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Nannaku Prematho (transl. To father, with love) is a 2016 Indian Telugu-language action drama film^[1] written and directed by Sukumar and produced by B. V. S. N. Prasad under Sri Venkateswara Cine Chitra, Bhogavalli Bapineedu and Reliance Entertainment. The film, set in London, stars N. T. Rama Rao Jr., Jagapathi Babu, Rajendra Prasad and Rakul Preet Singh.^[6] Nannaku Prematho marks the 25th film of Rama Rao Jr. as an actor.

The film follows Abhiram (N. T. Rama Rao Jr.), an expatriate in London, who discovers his dying father, Subrahmanyam (Rajendra Prasad), was ruined by businessman Krishna Murthy Kautilya (Jagapathi Babu). Abhiram embarks on a 30-day revenge plan, employing intellect and manipulation amidst family conflicts and corporate warfare, to dismantle Kautilya's empire and fulfill his father's last wish.

Devi Sri Prasad has composed the film's music and background score. The cinematography was provided by Vijay C Chakravarthy, and Naveen Nooli edited the film. Principal photography commenced in August 2015.^[7] The audio launch of this film was held on 27 December 2015.^[8] The film was released worldwide on 13 January 2016 to positive reviews and was successful at the box office.^[9] The film was a commercial success, grossing ₹87–132 crore worldwide and becoming the third highest-grossing Telugu film of 2016.^[10] The film was remade in Bengali as Baazi (2021).^[11]

Abhiram is the youngest son of a London-based entrepreneur named Subrahmanyam. Choosing to forge his own path, Abhiram resigns from his employment, establishes his own engineering firm called KMC Pipes and Canals, and successfully completes its maiden infrastructure project in Spain. His life shifts focus when he learns that his father is suffering from terminal pancreatic cancer, with only a month left to live. On his deathbed, Subrahmanyam discloses his true identity as Ramesh Chandra Prasad, once London's wealthiest magnate. He reveals that a deceptive associate named Krishna Murthy Kautilya systematically defrauded him, seized his global business empire, and forced him to rebuild his life under an assumed name. Prasad requests his three sons to avenge his stolen legacy.

While Abhiram's eldest brother merely fabricates a story about filing a lawsuit to pacify their dying father, Abhiram resolves to take decisive action. Vowing to dismantle Krishna Murthy’s multi-billion-dollar empire within thirty days, he recruits three dedicated young professionals who share a profound emotional bond with their own fathers. To infiltrate Krishna Murthy's inner circle, Abhiram targets his daughter, Divyanka ("Divya"). He carefully orchestrates a scenario to rescue her from a staged kidnapping and subsequently bankrupts his own family accounts to purchase a ₹25 crore art piece as a birthday gift for her, successfully earning her romantic affection. However, when Abhiram attends Divya’s birthday gala to confront his target, Krishna Murthy reveals that he is entirely aware of Abhiram's identity and ulterior motives. Meanwhile, Prasad's medical condition takes a critical turn, forcing his hospitalization.

Displeased by Abhiram's massive financial expenditures on the art piece, his brothers sever ties with him. Concurrently, Krishna Murthy covertly plants an audio bug in Abhiram's headquarters, exposing his retaliatory strategy; upon overhearing the recordings, a heartbroken Divya terminates her relationship with Abhiram. Krishna Murthy subsequently travels to Spain to finalize his acquisition of the "People Oil and Natural Gas" project—a massive, lucrative energy reserve belonging to a businessman named Kapil Sinha. Abhiram tracks them to Spain but is promptly abducted by Divya's security personnel, who intend to extract his operational plans. Instead, Abhiram uses the opportunity to win back her trust. He reunites Divya with her long-estranged mother, who has been incarcerated since Divya's childhood, and exposes a dark family secret.

Years prior, Krishna Murthy had planted illicit narcotics in his family's luggage during an international trip. When airport customs intercepted the contraband, Krishna Murthy abandoned his wife to secure his own freedom and protect his corporate reputation. Appalled by the revelation of her father's utter ruthlessness, Divya turns against him. Seeking a lethal counterstrike, Krishna Murthy spoofs Abhiram's identity to send a false emergency message to Abhiram's brother, Vamsi, claiming their father has died. When Vamsi arrives furious at the hospital, Krishna Murthy delivers a celebratory bouquet to the room containing a venomous deathstalker scorpion, which strikes Abhiram. The tycoon sends a series of cryptic riddles detailing the location of the rare antidote, orchestrating a dangerous sequence that imperils the lives of all three brothers. Abhiram successfully deciphers the clues, administers the cure to save his siblings, and is briefly arrested on a manipulated pharmaceutical charge before his reconciled brothers bail him out.

