PREMAM / CHITRALAHARI (2019)

Summary:

Premam (originally released in Telugu under the title Chitralahari, named after the iconic Doordarshan television music program) is a 2019 Indian Telugu-language romantic motivational drama blockbuster written and directed by Kishore Tirumala, and produced by the acclaimed Mythri Movie Makers. Starring Sai Dharam Tej as the persistent innovator Vijay Krishna, alongside Kalyani Priyadarshan as the innocent Lahari and Nivetha Pethuraj as the fiercely independent Swecha, the film is a highly realistic, emotionally resonant look at the psychological toll of constant failure and societal rejection. Backed by a standout supporting cast including Sunil, Vennela Kishore, and Posani Krishna Murali, the narrative chronicles the journey of an intelligent engineering graduate dismissed as a "loser" due to his lack of smart social skills and bad luck. When his path-breaking design for an automatic vehicular accident rescue system is repeatedly sabotaged by corporate greed and his personal relationships fall apart due to misunderstandings, he must launch a final, high-stakes crusade to prove his worth to the world. Keywords: Chitralahari Telugu Movie 2019, Premam Sai Dharam Tej Hindi, Kalyani Priyadarshan Lahari, Nivetha Pethuraj Swecha, Sai Dharam Tej Loser App Movie, Devi Sri Prasad Hits.

Plot:

The atmospheric and deeply inspiring narrative of Premam (Chitralahari) begins by paying homage to the classic Doordarshan music program of the 1980s, suggesting that like the television show, life is a diverse medley of different emotions, characters, and unexpected turns. The central focus of this journey is Vijay Krishna, a quiet, intelligent, and highly capable engineering graduate who has spent his entire youth carrying the humiliating tag of a "loser." Through a brief but poignant look at his childhood, the film establishes Vijay's recurring curse of bad luck: whenever he designs something brilliant or innovative, someone else takes the credit, or circumstances conspire to leave him empty-handed. In his adulthood, this cycle of rejection continues. While his peers have settled into lucrative corporate jobs, Vijay moonlights as a low-paid technician at a small television repair shop, spending his nights working on a revolutionary, self-designed electronic device—an automatic emergency accident alert system designed to instantly notify nearby hospitals and family members the moment a vehicle crashes.

Despite his continuous failures, Vijay's life has one steady, immovable anchor: his father, Narayana. Narayana is a deeply compassionate, highly understanding single parent who refuses to play the traditional, authoritarian role. Recognizing Vijay's quiet pride and the immense trauma of his daily rejections, Narayana acts as his son’s closest friend, offering unconditional emotional support, buying him books, and reminding him that true success is not measured by immediate wealth, but by the dignity with which one stands after a fall. However, looking for a temporary escape from his suffocating professional reality, Vijay frequently visits a local, low-key bar, where he strikes up a unique, alcohol-fueled friendship with Michael, an eccentric, struggling writer who dreams of making it big as a lyricist. The two find solace in their shared setbacks, affectionately calling themselves "Glassmates" as they toast to their unfulfilled dreams.

Vijay’s mundane routine takes a colorful and romantic turn when he crosses paths with Lahari, a beautiful, sweet-natured, but highly impressionable young woman. Smitten by her grace, Vijay begins pursuing her, eventually winning her affection through a series of gentle, non-problematic encounters, including a memorable confession of love during a horror movie screening. However, the romance is built on a fragile foundation of white lies. Knowing that Lahari harbors a deep dislike for men who drink, Vijay conceals his regular visits to the bar and his association with Michael, pretending to be a highly successful corporate employee whose long working hours are dedicated to a high-profile corporate project.

The romantic illusion is violently shattered when Lahari's close friend, Swecha, enters the picture. Swecha is a hard-nosed, highly cynical, and successful corporate manager who has zero patience for the lies and manipulations of men. Using her sharp analytical skills, Swecha systematically exposes Vijay's TV repair shop job, his drinking habits, and his various cover-ups, leading to a heartbreaking and public confrontation in a metro station where a devastated Lahari officially breaks off her relationship with Vijay. However, while Swecha despises Vijay's personal deceptions, she is genuinely impressed by the sheer brilliance and technical jargon of his emergency accident alert system. Recognizing the life-saving potential of the technology, Swecha offers him a professional lifeline, inviting him to travel to her corporate headquarters in Mumbai to complete his project and present a working prototype to the company’s executive board.

The narrative transitions to the bustling, fast-paced environment of Mumbai, where Vijay must step out of his comfort zone and learn to navigate corporate politics. To cut down on production costs, Swecha arranges for Vijay to stay at the apartment of one of her subordinates, Kishore, a hilarious, English-speaking Tamil employee who is absolutely terrified of Swecha’s strict corporate authority. Kishore mistakenly assumes Swecha and Vijay are involved, calling Swecha "sister" to maintain his personal safety, which leads to a series of lighthearted domestic misunderstandings. Under Swecha's rigorous and often harsh guidance, Vijay is forced to refine his presentation skills and technical parameters. Over time, as they work closely together, Vijay’s raw sincerity and intellectual depth begin to soften Swecha’s stony, cynical shell, making her realize that beneath his lack of social skills lies an incredibly decent, resilient, and honorable man.

