December 28, 2006
December 15, 2006
Seetarama Kalyanam (1961) Check the story behind the making of all time hit film Seetarama Kalyanam (1961)
National Art Theatres
Seetarama Kalyanam (1961)
NTR as Ravana
Technical:
35 MM
Black and White
Duration : 3 hours
Release Date : Jan 6 1961
Cast:
N.T.Rama Rao... Ravana Brahma
B.Saroja Devi...manDodari
Chayadevi.. janaka maharaju wife,
Mani... Mahalaxmi. Seeta
Swarna, Aruna Kumari, Radhika,
Chittor V.Nagayya... Dasarathudu,
Gummadi Venkateshwara Rao
Kanta rao.. Naradudu,
K.V.S.Sharma.. parasuramudu,
Harnath.. ramudu
Uday kumar.. padmaksha maharaaju
Shoban babu.. laxmanudu
Kommineni Sheshagiri Rao.. bharatudu
Vallabhajosula Sivaram, Mikkilineni.. janakudu, A.V.Subbarao,
Mahankali Venkayya.. marichudu
Sivarao
Dances: Kuchala kumari, Jyothy, Gopala Krishna
Playback: P.Leela, P.susheela, Ghantasala, P.B.Srinivas, M.S.Rama Rao
Story Resource: dhanEjula bucchivenkaTakRshNa chaudari
Dialogues, Lyrics: Samudrala Raghavacharya
Music: Galipenchala Narasimha Rao
Dance Director : Vempati Satyam
Art: TVS Sharma
Camera : Ravi Nagaiach
Asst: director : I.N.Murthy
Production Executive: Atluri Pundareekshayya
Producer : Trivikrama Rao
Direction: N.T.Rama Rao
Songs:
Deva deva parandhama nilameha syama
Playback: P.B.Srinivas
Cast: Kanta Rao
kaanaraara kailaasanivaasa baalEMdudharaa jaTaadharaa
Playback: ghantasala
Cast: N.T.Rama Rao
jayatwada bhravibhrama
Playback: ghantasala
Cast: N.T.Rama Rao
paramaSivaachaaraparulalO atyaMta priyuDananna (padyaM)
Playback: ghantasala
Cast: N.T.Rama Rao
hE paarvateenaadha kailaasa Sikharaagravaasa (daMDakaM)
Playback: ghantasala
Cast: N.T.Rama Rao
NTR
sastiryona vistirNo satayojanamunnato asTa Dwara pure lanka (padyam)
Playback: M.S.Rama Rao
Background
daanava kulavairi darmapunanusarimchu (padyaM)
Playback: ghantasala
Cast: N.T.Rama Rao
laxmi kshrasamudra raja tanaya (padyam)
Playback: M.S.Rama Rao
pamasane padmini padma haste (padyam)
Playback: M.S.Rama Rao
Cast : Uday Kumar
veenaa paaDave rAgamayE..
Playback: P.Susheela
Cast: B.Saroja Devi
NTR
inupakaTTadal kaTTina munulaina (Padyam)
Playback: P.B.Srinivas
Cast: Kanta Rao
sarasAla javaralanu nenE kada
Playaback: P.Leela
Cast: Kuchala kumari
nelataa iTuvaMTi needu maaTa needu paaTa (padyaM)
Playback: ghantasala
Cast: N.T.Rama Rao
tolutana brahma vamsamunabutti (padyam)
Playback: P.Leela
Cast: Kuchala kumari
janakuMDu sutuDunu jannammubu sesina vanitA(padyaM)
Playback: ghantasala
Cast: N.T.Rama Rao
NTR
govinda madhava damodara
Playback: Ghantasala
Cast: Jyothy ??
veyikannulu cAlavu gaa kana veyi kannulu cAlavu ga
Playback: P.Leela
kausalya supraja rama purva sandhya pravarthate
Playback: M.S.Rama Rao
Cast : Gummadi
nandini avamanaparici (padyam)
Playback: P.B.Srinivas
Cast: Kanta Rao
pooni bommaku pranamu poyagaru (padyam)
Playback: P.Leela
bhumiki pradakshinamu cEsi muDumaarlu (padyam)
Playback: P.B.Srinivas
Cast: Kanta Rao
NTR and B.Saroja Devi
cirunagavu cindu mOmu (padyam)
Playback: P.B.Srinivas
Cast: Kanta Rao
jagadeka maata gowri karuncimcave bhavani
Playback: P.susheela
Cast: B.Saroja Devi, Mani
sri raghavam dasarthamabrameyam (padyam)
Playback: M.S.Rama Rao
o sukumara ninu gani valacitiraa..
