Young and talented Raj Tarun delivered a series of duds in his career. the actor’s recent offering Anubhavinchu Raja completed its theatrical run last month and the film is now streaming on the Telugu digital platform Aha. The OTT platform acquired the digital rights for a decent price. Raj Tarun plays the role of Bangaram in the film who depends on the wealth of his grandfather. Srinivas Gavireddy directed Anubhavinchu Raja and Annapurna Studios, Sree Venkateswara Cinemas LLP are the producers. Ariyana is the leading lady and Gopi Sundar composed the music. Watch Anubhavinchu Raja on Aha this weekend.
Aha 2.0: 8 New Films and 10 Originals lined up
Telugu digital platform Aha is slowly gaining subscribers despite tough competition from giants like Netflix and Amazon Prime. Collecting the feedback from the viewers, some crucial technical changes are made for Aha and the subscribers can now watch the content on 4K. Aha 2.0 event took place in a grand manner in Hyderabad last night and the investors, promoters, celebrities along with the team of Aha attended the event. Aha 2.0 unveiled that there would be 8 new Digital premieres in the coming days along with 10 originals produced by the Telugu digital platform.
Most Eligible Bachelor, Lakshya, Manchi Rojulochaie, DJ Tillu, Romantic, Anubhavinchu Raja, Pushpaka Vimanam and Ghani are the films that will be premiered on Aha in the next few months. Among the originals, Aha will stream Senapathi, Bhama Kalapam, 3 Roses, Anya’s Tutorial, Adulting, It’s Not a Love Story, Seghu Talkies, Intinti Ramayanam, Qubool Hai, Sarkaar and Unstoppable that are getting ready. Aha CEO Allu Aravind also said that the subscribers have got doubled in the past one year and thanked everyone for the constant support.
NBK’s fat paycheque for Aha’s Unstoppable
Nandamuri Balakrishna surprised everyone after he signed a celebrity talk show for Telugu digital platform Aha. The show is titled Unstoppable and the curtain raiser event took place recently. The show starts on November 4th and Balakrishna will interview several Tollywood celebrities in the show. The actor is taking Rs 40 lakhs per episode and the first season has 12 episodes. Balakrishna will be taking a whopping pay cheque of Rs 4.80 crores for Unstoppable.
There are talks that Megastar Chiranjeevi will be a guest for one of the episodes and the season opens with the episode of Manchu family. Balakrishna recently commenced the shoot of Unstoppable and he will complete the shoot of the first season before he starts the shoot of his next film. Balakrishna is done with the shoot of Akhanda and the film releases in December. He will soon commence the shoot of Gopichand’s Jai Balayya from December.
Buzz: Krish to direct Balakrishna?
There is an ongoing speculation in Tollywood that veteran actor Nandamuri Balakrishna will soon host a television show for Telugu digital platform Aha. This left many in surprise but the talks are currently happening. Balakrishna will host a celebrity talk show which will happen completely in his own style. Balakrishna’s interviews and media interactions are quite unique and typical. Some of them went viral and his fans are always delighted with his interviews. The top actor will shoot for the talk show very soon.
Sensible director Krish who worked with Balakrishna in films like Gautamiputra Satakarni and NTR biopic will direct the talkshow. The team of Aha felt that Krish can handle the project well as he is well bonded with Balakrishna and knows his style, mannerisms well. Directors like Krish, Nandini Reddy, Vamshi Paidipally and Maruthi are associated with Aha for various projects. Aha will make an official statement about Balayya’s talk show very soon.
Review: The Baker and The Beauty
All the stories that cannot be told on the silver screen are narrated through the digital space. Most of them that released as web series and web films are experiments and content-driven projects. Young actor Santosh Shoban has been balancing his career with films and web-based projects. His last one Ek Mini Katha released on Amazon Prime. He is now testing his luck with a web series ‘The Baker and The Beauty’ that is streaming on Aha. The web series comes with 10 episodes and is a romantic entertainer. Annapurna Studios bankrolled The Baker and The Beauty. Jonathan Vesapogu directed the web series and it featured Santosh Shoban, Tina, Venkat, Vishnu Priya in the lead roles. Here is the review of The Baker and The Beauty:
Story:
The Baker and The Beauty is the story of Vijay (Santosh Shoban) who comes from a middle-class family who runs a business of supermarket and a bakery. He loves his childhood friend Mahi (Vishnu Priya) and decides to propose on a fine day. Before this, Mahi proposes to Vijay. When Vijay spots Ira (Tina Shilparaj) who is a star heroine, he likes her on the first go. It is then Vijay rejects the proposal of Mahi. In a sudden surprise, Ira turns close to Vijay. She breaks up with her boyfriend before she meets Vijay. After a smooth sail, disturbances and misunderstandings bring enough gap between Vijay and Ira. The rest of The Baker and The Beauty is what happens next.
