# Kick (2009 film)
**Kick** (కిక్) is a 2009 Indian Telugu-language action comedy film directed by Surender Reddy and starring [Ravi Teja](https://www.edgepedia.org/ravi-teja) as Kalyan, a restless thrill-seeker who quits every job that stops giving him a "kick" and turns to robbery, while a sincere police officer, Kalyan Krishna (Shaam), is assigned to catch him.[1](https://telugu.filmibeat.com/movies/kick.html) [Ileana D'Cruz](https://www.edgepedia.org/ileana-dcruz) plays Naina, the woman both men are involved with.[2](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1579592/) The film released on 8 May 2009, ran about 155 minutes, and became a commercial hit that later spawned a 2014 Hindi remake and a 2015 sequel.[3](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movies/news/10-years-for-kick-heres-why-the-action-comedy-emerged-as-a-hit-at-the-box-office/articleshow/69232328.cms)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Release | 8 May 2009 (India), Telugu language, U/A certificate[1](https://telugu.filmibeat.com/movies/kick.html) |
| Director and writers | Surender Reddy (direction and screenplay); story Vakkantham Vamsi; dialogues Abburi Ravi[4](https://www.filmibeat.com/telugu/reviews/2009/movie-kick-review-090509.html) |
| Lead cast | Ravi Teja (Kalyan), Ileana D'Cruz (Naina), Shaam (Kalyan Krishna, the police officer)[2](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1579592/) |
| Music | S. Thaman, his debut as a film composer; songs include "Gore Gore" and "Dhim Thana"[3](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movies/news/10-years-for-kick-heres-why-the-action-comedy-emerged-as-a-hit-at-the-box-office/articleshow/69232328.cms) • [5](https://www.aha.video/movie/kick) |
| Technical crew | Cinematography Rasool Ellore; editing Gautham Raju; action Vijay[4](https://www.filmibeat.com/telugu/reviews/2009/movie-kick-review-090509.html) |
| Production | RR Movie Makers; producer Venkat; presents K. Achireddy[4](https://www.filmibeat.com/telugu/reviews/2009/movie-kick-review-090509.html) |
| Reception | IMDb 7.9/10 from about 6.7,000 votes; Times of India critics 3/5[2](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1579592/) • [6](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movie-reviews/kick/movie-review/4505326.cms) |
| Afterlife | Remade in Hindi as *Kick* (2014) with Salman Khan; sequel *Kick 2* released 27 August 2015[7](https://pages.newindianexpress.com/09-12-2025/CUB_TNIE_CHENNAI_09-12-2025.pdf) • [8](https://fmdb.mov/en/movie/60807) |
## Spoilers
### Plot
Kalyan is well educated and intelligent but refuses to do anything that does not give him a kick, and he cannot hold any job for long because the thrill fades after a few days or months.[4](https://www.filmibeat.com/telugu/reviews/2009/movie-kick-review-090509.html) Naina, a practical girl who wants security, falls in love with him and asks him to settle in one job; he claims to work at a software firm after actually resigning, and when she discovers the lie she leaves for Malaysia, where her parents live.[4](https://www.filmibeat.com/telugu/reviews/2009/movie-kick-review-090509.html)
In Malaysia her father arranges a marriage meeting with Kalyan Krishna, a sincere police officer from India.[4](https://www.filmibeat.com/telugu/reviews/2009/movie-kick-review-090509.html) On the train journey Naina recounts her love story, and the officer reveals that he has come to Malaysia hunting a masked thief who has robbed bigwigs of crores of rupees in a planned, intelligent way.[4](https://www.filmibeat.com/telugu/reviews/2009/movie-kick-review-090509.html) Kalyan, the thief, taunts Kalyan Krishna by phone, announcing robberies of unaccounted money invested in a foreign firm and of an election party fund, and completes both.[4](https://www.filmibeat.com/telugu/reviews/2009/movie-kick-review-090509.html) A flashback from Kalyan's father explains the motive: the stolen money funds surgeries for destitute children with heart disease, left by their parents in an orphanage.[4](https://www.filmibeat.com/telugu/reviews/2009/movie-kick-review-090509.html) In the climax the defense minister appoints Kalyan himself, in place of Kalyan Krishna, to nab the thief, and Kalyan completes his mission of helping the children.[4](https://www.filmibeat.com/telugu/reviews/2009/movie-kick-review-090509.html)