Playback: P.Leela, Ghantasala
Cast: Geetanjali, Harinath
kalyanamu cutamu rarandi seetaramula kalyanamu cuddam raarandi sri seetaramula kalyanamu cutaramu rarandi
Playback: P.Susheela, P.leela
B.Saroja Devi
srirama rama gunabhi rama (sotram)
Playback: M.S.Rama Rao
Cast: K.V.S.Sharma
Mangalam kosalendraya mahaneeya gunatraye (sotram)
Playaback: M.S.Rama Rao
Story:
Basically this is the story of Ravana, who is a great scholar, great musician, deity or lord Shiva, but due to the weakness on beautiful ladies his downfall happened. Ravana who pleases Lord Shiva with his prayers gets a boon that he cannot be defeated by anyone ignoring the mankind. As he feels there is no threat from the poor mankind. Lord Vishnu along with Mahalaxmi takes the form of Rama and Seeta comes to earth to protect the mankind. Rest of the story every one knows.
About the film:
NTR's role as Ravana Brahma won him many awards and also lot of reorganization. Saroja Devi who was introduced in Panduranga Mahatyam did as Mandodhari; Ravana's wife did an excellent job. Mani (Geetanjali) hardly has any dialogues. (May be this inspired Bapu garu to make Seetakalyanam, which is another classic).
The film has excellent camera work by Ravikanth nagaich who made his debut in Telugu films with this film and art direction of TVS Sharma is another great work.
After the success of Panduranga mahatyam, NAT productions planned to make the film on Alluri Seetarama Raju, but as it required some historical details they kept that script aside and started to work on the Sitaramakalyanam. One reason to work on this script is after Panduranga mahatyam his next film Bhukailas was a big hit and he got lot of name for his role of Ravanabrahma, which inspired NTR to concentrate on the role of Ravana Brahma (for the role in Bhukailas he got some awards also).
After the success of Mayabazar, Ramarao was fascinated with the devotional roles. So he read the different versions of Ramayana, Bharatham and Bhagavatam. He didn't appoint any director for the film, but I.N.Murthy acted as an executive director for the film.
I.N.Murthy later directed films like Sukhadukkalu, Jagat Kiladeelu, Jagame Maya, Srirama bantu etc and Telugu and also directed many films in Tamil with Jayashankar.
Initially Saluri Rajeswara Rao was appointed as music director, but due to some differences he opted out of the project. Galipenchala Narasimha Rao stepped into it. The song Seetaramula kalyanamu cudamu rarandi is mega hit song from this film. Any marriage in Telugu land will not happen with this song even today.
For Panduranga mahatyam Rehman worked as cameraman. Seetaramakalyanam has lot of trick photography, though Rehman was experienced in that, they planned to bring some one who is young, so they catch hold of Ravikanth nagaiach who is working under Bhabubhai mistry. This film got lot of reorganization to Ravikanth nagaiach.
Kuchalakumari did the role of Ramba, she is dream girl for many at that time. Especially for Tamil audience. She is relative to T.R.Rajakumari (T.R.Rajakumari was main lead in chandralekha and did a villan role in Manohara). Kuchala kumari dances in the films and outside the films are very famous at that time. Her dance is a must for the function of all top stars houses.
NTR's brother Trivikrama Rao thought Rama rao will be playing both the roles of Rama and Ravana, but he got the shock when Rama Rao informed that some one else will be doing the role or Lord Rama. NTR felt that for the role of Lord Rama he wants very young person, as Ravana is older then Lord Rama. One day he met Harinath at a shoe shop in pandy bazaar, he asked him to come for the screen test. Harinath was very much in tense as if he fails in the test that will end his carrier, but Ramarao encouraged him and asked him to attend the test. Harinath is selected the test. Shoban babu was selected for the role of Laxmana while Kommineni shehagiri Rao (who later became director) played the role of Bharatudu. Harinath has one weakness, which is smoking the cigarettes. Ramarao used to follow the strict diet and rules while he is doing the roles of lords. He scolded Harinath. Harinath was unable to control his weakness and used to smoke secretly without the knowledge of Rama Rao. Rama Rao liked the acting of Harinath and recomended him for the role of Lord Krishna in the film Bheeshma directed and produced by B.A.Subba Rao.
For the role of Seeta they auditioned may artists. Finally some one informed about Mani who did a small dance sequence in the film Raani Ratnaprabha. Rama Rao saw that film again in a special screening and liked her. She was chosen for the role of Seeta. T.G.Kamala another noted artist dubbed her voice in the film. Mani later changed her name to Geetanjali and did many roles and later married to another actor Ramakrishna. Her son recently started acting in films.
