Double the tribute, double the fun

Making her debut in Telugu cinema with Aa Okkati Adakku, Jamie Lever pays homage to grandmother and mother tongue

There are no more barriers in cinema, especially with actors foraying into regional languages with aplomb and Bollywood roping in talent from the south. Actor-comedian Jamie Lever, last seen in Pop Kaun (2023), is making her Telugu debut with director Ram Ankam’s Aa Okkati Adakku.

This is momentous for renowned comedian Johnny Lever’s daughter, as the film is an homage both to her grandmother and her mother tongue. Having wrapped up the project last December, Jamie says that the film is a “dream come true” for her. “Aa Okkati Adakku is not just a professional journey for me. It is a personal homage to my roots. Telugu is my mother tongue, and performing in it is a heartfelt tribute to my grandmother. She understands the language and is more comfortable [conversing] in it,” shares the actor, who is set to play a pivotal role in the film produced by Rajiv Chilaka of Chhota Bheem and the Curse of Damyaan fame. “I feel blessed to have this chance to connect with my roots through cinema. Aa Okkati Adakku is also a celebration of our language, culture, and family.”

The film features an ensemble cast that includes esteemed veterans from the south Indian film industry. Interestingly, the late director EVV Satyanarayana, father of the film’s leading hero, Allari Naresh, helmed a comedy with the same title in 1992. However, Jamie is quick to clarify that Ankam’s directorial venture is not an adaptation of the 32-year-old movie.

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