Nani and Srikanth Odela Address ‘Single-Take Artist’ Dialogue in The Paradise

Nani and director Srikanth Odela have spoken out about the widely discussed ‘single-take artist’ dialogue from their latest Telugu film, The Paradise. The film, which released on September 24 and is produced by Sudhakar Cherukuri, has maintained a strong presence at the box office, moving towards a ₹150 crore gross by the end of its first weekend. This success comes even as certain scenes have sparked debate among audiences.

In a recent interview following the film’s release, both Nani and Srikanth Odela addressed criticism surrounding a particular moment where the heroine’s mother refers to Kayadu Lohar’s character, Subbu, as a “single-take artist.” Many viewers found the scene abrupt, leading to social media trolling and confusion about its intent.

Srikanth Odela explained that the dialogue was originally crafted as an ironic realization, highlighting Subbu’s acting talent—a quality her mother had dismissed in her childhood. However, Odela revealed that the emotional backstory setting up this moment was trimmed during editing to keep the film’s runtime in check. As a result, the intended impact of the line was lost, and audiences interpreted it differently. Nani echoed this sentiment, stating that removing key setup scenes can lead to misunderstandings, even when the payoff is well-written.

The Paradise has been in the spotlight since its teaser launch in August, which showcased its large-scale action. Now, despite some divided reactions, the film’s commercial performance and the team’s candid clarification have kept it at the center of Tollywood’s attention.