Thimmarusu: Assignment Valli is a 2021 Indian Telugu-language crime thriller film[1] directed by Sharan Koppisetty and produced by Mahesh S. Koneru and Yarabolu Srujan under the production company East Coast Productions and S Originals. The film stars Satyadev, Priyanka Jawalkar and Ajay in lead roles. The film is the remake of 2019 Kannada film Birbal Trilogy Case 1: Finding Vajramuni, which itself is based on the 2017 Korean film New Trial.[2][3] The music is composed by Sricharan Pakala. The film is named after Mahamanthri Timmarusu of the Vijayanagara Empire. The film was released on 30 July 2021.

Thimmarusu: Assignment Vaali
Theatrical release poster
Directed bySharan Koppisetty
Written byVeda Vyas
Sri Harsha
Screenplay bySharan Koppisetty
Story byM. G. Srinivas
Based onBirbal Trilogy Case 1: Finding Vajramuni
by M. G. Srinivas
Produced byMahesh S. Koneru
Yarabolu Srujan
StarringSatyadev
Priyanka Jawalkar
Ajay
Brahmaji
Ravi Babu
CinematographyAppu Prabhakar
Edited byTammiraju
Music bySricharan Pakala
Production
companies
East Coast Productions
s originals
Release date
  • 30 July 2021 (2021-07-30)
CountryIndia
LanguageTelugu

Plot

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The film begins with a man handing taxi driver Aravind, a police informant, a video of suspicious activity. Later that night, a man named Vasu drives across the road to see Aravind dead. Vasu is arrested by corrupt cop Bhupati Raju, who beats him up and frames him.

8 years later, once Vasu gets out on parole, Ramachandra, a lawyer takes up his case.

Cast

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Production

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Producers Mahesh S. Koneru and Yarabolu Srujan announced the film in early September 2020.[4] It is Sharan's second directorial after Kirrak Party (2018).[5] Principal photography of the film was started in October 2020.[6][7] The producers of the film announced in December 2020 that filming was nearing completion as they were projecting a release in January 2021.[8] In an interview to Eenadu, Satyadev said that the filming was completed in 39 days within a single schedule [sic].[9] The film's original story writer M. G. Srinivas was constantly in contact during the production.[10]

Themes and influences

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Sangeetha Devi Dundoo felt that, in the story, Rashomon effect was used by the character Ramachandra, by which he tries to look at the crime from different points of views.[11] In an article published by Firstpost, Hemanth Kumar wrote that the filmmaker draws parallels between historic figures (here, it is Mahamantri Timmarusu) and present-day lawyers.[12] Sibi Jeyya felt that the protagonist of the film, Ramachandra, has similar characteristic features, when compared to Sherlock Holmes. He further said that Sharan Koppisetty has taken much inspiration from the canon of Sherlock Holmes, written by Arthur Conan Doyle.[13]

Music

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Soundtrack album and film score is composed by Sricharan Pakala. The music rights were sold to Mango Music label.[14] First single of the album, "The Thimmarusu", was released on 16 July 2021. The song was written by Kittu Vissapragada and features vocals of Raghu Dixit, Jyotsna Pakala, Ambika Sashittal and Yamini Ghantasala.[15]

Release

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Theatrical

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The film was earlier scheduled to release on 21 May 2021, which later was postponed due to COVID-19 pandemic in India.[16] On 8 July 2021, it was announced that the film will be releasing on 30 July 2021.[17][18] The same month, the film was certified by the Central Board of Film Certification for its release in India.[19]

Home Media

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The film's digital rights were sold to Netflix and the film is set to premiere on 28 August 2021.[20]

Reception

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Critical reception

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Praising the performance of various actors, Sangeetha Devi Dundoo of The Hindu wrote that "‘Thimmarusu’, the Telugu remake of the Kannada film ‘Birbal’, is tauter and leverages the strengths of its lead man, Satya Dev".[11] The Indian Express called it a "convoluted thriller" and commented that "the storyline doesn’t always hold up or hold your interest all through as the narrative feels inconsistent and never fully satisfying. At times snail-paced and repetitive, the story takes its own sweet time to unfold".[21]

Writing for The Times of India, Sravan Vanaparthy stated: "Thimmarusu is an earnest attempt and thrills in most parts, but is otherwise let down by a contrived screenplay and a hurried climax" and gave a rating of three out of five.[22] The Hans India too rated the film 3 out of 5 and wrote that "Satyadev's performance, Brahmaji's humor, story, and twists are major highlights of this film".[23] A critic of Deccan Chronicle praised the film's cinematography, editing and music. He further added that the is a decent crime thriller with a unique backdrop and engrossing screenplay.[24]

