Aahaa..! (transl. Wow..!) is a 1998 Indian Telugu-language romance film produced by Nagarjuna Akkineni on Great India Entertainments and directed by Suresh Krissna. It stars Jagapathi Babu, Sanghavi, Jayasudha, Raghuvaran, Bhanupriya and music composed by Vandemataram Srinivas. The film is remake of Krishna’s own Tamil film Aahaa..!.^[1] The film released to positive reviews and won a South Filmfare Award.^[2]

“Pepsi” Parasuram is paterfamilias to a conjoined jollity family with two sons, Raghuram & Sriram. Raghuram is his dear son, who is wedded to benevolent Rajeswari, and the couple has a naughty son, Ajay. Sriram spends his life with frolic, which his father contempts, thinks, and calls him a useless fellow. Rajeswari shares, beyond her relationship, close intimacy in the house. Since she is an ailed heart patient, they always try to keep her cheerful. Anyhow, Parasuram is perturbed as his daughter Gayatri’s alliances frequently fail because of her handicaps. Once, Sriram visits a function where he falls for a girl, Janaki, the daughter of a cook, Rama Rao. Owing to his friendly bond, Sriram shares everything with Rajeswari. Accordingly, he moves further and gains her heart when Rajeswari approaches Rama Rao and invites him to fix the match. At that juncture, the family hides and bluffs about Rama Rao’s profession. However, the truth breaks out, and Parasuram mortifies him and infuriates Rama Rao quits.

Meanwhile, Sriram sets a fine companion, Prashanth, to Gayatri, about which his father is green. Simultaneously, Raghuram makes secret telephonic conversations with a woman. Overhearing it, Sriram suspects something fishy behind and spots him with his old sweetheart, Geeta. Here, he rages on Geeta and questions his brother when he replies that Geeta is a dying patient for which she walked away from his life and returned after five years to spend her last days with him. Listening to it, Sriram also had a glorious time and shared affection with Geeta. Now, he requests Raghuram to be quiet because Rajeswari cannot tolerate it. Besides, Rama Rao falls into debt when Sriram guards him and allows him to start a business; therein, he understands his virtue.

Later, Sriram carries the terminally ill Geeta to the hospital when Parasuram & Janaki misconstrue him, viewing it. Geeta leaves her last breath in Raghuram’s lap to keep up his brother’s integrity and safeguard his sister-in-law. Sriram accuses himself when the family detests him. Hence, a crack arises between love birds, and Janaki leaves the town. Being conscious of it, Raghuram retrieves her shortly before Gayatri’s wedding. Tragically, the train he is traveling on meets with an accident, and Sriram receives the death news of his brother. Whereat, he thresholds the pain and maintains silence until Gayatri’s espousal. However, Parasuram insists on stopping the wedlock until the Raghuram’s arrival, when Sriram divulges the truth and forces him to accomplish the task. Soon after the wedding, Parasuram unveils the plight; when Rajeswari is about to collapse, Raghu backs along with Janaki. Plus, he discloses the factuality and seeks an apology from Rajeswari. At last, Parasuram realizes the eminence of Sriram and embraces him. Finally, the movie ends on a happy note with the marriage of Sriram & Janaki.

Music composed by Vandemataram Srinivas. Lyrics were written by Sirivennela Sitarama Sastry. Music released on Aditya Music Company.

The cast features Vijayakumar and Raghuvaran reprising their roles from the original. Bhanupriya however, played Jayasudha‘s role in the original, while in the remake she played Sukanya‘s role.

Filmfare Awards

• Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer – Telugu (1998) – Vandemataram Srinivas – “Priyuraali Address”

• Aahaa..! at IMDb