Analysis:
There is enough confusion in The Baker and The Beauty and it is because of enough confusion among the characters. The lead characters Vijay and Ira change completely and they have no common stand. Vijay admires Mahi but he soon shifts towards Ira. Soon he gets frustrated with Ira and proposes Mahi. Soon, he gets back to Ira and says sorry to Mahi. This leaves enough confusion among the audience. Ira too breaks up with a person before she turns close to Vijay. The Baker and The Beauty starts on a smooth and casual note but the web series misses many logics.
As The Baker and The Beauty is a web series, a small plot is expanded so much. The entire Dubai episode fails to make an impact. The Baker and The Beauty is a story that can be completed in five episodes but it is expanded to ten episodes. As the entire story happens between 3-4 characters, the director introduced several unwanted roles and characters. Frankly speaking the roles of Mahi (Vishnu Priya) and Lakshmi (Venkat) are penned better than the roles of Venkat and Ira. Mahi looks pure and honest. Venkat essays the role of Ira’s manager in The Baker and The Beauty.
Performances:
Santosh Shoban looks natural and he impresses the audience with his performance. He looks matured when compared to his previous attempts. He excelled in the emotional episodes. Tina looks beautiful and she looks like Rakul Preet Singh in some of the shades. Vishnu Priya essayed a role that will be remembered for a long time. Venkat makes a comeback after a long time. Jhansi and Srikanth Iyyengar have been good in their roles. All the other actors did their parts well.
The Baker and The Beauty has a plot that fits well for the digital audience. But the treatment fails to impress the audience. Most of the episodes are extended and The Baker and The Beauty has so many unwanted characters. The editing work is quite poor. The production values are good and some of the episodes are shot in Dubai. On the whole, The Baker and The Beauty is a mixed bag and has few impressive moments.
Verdict:
The Baker and The Beauty should be restricted to five episodes and looks dragged and boring because of the stretched content and unwanted characters.
Lakshmi Manchu loves travelling for food
Telugu actress Lakshmi Manchu is enjoying every moment of hosting the Telugu cookery show ‘Aha Bhojanambu’. A foodie herself, she says there have been days when she has just gone out of her way to taste a delicacy.
“I love food and don’t have any favourites. I love Thai, Vietnamese, Chinese, Italian. I like my big meals. I love travelling for food. I have sometimes just travelled for food and come back. So, the foodie in me just loves different flavours, tastes and method. Though I am still getting accustomed to the French cuisine,” Lakshmi tells IANS.
The eight-part series comes with an interesting twist. Lakshmi invites a celebrity guest, who has to cook with whatever ingredients are provided to them on the show.
Talking about hosting a cookery show, Lakshmi says: “My daughter (Nirvana) and I are big fans of cooking shows. I love watching ‘Australian Top Chef’ and other cooking shows. Being able to host a show with a twist to our regular foods is very exciting. To be able to do it with my peers is even more fun,” she says.
The series is currently streaming on a Telugu OTT platform.
Kudi Yedamaithe trailer is gripping
Following an interesting teaser, now the trailer of Kudi Yedamaithe, a web series time loop drama backed by Telugu OTT platform Aha, has been released.
The trailer introduces the lead cast of Kudi Yedamaithe to us. Amala Paul, who plays a police officer, investigates a crime and things take unexpected turns.
Rahul Vijay plays a pivotal role in the web series, which will be streamed by Aha from July 16.
It is directed by Pawan Kumar who helmed ‘U-Turn’ in Telugu. The synopsis of the web series goes like this: What happens when a police officer and a delivery boy stuck in an inexplicable, unimaginable situation. They don’t know why it is happening, how it is happening all they know is what is happening.
AHA announces aha Bhojanambu, hosted by Lakshmi Manchu
AHA announces aha Bhojanambu, a fun talk show hosted by Lakshmi Manchu with a culinary twist.
100% Telugu streaming platform aha, which houses the latest blockbuster films, web shows and originals, is turning a new leaf.