Excellent action by NTR, Harianth, Geetanjali, great direction by NTR, excellent music by Galipenchala Narasimha Rao, excellent camera work of Ravikanth Nagaiach and Artwork of TVS Sharma made this film worth watching even after so many years.
Seetarama Kalyanam (1961)
NTR as Ravana
Technical:
35 MM
Black and White
Duration : 3 hours
Release Date : Jan 6 1961
Cast:
N.T.Rama Rao... Ravana Brahma
B.Saroja Devi...manDodari
Chayadevi.. janaka maharaju wife,
Mani... Mahalaxmi. Seeta
Swarna, Aruna Kumari, Radhika,
Chittor V.Nagayya... Dasarathudu,
Gummadi Venkateshwara Rao
Kanta rao.. Naradudu,
K.V.S.Sharma.. parasuramudu,
Harnath.. ramudu
Uday kumar.. padmaksha maharaaju
Shoban babu.. laxmanudu
Kommineni Sheshagiri Rao.. bharatudu
Vallabhajosula Sivaram, Mikkilineni.. janakudu, A.V.Subbarao,
Mahankali Venkayya.. marichudu
Sivarao
Dances: Kuchala kumari, Jyothy, Gopala Krishna
Playback: P.Leela, P.susheela, Ghantasala, P.B.Srinivas, M.S.Rama Rao
Story Resource: dhanEjula bucchivenkaTakRshNa chaudari
Dialogues, Lyrics: Samudrala Raghavacharya
Music: Galipenchala Narasimha Rao
Dance Director : Vempati Satyam
Art: TVS Sharma
Camera : Ravi Nagaiach
Asst: director : I.N.Murthy
Production Executive: Atluri Pundareekshayya
Producer : Trivikrama Rao
Direction: N.T.Rama Rao
Songs:
Deva deva parandhama nilameha syama
Playback: P.B.Srinivas
Cast: Kanta Rao
kaanaraara kailaasanivaasa baalEMdudharaa jaTaadharaa
Playback: ghantasala
Cast: N.T.Rama Rao
jayatwada bhravibhrama
Playback: ghantasala
Cast: N.T.Rama Rao
paramaSivaachaaraparulalO atyaMta priyuDananna (padyaM)
Playback: ghantasala
Cast: N.T.Rama Rao
hE paarvateenaadha kailaasa Sikharaagravaasa (daMDakaM)
Playback: ghantasala
Cast: N.T.Rama Rao
NTR
sastiryona vistirNo satayojanamunnato asTa Dwara pure lanka (padyam)
Playback: M.S.Rama Rao
Background
daanava kulavairi darmapunanusarimchu (padyaM)
Playback: ghantasala
Cast: N.T.Rama Rao
laxmi kshrasamudra raja tanaya (padyam)
Playback: M.S.Rama Rao
pamasane padmini padma haste (padyam)
Playback: M.S.Rama Rao
Cast : Uday Kumar
veenaa paaDave rAgamayE..
Playback: P.Susheela
Cast: B.Saroja Devi
NTR
inupakaTTadal kaTTina munulaina (Padyam)
Playback: P.B.Srinivas
Cast: Kanta Rao
sarasAla javaralanu nenE kada
Playaback: P.Leela
Cast: Kuchala kumari
nelataa iTuvaMTi needu maaTa needu paaTa (padyaM)
Playback: ghantasala
Cast: N.T.Rama Rao
tolutana brahma vamsamunabutti (padyam)
Playback: P.Leela
Cast: Kuchala kumari
janakuMDu sutuDunu jannammubu sesina vanitA(padyaM)
Playback: ghantasala
Cast: N.T.Rama Rao
NTR
govinda madhava damodara
Playback: Ghantasala
Cast: Jyothy ??
veyikannulu cAlavu gaa kana veyi kannulu cAlavu ga
Playback: P.Leela
kausalya supraja rama purva sandhya pravarthate
Playback: M.S.Rama Rao
Cast : Gummadi
nandini avamanaparici (padyam)
Playback: P.B.Srinivas
Cast: Kanta Rao
pooni bommaku pranamu poyagaru (padyam)
Playback: P.Leela
bhumiki pradakshinamu cEsi muDumaarlu (padyam)
Playback: P.B.Srinivas
Cast: Kanta Rao
NTR and B.Saroja Devi
cirunagavu cindu mOmu (padyam)
Playback: P.B.Srinivas
Cast: Kanta Rao
jagadeka maata gowri karuncimcave bhavani
Playback: P.susheela
Cast: B.Saroja Devi, Mani
sri raghavam dasarthamabrameyam (padyam)
Playback: M.S.Rama Rao
o sukumara ninu gani valacitiraa..
