Athadu ( or ) is a 2005 Indian Telugu-language action thriller film written and directed by Trivikram Srinivas. The film features an ensemble cast of Mahesh Babu, Trisha, Sonu Sood, Prakash Raj, Nassar, Sunil, Sayaji Shinde, Kota Srinivasa Rao, and Brahmanandam. It is produced by D. Kishore and M. Ram Mohan under the Jayabheri Arts banner. The soundtrack was composed by Mani Sharma. K. V. Guhan handled the cinematography of the film while Sreekar Prasad edited it.
The film received decent response from audiences during its release. The film went on to become one of the highest grossing Telugu films and marked Mahesh Babu's career resurgence after a few unsuccessful films. It won 3 Nandi Awards and a Filmfare Awards South in Best Director category. It was later remade in Bengali as Wanted (2010), in Bengali Bangladesh as Rastar Chele (2009), and in Hindi as Ek: The Power of One (2009).
Over the years, Athadu received critical acclaim and cult status for Trivikram's direction, screenplay & dialogues, writing, plot, Mani Sharma's soundtrack, cinematography, action set pieces, humour, emotional weight of the story & Mahesh Babu's performance. Athadu is considered as one of the best films in Telugu Cinema and also best film in Trivikram & Babu's career.
Plot
Nanda Gopal aka Nandu is an assassin, who works with his getaway planner, Malli. Opposition leader Shiva Reddy, hoping to garner votes by sympathy, hires Nandu for an assassination attempt during one of his political party meetings. However, on the day of the hit, someone shoots Shiva Reddy dead instead, and Malli dies in an accident. Nandu jumps off the building onto a train, and meets Pardhu, who is returning to his village, Basarlapudi, after running away 12 years ago. At Gudivada, the Sub Inspector spots Nandu and fires at him, but accidentally kills Pardhu instead.
Nandu escapes in the ensuing confusion and arrives at Basarlapudi to inform Pardhu's family what happened to him. Thinking that he is Pardhu, the latter's family rejoices at his return. Nandu grows closer to the family, having never had one of his own, and solves many of their problems. He also falls in love with Poori, Pardhu's cousin and fiancée.
CBI officer Anjaneya Prasad is handed the case of Shiva Reddy's murder. His investigation leads him to Basarlapudi, and he becomes suspicious of Nandu. Using a clue from Sadhu, Nandu and Malli's mentor in prison, Prasad traces the payment made to Nandu back to Basarlapudi. Nandu flees before Prasad's arrival and Prasad informs Pardhu's family of his death.
When everyone believes Nandu has cheated them, Ramana, Pardhu's old friend who Nandu divulged his identity to, tells everyone all the good deeds Nandu has done for the family, while telling no one. Nandu returns after Prasad & his team leave, confesses his true identity & claims not to have cheated the family. Pardhu's grandfather tells Nandu that rather than flee the scene of the crime, Nandu came to them and did all of this, and hence he considers him Pardhu, his grandson. He hands Nandu his son's shotgun and encourages him to seek justice, then come back home if he wins.
Nandu calls CM candidate Baji Reddy and blackmails him with the recording of their earlier conversation. Baji Reddy tells him that Malli, who is alive had killed Shiva Reddy, framed Nandu for the crime and faked his death. Nandu records the entire phone call as evidence. Nandu finds Malli, but both are attacked by corrupt cops sent to kill them and take back the tape. Nandu kills them and fights Malli, who dies after the shotgun backfires due to a marble placed in the barrel. Prasad arrives and is handed the tape by Nandu as evidence.
When Prasad confronts Baji Reddy with the evidence, Baji Reddy is smug that the court won't convict him, but Prasad says that Shiva Reddy's bloodthirsty son will kill him when he hears the tape. Cornered, Baji Reddy commits suicide, thereby closing the case. Nandu immerses in Pardhu's ashes and promises that he will not sully the good name of Pardhu and his family. He meets Prasad, who decides to let Nandu go, keeping his grandfather’s shotgun, and mentions that there is no need for it. Nandu then leaves for Basarlapudi to begin his new journey.