Jai Lava Kusa is a 2017 Indian Telugu-language action drama film written by Kona Venkat and directed by N. T. Rama Rao Jr and produced by Nandamuri Kalyan Ram under his banner N. T. R. Arts.

The film stars N. T. Rama Rao Jr in a triple role as Jai, Lava and Kusa, alongside Raashi Khanna, Nivetha Thomas, Ronit Roy (in his Telugu film debut), Posani Krishna Murali, Pradeep Rawat, Pavitra Lokesh, Sai Kumar and Nassar.

Jai becomes an evil criminal named Ravana, Kusa becomes a small-time crook and Lava becomes a bank manager.

The film score and soundtrack were composed by Devi Sri Prasad, with cinematography by Chota K. Naidu and editing by Kotagiri Venkateshwara Rao and Thammi Raju.

Kaakha also tells that Ravana learned the weaknesses of both Lava and Kusa and kidnapped Priya and stole the money, respectively.

After the success of Janatha Garage (2016), N. T. Rama Rao Jr., signed his next project tentatively titled #NTR27,[a] under the direction of screenwriter Vakkantham Vamsi, marking his debut as a film director and to be produced by his family banner N. T. R. Arts.

[14] In February 2017, Raashi Khanna was signed to play the lead actress opposite Jr. NTR and a source revealed that her role will have huge importance in the film.

[18][19] Samantha Akkineni was initially added to the cast as one of the three female leads,[20] and reports stated that she will play a negative role, although she turned down the offer.

[citation needed] In April 2017, the makers decided to rope in Kannada actor Duniya Vijay, as the main antagonist, and offered a call sheet to complete his portions with in 15 days.

[24] While the actor was banned by the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce, due to the freak accident held at the sets of Maasthi Gudi (2017) claimed the lives of two stuntmen.

[25][26] The makers hired Bollywood actor Ronit Roy to play the antagonist,[27] marking his debut in Telugu film industry.

[28] The team initially hired C. K. Muraleedharan to handle the cinematography for the film,[29] however due to creative differences, the makers replaced him with Chota K. Naidu after Muraleedharaan opted out of the project.

In April 2017, the production house announced that the Hollywood prosthetics and Legacy Effects expert Vance Hartwell who earlier worked in movies like Lord of the Rings trilogy, Enthiran (2010), Iron Man (2008) and Shutter Island (2010), was signed to take care of NTR's look in the movie,[31] and was flown down from Los Angeles to take the measurement for a facial mask, in which NTR would play three characters in the film.

Vinayak, Dil Raju, Shirish, B. V. S. N. Prasad, Yalamanchili Ravi, Kilaru Sitish, S. Radha Krishna, Suryadevara Naga Vamsi and others.

[37] Bollywood actor Ronit Roy joined the shoot in the mid June 2017 and some action sequences were shot in a stone quarry in Hyderabad.

[38] The shooting of the film got further delayed, after Jr. NTR was hired to host for the Telugu version of Bigg Boss Season 1 for Star Maa.

[39] The film's second schedule in Pune was held on 26 July 2017, were a couple of songs and scenes were shot accordingly,[40] which was expected to take place for 20 days.

[45] The soundtrack was released as a soft launch with a formal press meet on 3 September 2016, after plans for a grand event being cancelled.

[53] On the occasion of Sri Rama Navami (5 April 2017), the makers announced the title of the movie as Jai Lava Kusa.

It was initially proposed that Puri and Jr NTR were supposed to do a film together and had discussed a similar character during their meeting last December.

[69][70] The Hindi dubbed version titled The Power of 3 - Jai Luv Kush was premiered on Zee Cinema on 13 May 2018.

"[72] Srivatsan of India Today gave the film a rating of 3 out of 5 and stated "Jai Lava Kusa is yet another star vehicle that begins on a rather high note.

"[73] Sangeetha Devi Dundoo of The Hindu stated "Jai Lava Kusa gets predictable and even melodramatic, but NTR holds it together with a class act.

[75] Writing for The Indian Express, Manoj Kumar R. gave 3 out of 5 stating "First and major reason not to give Jai Lava Kusa a miss this weekend is the fact that for the first time fans will get to see Jr NTR play a triple role.

Jr NTR has excelled at performing all three roles, while effortlessly switching between Jai, Lava and Kusa showing the stark contract in their characters.

"[78] The New Indian Express gave the film 3 out of 5 stating "Jai Lava Kusa draws its prowess from NTR who pulls off three contrasting roles with great fervour and enthusiasm.

"[79] Vikram Venkateshwaran of Bloomberg Quint reviewed it as "Jai Lava Kusa, at almost three hours is almost completely devoid of lags, and runs through like a breeze.

"[80] Sowmya Rajendran of The News Minute reviewed "Jai Lava Kusa is Junior NTR all the way and he lives up to the massive expectations.

"[81] Suresh Kavirayani of Deccan Chronicle gave 3 out of 5 and stated "Jai Lava Kusa is a good film, conceptually, but the director has only been partially successful in executing his vision.

"[84] Sify gave 2.75 out of 5 stating "Jai Lava Kusa is Jr NTR's show totally from the first episode to the last scene.