Playback: P.Leela, Ghantasala
Cast: Geetanjali, Harinath
kalyanamu cutamu rarandi seetaramula kalyanamu cuddam raarandi sri seetaramula kalyanamu cutaramu rarandi
Playback: P.Susheela, P.leela
B.Saroja Devi
srirama rama gunabhi rama (sotram)
Playback: M.S.Rama Rao
Cast: K.V.S.Sharma
Mangalam kosalendraya mahaneeya gunatraye (sotram)
Playaback: M.S.Rama Rao
Story:
Basically this is the story of Ravana, who is a great scholar, great musician, deity or lord Shiva, but due to the weakness on beautiful ladies his downfall happened. Ravana who pleases Lord Shiva with his prayers gets a boon that he cannot be defeated by anyone ignoring the mankind. As he feels there is no threat from the poor mankind. Lord Vishnu along with Mahalaxmi takes the form of Rama and Seeta comes to earth to protect the mankind. Rest of the story every one knows.
About the film:
NTR's role as Ravana Brahma won him many awards and also lot of reorganization. Saroja Devi who was introduced in Panduranga Mahatyam did as Mandodhari; Ravana's wife did an excellent job. Mani (Geetanjali) hardly has any dialogues. (May be this inspired Bapu garu to make Seetakalyanam, which is another classic).
The film has excellent camera work by Ravikanth nagaich who made his debut in Telugu films with this film and art direction of TVS Sharma is another great work.
After the success of Panduranga mahatyam, NAT productions planned to make the film on Alluri Seetarama Raju, but as it required some historical details they kept that script aside and started to work on the Sitaramakalyanam. One reason to work on this script is after Panduranga mahatyam his next film Bhukailas was a big hit and he got lot of name for his role of Ravanabrahma, which inspired NTR to concentrate on the role of Ravana Brahma (for the role in Bhukailas he got some awards also).
After the success of Mayabazar, Ramarao was fascinated with the devotional roles. So he read the different versions of Ramayana, Bharatham and Bhagavatam. He didn't appoint any director for the film, but I.N.Murthy acted as an executive director for the film.
I.N.Murthy later directed films like Sukhadukkalu, Jagat Kiladeelu, Jagame Maya, Srirama bantu etc and Telugu and also directed many films in Tamil with Jayashankar.
Initially Saluri Rajeswara Rao was appointed as music director, but due to some differences he opted out of the project. Galipenchala Narasimha Rao stepped into it. The song Seetaramula kalyanamu cudamu rarandi is mega hit song from this film. Any marriage in Telugu land will not happen with this song even today.
For Panduranga mahatyam Rehman worked as cameraman. Seetaramakalyanam has lot of trick photography, though Rehman was experienced in that, they planned to bring some one who is young, so they catch hold of Ravikanth nagaiach who is working under Bhabubhai mistry. This film got lot of reorganization to Ravikanth nagaiach.
Kuchalakumari did the role of Ramba, she is dream girl for many at that time. Especially for Tamil audience. She is relative to T.R.Rajakumari (T.R.Rajakumari was main lead in chandralekha and did a villan role in Manohara). Kuchala kumari dances in the films and outside the films are very famous at that time. Her dance is a must for the function of all top stars houses.
NTR's brother Trivikrama Rao thought Rama rao will be playing both the roles of Rama and Ravana, but he got the shock when Rama Rao informed that some one else will be doing the role or Lord Rama. NTR felt that for the role of Lord Rama he wants very young person, as Ravana is older then Lord Rama. One day he met Harinath at a shoe shop in pandy bazaar, he asked him to come for the screen test. Harinath was very much in tense as if he fails in the test that will end his carrier, but Ramarao encouraged him and asked him to attend the test. Harinath is selected the test. Shoban babu was selected for the role of Laxmana while Kommineni shehagiri Rao (who later became director) played the role of Bharatudu. Harinath has one weakness, which is smoking the cigarettes. Ramarao used to follow the strict diet and rules while he is doing the roles of lords. He scolded Harinath. Harinath was unable to control his weakness and used to smoke secretly without the knowledge of Rama Rao. Rama Rao liked the acting of Harinath and recomended him for the role of Lord Krishna in the film Bheeshma directed and produced by B.A.Subba Rao.
