Director Sukumar and Mahesh Babu first teamed up for 1: Nenokkadine, produced by Ram Achanta, Gopi Achanta, and Anil Sunkara under the 14 Reels Entertainment banner. The film is a psychological thriller, and notably, Bollywood actor Kriti Sanon made her acting debut with this project. Mahesh Babu played the role of Gautam, a character that has since gained a cult following.
Initially, the makers approached Kajal Aggarwal as the female lead, but she couldn’t take it up due to prior commitments. Tamannaah was also considered, but she too opted out because of scheduling issues. Sukumar then auditioned a couple of newcomers before finally zeroing in on Kriti Sanon, a fresh face from the North. After this film, Kriti went on to act in a few Telugu films before shifting to Hindi cinema, where she became one of Bollywood’s prominent heroines.
Devi Sri Prasad, a frequent collaborator of Sukumar, composed the music for the film and delivered a memorable soundtrack. All the songs turned out to be chartbusters and remain popular even today.
The film was originally released on January 10, 2014, during the Sankranthi festival. It marked Mahesh Babu’s third consecutive Sankranthi release after Businessman and Seethamma Vakitlo Sirimalle Chettu. For this film, Mahesh Babu underwent a complete transformation, sporting a new physique and a stylish, rockstar-like look. A significant portion of the film was shot in London, and interestingly, Naveen Polishetty appeared in a cameo role.
Upon its release, 1: Nenokkadine received a mixed response. While some viewers found the screenplay slightly confusing and the runtime lengthy, others appreciated its unique concept and execution. The initial runtime was around 177 minutes, but the makers later trimmed nearly 20 minutes to make it more engaging. Over time, the film earned cult status, particularly for its music and Sukumar’s distinctive storytelling.
Now, 1: Nenokkadine is gearing up for a re-release on May 31, marking the birth anniversary of Mahesh Babu’s father, the legendary Krishna. Re-releases have become a growing trend in Tollywood, and Mahesh Babu’s films, in particular, continue to draw strong box-office response during such special screenings.
