# Akhil (film)
**Akhil** (Telugu: అఖిల్), released with the tagline *The Power of Jua*, is a 2015 Indian Telugu-language action fantasy film directed by [V. V. Vinayak](https://www.edgepedia.org/v-v-vinayak) and starring [Akhil Akkineni](https://www.edgepedia.org/akhil-akkineni) and Sayesha Saigal, both making their lead-acting debuts.[1](https://www.nowrunning.com/movie/16687/telugu/akhil-debut/) • [2](https://www.behindwoods.com/telugu-movies/akhil/akhil-review.html) It was produced by [Nithiin](https://www.edgepedia.org/nithiin) and Sudhakar Reddy under the banner Sreshth Movies.[2](https://www.behindwoods.com/telugu-movies/akhil/akhil-review.html)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Release | 11 November 2015 (India), after a postponement from an announced 22 October date[3](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/regional/nagarjuna-sons-film-akhil-postponed/) • [1](https://www.nowrunning.com/movie/16687/telugu/akhil-debut/) |
| Director / writers | Directed by V. V. Vinayak; story by Veligonda Srinivas; dialogues by Kona Venkat[2](https://www.behindwoods.com/telugu-movies/akhil/akhil-review.html) |
| Leads | Akhil Akkineni (debut as lead, son of actor Nagarjuna) and Sayesha Saigal (acting debut)[2](https://www.behindwoods.com/telugu-movies/akhil/akhil-review.html) • [3](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/regional/nagarjuna-sons-film-akhil-postponed/) |
| Music | Songs by Anup Rubens and S. Thaman; background score by Mani Sharma[2](https://www.behindwoods.com/telugu-movies/akhil/akhil-review.html) |
| Runtime / certificate | 2 hours 10 minutes; certified U/A in India[1](https://www.nowrunning.com/movie/16687/telugu/akhil-debut/) |
| Premise | A young man pursues criminals to Africa after his girlfriend is kidnapped; the plot revolves around Jua, a powerful stone said to protect humankind[4](https://www.123telugu.com/reviews/akhil-telugu-movie-review.html) • [5](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/akhil) |
| Reception | 2.5/5 from The Times of India, 3/5 from 123telugu, 2.5/5 from Behindwoods; 3.8/10 on IMDb[6](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movie-reviews/akhil-movie-review/movie-review/49758917.cms) • [4](https://www.123telugu.com/reviews/akhil-telugu-movie-review.html) • [7](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4974356/) |
## Spoilers
### Plot
The story follows Akhil, a carefree young man who falls in love with Divya (Sayesha Saigal). When the couple grows close, Divya is kidnapped by criminals who are also searching for Jua, a powerful stone or sphere regarded as sacred by African tribes and said to save the world from destruction.[4](https://www.123telugu.com/reviews/akhil-telugu-movie-review.html) • [11](https://www.filmibeat.com/telugu/reviews/2015/akhil-review-rating-plot-story-critics-review-vv-vinayak-akhil-analysis-verdict-talk-204838.html) The pursuit takes Akhil to Africa, where he fights the criminals, rescues Divya, and takes on responsibility for safeguarding Jua and, with it, humanity.[12](https://www.zee5.com/movies/details/akhil/0-0-akhil?c0Ia1kv=frWdc2WpWIrfJt) Rotten Tomatoes' synopsis describes a Russian gangster stealing the magical sphere.[5](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/akhil)
## Production and title
The film marked the launch of Akhil Akkineni, son of the actor [Nagarjuna](https://www.edgepedia.org/nagarjuna), who had earlier appeared in a cameo in the family film *[Manam](https://www.edgepedia.org/manam-film)*.[2](https://www.behindwoods.com/telugu-movies/akhil/akhil-review.html) The title was announced in August 2015, when the hero and producer Nithiin unveiled two posters on social media; producer Nithiin explained that Jua means Sun.[8](https://telugucinema.com/news/akhil-akkinenis-debut-film-titled-akhil) Director V. V. Vinayak told Rediff.com that Akhil means universe and that the tagline suited the film, whose tale revolves around an African tribe.[9](https://m.rediff.com/amp/movies/report/akhil-has-all-the-qualities-of-a-commercial-hero/20151110.htm)
**Shooting locations.** The unit filmed in [Hyderabad](https://www.edgepedia.org/hyderabad), then traveled to Spain in April 2015 for songs before heading to Uganda for a 35-day schedule beginning in June. 123telugu reported that it was perhaps the first Telugu film to be shot in Uganda.[10](https://www.123telugu.com/?p=160513) Vinayak described the shoot as a challenge across freezing and very hot conditions, and credited cinematographer Amol Rathod, art director Prakash, editor Gautham Raju, and the music directors Thaman and Anoop Rubens.[9](https://m.rediff.com/amp/movies/report/akhil-has-all-the-qualities-of-a-commercial-hero/20151110.htm)
## Release
The film was announced for 21 October 2015, then confirmed for 22 October, with United States premieres set for 21 October.