Kantri is a 2008 Indian Telugu-language action film written and directed by Meher Ramesh, a protégé of director Puri Jagannadh and who had earlier worked on Kannada films. Jr. NTR, Hansika Motwani, and Tanisha Mukherjee star in the lead roles, while Prakash Raj, Ashish Vidyarthi, Mukesh Rishi, Sayaji Shinde, Kota Srinivasa Rao, Venu Madhav, Sunil, Brahmanandam, Subbaraju, and Ali play supporting roles. The film has been produced by Vyjayanthi Movies and C. Ashwini Dutt. The film was initially scheduled to release on 28 April 2008. However, it was released 12 days later. The film released on 9 May 2008. Upon release, Kantri received mixed to negative reviews but due to NTR's stardom, it managed to become an average grosser and performed well at the box office.
Kantri is also the first Indian film to feature a 3D animated character based on an actor.
Plot
NRI Krishna returns to his village with his wife and child to work for the upliftment of the village folk. However, when the family along with his old father, is on its way home with the money, Pothuraju aka PR betrays everyone by killing them and running away with the money, leaving his wife and son behind. Pothuraju is the head of a business empire and is known for his nefarious connections and illegal dealings. He is supported at every step by his friend and partner Seshu. Enters Kantri who enters Pothuraju's gang to earn money for the orphanage where he grew up (he was orphaned at a very young age). Kantri falls in love with Varalakshmi. However, she initially does not like Kantri. An ambitious Kantri rises fast in life and meets Pothuraju in Hong Kong. However, an issue arises which separates Kantri from Pothuraju's gang. He takes money from Das to kill Pothuraju. Before he has his chance to do so, he is told that Pothuraju is his father. The hatred turns into attachment and Seshu's daughter Priya falls in love with Kantri. However, some differences arise between PR and Seshu. However, Kantri puts an end to all this and clears the confusion forming the rest of the story.
Cast
Jr. NTR as Kantri (Kranthi) Hansika Motwani as Varalakshmi / Hamsa Tanisha Mukherjee as Priya Prakash Raj as PR / Pothuraju Ashish Vidyarthi as Seshu Kota Srinivasa Rao as Daiva Sahayam Mukesh Rishi as Kantri's grandfather Sayaji Shinde as Das Brahmanandam as Brahmi Ali as Chang Lee Sunil as Rajni Haasan Murali Sharma as Veeru, (Gangster) Subbaraju as Bhyraagi Raghu Babu as Acid Durga Krishna Bhagawan as Singaporean Tour Guide Prudhviraj as Settlement Raju Gundu Hanumantha Rao as Devaraju Srinivasa Reddy as Cutting Seenu Prabhas Sreenu as Spider Reddy M. S. Narayana as Thelupu Ramakrishna Master Bharath as Rambo Hema G. V. Sudhakar Naidu
Production
I narrated the script of Kantri to Puri Jagan when we went to Manali to shoot Desamuduru for 30 days. He listened to the beginning scene, interval block and pre-climax and said that this film will become a hit. He also liked Kantri title and immediately registered it on Vaishno banner so that others won't squat on it.
Dutt observed me during that time and offered me a film. When he asked who I want to have as hero, I said NTR. I also told him that there will not be any thoda kottatam kind of things in this film. It is going to be stylish and it will showcase NTR in a 25-year-old tappori character. Dutt said that he would take 4 days to call me again. He called me right the next day and asked me to narrate it to NTR. I gave a 20-minute narration to NTR and I could see a glow in his face after listening to the script. The next day I got a call from NTR that the project is on. I narrated two more developed versions on 7 and 20 April. I had the entire script ready by that time. Whatever is there is movie today was there written in that bound script. The each and every scene in Kantri was approved by both Aswini Dutt and NTR before going to the sets.
I wanted to show NTR in a new look. We did a photo shoot and bought costumes from places around to make sure that each costume is not costlier than 1500 rupees. Deepa designed the costumes of NTR. We had all costumes ready even before the movie is started.
At that time Mani Sharma was in USA doing live concerts. Aswini Dutt made me travel there so that I could participate music sittings right away. I traveled along with Mani. 123 song was that first one he composed. I wanted to shoot a hip-hop song on NTR. We needed a lyricist and we did not have anybody around us. Hence I wrote the lyrics for that song. all the words in that song came from my observations on NTR – especially 'by birth undi timmiri'. I reserved a portion of the rendition to NTR. Mani Sharma composed three tunes in USA only.