## Production and casting
Surender Reddy had directed the action film *Athanokkade* as his debut, then two films that underperformed, and he prepared this subject with Ravi Teja as his hero to re-establish himself.[4](https://www.filmibeat.com/telugu/reviews/2009/movie-kick-review-090509.html) According to a TV9 Telugu report, Reddy first narrated the story to [N. T. Rama Rao Jr.](https://www.edgepedia.org/n-t-rama-rao-jr), who had earlier flopped with Reddy and writer Vakkantham Vamsi on *Ashok* (2006); Ravi Teja ultimately completed the film instead.[9](https://tv9telugu.com/entertainment/tollywood/do-you-know-ravi-tejas-kick-movie-first-choice-is-jr-ntr-960976.html) The film was extensively shot in Malaysia, with production values described as good.[10](https://telugu-cinema-news.blogspot.com/2009/05/)
For the Tamil actor Shaam, the role of the police officer was his debut in [Telugu cinema](https://www.edgepedia.org/telugu-cinema), and reviewers noted that Reddy gave him footage and importance equal to the established lead.[11](https://www.rediff.com/movies/review/review-kick/20090508.htm) • [4](https://www.filmibeat.com/telugu/reviews/2009/movie-kick-review-090509.html) The supporting cast included [Brahmanandam](https://www.edgepedia.org/brahmanandam), Venu Madhav, Ali, Sayaji Shinde, Kota Srinivasa Rao, Jayaprakash Reddy, Ashika, and Chalapati Rao.[4](https://www.filmibeat.com/telugu/reviews/2009/movie-kick-review-090509.html) It was the second film pairing Ravi Teja and Ileana D'Cruz after *Khatarnak* (2006).[3](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movies/news/10-years-for-kick-heres-why-the-action-comedy-emerged-as-a-hit-at-the-box-office/articleshow/69232328.cms)
## Music
S. Thaman composed the score and songs in what was his debut as a music composer.[3](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movies/news/10-years-for-kick-heres-why-the-action-comedy-emerged-as-a-hit-at-the-box-office/articleshow/69232328.cms) Songs from the film include "Gore Gore", "Dhim Thana", "I Dont Want Love", "Dil Kalaase", and "Manase Thadisela", with lyrics by [Sirivennela Seetharama Sastry](https://www.edgepedia.org/sirivennela-seetharama-sastry).[3](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movies/news/10-years-for-kick-heres-why-the-action-comedy-emerged-as-a-hit-at-the-box-office/articleshow/69232328.cms) • [4](https://www.filmibeat.com/telugu/reviews/2009/movie-kick-review-090509.html) "Gore Gore" is identified as the film's most popular song.[5](https://www.aha.video/movie/kick) The *Kick* collaboration began a long run in which Thaman scored most of Ravi Teja's subsequent films, including *Anjaneyulu*, *Mirapakay*, *Kick 2*, and others.[3](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movies/news/10-years-for-kick-heres-why-the-action-comedy-emerged-as-a-hit-at-the-box-office/articleshow/69232328.cms)
## Reception
Critics were divided on pacing but broadly treated the film as light entertainment. Radhika Rajamani of Rediff.com wrote that Surender Reddy "starts off Telugu film Kick with a lot of fun but somehow, fails to maintain the tempo", rating it 2 out of 5.[11](https://www.rediff.com/movies/review/review-kick/20090508.htm) The Times of India gave 3 out of 5, saying viewers who "leave your thinking cap" aside could enjoy the fun movie.[6](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movie-reviews/kick/movie-review/4505326.cms) Sify's review scored 4 out of 5 under the heading "Paisa Vasool", praising the dialogues and script, while [IndiaGlitz](https://www.edgepedia.org/indiaglitz) (3/5) called it "'Gentleman' re-stuffed and recycled" and Idlebrain (3.25/5) noted that about 80 percent of the film is devoted to humor.[12](https://www.moviecrow.com/movie/1112/kick-telugu-movie-review/review) Filmibeat's review found the first half stretched but the second half a gripping, nail-biting experience.[4](https://www.filmibeat.com/telugu/reviews/2009/movie-kick-review-090509.html)
