered on themes of lineage and familial amid conflict. Srinu's screenplay emphasized high-stakes family rivalries, drawing from traditional Telugu mass cinema tropes to explore inheritance disputes while incorporating elements of restraint in resolution. The project marked Srinu's follow-up to his earlier works, aiming to leverage his reputation for intense action sequences blended with dramatic emotional arcs. The film was produced under the banner of , with serving as presenter and K. A. Vallabha (also known as Alexander Vallabha) as the primary producer. This collaboration brought together established Telugu production expertise, with Rama Rao's experience in blockbuster ventures ensuring a focus on commercial viability. Vallabha, making his notable entry into high-profile projects, handled key logistical aspects during . Casting began with N. T. Rama Rao Jr. (NTR Jr.) secured as the male lead, selected for his rising stardom and ability to portray multifaceted characters in action-oriented roles following successes like . For the female leads, initial considerations included and , but both opted out due to scheduling conflicts, leading to Trisha Krishnan and stepping in to play the romantic interests. This recasting aligned with the film's dual-heroine structure, enhancing its appeal through established actresses suited to the dramatic and glamorous requirements. Pre-production planning targeted mass appeal for Telugu audiences, with an estimated budget of around ₹35 allocated for grand-scale action set pieces and production values. The emphasis was on creating a high-energy entertainer that could compete in the competitive release slate, prioritizing visual spectacle and emotional resonance. Composer was brought on board early to develop the musical framework supporting the action-drama tone.

Filming

Principal photography for Dammu commenced in late 2011, with initial schedules at in Hyderabad, where several key scenes were filmed. The production then moved to , , starting November 12, 2011, to capture rural exteriors and major action sequences, including faction-style fights supervised by stunt coordinators Ram and Lakshman. Shooting in continued through early 2012, with the schedule wrapping up by February 21, 2012, allowing the film to complete ahead of its April release. The film's visual style was handled by cinematographer , who employed dynamic camera work to enhance the high-energy action, while editing was overseen by , ensuring tight pacing for the 155-minute runtime. Art direction by contributed to the authentic depiction of both urban Hyderabad settings and rural backdrops in . Filming faced a notable challenge during the Pollachi schedule on November 25, 2011, when a camera assistant went missing amid the production of intense cannon-blasting action sequences, prompting a temporary halt before resuming without significant delays. Overall, the coordination of elaborate fight choreography proceeded smoothly, with no major production setbacks reported. The movie was shot in color using a 2.39:1 anamorphic aspect ratio, standard for Telugu action films of the era, to deliver a wide-screen cinematic experience.

Soundtrack

Composition

The music for Dammu was composed by M. M. Keeravani, who created six songs along with the background score, emphasizing a commercial, mass-appeal sound to align with the film's action-entertainer genre. His composition process drew on his prior successful collaborations with lead actor N. T. Rama Rao Jr., focusing on high-energy, beat-driven tracks that prioritize intensity and rhythm over intricate melody to suit the protagonist's dynamic persona. Keeravani's stylistic approach blended traditional Telugu elements with modern Western beats, incorporating rap influences, foot-tapping rhythms, and punchy modulations to evoke an adrenaline-fueled vibe. This fusion aimed to capture the mass entertainer essence, with loud, fast-paced arrangements that build escalating intensity, sometimes reusing motivational interludes from his earlier works like . The songs featured lyrics penned by Chandrabose, tailored with protagonist-centric, high-impact phrasing to enhance the narrative's energetic tone. They were sung by a diverse of artists, including for rap segments, Prudhvi Chandra, , Revanth, G. Sahithi, Krishna Chaitanya, , Shivani, and Shravana Bhargavi, delivering varied vocal intensities from chorus-backed anthems to high-pitched solos. Recording occurred in 2012 in Hyderabad, prior to the soundtrack's audio launch on March 29, 2012, at . Thematically, the compositions were designed to complement the plot's action sequences with vigorous, mass-oriented tracks and to underscore romantic subplots through melodic interludes, resulting in an runtime of 29:32 minutes. The was commercially released on April 26, 2012.

Track listing

The for Dhammu was launched on 29 March 2012 by Vel Records in association with . It features six s composed by , along with one instrumental track, with playback vocals by in several tracks. Note that the "" appears in both a movie version and a CD version.
No.TitleSinger(s)DurationLyricist
1Sound of VelInstrumental0:46
2O Lilly4:30Chandrabose
3Ruler (Movie Version)Prudhvi Chandra, , , G. Sahithi4:55Chandrabose
4Raja Vasi Reddy, Krishna Chaitanya4:44Chandrabose
5Vaastu Bagunde, , 4:30Chandrabose
6Dhammu, , 4:21Chandrabose
7Ruler (CD Version), 5:44Chandrabose

