Revisting Ala Modalaindi (2011): Review + Interesting Facts + Sankranthiki Vasthunam (2025) Thoughts & Reaction

Credits 

Banner: Sri Ranjith Movies

Cast: Nani, Nitya Menon, Sneha Ullal, Kriti Karbandha, Chaitanya Krishna, Pragati, CVL, Pragati, Rohini, Uppalapati Narayana Rao, Mirchi Hemanth, Raja Valluru, Pinky, Rhea etc.

Music: Kalyani Malik
Cinematography: Arjun Jena

Art Direction: Dharmendra
Editor: Marthand K Venkatesh
Dialogues: Lakshmi Bhoopal
Executive producer: Vivekananda Kuchibhotla
Story - screenplay - direction: BV Nandini Reddy
Producer: KL Damodar Prasad
Release date: 21 January 2011

Audio was launched on November 15th, 2010 

Finally movie released on January 21st 2011 and became a blockbuster at the box office collecting 10 crores share. 

Ran for 50 days in 54 centers and 100 days in 27 centers   

Writing/Direction

3 best scenes in diverting audiences perception are 

• Opening scene 
• Doctor scene 
• Interval scene - you think someone kidnapped Nithya and then turns out to be someone she knows. 

Also the brilliance in writing is something like a subplot about Nani being gay is setup in a changing room in a store where one guy sees him and then when Nani goes to meet Sneha Ullal’s father, the same guy sees him and calls him out for it leading to their wedding being cancelled.

The reason why this movie still works in present day is due to the fact that the 3 scenes will always be relevant no matter the generation change

1. Nani asks him Mom how do you know when the you’ll find your soulmate. She puts her hand on his heart and says  nuvvu decide ayyinaooudu. A lot of people force themselves into committing too early or too late which leads to failed relationship. 
2. Nithya Menon family set up. Questions from parents Pelli eppudu and then internal fights due to relatives pressure about things. Typical Indian mindset of caring so much about what other people will think different way of showing paruvu etc. Nithya Menon explains that generation is different and always look for something new but dont want to repair the one that is already there and try to make it work. 
3. Nithya Menon Chaitanya Krishna scene - he tells her that she made 30 calls and 20 messages and asks her to check herself. Theres no rile Just because youre engaged doesnt mean you cant like someone else. He tells her to check it. And he’s doubtful and after marriage neeku check cheyyali anispisthe. Nammakam lena appudu this wont work. 

These are beautiful scenes and extremely relevant. Also loved in pre climax when Nithya Menon, her dad gives a little smile and tells her to go 

That being said, 2nd half felt extremely repetitive.

Literally entire 2nd half, Nithya comes to visit, misunderstands Gautham and this keeps happening every 2 minutes. Felt much slower than the first half for sure. 

Also felt they didnt need to kill Rohini. She could have been kept alive and also felt out of place. 

I guess despite the so called “lag” in 2nd half, climax makes up for everything tying things together with final twist coming out to Ashish Vidyarthi that he kidnapped the wrong guy and actually let the jeep go and this is brilliantly done in a set up and pay off. 

You have an extremely similar type of set up and pay off in Venkatadri Express where hero helps eloped couple and gets them married and that girl his brother is supposed to marry. 

Climax is hilarious with Thagubothu Ramesh and his antics. Like he asks to call DSP Ramchandra Victory Venkatesh Gharshana lmaooo. 

Movie ends on a nice note with them finally uniting in a funny climax.