Phalana Abbayi Phalana Ammayi (PAPA), actor-director Srinivas Avasarala’s next, starring Naga Shaurya and Malavika Nair in lead roles is gearing up for a release soon. Produced by People Media Factory in association with Dasari Films, the romance marks Avasarala’s third collaboration with Naga Shaurya and composer Kalyani Malik after Oohalu Gusagusalade and Jyo Achyutananda.

The feel-good teaser of the film opened to positive responses all over and now, the makers have launched the first single, Kanula Chatu Meghama, sung by Aabhas Joshi and lyricised by Lakshmi Bhupal. Nicknamed a breakup ghazal, the song is a fond throwback to the yesteryear era in terms of its musical texture, mellifluous rendition beautified by the terrific use of traditional instrumentation.

Lakshmi Bhupala’s opening lines ‘Kanula chaatu meghamaa.. Kaastha aagumaa...Venuka raani needatho.. Raayabaaramaa...Masaka masaka thaḍini thadimi gnaapakaalalo..’ lay a strong, soulful foundation for the number. The song, set amidst a wedding at a scenic location, is full of delightful montages revolving around the lead pair while discussing the ephemeral nature of their relationship.

Kalyani Malik captures the delicate emotions of the couple through his impressive composition. Aabhas Joshi’s singing is as good as it can get, staying true to the spirit of the lyrics, while also exhibiting his vocal range with effortless ease. It’s rare for a Telugu filmmaker to believe in the charm of a leisurely-paced pathos number and Srinivas Avasarala’s taste for poetry and music is quite evident in the song.

“Kanula Chatu Meghama is one of my many favourite songs in this film and I hold it close to my heart. No song has satisfied me as much as this number in my career. Srinivas Avasarala always gives me a strong reference point for some of the best songs in the films we work for. He suggested a sad love song on the lines of composer Madanmohan’s Lag Ja Gale and I was scared if I’d be able to meet his expectations,” composer Kalyani Malik said.

“Lyricist Lakshmi Bhupal and singer Aabhas Joshi deserve utmost credit for the song. It may sound exaggerated now, but I informed them they would go on to win a National Award for their efforts. I was in awe of Aabhas’ talent, despite being a non-Telugu singer, his diction and vocal control surprised me. When I was working with him, I was sad that time was passing quickly, he made the process feel effortless. I’m sure audiences are going to love it,” he added.

“After Jyo Achyutananda, I’d taken a while to inform Kalyani Malik that we’d be working on a romance. I called him right at the moment when I visualised the Kanula Chatu Meghama song in my mind and said it had the potential to be on par with the likes of Em Sandeham Ledu and Oka Lalana. We began work after many breaks, but I’m really proud about how the song has shaped up,” Srinivas Avasarala shared.

“I was very impressed by Aabhas Joshi’s work on Instagram and felt he’d be a good fit for the song. Kalyani Malik okayed it immediately and even thanked me for introducing him to such a talent later. I take great pride in introducing him to Telugu cinema. I irritated Lakshmi Bhupal a lot for this and you’ll remember the soulful poetry in the song for long. Very rarely have I been extremely proud of something to this extent in my films,” he stated.

“The combination of Vamsee-Ilaiyaraaja has been my favourite for many years, I’d say Srinivas Avasarala-Kalyani Malik are that duo who’ve recreated a similar impact for this generation. There’s a special quality to their collaborations, there’s beautiful melody and I’m thankful I could write one such memorable number, Kanula Chatu Meghama for Phalana Abbayi Phalana Ammayi,” lyricist Lakshmi Bhupal said.

“The lyrics have come out beautifully for this song. At the risk of sounding boastful, I became a fan of my own number. Aabhas Joshi’s rendition is the lifeline of the song and I’m sure Kanula Chatu Meghama will stay in the hearts of music buffs for many more years,” he added.

The film is gearing up for a release on March 17. Phalana Abbayi Phalana Ammayi also stars Srinivas Avasarala, Megha Chowdhury, Ashok Kumar, Abhishek Maharshi, Sri Vidya, Varanasi Soumya Chalamcharla, Harini Rao, Arjun Prasad, and others.