However, the corporate warfare shifts in Abhiram's favor. It is revealed that the ₹25 crore painting he gifted housed a hidden surveillance camera, allowing him to anticipate Krishna Murthy's every move. Next, Abhiram breaches the tycoon's primary offshore accounts, transferring ₹40,000 crore directly to his family's corporate assets. Furthermore, the Spanish oil field Krishna Murthy aggressively acquired is exposed as an elaborate hoax; the natural gas reserves were entirely simulated via sub-surface tunnels constructed by Abhiram's company—revealed to stand for Krishna Murthy Mosam Chese ("Cheating Krishna Murthy") Company. Kapil Sinha is unveiled as Satpal Singh, Prasad's loyal former advisor who has been anchoring Abhiram's sting operation from the start.

Completely bankrupted and ruined, Krishna Murthy is reduced to the exact destitute condition he once inflicted upon his rival, forcing him to flee, adopt a fraudulent identity, and rename himself Subrahmanyam. Divya and her mother permanently sever ties with him to live with Abhiram's household. Ramesh Chandra Prasad succumbs to his illness, passing away peacefully with a smile after witnessing the complete structural demolition of his enemy. At the funeral, the family gathers to mourn, but a stoic Abhiram suppresses his tears, maintaining a deeply held conviction that his father’s spiritual presence will only truly depart the day he allows himself to cry.

Music of this film was composed by Devi Sri Prasad, who collaborated for the fifth time with both Jr. NTR and Sukumar. The audio rights were bought by Junglee Music.^[17]

After the death of Satyamurthy, Prasad's father and former film screenplay and story writer, the album was dedicated to the former in an audio launch ceremony on 27 December 2015.^[18]

For the fifth time in his career, Jr. NTR lent his vocals for a jazz-style number called Follow Follow.

Behindwoods.com gave the soundtrack 4 out of 5 stars, stating that " Nannaku Prematho is a fun album with ample dose of trendy as well as mass numbers with a tinge of experimentation. All in all, it is another winner in the combo of Sukumar- DSP!".^[19] Another film news website, Indiaglitz.com, also rated the album 3 out of 5 stars and stated that "Devi Sri Prasad, Sukumar and NTR are an exciting combination. This album brings out this uniqueness in its choice of lyrics. It is not vintage DSP at his best. All that you can expect from this album is good dose of energy and verve, DSP-style, NTR-style".^[20] 123telugu.com quoted this album as a "different album from the crazy combo" and finally stated that "On the whole, the audio of Nannaku Prematho is quite different from Devi Sri Prasad's regular albums. Even though the tunes are not in the regular commercial format, they are elevated well by some meaningful and catchy lyrics."^[21]

The overseas theatrical distribution rights were acquired by CineGalaxy Inc. for ₹6.2 crores.^[22] RansiTech Solutions Ltd. bagged the UK distribution rights in late October 2015^[23] "Reliance" Raghu of Shantha Pictures acquired the Ceded distribution Rights for ₹7.2 crores. This is the highest price offered to any movie in this region after Baahubali: The Beginning, which was bought for ₹13 crores.^[24]

Nannaku Prematho grossed ₹68.5 crore (US$7.2 million) worldwide in the first nine days.^[25] By the end of its second week had grossed ₹80 crore (US$8.4 million).^[26]

Times of India rated the film 3.5/5, and wrote, "(The flaws) should be no reason to miss this film because Nannaku Prematho is like a delectable serving of dessert with a hint of tang. The flavour may seem out of place initially because you aren't used to it. But if you try it with an open mind, you'd probably savour it."^[27]

Idlebrain.com gave it 3.25/5 and wrote, "The underlying emotion of father-son gets fused in the complex screenplay and the mind games between hero and villain. It's a great effort by Sukumar in terms of screenplay and logic. On a whole, Nannaku Prematho is a commendable and extraordinary concept thriller made on grand scale."^[28]

Business Standard stated that NTR, particularly, needs to be lauded for not playing to the gallery and choosing to work with a director who isn't afraid to go against the tide. This is precisely why you want to appreciate Sukumar, who, by all means, could have safely made a regular commercial potboiler. But he didn't, and that's what differentiates him from other filmmakers as he made this film an action thriller with memorable twists. "Nannaku Prematho", on the whole, isn't a bad film as it was made even more sensibly.^[29]

• Nannaku Prematho at IMDb
• Nannaku Prematho at Rotten Tomatoes ^{[dead link]}