The platform that ushered in a new era of popular non-fiction content in Telugu web space, with a flurry of talk shows like Sam Jam (hosted by Samantha Akkineni), Tamasha with Harsha (hosted by Viva Harsha) and the third season of Rana’s No.1 Yaari, is putting together another talk show titled aha Bhojanambu. Actor, producer Lakshmi Manchu will host the show where the biggest celebs from the tinsel town dish out yummy delicacies across various cuisines and bond with the host over their love for food.
The show is co-presented by MTR & Himalaya Pure Hands.
“aha Bhojanambu is the perfect platform to showcase our products and their usage, as it combines the love for food and celebrities in a distinctive way,” said Sunay Bhasin, Chief Commercial Officer, MTR Foods Pvt. Ltd.
Sarfraz Rumane, General Manager – Health & Hygiene, Consumer Products Division, Himalaya Wellness, said, “We are delighted to partner with aha for their celebrity cooking show – aha Bhojanambu. Celebrities cooking great food and emphasizing on the importance of hygiene while cooking is a great way to spread the message. With aha’s wide reach, we will amplify the importance of hand hygiene and exemplify Himalaya’s mission of sharing Happiness through Wellness.”
aha Bhojanambu triggers the many pleasant memories and nostalgia associated with food in the lives of the guests over fun conversations. The viewers will have an adequate dose of adrenaline rush with several food challenges in store. Through aha Bhojanambu, the platform rings in a new twist to the talk show format with a mouth-watering culinary dimension.
The list of stars who’ll add glitter to the show with their presence runs long and includes Rakul Preet Singh, Tharun Bhascker, Vishnu Manchu, Akhil Akkineni, Prakash Raj, Anand Deverakonda, Rana Daggubati and Vishwak Sen to name a few.
Lakshmi Manchu, in a league of her own and with a vast experience in hosting talk shows, promises to be at her peppy best.
Content Produced by Indian Clicks, LLC
Aha Bets Big On Akkineni Brothers
100% Telugu streaming platform Aha is shifting it’s content acquisition strategy with respect to Telugu feature films and the announcement made recently supports this theory.
Aha has acquired the digital rights of Love Story starring Naga Chaitanya and Sai Pallavi along with the streaming rights of Most Eligible Bachelor. Both these acquisitons are made at a premium cost and this comes out as a statement to the industry projecting Aha as a viable option to the multi national OTT players.
Aha also acquired Lakshya starring Naga Shourya along with the Akkineni films.
Kudi Yedamaithe Teaser – When time starts looping.
AHA OTT Platform is quiet busy these days churning out original content in regular intervals along with films.
The Teaser of Amala Paul and Rahul Vijay Starrer “Kudi Yedamaithe” will raise our curiosity with its curious and gripping content. Dusky Siren Amala Paul will be seen as a cop in this web drama. The visual promises a good watch which has content suggesting an accident has sent many lives in to a time loop which they never thought they would get in to.
This Web series is being directed by Pawan Kumar, who earlier handled highly rated movies U-Turn and Lucia. Kudi Yedamaithe will be streaming on Aha from Jult 16th.
Kudi Yedamaithe – Aha, Pawan and Amala Paul Come Together
Telugu’s own OTT platform Aha is giving a run for its money to its competitors. The platform keeps updating with new stuff frequently and they are set bring us a whole new experience with ‘Kudi Yedamaithe.’
This is a web-series and it’s genre is sci-fi with crime and thriller elements. The combination will have Amala Paul and Rahul Vijay in the prime cast. Amala is seen in police uniform in the announcement promo.
“Excited to announce my next- #KudiYedamaithe & need I say, you’re gonna be intriuged? The thrill begins soon,” added Amala who seem to be pretty excited.
‘Kudi Yedamaithe’ is being directed by Pawan Kumar who is for the land of Karnataka. He directed ‘U-Turn’ in Telugu and now he is venturing into the digital medium.
Aha will be streaming the web-series soon and more updates will follow.
Aha readies a thriller web-series titled ING
Telugu’s first OTT platform, Aha is going great guns. With talk shows and movies, they are coming up with entertaining content and now they are readying a new age thriller web-series.
It’s a crime thriller titled ‘I.N.G’ featuring comedian Priyadarshi and Nandini Rai. Aha believes it to be an edge of the seat thriller that would hook the viewers.
Comedian Darshi will be seen in a never before avatar and the official announcement will be arriving tomorrow.
