The film is a remake of the 2012 Hindi film OMG – Oh My God! which was itself based on the Gujarati stage play Kanji Viruddh Kanji and on the 2001 film The Man Who Sued God. It follows the story of an atheist, Gopala Rao, who sues God after losing his shop in an earthquake. Religious organisations revolt against him and Bhaghvan Vishnu visits him as his human guide, under his incarnation Krishna.
Gopala Gopala was made with a budget of ₹120 million. Production began on 9 June 2014. It was predominantly shot in and around Vishakhapatnam, with a few sections filmed in Hyderabad and Varanasi. The film was released worldwide on 10 January 2015 as a Sankranthi release. It received positive reviews from critics and grossed ₹660 million, with a distributor share of ₹411 million
Gopala Gopala SOUTH Movie Story
Kanneganti Gopala Rao is an atheist who owns a shop selling Hindu idols alongside his wife Meenakshi and son Moksha as well as his assistant Otthu. He obstructs a holy ritual involving his family, conducted by Siddheswar Maharaj, a fake godman. A sudden earthquake destroys his shop.
Rao approaches his insurance company who deny him assistance, claiming that an earthquake is an act of God. Rao decides to sue God but cannot find a lawyer willing to take the case on. He eventually engages Akbar Bhai, a disabled lawyer, who helps him file the case. Legal notices are sent to the insurance company as well as to Siddheshwar the priest and others from his group, as representatives of God. The court accepts the case, but Rao finds himself trapped among armed fundamentalists, with a creditor Ramji occupying the house and his wife having left him.
Rao is rescued by Gopala Govinda Hari, a consultant, who is revealed to the audience to be the deity Vishnu, under his incarnation Krishna in disguise. Gopala buys Rao's house from Ramji but allows Rao to stay with him. The lawsuit caused a public outcry, so on Gopala's advice, Rao gives an interview to the media about his views, which turns viral; public opinion swings in his favour. Hundreds of people whose insurance claims were rejected due to an Act of God clause turn up at Akbar's house and join the fight. Rao agrees to fight on behalf of all of them.
In the next court session, defending lawyer Shankar Narayana points out that Rao has no document that can prove the disaster was an Act of God. The judge orders Rao to present a written proof that will support his claim. Gopala gives Rao the Bhagavad Gita, Bibleand Quran in which to find the answers. Rao subsequently points out a passage saying that "This world is a creation of God, and it is his will to allow it to grow or destroy", which strengthens his case. As he nears the end of his argument, he is stabbed by a staunch follower of Leeladhara.
Rao is rushed to the hospital where he slips into a coma due to heavy blood loss. Leeladhara then plans to make Rao a messenger of God and elevate him to a divine figure across the country after killing him. The lawsuit's verdict goes in Rao's favour and religious organisations are ordered by the court to pay the compensation to all the plaintiffs. After a month, Rao is rescued by Gopala, who later reveals his identity as Lord Vishnu by showing his Vishwaroopam. Rao starts to believe in the existence of God. Meanwhile, Leeladhara, Gopika Matha, and Siddheshwar open a temple dedicated to Rao and accumulate millions in donations. Rao learns that his death is planned for Vijayadashami which coincides with the death of Shirdi Sai Baba. He escapes with Gopala but is attacked by the priests' henchmen. Gopala manages to show them his 4th incarnation Lord Narasimha in place of Rao, scaring them off.
Rao arrives to find his statues erected at the place where his shop once stood. He wades through the stunned crowd and breaks the statue, then admonishes the crowd about trusting in godmen. He advises them to search for God inside themselves rather than worshipping statues. Rao prevents the crowd from attacking the priests, asking for them to be allowed to leave unharmed but also insisting that they stop believing in them. After the completion of Ramlila, Rao goes back to Gopala to thank him, only to find him gone.
Rao's family arrive and they are reunited. He sees Gopala's key chain on the floor. When he is about to take it back, he hears Gopala's voice telling him to get rid of it. He throws it away, seeing it disappear into the sky with a flash as Gopala "signs off", promising him they will meet again.
Cast
- Pawan Kalyan as Lord Vishnu, Lord Narasimha and Krishna (as Govinda Gopala Hari in Human Incarnation)
- Venkatesh as Kanneganti Gopala Rao
- Shriya Saran as Meenakshi
- Mithun Chakraborty as Leeladhara Swamy
- Posani Krishna Murali as Siddheswar Maharaj
- Diksha Panth as Gopika Matha
- Ashish Vidyarthi as Shankar Narayana
- Krishnudu as Ottu
- Murali Sharma as Akbar Khan
- Ranganath as the Judge
- Raghu Babu as Insurance company official
- Vennela Kishore as Rambabu
- Madhu Shalini as DD TV reporter
- Anisha Ambrose as a journalist
- Rallapalli as Gopala Rao's uncle
- Prudhviraj as lawyer
- Narra Srinu as Gopala Rao's brother-in-law
- Anju Asrani as Gopala Rao's elder sister
- Bharani as Leeladhara Swamy's disciple
- Dhanraj as one of the people in court who interacts with Govinda Gopala Hari
