A Aa


A Aa is a 2016 Indian Telugu-language romantic film written and directed by Trivikram Srinivas. Produced by S. Radha Krishna under his banner Haarika & Hassine Creations, it features Nithiin, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Ananya, Anupama Parameswaran, Srinivas Avasarala, Naresh, Nadhiya, Jayaprakash, Easwari Rao, and Rao Ramesh. Mickey J Meyer composed the film's score and soundtrack, while Natarajan Subramaniam and Dudley handled the cinematography.
The film is loosely based on the novel Meena written by Yaddanapudi Sulochana Rani, which had already been adapted into a 1973 movie Meena starring actor Krishna and his wife actress Vijaya Nirmala in her directorial debut. Samantha won critical praise and several accolades including a Best Actress award at the 64th Filmfare Awards South and Best Performance in a Leading Role at the 2nd IIFA Utsavam Awards, for her portrayal as Anasuya Ramalingam.

Plot

A Aa revolves around the lives of 23-year-old Anasuya Ramalingam and Aanand Vihari and their families. Aanand, a former chef, runs an e-food business in Hyderabad. He belongs to a middle-class family and has many responsibilities to fulfill, like getting his sister Bhanumathi married and paying off debts.
Anasuya is the daughter of a rich and strict mother named Mahalakshmi. When her mother goes on a business trip, her father Ramalingam sends her along with Mangamma to Kalavapudi village near Vijayawada to spend some time at Aanand's home.
Aanand happens to be Anasuya's cross cousin, but she does not know about his family until she is sent there. While she happily discovers the joy of being at her aunt's house in kalvapudi, she comes to know that Aanand is being forced to marry Nagavalli by her father Pallam Venkanna. However, he had agreed to marry her only after Bhanu's marriage. Anasuya and Bhanu also become good friends. Comedy scenes take place when she asks for an AC and a TV, for which he buys a 90,000 TV and gives an unliked stick and rope to open and close window. One day when Nagavalli comes to their house and indirectly shows attitude to Anasuya, she gets angry and asks Aanand because he had carried her that day because she refused to eat dinner, for which he does it again, and this time, she shows attitude.
Nagavalli gets angry and asks Pallam Venkanna to do something of her and send her back to Hyderabad. He then calls her father and asks him to control his daughter. However, Gopal, Mahalakshmi's secretary, calls Mahalakshmi and reveals everything. Her father understands this and calls Aanand and asks him to bring Anasuya and Mangamma back before Mahalakshmi comes from Chennai. Aanand borrows a jeep from Nagavalli. He then goes on the road, travels down the airplane, and reaches the house when Gopal gets a phone call.
Anasuya now realises her love for Aanand when he drops her in time. However, Mahalakshmi has already arranged her to marry a rich guy named Shekhar. As two times their meeting cancels, Anasuya is forced to meet him at golf course. She accidentally hits the ball on his head and the other worker's head. When she goes to the hospital to visit, she runs into Aanand. He reveals that he came here because Pallam Venkanna had harshly talked about Bhanu not getting married as she has no status and asked him to marry Nagavalli at the end of the month. This had hurt his mother, and she is now hospitalized. Anasuya is happy to see him. However, her plans are crushed after Nagavalli and Pallam Venkanna arrive. Nagavalli again starts getting close to Aanand, and this angers Anasuya. She pleads Aanand to let Bhanu come and stay with her. Aanand agrees but gives permission for only for one day.
Anasuya brings her home and reveals to Mahalakshmi that Bhanu is Aanand's sister. Mahalakshmi initially refuses to let Bhanu in but agrees later. She reveals that she had taken a loan from Aanand's father for business, and when she came to return the money, they had refused and closed the door on her face. She warns Anasuya to be careful with Bhanu. That night Bhanu sees Shekhar's photo and says he is good-looking. Anasuya again gains an idea, and next day, takes her to a mall and makes a deal with Bhanu that since she had canceled her marriage, Bhanu owes her and should do the same for her, for which Bhanu agrees. Anasuya again meets Aanand in the mall. She also comes across her mother's friend Latha and is caught with Aanand but is relieved when she sees Latha having an extra-marital affair with Raghu, although she is married. Pallam Venkanna's brother Pallam Narayana also comes across them, but Aanand manages to divert him. Meanwhile, Shekhar falls for Bhanu. However, his grandfather mistakes Bhanu for Anasuya and arranges for their marriage. Anasuya proposes to Aanand, who reveals that Mahalakshmi refusing to give back the money she borrowed, was the reason for his father's death. Mahalakshmi discovers that Shekhar loves Bhanu and not her daughter and locks her up. This angers Anasuya, who meets Aanand and urges him to elope with her. He refuses, and this angers her more, and she starts walking aimlessly. She gets kidnapped by Pallam Venkanna's henchmen. Aanand brings her back in time for her engagement with Shekar and takes Bhanu with him. He reveals to Bhanu that he loves Anasuya, and she urges him to reveal the truth to Anasuya. He goes back and does so, saying that he will keep her happy in any way she wants and takes her. Mahalakshmi demands Aanand to let go of her daughter, for which he says that she had gone to give money on the cremation day of his father and she is the reason for his death as Mahalakshmi failed to repay the loaned money on time and takes Anasuya with him.
When Anasuya and Aanand reach his house, she is surprised to see her parents there. Her father reveals that as soon as Anasuya and Aanand left, Mahalakshmi had a seizure attack, and he changed her mind about them, and the relationship between her mother and Anasuya is also good now. Aanand catches a mouse says that there is no one to trouble her anymore leaving him, for which she laughs.
Pallam Venkanna sees that Nagavalli is happily eating chicken and not worried about Aanand and Anasuya. She says that if one day they are separated, he will come to her only to marry. Pallam Venkanna tries to stop Shekhar from visiting Bhanu to fix their marriage, but he is unable to. The film ends on a happy note.