For the role of Seeta they auditioned may artists. Finally some one informed about Mani who did a small dance sequence in the film Raani Ratnaprabha. Rama Rao saw that film again in a special screening and liked her. She was chosen for the role of Seeta. T.G.Kamala another noted artist dubbed her voice in the film. Mani later changed her name to Geetanjali and did many roles and later married to another actor Ramakrishna. Her son recently started acting in films.
Excellent action by NTR, Harianth, Geetanjali, great direction by NTR, excellent music by Galipenchala Narasimha Rao, excellent camera work of Ravikanth Nagaiach and Artwork of TVS Sharma made this film worth watching even after so many years.
DVS Karna (1977)
Ramakrishna Cine Studios
daana veera Soora karNa (1977)
Technical:
35mm
Color
Reels: 25 Reels
Duration: 4 hrs 17 minutes
Censor Date: 12 Jan 1977
Release Date: 14 Jan 1977
Production Cost: 10 lakhs (approx.)
Cast:
N.T.R ... Karna, Krishna, Duryodhana
Dhoolipala ... Sakuni
Prabhakar Reddy ... Dharmaraju
Kaikala Satyakanarayana ... Bheemudu
Nandamuri Harikrishna ... Arjuna
Nandamuri Balakrishna ... Abhimanyu
Prabha ... Bhanumathi
Sarada ... Draupadi
B. Saroja Devi ... Prabhavathi
S. Varalakshmi ... Kunthi
Rajasree ... Satyabhama
Kanchana ... Subhadra
Deepa ... Utthara
Rajanala ... Dronacharya
Malladi ... Dhrutharashtra
Mikkilineni ... Bheeshma
Jaggarao ... Dussanudu
Chalapathi Rao ... Indra, Jarasandha, Athiratha
Gummadi Venkateswara Rao ... Parashurama
Mukkamala Krishnamurthy ... Salya
Jayabhaskar ... Surya, Ekalavya
Halam, Jayamalini ... Dancers
Other cast: Vijayakrishna, Gopalakrishna, V. Venkateshwara Rao, Rajkumar, Shankar Prasad, Bhaskara Sastry, Sujatha, Bezawada Chandrakala, etc.
Dialogues: Kondaveeti Venkatakavi
Photography: Nandamuri Mohana Krishna
Choreography (Dances): Vempati Satyam
Music: Pendyala Nageswara Rao, Saluri Rajeshwara Rao (not credited in titles)
Playback: P. Susheela, S.Janaki, S.P. Balasubrahmanyam, G. Anand, M. Ramesh, V. Ramakrishna, M.Venkat Rao
Lyrics: C. Narayana Reddy, Dasarathi Krishnamacharyulu
Verses: Tirupati Venkatakavulu, Kondaveeti Venkatakavi
Asst. Director: Nandamuri Ramesh
Camera: Kanappa
Chief Controller: Harikrishna
Story, Screenplay, Producer, and Direction: N.T. Rama Rao
Songs:
1.E talli ninu kannadO nEnu nee tallinainaanuraa
Playback: P. Susheela
Lyrics: C. Narayana Reddy
Cast: N.T.R, Chalapathi Rao
2.jayeebhava! digvijayayeebhava!
Playback: S.P. Balasubrahmanyam, G.Anand, etc.
Cast: N.T.R
Lyrics: C. Narayana Reddy
3.jaabili kanTE challanidi
Lyrics: Dasaradhi Krishnamacharyulu
Playback: P.Susheela, S.Janaki
4.chitram! bhaLaarE, vichitram!
Lyrics: C.Narayana Reddy
Playback: P.Susheela, S.P.Balasubrahmanyam
Cast: N.T.R, Prabha
5.telisenulE, priyarasikaa!
Lyrics: C. Narayana Reddy
Playback: S. Janaki, P. Susheela
Cast: N.T.R, Prabha, B. Saroja Devi etc
6.O kurusarwabhaumaa!
Lyrics: C. Narayana Reddy
Playback: P. Susheela, S. Janaki, etc.
Cast: N.T.R, Jayamalini
7.annaa, dEvuDu lEDannaa!
Lyrics: C. Narayana Reddy
Playback: S. Janaki, Chorus
Cast: Sarada, N.T.R, Jaggarao, etc.
8.idiraa, doraa, madira!
Lyrics: C. Narayana Reddy
Playback: S. Janaki, etc.
