'Okkadu' was released this day 15 years ago. Directed by Gunasekhar, this action-drama was the first movie that projected Mahesh Babu as a potential mass star, although it was 'Pokiri' (which released in 2006) that really cemented the image.

Guna was no B Gopal, VV Vinayak or even Teja when this film released. His previous film with Chiranjeevi - 'Mrugaraju' - was a pathetic disaster. It's at this time that the director teamed up with Mahesh, who himself had two back-to-back flops the previous year - 'Takkari Donga' and 'Bobby'. (By the way, his next two films - 'Nijam' and 'Nani', too, were big flops, thereby making 'Okkadu' look all the more colossal in the eyes of everybody).

Written by Guna and Parachuri Brothers, 'Okkadu' presented technically the most superior action sequence for a Telugu film in a long time. Mani Sharma's marvelous songs (especially 'Cheppave Chirugali') were runaway hits. Sekhar V Joseph's cinematography was top class.

No wonder that the film won eight Nandis - in the Best Feature Film, Best Director, Best Music Director, Best Cinematographer, Best Editor, Best Art Director, Best Choreographer, and Best Fight Master categories. It was highly distinct for a commercial film to win these many state awards.