Commercially the film was a hit. The Times of India's retrospective described it as one of the most successful box office hits of all time and a career-defining film for Ravi Teja, crediting the comedy between Ravi Teja and Ali, Brahmanandam, and Jaya Prakash Reddy as a major highlight.[3](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movies/news/10-years-for-kick-heres-why-the-action-comedy-emerged-as-a-hit-at-the-box-office/articleshow/69232328.cms) Trade coverage noted that the film revived Shaam's career.[13](https://www.nowrunning.com/movie/6282/telugu/kick/index.htm) On IMDb the film holds a 7.9/10 rating from about 6.7,000 users.[2](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1579592/)
## Legacy
The film's title became a franchise. A sequel, *Kick 2*, directed by Surender Reddy and again starring Ravi Teja with music by Thaman, went on floors in 2014 and released on 27 August 2015.[8](https://fmdb.mov/en/movie/60807) • [14](https://www.nowrunning.com/movie/6282/telugu/kick/2143/review.htm) The Hindi film industry remade it as *Kick* (2014) starring [Salman Khan](https://www.edgepedia.org/salman-khan), an official remake of the Telugu film of the same title, and a *Kick 2* with Salman Khan was later reported in development.[7](https://pages.newindianexpress.com/09-12-2025/CUB_TNIE_CHENNAI_09-12-2025.pdf) The film is currently available on the streaming platform Aha, with subtitles, and was dubbed in two languages.[5](https://www.aha.video/movie/kick)
## References
1. [కిక్ (2009) – Filmibeat Telugu movie page](https://telugu.filmibeat.com/movies/kick.html)
2. [Kick (2009) – IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1579592/)
3. [10 Years for 'Kick': Here's why the action-comedy emerged as a hit at the box office – Times of India](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movies/news/10-years-for-kick-heres-why-the-action-comedy-emerged-as-a-hit-at-the-box-office/articleshow/69232328.cms)
4. [Kick – Review – It is just a half-kick – Filmibeat](https://www.filmibeat.com/telugu/reviews/2009/movie-kick-review-090509.html)
5. [Watch Kick Full Movie Online – Aha](https://www.aha.video/movie/kick)
6. [Kick Movie Review {3/5} – Times of India](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movie-reviews/kick/movie-review/4505326.cms)
7. [Salman Khan confirms working on Kick 2 – The New Indian Express e-paper](https://pages.newindianexpress.com/09-12-2025/CUB_TNIE_CHENNAI_09-12-2025.pdf)
8. [కిక్ (2009) – FMDb](https://fmdb.mov/en/movie/60807)
9. [Ravi Teja's Kick Movie First Choice is Jr.NTR – TV9 Telugu](https://tv9telugu.com/entertainment/tollywood/do-you-know-ravi-tejas-kick-movie-first-choice-is-jr-ntr-960976.html)
10. [Kick Movie Review – Telugu Cinema News blog, May 2009](https://telugu-cinema-news.blogspot.com/2009/05/)
11. [Kick is light-hearted – Rediff.com movies](https://www.rediff.com/movies/review/review-kick/20090508.htm)
12. [Kick Telugu Movie – Critic Review roundup – Moviecrow](https://www.moviecrow.com/movie/1112/kick-telugu-movie-review/review)
13. [Kick Telugu Movie – Nowrunning](https://www.nowrunning.com/movie/6282/telugu/kick/index.htm)
14. [Kick Review by Maudgalyan – Nowrunning](https://www.nowrunning.com/movie/6282/telugu/kick/2143/review.htm)
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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 2000s*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 3, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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