Itlu Maredumilli Prajaneekam

Itlu Maredumilli Prajaneekam is a 2022 Indian Telugu-language social thriller drama film remake of 2017 film Newton written and directed by debutant A. R. Mohan. Produced by Zee Studios and Hasya Movies, the film features Allari Naresh, Anandhi, Vennela Kishore, Praveen, Sampath Raj and Sritej in primary roles. The film was released on 25 November 2022.

Plot
Sripada Srinivas is a humble human who always helps people in need. He works as a government Telugu teacher and understands the value of Telugu. He, along with another English teacher, are appointed as election officers for tribal villages in the Maredumilli forest area.

The tribals are initially reluctance to cast their votes as past governments haven't installed a bridge on a nearby river to ease transport and have not cared to provide basic facilities to them for the last 30 years. He meets Lachimi, the only unofficial teacher to the whole tribe, the girl who wishes to study and wants to become a teacher but does not have a bridge in their area, thus she cannot study further, so she teaches basic skills for kids in the tribe unofficially. She offers help to Srinivas in getting awareness to cast their votes. While traveling, Srinivas likes Lachimi because of her self-confidence and her worshipping nature towards teachers; finally, he proposes to marry her.

Later, Srinivas helps one of the tribal women, named Pollamma, deliver the child, thereby earning the trust of the tribals. After this incident, the tribals agreed to cast their votes, trusting Srinivas. While going back to deliver the EVMs, Srinivas and the English teacher are ambushed by the tribals, who kidnap both the officers and ask for bridges to be installed as a negotiation demand. Later, it is revealed that the mastermind behind this conspiracy is none other than Srinivas. He guides the tribals to negotiate with them and makes their issues a national-wide sensation.

After various attempts in vain, in the end, the collector Arjun Trivedi fools the tribals by giving them approval papers, then he betrays them after collecting the EVM machines. Then Srinivas reveals himself to collector and tries to stop him then the collector realizes that he is the mastermind behind the conspiracy and bashes him later takes him into custody despite the tribals pleads.

While returning, they cross paths with an Indian gaur herd (the locals treat them as Veerabhadra gods). The collector, being headstrong, asks the cops to scare the herd away, if not kill them. Herds attack and injure most of the cops, including the collector. Hearing all the ruckus, tribals come to the cops aid. They find the injured collector and carry him through the same river to the other side. Then Srinivas realizes the collector's mistake, and the collector understands the problems of the tribe. He then signs an approval for the bridge. Finally, the film ends with Lachimi responding positively to Srinivas proposal, and the two embrace.

Cast

 * Allari Naresh as Sripada Srinivas
 * Anandhi as Lachimi
 * Sampath Raj as Arjun Trivedi IAS, the District Collector of East Godavari District.
 * Ravi Varma Adduri as Inspector Shanmukha Rao
 * Vennela Kishore as English teacher
 * Praveen as Babu Garu, A Govt Pune.
 * Sritej as Kanda
 * Dr. Kamakshi bhaskarla as Pollamma
 * Raghu Babu as Market yard secretary Koteswara Rao
 * Kumanan Sethuraman as Village head
 * Appaji Ambarisha Darbha as Chief Election Commissioner
 * Ravi Prakash as Police SP
 * Khayyum as Police Officer
 * Keshav Deepak as DSP
 * Gemini Suresh as Election Officer
 * Shani Salmon

Theatrical
Itlu Maredumilli Prajaneekam was released on 25 November 2022.

Home Media
Zee Telugu and ZEE5 have acquired the film's satellite and digital streaming rights respectively. It premiered on ZEE5 on December 23, 2022.

Reception
123Telugu gave a rating of 2.75 out of 5 and wrote that "Itlu Maredumalli Prajaaneekam is a film made with honesty. The backdrop, performances and scenes are decent but there is nothing new or gripping that you will see here". Arvind V of Pinkvilla gave a rating of 2.5 out of 5 and wrote that "With a better second half, this film would have been way more watchable". In contrast, The Times of India stated that the film is "an honest social drama narrating the plight of a tribal village", giving the same rating.