Tholubommalata (2019)

Summary

The film revolves around Ramaiah, a wealthy, deeply respected village elder who plans to execute his will, transferring his vast property to his favorite grandson, Raju. Upon hearing this, his greedy and opportunistic children and their spouses descend upon the ancestral home, attempting to manipulate Ramaiah and sabotage each other to secure the inheritance. Recognizing their materialistic motives, the witty patriarch orchestrates a series of comic and dramatic events, forcing the entire dysfunctional family to live together. This arrangement becomes Ramaiah's final, playful attempt to teach his children the true meaning of love, unity, and kinship over wealth before his final days.

Plot

Tholubommalata is a family drama laced with comedy, exploring the complexities of family relationships when greed and material wealth are introduced. The movie is centered on the revered patriarch, Ramaiah (Rajendra Prasad), a wealthy and influential man in his village. Ramaiah realizes his time is limited and decides to finalize his last will and testament.

The moment news of the will spreads, his three children—two sons and a daughter—who have long been estranged and focused on their own lives, rush back to the ancestral home with their equally scheming spouses. They engage in a frantic and often hilarious competition to win Ramaiah's favor, showering him with fake affection and competing in displays of servitude, all while secretly plotting against each other.

Ramaiah, an astute observer of human nature, is fully aware of their avarice. He publicly announces his decision: the entire property and estate will be handed over to his grandson, Raju (Viswant Duddumpudi), a well-mannered young man who lives and works abroad. This announcement, intended to teach his children a lesson, only intensifies the resentment and rivalry among them. The children turn their efforts toward convincing Ramaiah to change his mind or, failing that, to sabotage Raju's relationship with his grandfather.

To exacerbate their discomfort and force them to confront their strained relationships, Ramaiah introduces a playful but serious condition: everyone, including his children, their spouses, and grandchildren, must live together under the same roof for a specified period as a condition of the will. This setup leads to chaotic, funny, and tense domestic situations where old grudges resurface, and personalities clash. The spouses, particularly, indulge in petty politics and backbiting.

The plot thickens with the introduction of Raju, who returns from abroad and is deeply conflicted by the sudden attention and the overt greed of his relatives. He is a simple man and feels burdened by the massive inheritance and the associated family drama. He is also drawn to a local girl, Saroja (Harshitha Chowdary).

The climax is poignant and revealing. As Ramaiah's health deteriorates, he gathers his family. In a moving final address, he reveals that the true intent of the elaborate charade was never about the property but about spending his last days with his entire family united, and hoping that the fear of losing the wealth would force them to rediscover their bonds. He executes the will, but the real twist is the realization among the family members that they had missed the true value of their relationship with Ramaiah and with each other. The film concludes on a bittersweet note, highlighting that genuine love and unity are the most valuable inheritance one can receive.

Cast

• Rajendra Prasad as Ramaiah

• Viswant Duddumpudi as Raju (Ramaiah's Grandson)

• Harshitha Chowdary as Saroja (Raju's Love Interest)

• Lakshmi Manchu as Sarada

• Vennela Kishore as Comedy Role

• Chalapathi Rao

• Narayana Rao

Crew

• Director: Vishwanath Maganti

• Producer: Durga Prasad Maganti

• Music Director: Suresh Raghava (Vidhya)

• Cinematography: Dattu

• Editor: Marthand K. Venkatesh

• Screenplay: Vishwanath Maganti

Release Info

• Release Year: 2019

• Release Date: November 22, 2019

• Language: Telugu

• Genre: Family Drama, Comedy