Cast: Halam, Mukkamala
9.Ela Saantammo mari
Lyrics: C. Narayana Reddy
Playback: V. Ramakrishna
Cast: N.T. Rama Rao, Harikrishna
10.kalaganTinO swaami
Lyrics: Dasarathi
Playback: P.Susheela, Ramesh
Cast: Balakrsihna, Deepa
Verses:
jayati ravi udaya samayE
Background
dhaaruNi raajyasampada madambuna
Cast: Satyanarayana
kuruvRddhul guruvRddhabaandhavulanEkul
Cast: satyanarana
ekkaDa nunDi raaka yiTaku
Playback: V. Ramakrishna
Cast: N.T.R (Krishna)
baavaa, eppuDu vacchiteevu
Playback: V. Ramakrishna
Cast: N.T.R
kauravapaanDavul penagu kaalamu
Playback: S.P. Balasubrahmanyam
Cast: N.T.R (Suyodhuna)
munduga vacchiteevu
Playback: V. Ramakrishna
Cast: N.T.R (Krishna)
aayudhamun dharmipa
Playback: V. Ramakrishna
Cast: N.T.R (Krishna)
nandakumaraa!
Playback: Madhavapeddi Ramesh
Cast: Harikrishna
aalunu biDDa EDupu
Cast: Prabhakar Reddy
oka durmaarguDu
Cast: Satyanarayana
niduravochumTivO lEka bedari palkuchunTivO
Playback: V. Ramakrishna
Cast: N.T.R (Krishna)
kurupati peNutoDal
Playback: V. Ramakrishna
Cast: N.T.R (Krishna)
aalamulOni
Cast: Satyanarayana
paalaDuganga
Playback: Madhavapeddi Ramesh
Cast: Harikrishna
ayinanu pOyiraavalayu hastinaku
Cast: N.T.R (Krishna)
SreekRshnaa
Cast: P.J.Sharma
tammuni koDukulu sagapaalimmaniri
Playback: V. Ramakrishna
Cast: N.T.R (Krishna)
tanayula vinichedavO
Playback: V. Ramakrishna
Cast: N.T.R (Krishna)
aluguTayE yerungani
Playback: V. Ramakrishna
Cast: N.T.R (Krishna)
santOshambuna sandhi sEyudurE
Playback: V. Ramakrishna
Cast: N.T.R (Krishna)
samaramu sEyarE balamu saalina
Playback: S.P. Balasubrahmanyam
Cast: N.T.R (Suyodhana)
jayati janananda
Playback: V. Ramakrishna
Cast: N.T.R (Krishna)
amchitulayina
Playback: V. Ramakrishna
Cast: N.T.R (Krishna)
E saaTi vahilOna
Playback: V. Ramakrishna
Cast: N.T.R (Krishna)
sootuni chEtikin doraki
Playback: S.P. Balasubrahmanyam
Cast: N.T.R (Karna)
kaamamu chEtagaani
Playback: V. Ramakrishna
Cast: N.T.R (Krishna)
vamdaaru bhaktamandara
Cast: Mikkilineni Radhakrishnamurthy
SreevaikunTha nivaasaaya
Cast: Mikkilineni Radhakrishna murthy
raNamuna
Cast: Kanchana
udayaadri
Playback: S.P. Balasubrahmanyam
Cast: N.T.R (Karna)
paTTapagalimTe
Playback: Madhavapeddi Ramesh
Cast: Harikrishna
E moola daagenO
Playback: V. Ramakrishna
Cast: N.T.R (Krishna)
About the film:
Many films were based on Mahabharata in Telugu, but the difference between all those films and this one is the characterization of Duryodhana. While making the Sree Krishna Pandaveeyam itself, N.T.R projected Duryodhana as 'Suyodhana' with a positive touch to the role. In this film, he projected Duryodhana as a well-educated person who knew dharma and other things much better than anyone. Some people even say that the title of the movie could actually have been maanadhana veera suyOdhana - such is the importance and characterization of Suyodhana in this movie!
This is the first film shot in Ramakrishna Cine Studios in Hyderabad that was started on June 07, 1976 by Tamil superstar MGR. On the same day, he clapped the muhurth shot for this film. Also, this is the 248th film for NTR, 5th film for both Balakrishna and Harikrishna's, and the 3rd film on Ramakrishna Cine Studios banner.
Intially, NTR wanted ANR to play the role of Krishna as he was already playing the roles of Suyodhana and Karna. When NTR asked ANR, ANR said that the Pandavas should appear shorter when shown by his side, and that'd spoil the overall screen presence He said he will do the film Chankya Chandragupta if he was given a choice. NTR's original plan at that time was to make Chanakya Chandragupta with him in the role of Chanakya and Balakrishna in the role of Chandragupta. When ANR offered to do the role of Chanakya, NTR made changes accordingly and did the role of Chandragupta. However, the script of Chankya Chandragupta was not ready yet, and there was news that Krishna was planning the film Kurukshetram with a story line similar to Dana Veera Soora Karna (DVS Karna). Thus, NTR started DVS Karna immediately, with an intent to release the film for Sankranthi at any cost.
