Lion (2015 film)

Lion
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Satyadev
Written by	Satyadev, Venkatesh Kilaru
Produced by	Rudrapati Ramana Rao
Starring	Nandamuri Balakrishna Trisha Radhika Apte
Cinematography	Venkata Prasad
Edited by	Gautham Raju
Music by	Mani Sharma
Production company	Sri Lakshmi Venkateswara Cinema
Distributed by	Eros International
Release date	14 May 2015 (2015-05-14) (India)
Running time	156 mins
Country	India
Language	Telugu
Box office	₹28.95 crore[1]

Lion is a 2015 Indian Telugu-language action comedy film produced by Rudrapati Ramana Rao under the SLV cinema banner and directed by debutant Satyadev. The plot of the movie is loosely based on the Hollywood movie Unknown. The film stars Nandamuri Balakrishna, Trisha, and Radhika Apte with music composed by Mani Sharma.^[2] It was a commercial failure at the box office.^[3] It was dubbed in Hindi as Ek Tsunami Jwalamukhi.

The film begins at a hospital in Mumbai where terror-sticking a dead body from the mortuary wakes up the so-called Godse, who has been in a coma for 18 months. Following a couple, Bhupati & Malathi forward as his parents and affirm him as CEO of a company that met with an accident. However, he denies it, stating himself as Bose when doctors analyzed that he is a blackout. Suddenly, Bose / Godse absconds to Hyderabad to hunt for his lost life, where he comes across various folk, throwing him into a dichotomy. Firstly, he encounters a girl Mahalakshmi claims as his fiancé, after a couple, Shankar Rao & Bharati as his parents, which all contradict. Plus, they complained to the Police about his annoyance. Meanwhile, his parents from Mumbai arrive with a lady, Sayaru, and declare her as his wife.

Despite this, Bose/Godse does not give up when Mahalakshmi divulges to conduct DNA, which asserts him as the progeny of Bhupati & Malathi. Baffled, Bose confirms him as Godse and seeks an apology from Shankar Rao's couple. Whereat, he views Sameer communicated as Shankar Rao's brother-in-law attempting to molest his daughter Nandini and kicking Bharati. Godse finds something fishy when Sameer wallops him. Here, as a flabbergast, Bharati pronounces him as her son Bose when the brutal onslaught he smashes them. At that point, Bose picks up a phone call from Bharadwaj Chief Minister of the state and intimidates him. Next, he tactically abducts him when they spin rearward.

Indeed, Bose is a gallant CBI officer who has given fruitful conclusions to several critical missions. Achyuta Ramayya, a good samaritan, is the Chief Minister back in the day. On a mild stroke, he admits, but shockingly, he died of a severe one the day after. So, the government assigns a CBI inquiry, which Bose takes up and digs out as a provoked assassination via hacking of morphing videos. It is a plot of Bharadwaj, Achyuta Ramayya's heir. Now, Bose secures his report in the highest fire wall system. If he is dead, missing, suspended, or terminated, immediately, the file reaches higher authorities. Thus, Bharadwaj employs a loop by backstabbing Bose, keeping him in a coma, and compels the status of voluntary retriment. Being Bose's recouping, Bharadwaj created and dumped him in a perplexed state of the new world. Currently, Bose challenges Bharadwaj to uncover his diabolic shade and opens his play by proclaiming himself as the homicide of Achyuta Ramayya to the Media. Besides, he starts a deadly game of self-killing when Bharadwaj strives to shield him, and it telecasts in Media. CBI deputy chief Indrani views it, recognizes Bose, and types dead in his status when the truth breaks out. At last, Bose is retrieved and ceases the baddies. Finally, the movie ends with Bose moving on to his new mission.

Music was composed by Mani Sharma. Audio CD was released on Lahari Music Company. Audio was launched on 9 April 2015, held at Hyderabad Shilpakala Vedika by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu.^[4]

The film Andhra Pradesh rights sold for ₹20.83 crore (US$2.5 million) by various distributors. The film Karnataka rights sold for ₹2.5 crore (US$300,000) by Kranthi. The film had total prerelease up to ₹23.83 crore (US$2.9 million) in India. The film overseas rights acquired by SLV cinema for good price.^[5]

The film received U/A certificate from Censor Board due to violence in second half. The film released on 15 May 2015 in 900+ screens worldwide. The film Satellite Rights acquired by Gemini TV for ₹6 crore (US$720,000).^[6]

The film received mixed reviews from critics. 123Telugu.com rated 3/5 and stated On the whole, Lion is a complete Balakrishna film right from the word go. His power packed performance is the major asset and will go down well with the masses. On the flip side, lack of proper handling of the subject and a predictable second half makes this film just an ok watch. Watch it only for Balayya.^[7] Idlebrain rated 3/5 and stated Interval episode is interesting. Second half has many episodes that exhilarate fans. Lion is a film that completely revolves around Balakrishna and depends on his performance. A good screenplay and right buildups (elevating emotions while building up to the key scenes) would have done a world of good to the cinema. On a whole, Lion is NBK's show!^[8] The Hindu stated Radhika wears a blank expression. There is another gem, a man confronts Balaiyya, “Natho matladataniki yentha dhairyam neeku” and the latter retorts “Neetho matladataniki dhairyam enduku...Iphone unte chaalu.” Lion takes plenty of retrograde steps. Mani Sarma too disappoints and the hero struggles with his steps. Time for Balakrishna to do some soul searching or his films would be just another addition to the number of films he has done.^[9]

The film opened good response in AP. The film collected ₹5.5 crore (US$660,000) (Share) at the Andhra Pradesh and Telangana (AP/T) box office on first day.^[10] The film collected ₹12.06 crore (US$1.4 million) (WW Share) in its extended first week end at the box office .^[11][12] The film collected a total ₹14.41 crore (US$1.7 million) (WW Share) in its first week and a gross of ₹24 crore (US$2.9 million)the box office.^[13][14]

By the end of its theatrical run, Lion collected a total gross of ₹28.95 crore worldwide with a share of ₹16.8 crore and was declared as a commercial failure as its theatricals were valued over ₹24 crore^[15]

• Lion at IMDb