Release

Theatrical release

Dammu was theatrically released on 27 April 2012 in its original Telugu version, with the Tamil dubbed version titled Singamagan released on 11 May 2012. The film was distributed across a wide network, with regional rights acquired by multiple companies, including Dil Raju for the Nizam territory, various local distributors such as Bakery Prasad for Krishna, Guntur, and Nellore districts in Andhra Pradesh, and Raghavendra Enterprises for Karnataka. Overseas distribution was handled by Ficus Inc. Pre-release business from selling distribution, satellite, and other rights generated nearly ₹46 crore, setting a benchmark for N. T. Rama Rao Jr.'s films at the time. The release spanned a massive scale, including approximately 150 screens in —a record for a Telugu in the state at that point—and additional screens in other regions and overseas, with dubbed versions planned for further markets. The awarded the film an 'A' rating prior to its rollout. Promotional efforts featured theatrical trailers released in early April and a high-profile audio launch event on 29 March 2012 at Shilpa Kala Vedika in Hyderabad, attended by the cast including N. T. Rama Rao Jr., , and Karthika, along with director and composer . The campaign capitalized on N. T. Rama Rao Jr.'s extensive fan base to build anticipation, proceeding without any major controversies. The film recorded a robust opening, collecting around ₹14 gross worldwide on its first day.

Home media

The home media release of Dammu followed its theatrical run, providing consumers with physical and digital access to the . VCDs, DVDs, and Blu-ray discs were made available in August 2012 through Bhavani Media, capitalizing on the 's initial popularity. The satellite rights were sold to for ₹6.6 prior to the 's theatrical debut, marking one of the highest deals for a Telugu at the time and enabling television broadcasts. As of 2025, Dammu is accessible for digital streaming on platforms including , where the full film can be viewed in its original with subtitles. The official Tamil-dubbed version titled Singamagan was released theatrically on 11 May 2012 and is available through various channels. No major re-releases or special editions for home media have been noted by 2025. The film's strong first-week earnings of ₹31 worldwide contributed to sustained demand for these ancillary formats.

Reception

Critical reception

Dammu received mixed to negative reviews from critics upon its release, with praise centered on the lead performance and technical aspects but criticism focused on its formulaic narrative and excessive violence. Rediff.com described the film as "strictly for NTR Jr fans," commending N. T. Rama Rao Jr.'s energetic acting, dancing, and fighting skills, as well as Nasser's portrayal of the antagonist and M. M. Keeravani's fitting score, while faulting the outdated, clichéd storyline, regressive content, and mindless violence that made it an "ordeal not worth enduring." Similarly, 123Telugu rated it 3.25/5, calling it a "high voltage entertainer" that would appeal to fans through Rama Rao Jr.'s charged performance, impressive action, emotional sequences, and Keeravani's background music, but noted the routine story, superficial romance, and a second half that loses momentum due to a lackluster screenplay. Idlebrain awarded 3/5, highlighting Rama Rao Jr.'s strong presence in fights and casual scenes, the grand production values, Wilson's cinematography, and well-mounted action by director , yet criticized the script's imbalance with overwhelming violence and sentiment at the expense of entertainment, along with an unbelievable villain turnaround and a soft climax following intense pre-climax killings. Common critiques across reviews included a predictable plot, over-the-top action sequences, and weak dialogues that prioritized mass appeal over depth, while positives consistently emphasized the leads' performances, Keeravani's , and the direction's ability to engage audiences through high-energy elements. Aggregate scores reflected this mixed consensus, with no entries on or as of 2025. The reviews, primarily from , underscore the film's targeted appeal to mass audiences, and despite the critical divide, it resonated commercially with viewers. No significant retrospective analyses have emerged by late 2025.

Box office

Dhammu achieved commercial success, grossing over ₹50 worldwide with a distributor share of ₹35 . Domestically, the film earned a share of ₹33.20 , including ₹29.25 from the and Nizam regions, reflecting strong performance in key Telugu markets. It opened robustly with a first-day collection of ₹14 nett worldwide, contributing to a solid initial run despite mixed impacting word-of-mouth. Overseas markets contributed a share of ₹1.80 , driven mainly by audiences in the and . The film ranked among the top 5 highest-grossing Telugu releases of 2012 by distributor share and generated pre-release revenues of ₹45 . Note that these figures are based on reports from 2013 and may require verification for inflation-adjusted values as of 2025; no updated comprehensive data was available from recent sources.

Accolades

Dammu garnered limited formal recognition from major award bodies in the Telugu film industry. received a for Best Actress in a Supporting (Telugu) at the 2nd (SIIMA) in 2013 for her portrayal of the character's mother figure. Nassar was also nominated for Best Actor in a Negative (Telugu) at the same ceremony. The film itself secured no wins at this ceremony, where took the award for her role in . Despite its commercial performance, Dammu did not earn nominations or wins at prestigious events such as the or the National Film Awards. The action choreography, directed by stunt coordinator Real Satish, received minor mentions in informal Telugu film enthusiast polls for its high-energy sequences, though these did not translate to official honors. As of November 2025, no further accolades have been awarded to the film, its cast, or technical contributors.

References

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