Bheemili Kabaddi Jattu (2010)

In a small town near Bheemili, a group of young labourers form a kabaddi team that is better known for losing than winning. One of them, Suri, falls for a girl who has come to town for a festival, and his shy romance runs alongside the team's unexpected run in a district tournament, where a demanding coach whips them into shape. Bheemili Kabaddi Jattu is the Telugu remake of the Tamil sleeper hit Vennila Kabadi Kuzhu, retaining its composer V. Selvaganesh. It was an early success for Nani, who was then building his reputation as a natural, everyday hero. The film is admired for its earthy village atmosphere and its realistic, unglamorous take on sport, and it carries real emotional weight.