However, the jinx of Vijay's bad luck strikes again on the day of the final presentation. Janardhan, an arrogant, corrupt, and highly vindictive executive who had previously insulted Vijay during an early pitch in Hyderabad, uses his corporate leverage to deliberately sabotage the live demonstration of the accident alert system, causing the project proposal to be officially rejected. Devastated and pushed to his absolute limit, Vijay believes he is destined to remain a failure forever. Before leaving Mumbai, he meets with Lahari and Swecha, delivering a quiet, heavy monologue where he points out that Lahari’s decision to leave him was not her own independent choice, but was entirely engineered by Swecha’s cynical, overprotective influence.

Refusing to let his life's work die in a corporate dumpster, Vijay returns to Hyderabad, determined to prove the physical validity of his invention through the only means left: a real-world human trial. On a deserted stretch of highway, with his device installed in his car, Vijay deliberately accelerates and orchestrates a high-speed, violent crash into a concrete divider, leaving himself blood-soaked and trapped inside the smoking wreckage. Within seconds of the impact, his device successfully triggers, sending automated, precise coordinates to the local emergency rescue networks, and saving his life. While the event is a massive scientific triumph, the police arrest Vijay, placing him on trial in a public court of law for reckless driving, public endangerment, and staging an illegal stunt for corporate attention.

The climax of the film takes place inside a packed courtroom, which serves as a grand, philosophical arena of ideas. The public prosecutor launches a brutal, sarcastic barrage of allegations, attempting to paint Vijay as an irresponsible, attention-seeking fraud who risked public safety for personal glory. In a mesmerizing, tour-de-force sequence, Vijay’s father, Narayana, and Swecha stand as his ultimate character witnesses. Vijay himself delivers a powerful, emotional defense of his integrity, explaining that when the system refuses to listen to an innovator, the innovator is forced to put his own life on the line to be heard. During a brief recess, a deeply remorseful Lahari approaches Vijay, tearfully confessing her unconditional love and apologizing for her lack of independent trust. When the court resumes, the judge, thoroughly moved by the nobility of Vijay’s invention and his immense courage, dismisses all criminal charges, officially granting Vijay the legal right and government backing to manufacture his system. The film concludes on an inspiring, triumphant note as Vijay stands victorious in the clearing sunlight, holding the hands of both his father and Lahari, having successfully rewritten his destiny through sheer perseverance and self-respect.

Cast:

• Sai Dharam Tej as Vijay Krishna "Vijay" (The struggling innovator)

• Kalyani Priyadarshan as Lahari (Vijay's innocent love interest)

• Nivetha Pethuraj as K. Swecha (The cynical corporate manager)

• Sunil as Michael "Mike" / Glassmate (Vijay's writer friend)

• Vennela Kishore as Kishore (The Tamil corporate employee in Mumbai)

• Posani Krishna Murali as Narayana (Vijay's highly supportive father)

• Brahmaji as Janardhan (The corrupt corporate executive)

• Himaja as Navneetha (Lahari's friend)

• Jayaprakash as The Company CEO

• Rohini Hattangadi as The Court Judge

• Rao Ramesh as Lawyer Purushottham (The Public Prosecutor)

• Hyper Aadi as Ajay (Vijay's peer)

• Prabhas Sreenu as The TV Repair Shop Owner

• Sudharshan as Vijay's local friend

Crew:

• Writer & Director: Kishore Tirumala

• Producers: Naveen Yerneni, Y. Ravi Shankar, Mohan Cherukuri

• Production House: Mythri Movie Makers

• Music Director (Songs & BGM): Devi Sri Prasad (DSP)

• Cinematographer (DOP): Karthik Ghattamaneni

• Editor: A. Sreekar Prasad

• Art Director: A. S. Prakash

• Lyricists: Chandrabose, Devi Sri Prasad, Sri Mani

• Playback Singers: David Simon, Rahul Sipligunj, Penchal Das, Sudharsan Ashok, Kailash Kher, Vishnupriya Ravi

Release Info:

• Original Theatrical Release Date: April 12, 2019 (Telugu)

• Hindi Dubbed Title: Premam (Released by Goldmines Telefilms in 2019 / Re-released as Premam - Chitralahari)

• Genre: Motivational Drama / Romance / Slice of Life / Family Drama

• Running Time: 130 Minutes (2 Hours 10 Minutes)

• Censor Certification: U (India)

• Box Office Status: Commercial Success / Hit

• Digital & Satellite Partner: Amazon Prime Video / Star Maa / Goldmines Telefilms