Kanche

“Kanche” is a 2015 Indian Telugu-language romantic war film, directed and written by Krish. The film stars Varun Tej, Pragya Jaiswal, and Nikitin Dheer and is produced by First Frame Entertainment. Set in the backdrop of the late 1930s, the story revolves around the enmity between two childhood friends, Dhupati Haribabu and Eeswar Prasad, played by Varun Tej and Nikitin Dheer, respectively.

Haribabu and Eeswar’s sister, Sitadevi, played by Pragya Jaiswal, graduate from the University of Madras and fall in love, despite societal casteism. However, tragedy strikes when Sitadevi is accidentally killed by Eeswar, causing a deep rift between the friends.

Years later, as World War II rages on, Haribabu joins the British Indian Army as a captain to fight against the Axis powers. To his surprise, Eeswar, now a colonel, becomes his commanding officer. The film delves into their complex relationship against the backdrop of war and personal vendettas.

Director Krish embarked on this ambitious project after being inspired by a bomb preserved in a museum in Visakhapatnam, dropped by the Imperial Japanese Army during World War II. Principal photography began in February 2015 and took place in various locations, including Georgia, where they filmed the war sequences. The filmmakers were even granted access to military equipment from the Georgia Military Institute.

“Kanche” is celebrated as Telugu cinema’s first World War II-based film and was released in October 2015 to critical acclaim. It grossed ₹20 crore, surpassing its ₹18 crore budget, and received accolades like the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu and the Nandi Award for Best Film on National Integration.

The film was also screened at the All Lights India International Film Festival and is recognized as one of the “25 Greatest Telugu Films Of The Decade” by Film Companion. “Kanche” is a powerful story that combines romance, war, and societal conflict, making it a significant addition to Telugu cinema.