He)[1] is a 2005 Indian Telugu-language action thriller film written and directed by Trivikram Srinivas and produced by Jayabheri Arts.

[2] The film stars Mahesh Babu, alongside Trisha, Sonu Sood, Prakash Raj, Nassar, Sunil, Sayaji Shinde, Kota Srinivasa Rao and Brahmanandam.

The film follows a professional killer hired to stage the assassination of a politician, only to be framed for the actual murder, forcing him to assume a new identity while evading the law.

Athadu was released on 10 August 2005 and received positive reviews from critics and audiences, emerging as one of the highest-grossing Telugu films of the year.

He and his partner Malli (who plans the escape) are hired for ₹1,50,00,000 by Siva Reddy - a politician who wants them to stage an assassination attempt on him in order to gain sympathy votes.

In the train, Nandu he meets Parthasarthy "Pardhu", who's going back to his hometown Basarlapudi after two decades, having run away from home as a child.

In the meantime, CBI officer Anjaneya Prasad Sharma is handed over the investigation into Siva Reddy's murder.

He notes the flaws in the evidence, which leads him to Basarlapudi where he attempts to find out Nandu's identity but fails.

He gives Nandu Pardhu's father's shotgun, which had killed him because of an obstructed barrel, and instructs him to find the person who framed him and clear his name so he can come home as a family member.

Nandu arrives at the church where Malli is holed up, and the two are ambushed by corrupt officers sent by Baaji Reddy.

Prasad arrives at the scene and is handed the recording, which he uses to confront Baaji Reddy over his role in the assassination.

[8] Murali Mohan later revealed that he wanted his friend and former Telugu actor Sobhan Babu to play the role of Satya Narayana Murthy, which would have marked his comeback film, who was then busy with a highly profitable real estate career.

[8] A big set was constructed at Ramanaidu Studios in Nanakramguda at Hyderabad where most of the film's family scenes were shot.

[10] On 7 August 2004, a scene featuring Mahesh and Sunil was shot on the bridge of the lake at ICRISAT campus in Hyderabad.

This album consists of six melodies composed by Mani Sharma while Sirivennela Sitaramasastri and Viswa penned the lyrics.

"[14] Sify.com wrote "The highlights of Athadu are the camerawork of K. V. Guhan and the melodious music and background score of Mani Sharma.

"[15] Songs for the soundtrack have been sung by eminent singers like S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K. S. Chithra, Kavita Krishnamurti, Shreya Ghoshal, Mahalakshmi Iyer, and KK.

After 7 years, Star Maa renewed the contract by paying an amount of ₹3.5 crores which was a record price for a 2005 Telugu film.

The film received praise for its plot, slick screenplay, creative action sequences, the amalgamation of humor, emotional weightage, suspense music, dialogues, cinematography and the central performance of Mahesh Babu.

Sify stated, "The highlight of the film is Mahesh Babu who looks cool, confident and competent as a hit man with his expressive body language and mannerisms.

"[15] IndiaGlitz gave a review stating, "The story sure has splendid potential, but the director does not use them to the hilt simply because he attempts to do too many things almost simultaneously.

"[24] The film netted ₹10 lakh from three screens in Chennai in its opening weekend debuting at second position pushing Shankar's Anniyan down to the third place.