Josh (2009 Telugu film)

Josh (transl. zeal) is a 2009 Indian Telugu-language coming-of-age political action drama film directed by Vasu Varma in his debut, and produced Dil Raju. The film marks the debuts of Naga Chaitanya (son of Nagarjuna) and Karthika (daughter of Radha) in lead roles, whilst prominent actor J. D. Chakravarthy plays antagonist role. The film's music is scored by Sandeep Chowta.^[1]

The plot explores student politics, and the vested interests of politicians in such activities. Released on 5 September 2009, to highly positive reviews for its direction, emotional weight of the story, screenplay, Chaitanya & Prakash Raj's performance, soundtrack & social message, but received criticism for its lengthy runtime. Despite receiving positive reviews, film was not commercially successful.^[2]

Over the years, the film attained cult following among the youth.

Satya (Naga Chaitanya) is a student who discontinues his graduation studies in Vizag and goes to Hyderabad in search of a job. He stays with his uncle (Sunil) in Hyderabad and finds a job at a nursery. He meets Vidhya (Karthika Nair) at her convent, where she is a teacher. She is a 17-year-old girl who wishes to join college but is stopped by his brother Harshavardhan aka Harshad (Harshavardhan), who runs a cafe near a college. He feels that college students are rowdies and she would not be safe in college. Frequent encounters between Satya and Vidya makes them become friends and they spend time together, which later blossoms into love.

Satya files a case against MGM college students as a witness for destroying public property. The students in MGM college are influenced by their ex-student J Durga Rao aka JD (JD Chakravarthy). The students try to drive Satya out of the city by warning him and destroying his uncle's flat. Instead of leaving the city, Satya withdraws the case and joins MGM college. Satya tries to change the students and the people in the college in various ways starting with which he leaves the class of a professor who teaches by just writing content from the textbook. While playing basketball, he tells his super senior Suresh Kumar not to kick the basketball when it came to him. The latter angrily responds to Satya that he has been the basketball champion for 3 years. Satya tests him by playing basketball with him and he fails to score a hoop. On the other hand, there are two student groups led by Guna and Radha who don't get along in the college. Guna treats JD as his brother. Boh the groups plan to take revenge against Satya for humiliating them and unite for the same. One fine rainy day, Satya gets beaten by Guna and his gang. He is admitted to the hospital where his uncle questions him about his behavior with students asking him why he hates them. He replies back that he doesn't hate them, he pities them. Satya narrates his flashback.

In the flashback we see a carefree Satya with a gang of his classmates. Although he was a topper until schooling, college environment makes him a stubborn guy. His principal (Prakash Raj) keeps on advising him to change but Satya would just feel it as a lecture. Satya loves bike racing and frequently participates in bike races. He also makes his principal's sincere son, Bujji join his gang. He enjoys a lot as a college student. To counter him, the principal proposes forming a DISCO (Discipline Committee). Satya spoils it by talking about suicides and mental pressure faced by the students. Everybody claps for him and the principal convinces Satya that he is talented and should think of changing his behavior to make wonders in future. Satya gets consumed by the principal's words and diverts those thoughts by going for a bike race. Bujji, who is never accompanied to the race and other mischievous stuff accompanies Satya for the race. The bike's chain gets loose and the bike slips leaving Satya injured and causing Bujji's death. This leads to Satya being guilty and later leaving the college and the city due to that guilt. He tells his uncle that he has committed such a big mistake and nobody tried to punish him, especially Bujji's father who forgave him. He couldn't bear such an apology. He laments that because of students like him, a family is suffering and a girl is unable to go to college. When he entered the city, he sees many students like him. He explains his uncle and other kind students that the problem is either in the college or the age group. He tells that the student won't listen to him due to student ego. He tells that because of these students, people like JD emerge to control them. He also tells that the only way he can change the students is student ego where he fuels the ego and calms it down. He believed that there will be at least a few people who will ask him why he is doing all this. He doesn't want any other student to face the punishment he has received.

Satya returns to college on the day when all MGM students go to the rally as a part of supporting JD for youth leader race. Radha's gang challenges Satya for a basketball match with Suresh Kumar where the challenge is that if Satya loses, they can do anything to him and if Satya wins, Suresh Kumar will be kicked out of the college. Satya deliberately loses the game, which is known to only Suresh Kumar. Guna goes to JD's office where he gets beaten by JD for not joining the rally. Satya notices Guna's absence and warns Guna's friend to leave him as Guna is in danger. Suresh Kumar tells the students that the threat of Guna from JD is real as he knows JD better than anyone else. He tells the students that JD was responsible for making him get addicted to drugs doe to which he lost his career. The reason why he doesn't leave the college is that he has no answer to his friends when asked about what he is doing and tells the students to listen to Satya. Guna escapes from JD's rowdies and shouts "Satyaaaa". All the students get united against JD but Satya tells them that he will deal with them alone. Satya fights with JD and his rowdies and kicks JD out of the college.

In the post credits, Vidya joins MGM college after MGM college students behave well with Harshad thereby making him lose the fear towards students.

The music was composed by Sandeep Chowtha. The soundtrack, released on 18 July 2009 at Shilparama Vedika.

Initially scheduled to release on 3 September 2009, the film was delayed due to the death of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy. It was eventually released two days later on 5 September 2009.^[3]

Josh received highly positive reviews upon its release and was praised for its direction, emotional weight of the story, screenplay, Chaitanya & Prakash Raj's performance, soundtrack & social message, but criticised its runtime.Rediff.com critic Radhika Rajmani wrote, "Josh as such, does not have anything new about it. The theme has been touched upon before. The attraction now is Naga Chaitanya who has the movie on his shoulders," while rating the film 3 stars of 5.^[4] Idlebrain.com rated 2.75/5 and stated, "The narration and screenplay given by Vasu Varma diluted the main point."^[3]

Filmfare Awards South

• Won – Filmfare Award for Best Male Debut – South – Naga Chaitanya

Santosham Film Awards

• Won – Santosham Film Award for Best Debut Actress – Karthika Nair

CineMAA Awards

• Won – Best Male Debut - Naga Chaitanya
• Won – Best Female Debut – Karthika Nair

• Josh at IMDb