| Skanda | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Boyapati Sreenu |
| Written by | Boyapati Sreenu |
| Dialogues by |
|
| Produced by | Srinivasaa Chitturi Pavan Kumar |
| Starring |
|
| Cinematography | Santosh Detake |
| Edited by | Tammiraju |
| Music by | S. Thaman |
Production companies | Srinivasaa Silver Screen Zee Studios |
Release date | 28 September 2023 |
Running time | 167 minutes[1] |
| Country | India |
| Language | Telugu |
| Budget | est. ₹50 crore[2] |
| Box office | est. ₹59.20 crore[3] |
Skanda: The Attacker (transl. Hindu God of War/Son of Lord Shiva) is a 2023 Indian Telugu-language action film directed by Boyapati Srinu and produced by Srinivasaa Chitturi under Srinivasaa Silver Screen in collaboration with Zee Studios. The film features Ram Pothineni in a dual role, alongside Sreeleela, Saiee Manjrekar, Srikanth, Sharath Lohithaswa, Ajay Purkar, Daggubati Raja and Prince Cecil.[4]
The film was officially announced in February 2022, under the tentative title BoyapatiRAPO,[5] while the official title Skanda was announced in July 2023.[6] Principal photography began in October 2022,[7] and wrapped in August 2023.[8] The music is composed by Thaman S, while the cinematography and editing are handled by Santosh Detake and Tammiraju, respectively.
Skanda was released on September 28, 2023 to mixed-to-negative reviews from critics. The film grossed ₹59.20 crore against the budget of ₹50 crore and became a box-office bomb.[9]
Plot
Rayudu is the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh who arranges his daughter's marriage with Chinnappa. During the marriage, the son of Chief Minister of Telangana Ranjith Reddy arrives at the marriage venue as a guest and elopes with Rayudu's daughter. This enrages Ranjith Reddy and Rayudu, where they turn into enemies.
Meanwhile, Bhaskar Raju is a college student who kidnaps Rayudu's daughter and Ranjith Reddy's daughter Sreeleela Reddy (who also happens to be Bhaskar's classmate) and takes them to his hometown in Rudrarajupuram. It is revealed that the kidnappings are connected to the CEO of the Crown Group company Rudrakanti Ramakrishna Raju, who is awaiting his death penalty and was imprisoned falsely by Ranjith Reddy and Rayudu for refusing to legitimize their illegal money. It is also revealed that Ramakrishna Raju is the best friend of Bhaskar's father Manikanta Raju. Bhaskar wants to prove Ramakrishna Raju's innocence as he was forced to take the blame to protect his daughter Rudraganti Parineeta as she was held captive by Ranjith and Rayudu's men.
Without no choice, Ranjith and Rayudu bails out Ramakrishna Raju from prison. Following this, the duo attacks Bhaskar and his family at a temple festival, but they are saved by Bhaskar's doppelgänger Skanda. Eventually, Ranjith and Rayudu confess their crimes to the media. When Ramakrishna Raju inquires about Skanda, it is revealed that Skanda is a notorious assassin from Morocco who is responsible for the death of Morocco-based powerful crime boss called Daniel. After learning about his history, Rayudu and Ranjith Reddy become frightened of him as Skanda walks away, indicating that his past will unfold in the sequel titled Skanda 2.[10]
Cast
- Ram Pothineni in a dual role as Bhaskar Raju and Skanda
- Sreeleela as Sreeleela Reddy, Ranjith Reddy's daughter and Bhaskar's love interest
- Saiee Manjrekar as Rudrakanti Parineeta "Ammulu", Rudrakanti Ramakrishna Raju's daughter and Skanda's love interest
- Srikanth as Rudrakanti Ramakrishna Raju
- Sharath Lohithaswa as Ranjith Reddy, Chief Minister of Telangana and Sreeleela's father
- Prince Cecil as Sanjay Reddy
- Ajay Purkar as Rayudu, Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh
- Daggubati Raja as Manikanta Raju, Bhaskar's father and Rudraganti Ramakrishna Raju's best friend
- Prabhakar as Chinnappa
- Babloo Prithiveeraj as Pradeep Malhotra
- Sravan as Ranjith Reddy's PA
- Gauthami as Manikanta Lakshmi, Bhaskar's mother
- Indraja as Rudrakanti Bharathi, Ramakrishna Raju’s wife
- Nithya Das as Sreeleela’s Mother
- Urvashi Rautela in a cameo appearance for the song "Cult Mama"
