Nannaku Prematho -

Visually, the film is a treat. Cinematographer Vijay K Chakravarthy captured the locales of Spain and London with a vibrant, glossy palette that suited the film's rich backdrop. The production design was sleek, contributing to the sophisticated tone of the movie.

Music by Devi Sri Prasad (DSP) was another major asset. While the background score amplified the tension during the intellectual face-offs, songs like Lehriya, Naalo Nenu, and the title track Nannaku Prematho added emotional depth. The final song, sung by DSP himself in honor of his late father, adds a poignant, meta-textual layer to the film’s theme of a father-son bond.

If you missed Nannaku Prematho in 2016 or dismissed it because it wasn't a "regular NTR film," now is the time to revisit it.

The story opens with Subrahmanyam (played by Rajendra Prasad), a disciplined and principled businessman. He is diagnosed with a terminal illness and has only a few months to live. Betrayed by his trusted business partner (a ruthless tycoon played by Jagapathi Babu), Subrahmanyam loses his wealth and his will to live. He retreats to London, believing his life is a failure. nannaku prematho

Enter his son, Abhiram (Nani). Unlike the typical "angry young man," Abhiram is a sharp, mathematically minded prodigy. Upon learning of his father’s condition and the betrayal, he doesn't resort to violence. Instead, he devises a complex psychological game. He confronts the antagonist, Krishna Murthy (Jagapathi Babu), and challenges him: "I will destroy your business and your reputation in 49 days, and you cannot stop me."

The rest of the film unfolds like a high-stakes chess match. The 49-day countdown mirrors the time Abhiram has left with his dying father. Every move Abhiram makes—investing in stocks, manipulating market prices, playing with the antagonist’s ego—is a move to teach his father one final lesson: Truth always wins, even if it arrives late.

The story follows Abhiram (Jr. NTR), a sharp, wealthy businessman living in London. He discovers that his father (Rajendra Prasad), a once-proud industrialist, has been betrayed by a ruthless business partner, R.K. (Jagapathi Babu). With only a few months left to live, the father loses his will to fight. Visually, the film is a treat

But Abhiram doesn’t want revenge—he wants closure. He gives his dying father a promise: "I will make that man come to your funeral and beg for your forgiveness."

What follows is a high-stakes game of chess. Abhiram systematically dismantles R.K.’s empire using his brain, not his brawn, weaving a complex web of stock market manipulation and psychological warfare.

While the romantic track is often cited as the film’s weakest link, Rakul Preet Singh plays a crucial role as the "Ethical Hacker." She is not just a love interest; she is Abhiram’s digital weapon. Her character helps execute the stock market manipulation, proving that Sukumar rarely writes useless heroines. Music by Devi Sri Prasad (DSP) was another major asset

Veteran actor Rajendra Prasad delivers a career-defining performance in the second half. His transformation from a hopeless, dying old man to a proud father who understands his son’s genius is heartbreaking and beautiful. The silent tears he sheds when he realizes his son’s plan are arguably the best piece of acting in the film.

Director Sukumar is known for his complex screenplay structures, and Nannaku Prematho is pure Sukumar mark. The plot revolves around the concept of the "Butterfly Effect" and the "Five R's" (Retro, Reverse, Review, Reconstruct, Report). While the screenplay can get convoluted at times, Sukumar deserves credit for attempting a non-linear narrative in a commercial format. The flashback sequences and the strategic twists keep the viewer engaged, turning the revenge drama into a psychological thriller.

While the cat-and-mouse game with Jagapathi Babu is thrilling, the soul of the film is the relationship between Abhiram and his father.

Rajendra Prasad, usually a comedian or character actor, delivers a gut-wrenching performance as a dying man who has lost his self-respect. The film doesn’t show the father as a weakling; it shows him as a man defeated by a smarter crook. The son’s journey isn't just to win money back; it is to restore his father’s faith in himself.

The climax, where the son asks his father to trust him one last time, is a tear-jerker that redefines the meaning of the title—Nannaku Prematho (To Dad, With Love).