Pinkvilla wrote that "With better writing, 'Thimmarusu' would have been a winner."[25]

Box office

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In its opening day, the film collected a distributors' share of 0.56 crore.[26]

References

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  1. ^ "Thimmarusu movie review". Deccan Chronicle. 30 July 2021. Retrieved 30 July 2021. On the whole, Thimmarusu is a decent crime thriller with a unique backdrop and engrossing screenplay.
  2. ^ "Birbal Trilogy Telugu remake titled Thimmarasu". Cinema Express. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
  3. ^ "Birbal movie review: Birbal, from Korea". Deccan Chronicle. Retrieved 1 August 2021.
  4. ^ "Satyadev as Thimmarusu, a new film announced". Telugu Cinema. 7 September 2020. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
  5. ^ Dundoo, Sangeetha Devi (24 July 2021). "Satya Dev: I get bored if I have to play similar characters". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  6. ^ "Talented actor Satya Dev kicks off the regular shoot of 'Thimmarusu' - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
  7. ^ "Satyadev and Priyanka Jawalkar's BTS picture from the sets of 'Thimmarusu' is unmissable - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
  8. ^ "First Look of Satyadev's 'Thimmarusu' released". www.thehansindia.com. 5 December 2020.
  9. ^ "Satyadev: ఆయన వల్లే 'తిమ్మరుసు' గురించి ఇంతమందికి తెలిసింది - telugu news thimmarusu actor satyadev interview". www.eenadu.net (in Telugu). Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  10. ^ Kodur, Swaroop. ""I was constantly in touch with team 'Thimmarusu' during their making process" - M.G. Srinivas on the release of the remake - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 6 August 2021.
  11. ^ a b Dundoo, Sangeetha Devi (30 July 2021). "'Thimmarusu' movie review: Satya Dev sparkles in this legal thriller". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 31 July 2021.
  12. ^ "Ahead of Vakeel Saab, analysing why courtroom dramas have become a major draw in Telugu cinema". Firstpost. 8 April 2021. Retrieved 1 August 2021.
  13. ^ "Thimmarusu Review - An Engaging Murder Investigation Story with lots of Twists". indiaherald.com. Retrieved 1 August 2021.
  14. ^ "'Thimmarusu' Teaser: Satyadev plays a lawyer with a conscience - Telugu News". IndiaGlitz.com. 9 December 2020. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
  15. ^ Telugu360 (16 July 2021). "'The Thimmarusu' song : Enrgetic Promo Song". Telugu360.com. Retrieved 1 August 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  16. ^ "Satya Dev's Thimmarusu release date announced. The suspense-thriller to hit the theatres on this date! - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
  17. ^ "Satyadev's Thimmarusu to release on July 30; First Telugu movie to hit theatres post lockdown". 8 July 2021.
  18. ^ "Thimmarusu to release on July 30th?". Telugu Cinema. 8 July 2021. Retrieved 9 July 2021.
  19. ^ "Timmarusu completes censor with good reports". 123telugu.com. 24 July 2021. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  20. ^ Satya Dev as Ram | Thimmarusu | Telugu Film | Netflix India, retrieved 22 August 2021
  21. ^ "'Thimmarusu' review: A convoluted thriller weighed down by inconsistent narration". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 31 July 2021.
  22. ^ "Thimmarusu: Assignment Vali Movie Review: This crime-drama thrills, but only in parts", The Times of India, retrieved 31 July 2021
  23. ^ hansindia (30 July 2021). "Thimmarusu Movie Review & Rating {3/5}". www.thehansindia.com (in Telugu). Retrieved 31 July 2021.
  24. ^ "Thimmarusu movie review". Deccan Chronicle. 30 July 2021. Retrieved 31 July 2021.
  25. ^ "Pinkvilla". PINKVILLA. Archived from the original on 3 December 2020. Retrieved 1 August 2021.
  26. ^ "Thimmarusu 1st day Collections: 'తిమ్మరుసు' ఫస్ట్ డే కలెక్షన్స్ ఎంత.. సత్యదేవ్ మ్యాజిక్ చేసాడా..?". News18 Telugu (in Telugu). 31 July 2021. Retrieved 1 August 2021.
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