Neelima Tirumalasetti

Panjaa is a 2011 Indian Telugu-language action film directed by Vishnuvardhan and produced by Arka Media Works and Sanghamitra Art Productions.

The film stars Pawan Kalyan, Sarah-Jane Dias, Anjali Lavania, Jackie Shroff, Adivi Sesh and Atul Kulkarni.

The plot follows Jai, a gangster's loyal henchman who is forced to go on the run following a botched mission and killing his boss's son for committing a violent atrocity.

The film features music scored by Yuvan Shankar Raja and cinematography by P. S. Vinod.

The film marks Dias' debut in Telugu cinema and Lavania's film debut.

Vishnuvardhan, who works primarily in the Tamil cinema, also makes his directorial debut in Telugu.

Principal photography of the film commenced on 6 May 2011.

The filming took place primarily at Kolkata, Pollachi, Karaikudi, Vagamon and Palasa.

Panjaa was released theatrically on 9 December 2011.

Upon release, it received mixed-to-negative reviews from both the critics and audience, alike.

The performances (especially of Sesh's and Shroff's), songs, cinematography, action sequences, and production design were praised.

However, the direction, story, screenplay, background score, and pace were highly criticized.

The film is now considered an underrated Telugu film, of the recent times.

The film was moderately received by the international audience, but it could not make an impact at the Indian box office.

Jai is a Kolkata-based hitman working for a don named Bhagavan, and they together share a business rivalry with Kulkarni.

Bhagavan's psychotic son Munna returns to India after 8 years.

Apart from his gangster life, Jai also owns a nursery where he raises variety of plants along with his friend Chotu.

He also appoints a plant caretaker Sandhya.

Jai soon starts hanging out frequently with Sandhya trying to keep his criminal life from her as he develops feelings for her.

One day Munna mistreats the accountant Sabapathy and humiliates him by urinating on Sabapathy in front of the latter's neighbors.

Receiving no support from Bhagavan, Sabapathy joins Kulkarni's gang, making Bhagavan order Jai to kill him.

As per the plan, Jai kidnaps Rahul, the son of Kulkarni's brother Sampath.

He asks Guruvayya to hold Rahul hostage at a club until he is back with Sabapathy.

Jai demands a meeting with Sabapathy in exchange for Rahul's freedom.

Sabapathy tells him he switched sides not to retaliate, but to protect himself.

Munna, on the other hand, visits the club and is attracted to club dancer named Jhanvi and inquires about her in the club.

Learning from Guruvayya that she loves Jai, Munna is enraged and kills Rahul after he teases him for being an incel and kills Kulkarni's henchman, who came to pick up Rahul.

When Sampath and Kulkarni receive no response, Jai tries to escape, and a chase ensues.

He manages to flee but is shocked to learn of Rahul's death.

Munna finds Jahnavi at Jai's house and beats her to death.

Jai arrives and gets into a fight with Munna.

Guruvayya sees Jai kill Munna and reports him to Bhagavan.

Jai decides to tell Bhagavan the reason behind killing Munna, and is on his way attacked by the henchmen as per Bhagavan's orders.

Following a gunfight, Jai escapes while Bhagavan vows to seek revenge for Munna's death.

Jai escapes to Palasa, where he stays at his love interest Sandhya's house.

On the other hand, the rivalry between Bhagavan and Kulkarni intensifies after Jai's exit as Bhagavan loses power and his trusted men join hands with Kulkarni.

Bhagavan learns about Jai's nursery he used to run with the help of his friend Chotu, and gets it destroyed by his men upon learning about Chotu.

Back at Palasa, some goons invade their home at night, Ashok and Jai together fight them off, following which Sandhya reveals about a mercenary named Sambasiva, who was after her life since she sent him to prison.

Jai kills Sambasiva and gives the credit to a cop named Paparayudu.

Bhagavan learns about Chotu's location through his girlfriend, kills her, and captures Chotu.