Revisiting Balu ABCDEFG (2005): Review + Interesting Facts Tollywood Kaburlu

Banner: Vyjayanthi Movies

Cast: Pawan Kalyan, Shriya, Neha Oberai, Gulshan Grover, Jersey Singh, Sunil, Suman, Saurabh Shukla, Dharmavarapu Subramanyam, Rajan P Dev, Brahmanandam, Jaya Sudha,

Music: Mani Sharma

Dialogues: Kona Venkat

Lyrics: Sirivennela, Jonnavithula, Chandrabose

Choreography: Kalyan, Vaibhavi Merchant, Saroj Khan

Cinematographer: Ramesh

Art: Anand Sai

Stunts: Stun Siva & Vijayan

Editing: Kotagiri Venkateswara Rao

Story - Screenplay - Direction: Karunakaran

Executive Producer: Saibaba

Co Producer: Priyanka Dutt

Producer: Aswini Dutt

Theatrical release date: 6th January 2005

Interesting Facts:


Both Karunakaran and PK were struggling at the time. PK didn’t have any successes after Kushi with Johnny and Gudumba Shankar disappointing the audience and Karrunakaran after Tholi Prema directed Yuvakudu and Vaasu which both didnt do well at box office. 
Apparently Karunakaran had PK in mind when making Vasu but instead they made with Venkatesh. Around that time Aswini Dutt announced that he wanted to make a film with Pawan Kalyan 
Karunakaran readied a nice love story and narrated it to PK during Gudumba Shankar time and Pawan okayed it. Pawan actually gave the outline for the film and Karunarakan developed the story. 
During that time in 2004, a lot of star directors now were upcoming and it was very hard to narrate a story to PK back then and didn’t have access. If they did, either he rejected it or he slept during the narration and missed films like Athadu, Idiot, Amma Nanna O Tamil Ammayi and Ghajini. 
During this time, Aswini Dutt finalized combination of PK and Karunakaran on Vjyanthi Movies banner and project was announced. Since he gave good music for Gudumba, PK put Mani Sharma as music director and his good friend Anand Sai as art director 
Movie has two heroines so they took Shriya for one main heroine role and for 2nd heroine, they wanted to cast Asin in it the role. But later on they felt we need a fresh face girl to get the right impact and casted Neha Oberoi. 


This film also has the backdrop of Delhi, Agra and Old City. We erected a set with Taj Mahal backdrop. We did a set worth 90 lakhs for Old City in RFC. This set would have a bit of Roman architecture. For the first time in Pawan Kalyan's career, the backdrops for songs in this film are very vivid and most colorful. 

Nitin Raikwar came to Hyderabad and stayed here for 4 days to pen lyrics for the Hindi song Hut Hatja 


Back then, PK was a style icon so whatever he wore became a trend. He went to Milan, Italy and stayed there for 5-6 days to explain the pants makers about what he want. Four months after placing the order, the pants makers delivered it in India. Renu Desai designed the pants and in Jan 1st week they held a pressmeet in December 1st week in 2004 to announce this. 
Pants sold really well. Just when websites were becoming popular, they put a few stills of the movie in idlebrain.com and said showcase your talent in idle brain with these stills. 
Not just PK fans, but MB Fans and youth eagerly waited for the movie due to the sensation Tholi Prema created in youth back then. It also started MB vs PK fan wars in discussion sites and SKN was involved in these fights. MB fans said why 1.5 lakhs cost for pants, PK fans said why put 20 crores for Arjun. 
December 25, 2004 audio was released and got a great response. Inthe Inthe and Hut Hatja got terrific response in public and due to cassette being sold have to listen to everything and slowly all the songs caught on and audio become a super hit 
Title was Balu ABCDEFG, around that time youth stayed using phones and SMS language so going with the trend they put the title like that. After hearing the title, fans thought they’re coming with another solid love story, thought of releasing 1 week before Sankranthi. Finally they announced Jan 6th 2005 released and budget was 15 crores and released grandly. 
But movie didn't get expec