[8](https://telugucinema.com/news/akhil-akkinenis-debut-film-titled-akhil) • [13](https://telugucinema.com/news/akhil-film-confirmed-october-22nd) In mid-October the release was postponed: producer Nithiin Reddy wrote on Twitter that pending computer graphics work made the 22 October date impossible.[3](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/regional/nagarjuna-sons-film-akhil-postponed/) Vinayak later explained that a flight sequence in the climax had not come out well in computer graphics and had to be redone, with no reshoots involved.[9](https://m.rediff.com/amp/movies/report/akhil-has-all-the-qualities-of-a-commercial-hero/20151110.htm) The film reached theaters on 11 November 2015.[1](https://www.nowrunning.com/movie/16687/telugu/akhil-debut/) It opened on 601 screens on the UFO digital cinema network.[14](https://www.ufomoviez.com/sites/default/files/UFO_Investors/Presentation/FY_16/Q3_ResultsPresentation9MFY16_0.pdf) It later streamed on Hotstar and ZEE5.[15](https://www.digit.in/digit-binge/movies/akhil-14624.html)
## Reception
**Critical response was mixed to negative.** The Times of India gave 2.5 out of 5, calling the film a lesson in how not to launch a star son and criticizing a treatment that falls flat despite an absorbing premise, while still judging Akhil Akkineni's act commendable for a newcomer.[6](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movie-reviews/akhil-movie-review/movie-review/49758917.cms) [Behindwoods](https://www.edgepedia.org/behindwoods) also rated it 2.5/5, calling it an interesting story that requires better execution and praising the re-recording and cinematography while faulting the songs' placement and the climax computer graphics.[2](https://www.behindwoods.com/telugu-movies/akhil/akhil-review.html) 123telugu gave 3/5, calling it a decent launch pad and praising the hero's dancing, but describing the second half as outdated and the graphics as below par.[4](https://www.123telugu.com/reviews/akhil-telugu-movie-review.html) On IMDb the film holds a user rating of 3.8/10 from 978 votes.[7](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4974356/)
Reviewers consistently singled out the debutant leads. Akhil Akkineni was praised for his dances, fights, and screen presence, with Filmibeat giving him a unanimous thumbs up for those qualities,[11](https://www.filmibeat.com/telugu/reviews/2015/akhil-review-rating-plot-story-critics-review-vv-vinayak-akhil-analysis-verdict-talk-204838.html) and Sayesha Saigal was described as a trained dancer who impresses in the songs.[4](https://www.123telugu.com/reviews/akhil-telugu-movie-review.html)
## References
1. [Akhil Telugu Movie, Nowrunning](https://www.nowrunning.com/movie/16687/telugu/akhil-debut/)
2. [Akhil (aka) Akhil: The Power Of Jua review, Behindwoods](https://www.behindwoods.com/telugu-movies/akhil/akhil-review.html)
3. [Nagarjuna son's film 'Akhil' postponed, The Indian Express (IANS), 16 October 2015](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/regional/nagarjuna-sons-film-akhil-postponed/)
4. [Review: Akhil – Akhil's impressive show, 123telugu, 15 November 2015](https://www.123telugu.com/reviews/akhil-telugu-movie-review.html)
5. [Akhil, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/akhil)
6. [Akhil Movie Review {2.5/5}, The Times of India](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movie-reviews/akhil-movie-review/movie-review/49758917.cms)
7. [Akhil (2015), IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4974356/)
8. [Akhil Akkineni's debut film titled Akhil, TeluguCinema.com, 27 August 2015](https://telugucinema.com/news/akhil-akkinenis-debut-film-titled-akhil)
9. ['Akhil has all the qualities of a commercial hero', Rediff.com, 10 November 2015](https://m.rediff.com/amp/movies/report/akhil-has-all-the-qualities-of-a-commercial-hero/20151110.htm)
10. [Akhil's debut film's shoot in never before locales, 123telugu, 10 April 2015](https://www.123telugu.com/?p=160513)
11. [Akhil Movie Review, Filmibeat, 12 November 2015](https://www.filmibeat.com/telugu/reviews/2015/akhil-review-rating-plot-story-critics-review-vv-vinayak-akhil-analysis-verdict-talk-204838.html)
12. [Watch Akhil (2015) online, ZEE5](https://www.zee5.com/movies/details/akhil/0-0-akhil?c0Ia1kv=frWdc2WpWIrfJt)
13. [Akhil film confirmed for October 22nd, TeluguCinema.com, 13 October 2015](https://telugucinema.com/news/akhil-film-confirmed-october-22nd)
14. [UFO Moviez ProPitch Presentation, Q3 FY16](https://www.ufomoviez.com/sites/default/files/UFO_Investors/Presentation/FY_16/Q3_ResultsPresentation9MFY16_0.pdf)
15. [Akhil Movie (2015), Digit Binge](https://www.digit.in/digit-binge/movies/akhil-14624.html)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Individual films by title and year › Indian films (individual works) › Telugu films of the 2010s › Telugu films of 2014–2016*
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