Thozha (Eng: Friend) is an Indian Telugu-Tamil movie directed by Vamsi Paidipally. Thozha is the official remake of the French film The Intouchables (2011). Produced by Prasad V Potluri in both Telugu and Tamil languages, Thozha features Nagarjuna Akkineni and Karthi playing the male leads, while Tamannaah plays the female lead. Slight differences exist in the supporting cast between both versions. Gopi Sunder composes the film’s music. Production began on 11 February 2015 in Hyderabad and principal photography began on 16 March 2015 in Chennai. The film was released worldwide on 25 March 2016 to positive reception from critics and audience as well.
At morning in Chennai, Seenu is driving Vikram’s BMW at high speed. They are chased through the streets by the police, and eventually cornered. Seenu claims the quadriplegic Vikram must be urgently driven to the emergency room; Vikram pretends to have a seizure and the fooled police officers escort them to the hospital. The story of the friendship between the two men is then told as a flashback: Vikram, a wealthy quadriplegic who owns a luxurious hôtel particulier, and his assistant Keerti, are interviewing candidates to be his live-in caregiver. Seenu, a candidate, has no ambitions to get hired. He is just there to get a signature showing he was interviewed and rejected in order to continue receiving his welfare benefits. He is told to come back the next morning to get his signed letter. The next day, Seenu returns and learns that he is on a trial period for the live-in caregiver job. Despite being uninterested in the job and his lack of professional experience, Seenu does well caring for Vikram, even if his methods are unconventional.
Seenu learns the extent of Vikram’s disability and accompanies Vikram in every moment of his life, assisting him in all the ways needed. A friend of Vikram reveals Seenu’s criminal record which includes six months in jail for robbery. Vikram states he does not care about Seenu’s past because he is the only one that does not treat him with pity. He says he will not fire him as long as he does his job properly. Vikram discloses to Seenu that he became disabled following a paragliding accident. Seenu discovers modern art, opera, and even takes up painting. For Vikram’s birthday, a private concert of classical music is performed in his living room. After the concert, Seenu plays a local song and Vikram has a birthday that is not as boring as the ones he has had in the past.
Directed by Vamsi Paidipally
Produced by Prasad V Potluri
Written by Abburi Ravi
Screenplay by Vamsi Paidipally
Based on The Intouchables By Olivier Nakache & Éric Toledano
Starring Nagarjuna Akkineni, Karthi, Tamannaah, Anushka Shetty, Shriya Saran
Music by Gopi Sunder
Cinematography P. S. Vinod
Edited by Praveen K. L.
Production PVP cinema
Release dates March 25, 2016
Running time 158 minutes
Country India
Language Telugu – Tamil