Director Suresh Krissna of Baasha fame is entering the digital space and is bankrolling this web-series ‘I.N.G.’ while Vidya Sagar is directing it.
The web-series also has Posani Krishna Murali and Md Ali Baig in supporting characters.
Tollywood directors working on a salary basis for Aha
Telugu digital platform Aha is slowly making its impact in the digital space. Though it is impossible for Aha to compete with digital giants like Amazon and Netflix, Aha is coming with a solid plan. A bunch of renowned directors are hired on a monthly salary basis to zero the scripts and finalize the movies and web series for Aha. Directors like Krish, Nandini Reddy, Vamshi Paidipally, Maruthi, Praveen Sattaru and others are working for Aha.
Some of them are working on a project basis while some of them are taking a fixed remuneration on a monthly basis. Maruthi is penning scripts for the upcoming web-based projects though he will not direct the projects. Vamshi Paidipally and Nandini Reddy are finalizing the scripts and stories for Aha and they are taking a hefty paycheque on monthly basis. Sukumar Writings is collaborating with Aha for several web series. Allu Aravind and his team are keen to produce a number of projects in the coming months and they bagged the digital streaming rights of several Telugu films in the recent months.
Y Trailer – Intense & Suspenseful
The OTT Platform Aha is gaining a good popularity for a few months after trying hard to beat the current top platforms. The makers are roping in different actors for Aha originals to impress the audience. And as the subscription rates are also very low compared to other OTT Platforms, People, especially, Telugus are not thinking for a while to subscribe for Aha.
After recently released Tamannaah’s ‘11th Hour’ got a good response, now, Aha has released the trailer of Srikanth and Rahul Ramakrishna starrer ‘Y’. The greed for money seems to be the main concept and the trailer starts with Rahul explaining a crime script to Srikanth. The trailer soon feels intense when a spat arises between Rahul and Srikanth.
Written and directed by Balu Adusumilli, Y will be airing on Aha from April 2. Raghuram, Srinivas, and Murali have jointly bankrolling it while Chota K. Prasad is doing the editing.
Upcoming digital releases of Telugu cinema
It is the success factor and the theatrical run that is deciding the date of the digital release of Telugu films. Telugu digital platform Aha turned out a crucial player and acquired the digital rights of the recently impressive Telugu films Krack and Naandhi. They are playing it safe and are betting on interesting projects instead of shelling out huge bucks for a single film. Aha acquired the digital rights of Gaali Sampath which ended up as a dud at the box-office.
The film will start streaming from March 19th on Aha, just a week after its theatrical release. Zombie Reddy had an impressive theatrical run and the film will stream on Aha from March 26th. Tollywood sensational film Uppena is all set to complete its 50 days run at the box-office and the film streams on Netflix from March 24th. Netflix is yet to announce this officially. The digital deals of some other recent releases are closed and the dates would be announced soon.
Shocker: Ravi Teja’s Krack to stream on Aha
Ravi Teja’s latest offering Krack is a blockbuster at the Tollywood box-office and the film dominated all the Sankranthi releases. Directed by Gopichand Malineni, Krack is running with packed houses across the Telugu states. Telugu digital platform Aha sealed their biggest ever digital deal and they acquired the digital streaming rights of Krack for a price of Rs 6.5 crores.
The biggest shock comes here as Krack will start streaming on Aha from January 29th before the theatrical run ends. An official announcement about the same would be made next week. Though the Tollywood producers wanted a healthy gap between the theatrical and digital release for Telugu movies, Krack would stream soon in less than a month of its theatrical release. This would even hamper the theatrical run for the coming week in Telugu states as the audience will not head to theatres when they have the digital streaming ready.
Sam Jam: Its a wrap for the first season
Samantha’s talk show Sam Jam is streaming on Telugu digital platform Aha. The first season of the talk show is coming to an end and the last episode will feature none other than Samantha’s husband Naga Chaitanya. The seven episodes received mixed to average response though it had stars like Chiranjeevi and Allu Arjun. Rana Daggubati’s episode was the best among all of them. The promo of Naga Chaitanya’s episode is hilarious and Aha is in plans to end up the first season on a positive note.
The first season of Sam Jam has eight episodes and there is no update as of now about the second season. Samantha too will shift her focus towards movies and will join the sets of Gunasekhar’s Shakuntalam very soon. She is also in talks for a series of projects that would be announced officially soon.
