Southern cinema: Popular dialogues, songs inspire film titles

Chennai: A film's title is the first step in grabbing a viewer's attention much before it hits the screens. And more attention is guaranteed when a popular film dialogue or a line from a chartbuster song becomes the title of a movie. That's just what a slew of southern filmmakers are doing.

Over 10 upcoming southern films have titles that are associated with popular dialogues and hit songs from past movies.

Udhayanidhi Stalin-starrer Tamil comedy "Nanbenda", which also features comedian Santhanam, is a word popularised by the latter in his hit film "Boss Engira Bhaskaran".

"The title, which means friend, was apt because it's a story about two friends. So we felt it will make sense to use it," the film's director Jagadish told IANS.

Jagadish is the former associate of filmmaker Rajesh, who helmed "Boss Engira Bhaskaran". This explains how he must have got the clearance for his film's title.

Santhanam-coined word "Appa Takkaru", which is gibberish, is the title of Jayam Ravi's next Tamil project, while one of his popular dialogues is the title of the film "Nee Yellam Nalla Varuvada".

R.K. starrer Tamil thriller "En Vazhi Thani Vazhi" is titled after superstar Rajinikanth's famous punch line from "Padayappa".

"It's the story of a police officer who deals with the criminals in his own way. Hence we felt the title was very relevant to the story. It does add some weightage because it's a popular dialogue, but eventually it's the film that matters," R.K. said.

While a 1988 Tamil film starring late Raghuvaran was titled "En Vazhi Thani Vazhi", it became highly popular after Rajinikanth used this line.

Kamal Haasan's popular song "Kadavul Paathi Mirugam Paathi" from "Alavandhan" is the title of an upcoming Tamil action-thriller starring Raaj Zacharias.

Director R. Kannan's next Tamil film is rumoured to be titled "Poda Aandavane En Pakkama", another popular punch dialogue of Rajinikanth.

The titles of recently released Tamil films such as "Ennamo Yedho", "Un Samayal Arayil" and "Enna Satham Intha Neram" were also all based on popular hit songs in the language.

In Telugu, the titles of films such as "Oka Laila Kosam", "Oohalu Gusagusaladea, "Ra Ra Krishnayya", "Nee Jathaga Nenundali", "Kiraak", "Govindudu Andarivadele", "Gallo Telinattunde" and "Dikkulu Chudaku Ramayya" were all based on chartbuster numbers.

Akkineni Naga Chaitanya-starrer "Oka Laila Kosam" was inspired from a hit song of the same name from his late grandfather Akkineni Nageswara Rao's film "Raamudu Kaadu Krishnudu". In fact, the song was also remixed for the film.

For Chaitanya, it was very "emotional" to use his grandfather's song.

"It was from my favourite film of my grandfather. The director suggested we remix it as it would be suitable for the situation. We convinced Anup Rubens (music composer) and he did it. Then the film was also named 'Oka Laila Kosam' as it was apt and blended well," Chaitanya had earlier told IANS.

The Telugu remake of "Aashiqui 2" was titled "Nee Jathaga Nenundali", which is based on the song from Ram Charan-starrer "Yevadu".

The title of recently released "Kiraak" and upcoming Telugu romantic-actioner "Pilla Nuvvu Leni Jeevitham" are based on hit tracks from Pawan Kalyan's films.

Upcoming romantic drama "Malli Malli Idi Rani Roju", which features Sharwanand and Nithya Menon in the lead, is based on the popular song from Chiranjeevi's film "Raakshasudu".

Actor Nithin Reddy used one of the hit songs from his own films "Ishq" as the title of his upcoming film "Chinnadana Nee Kosam".