Photo (film)

Photo
Title card
Directed by	Siva Nageswara Rao
Written by	Karlapalem Hanmantha Rao (story and dialogue)
Screenplay by	Siva Nageswara Rao
Based on	Shutter by Banjong Pisanthanakun and Parkpoom Wongpoom
Produced by	Siva Nageswara Rao
Starring	Anand Anjali Mukta
Cinematography	Soman K.G.
Edited by	Gautham Raju
Music by	Rohit Raj
Production company	Siva Chitra
Release date	1 September 2006 (2006-09-01)
Country	India
Language	Telugu

Photo is a 2006 Indian Telugu-language romantic thriller film[1] directed by Siva Nageswara Rao and starring Anand, Anjali and Muktha. This film marks the film debut of Nandu (credited as Anand) and Anjali and the Telugu debut of Muktha.[1] Photo is reportedly based on the 2004 Thai film Shutter.

This film is the first directorial venture of comedy director Nageswara Rao in the thriller genre. The film was released on 1 September 2006.

Plot

The story begins with a group of friends who come across an old photograph. This photograph seems to have supernatural elements associated with it, causing eerie and unexplained events in their lives. As the friends try to uncover the mystery behind the photograph, they encounter various challenges and frightening occurrences.The movie explores themes of horror and suspense, building tension as the plot progresses.

Cast

• Anand as Siddhartha a.k.a. Siddhu
• Anjali as Bhanu
• Mukta as Swapna
• Jayasudha as Swapna's mother
• Sanjay as Giri
• Nutan Prasad
• Tanikella Bharani
• Dharmavarapu Subramanyam
• L. B. Sriram
• M. S. Narayana
• Brahmanandam
• Ali
• Venu Madhav
• Raghu Babu
• Krishna Bhagawan
• Kondavalasa
• Suman Setty as Balu
• Duvvasi Mohan
• Kallu Chidambaram
• Jenny
• Tadivelu
• Master Siva Varma
• Dr. Srinivasa Rao
• Raghava
• Banda Jyothy
• Jayavani

Production

After Siva Nageswara Rao liked a story in Hasam magazine, he asked the writer of the article, Karlapalem Hanumantha Rao, to develop a story for him.[1] Nageswara Rao claimed that the story was based on a true incident that happened in Coastal Andhra in 2004.[2][3] However, independent sources identify the film to be based on 2004 Thai film Shutter.[4][5]

The film marks Nageswara Rao debut as a producer.[6] Chennai-based model Anjali made her acting debut with this film.[7]

Music

The music for the film was composed by Rohit Raj.

Track listing

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Chitikalesina"	4:42
2.	"Tham Tham Chestham"	4:00
Total length:		8:42

Release and reception

The film released on 1 September 2006.[8] A special preview show was arranged on 30 August 2006.[9]

Griddaluru Gopalrao of Zamin Ryot felt that the film was poorly made. Gopalrao stated that the storyline was novel but the film faltered in screenplay and execution. He appreciated the performances of Anand and Anjali.[10] A critic from Full Hyderabad wrote that "The film is slow all through, and especially in the second half".[11] A critic from Indiaglitz stated that "The director was able to extract the best of their performance and yes, Anand, Anjali and Mukta gave their best. Graphic works were also up to the mark. As producers are after Sivanageswara Rao to make comedy flicks and the director out to bring out a thriller, he himself produced the film and also succeeded in it".[12]

References

1. "Muhurat: Photo". Idlebrain.com. 15 April 2006.
2. "Photo Preview". Indiaglitz. Archived from the original on 17 June 2022. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
3. Jeevi (5 July 2006). "Interview with Siva Nageswara Rao by Jeevi". Idlebrain.com. Archived from the original on 15 January 2019. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
4. Chung, Hye Jean (2011). "Spectral Bodies and Uncanny Effects: Cosmopolitan Anxieties in Shutter" (PDF). University of California, Santa Barbara. Archived (PDF) from the original on 26 November 2013. Retrieved 18 June 2022. It has also been remade in Telugu as Photo (2006)
5. Madlock, Joannah (2016). "Discovering Fear through the Camera: Shutter (2004)" (PDF). Montclair State University. Archived (PDF) from the original on 11 August 2022. Retrieved 18 June 2022. In India alone, the movie was remade three times: first in the Telugu language as Photo (2006)
6. "Ram Gopal Varma shows interest in Photo". Idlebrain.com. 12 August 2006. Archived from the original on 22 August 2007. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
7. "Fans and celebrities storm social media to wish Anjali on her birthday". The Times of India. 16 June 2020. Archived from the original on 17 June 2022. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
8. "Photo, Aganthakudu and X Men 3 this week". Idlebrain.com. 28 August 2006. Archived from the original on 22 August 2007. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
9. "Photo previewed to students". Idlebrain.com. 30 August 2006. Archived from the original on 17 June 2022. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
10. Gopalrao, Griddaluru (8 September 2006). ""ఫోటో" సరిగ్గా తీయలేదు" ['Photo' wasn't shot properly] (PDF). Zamin Ryot (in Telugu). pp. 9, 11. Archived (PDF) from the original on 28 June 2021. Retrieved 18 June 2022.
11. "Photo Review". Full Hyderabad. Archived from the original on 29 November 2021. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
12. "Photo Review". Indiaglitz. 1 September 2006. Archived from the original on 11 August 2022. Retrieved 17 June 2022.