After much mulling over and asking around, they finally zeroed in on Kondaveeti Venkatakavi to write the script and dialogues for the film. At that time, he was the Principal of a Sanskrit college. Kondaveeti Venkatakavi (KVK) is an athiest, and he thus rejected the offer. When NTR personally went and requested, he was unable to say no and both NTR and KVK started working on the script. With this film, KVK got lot of name. Especially, the dialogues of the film were a super duper hit. The film's dialogues were released as LP and audiocassettes and were sold like hot cakes! (HMV, the company that released the audio, says that there are considerable sales of the cassettes, and CDs, even now). Particular scenes such as the first meeting of Karna and Suyodhana, Sakuni's encouragement to Suyodhana to go to the raajasUya yaagam, the Mayasabha scene and the subsequent mental upset of Suyodhana, the scene that precedes Draupadi's vastraapaharaNam, and the raayabaaram scene are all famous for their lengthy and complicated dialogues. The dialogues were immensely popular even though they were in chaste bookish Telugu (graanthikamu). Notable is the "positive spin" that the dialogues give to Suyodhana's character without changing the original story any much, particularly in scenes such as vastraapaharaNam and raayabaaram, where he projects himself as the good guy and Pandavas and Krishna as crooked minds. While most mythological and folkloric movies since the 1950s were all in more or less colloquial tongue (vaaDuka bhaasha), this movie from the 1970s used graanthika bhaasha completely. After this film, KVK worked for films like Tandra Paparayudu, Sreemadvirata Parvam, Sreemadvirat Pothuluri Veerabrahmendraswami Charitra etc. He later worked in Eenadu magazine until his death (in charge of news headlines, which were popular in their own way).
While NTR was busy with the DVSK, Krishna was busy with the Kurusketram. While the former was completely made locally in Ramakrishna Cine Studios, Kurukshetram was shot in Mysore, Rajasthan, and other places with huge settings. Only three people who worked for both the films were C. Narayana Reddy, Kaikala Satyanarayana (Duryodhana in Kurukshetram), and Gummadi (Dharmaraju in Kurukshetram).
Most of the verses in the film are taken from paanDavOdyOga vijayam and SreekRshna raayabaram by the famous poet duo Tirupati Venkata Kavulu. Pundareekashayya had got the rights for these while making the film SreekRshnaavataaram in the past. Krishna wanted to use them for Kuruskshetram and gave a blank cheque to Pundareekakshayya, who refused the offer and gave the rights to NTR for free! S.P. Balasubrahmanyam and Peesapati Raghuramayya (who was famous on the stage for the role of Krishna) sang the raayabaram verses intially, but NTR was not satisfied with that. He even though of using the verses that originally rendered by Ghantasala for the film SreekRshnaavataaram. It was Saluri who suggested to use Ramakrishna for the verses. Once the film was released, Ramakrishna got a lot of name.
Padmalaya got the rights of Ghantasala's Bhagavadgeeta audio after his death and used those verses in Kurukshetram, while DVS Karna has "prosaic" Bhagavadgeeta for the most part.
Initially, Saluri Rajeswara Rao was the music director for the film. The songs E talli ninu kannadO and the verses were all set to music by him. While he recorded the songs, rest of them were done by Pendyala Nageshwara Rao. However, the title card shows only Pendyala's name. The film has ten songs and 35 verses. This might be the only film which has so many singing items (Lavakusa, maybe?). This was the last movie for Pendyala.
Sarada, who worked with NTR in the film Jeevita Chakram many years ago then, acted as Draupadi. She had a lot of doubts before agreeing to do the role. Most of all, she was nervous to work with NTR as she was aware of his strictness. On the first day of the shooting, she was so nervous that she took a lot of takes for her part. After the shooting for the day, NTR talked to her and made her more comfortable. After that film, she did many films with him. Actually her re-entry into the films in her second innings was with the NTR's Chandashasanudu. Chalapathi Rao did three roles (Jarasandha, Atiratha, Indra) and also appears in two other getups as disguises of Indra, while Jayabhaskar did a dual role (Surya, Ekalavya) in the film. It was NTR who gave a chance to Dhulippala as Sakuni in the film Sree Krishna Pandaveeyam. For this film also, he was choosen for the same role for a remuneration of Rs. 1116/-!
