25 Years of ‘Nuvvu Naaku Nachav’: Venkatesh-Aarthi Agarwal’s Classic Still Wins Hearts

Released 25 years ago, ‘Nuvvu Naaku Nachav’ remains one of Telugu cinema’s most cherished family entertainers. Directed by K. Vijaya Bhaskar and written by Trivikram Srinivas, the film brought together Venkatesh and Aarthi Agarwal in a memorable love story packed with family emotions, comedy, soulful songs and witty dialogues. The film emerged after the successful combination of Vijaya Bhaskar, Trivikram and producer Sravanthi Ravi Kishore in ‘Nuvve Kavali’. Tarun was initially considered for the lead, but Venkatesh came on board after producer Suresh Babu suggested his name. Trisha and Gajala were among the names initially considered for the female lead before Aarthi Agarwal was selected.

The film also has several interesting behind-the-scenes stories. Prakash Raj’s portions were shot after the industry ban on him was lifted, while the Water World comedy scenes featuring Venkatesh were added later and drew inspiration from Mr. Bean. The film was completed in 85 days, with a runtime of 3 hours and 14 minutes, and had a budget of around ₹4.5 crore excluding Venkatesh’s remuneration. Two songs were filmed in New Zealand despite Venkatesh battling a severe fever. For the iconic song ‘Okkasari Cheppaleva’, Sirivennela Sitarama Sastry reportedly wrote 60 pallavis, with the first one eventually being selected. Despite suggestions to shorten the film, producer Sravanthi Ravi Kishore reportedly refused to remove even a single scene. The movie went on to become a major blockbuster, completing 50 days in 93 centres and 100 days in 57 centres, while its comedy, performances and memorable scenes continue to remain popular.