The One) is a 2003 Indian Telugu-language romance action drama film co-written and directed by Gunasekhar and produced by M. S. Raju.

The music was composed by Mani Sharma, while the cinematography and editing were handled by Sekhar V. Joseph and A. Sreekar Prasad.

[2] Okkadu was later remade into Tamil as Ghilli (2004), Kannada as Ajay (2006), Bengali as Jor (2008), twice in Bangladesh as Dapot (2006) and Bolona Kobul (2009), Odia as Mate Aanidela Lakhe Phaguna (2008), Hindi as Tevar (2015), and Sinhala as Kabaddi (2021).

Ajay learns that Swapna is trying to leave for US to live with her uncle and pursue her studies after Obul killed her brothers over their disapproval of his interest in their sister on account of the age gap.

Later, Obul regained his consciousness to kill Ajay, but Swapna's father, Dhasaratharami Reddy, later stabbed him to death.

During his days as an assistant director in Madras (now Chennai), Gunasekhar dreamt of directing a film with the backdrop of Charminar, a monument and mosque located in Hyderabad.

After watching West Side Story (1961), he took inspiration from the war between two gangs and wrote a script choosing Charminar and Old city area of Hyderabad as the film's backdrop.

[3] Years later, Aswini Dutt met Gunasekhar during the re-recording sessions of Choodalani Vundi (1998) where the latter saw the portfolio images of Mahesh Babu whose debut film Rajakumarudu (1999) was officially launched that day.

Finding Mahesh Babu apt for the protagonist he envisioned, Gunasekhar narrated the script to him and gained his consent.

[3] Ramoji Rao walked out due to unknown reasons and Mahesh Babu, along with Gunasekhar, met M. S. Raju at Padmalaya Studios office.

Mahesh Babu asked Raju to permit them to erect a Charminar set as they cannot avail police permission to shoot at the original after a person committed suicide by jumping from the top.

[4] Impressed with her screen presence in Yuvakudu (2000), Gunasekhar chose Bhumika Chawla as the film's female lead to be paired with Mahesh Babu.

[9] Sreekar Prasad called it a difficult film as it went through many forms of narration and he found it challenging to keep the pace very fast to make it slick and engaging.

[4] The film's unit erected the Charminar set in the ten acres of land owned by D. Ramanaidu at Gopannapalle near Hyderabad.

[11] Sify wrote, "Finally Mahesh Babu has managed to get the right mix and make Okkadu, a live-wire action thriller.

Paruchuri brothers and director Guna Sekhar have made it racy and Mani Sharma has dished out some memorable tunes".

But keeping in mind that there is only one thread (Mahesh sending Bhumika to USA) to be narrated, we can't expect a better second half.

[13] Okkadu was remade in Tamil as Ghilli (2004) and in Kannada as Ajay (2006), both featuring Prakash Raj reprising his role.