Cast

Development

During the end of August 2015, it was announced that Trivikram Srinivas will be directing a movie with Nithiin and Samantha, and S.Radha Krishna will produce the film under his banner Haarika & Haasine Creations. In early September 2015, the makers announced the name of this movie as A Aa – Anasuya Ramalingam Vs Anand Vihari.

Casting

makes her third collaboration with Trivikram Srinivas. During mid September Anupama Parameswaran was confirmed to be a part of the film playing the second heroine. During Mid September, it was reported that Nadhiya will be playing a key role in this film. During Early October 2015, it was reported that Srinivas Avasarala was a part the film playing a key role. In early November it was reported that Ananya was selected to play the role of Nithiin's sister Bhanumathi. It was also reported that she had initially turned down the offer, but later accepted it after she realized the scope of her character. During Mid-January it was reported that Naresh will be a part of this film. It was also reported that he will be playing husband of Nadhiya.

Crew

was selected to compose the music for this film during early August, making his Tollywood debut. However, he was later replaced by Mickey J Meyer due to his busy schedules with Tamil movies. Natarajan Subramaniam and Dudley are the Cinematographers. During the end of August it was also confirmed that Kotagiri Venkateswara Rao will be the editor, and Rajeevan will be the art director of this film. Rajeevan was replaced by A.S Prakash as the art director of this movie during late November 2015.

Filming

This movie was launched on 24 September 2015 with a pooja ceremony at Ramanaidu Studios. The regular shooting of this film was expected to start on 10 October 2015. But later the shooting was delayed to 16 October 2015. Samantha started shooting for this film on 21 October 2015. During Mid November 2015, it was reported that Samantha would be dubbing for her role for the first time in Telugu. However, this was later refuted by Samantha herself During early January 2016, it was reported that the filming was progressing rapidly, and Nithiin was reportedly enjoying every bit of the shooting, being super happy with the output of the film so far. As of early February 2016, 80 percent of the shooting is completed and also the major part of the talkie has been shot. Filming of new schedule commenced in Pollachi on 15 February, and the unit canned a romantic duet and some important scenes featuring Nitin and Samantha for 10 days. Filming of final schedule commenced on 26 February in Hyderabad. The Filming has been wrapped up on 23 April 2016.

Soundtrack

The soundtrack for A Aa comprises 5 songs composed by Mickey J Meyer. Four of the songs were written by Ramajogayya Sastry and one by Krishna Chaitanya. Aditya Music acquired its marketing rights. Launched on 2 May at a ceremony in Shilpakala Vedika, with actor Pawan Kalyan attending as chief guest, the audio received positive reviews from critics.

Release

Producer S. Radha Krishna had initially planned to release the film for Sankranthi 2016, but later the release date was moved to 14 February 2016 to release it on Valentine's Day. During early February, the release was again postponed to 22 April 2016. but again the movie was postponed to 2 May 2016. Again, the makers had planned to release the movie by the end of May, but 'A..Aa' was then slated to release in the second week of June, due to Mahesh Babu's Brahmotsavam as a majority of the theaters in Telugu states are going be occupied with Mahesh Babu's movie, the makers were planning to release in 2 June week, yet an official statement regarding the postponement is yet to be made.
BlueSky Cinemas, one of the leading players in overseas market for Indian movies bought the rights of this film during early November 2015. They bought the rights of this film before the filming began. During the end of December 2015, Eurotolly bought rights from BlueSky Cinemas to distribute this movie in Europe.

Reception

Box office

A Aa collected 38 crore gross and 27 crore share worldwide in the first weekend.
in the second week movie collected 15.48 crore gross worldwide and made a total of 67.40 crore gross and 44.38 crore share worldwide in two weeks.
In its lifetime movie collected a total gross of 75.4 and share of 47.48 crore worldwide.
A Aa collected $1.5 Million in its first weekend, and collected over $2 Million in its full run at United States boxoffice, which is third highest grossing Telugu film in the US at that time.

Critical reception

Sangeetha Devi Dundoo of The Hindu wrote "Simple tale, effectively told. Trivikram Srinivas narrates an enjoyable tale of romance and relationships".
The Times of India gave 3 out of 5 stars stating "Trivikram really gives this modern take an edge of its own and sets it apart from both the book and the earlier film, Meena. Mickey J Meyer's music which is refreshing and the camerawork of Natarajan and Dudley who give the film a visual splendour".
The New Indian Express gave 3 out of 5 stars stating "Trivikram Srinivas masterfully elevates a simple story into a romantic comedy. A..Aa undoubtedly is Samantha's film, she delivers a stellar performance and shows what she can do if given ample screen time. Nithiin delivers his finest performance too".
Daily News and Analysis gave 3 out of 5 stars stating "A...Aa a film that adds humour to a regular boy-girl romance which should be seen to be experienced. Samantha and Nithiin's performances in this movie will be what people will rave about for days to come".
Jeevi of Idlebrain.com gave 3.25 out of 5 stars stating "Plus points of the film are Trivikram dialogues, Samantha and emotional scenes. On the flipside, the flashback of the film which is the foundation looks little hazy and the pace in second half should have been faster".

Awards and nominations