Balakrishna played the role of Abhimanyu in the film, which got him very good recognition. Hariskrishna did the role of Arjuna. After Thatamma Kala, this was the second and the last film where all the three of them worked together. This was the only film in which you can see NTR's daughters, even for a second, on the screen in the dance scene of jaabili kanTE challanidi. Though the complete song was shot, ANR suggested that the scene should be deleted and NTR took out the song before the censor. However, one can still see his daughters on the screen for a moment.
The film was completed in 43 working days which was record, given that each of the three characters of NTR took at least three hours to put the makeup and two hours to remove it! NTR never used to see the rushes before the release, and thus they edited the film within days, without seeing the rushes. Kannappa, who earlier worked for NTR's Manashulanta Okkate worked for this film too. As there was no time for the work to be checked, one can notice the wire work in a couple of scenes, but the audience never bothered about that! Mayasabha work was not completed by the time of the shooting. So, NTR took close-ups while the paitings were done and long shots once the painting was all completed, in order to save time. However, this detail did not reflect on the screen! Harikrishna and Balakrishna also painted the sets along with the Art Department personnel (Courtesy: YVS Chowdary)
The film was censored on Jan. 12, 1977 and was released on Jan. 14. (The film was released with 30 prints in all, but Gemini was unable to print all 30 prints in the short time given, and thus the film was released in 14 centers on the first day and in 16 centers the next day). The film ran for 100 days in 9 centers and 250 days in Hyderabad Shanti Theatre. The film's cost was less than ten lakhs. It earned more than one crore in the first run itself! Another record of the film was that it was sold for 60 lakhs for the repeat run in 1994 with 30 prints and earned more then one crore in the repeat run too! (The distributors invested ten thousand per area and got a one scope print per district from Gemini Labs).
The film can be claimed to be the one of the lengthiest films in Telugu film industry and even in the Indian film industry on the whole! It's running time is 4 hrs 17 minutes. Out of this, NTR can be seen on the screen for nearly four hours, which is also a record! (Though Raj Kapoor's magnum opus Mera Naam Joker runs for 4 hrs 24 minutes, the film was later trimmed by forty mintues.) A Russian cultural group that visited India at that time saw the film and was wonderstruk with the film, and NTR's ablities that sustained and entertained a lengthy film!
daana veera Soora karNa (1977)
Technical:
35mm
Color
Reels: 25 Reels
Duration: 4 hrs 17 minutes
Censor Date: 12 Jan 1977
Release Date: 14 Jan 1977
Production Cost: 10 lakhs (approx.)
Cast:
N.T.R ... Karna, Krishna, Duryodhana
Dhoolipala ... Sakuni
Prabhakar Reddy ... Dharmaraju
Kaikala Satyakanarayana ... Bheemudu
Nandamuri Harikrishna ... Arjuna
Nandamuri Balakrishna ... Abhimanyu
Prabha ... Bhanumathi
Sarada ... Draupadi
B. Saroja Devi ... Prabhavathi
S. Varalakshmi ... Kunthi
Rajasree ... Satyabhama
Kanchana ... Subhadra
Deepa ... Utthara
Rajanala ... Dronacharya
Malladi ... Dhrutharashtra
Mikkilineni ... Bheeshma
Jaggarao ... Dussanudu
Chalapathi Rao ... Indra, Jarasandha, Athiratha
Gummadi Venkateswara Rao ... Parashurama
Mukkamala Krishnamurthy ... Salya
Jayabhaskar ... Surya, Ekalavya
Halam, Jayamalini ... Dancers
Other cast: Vijayakrishna, Gopalakrishna, V. Venkateshwara Rao, Rajkumar, Shankar Prasad, Bhaskara Sastry, Sujatha, Bezawada Chandrakala, etc.
Dialogues: Kondaveeti Venkatakavi
Photography: Nandamuri Mohana Krishna
Choreography (Dances): Vempati Satyam
Music: Pendyala Nageswara Rao, Saluri Rajeshwara Rao (not credited in titles)
Playback: P. Susheela, S.Janaki, S.P. Balasubrahmanyam, G. Anand, M. Ramesh, V. Ramakrishna, M.Venkat Rao
Lyrics: C. Narayana Reddy, Dasarathi Krishnamacharyulu
Verses: Tirupati Venkatakavulu, Kondaveeti Venkatakavi
Asst. Director: Nandamuri Ramesh
Camera: Kanappa
Chief Controller: Harikrishna
Story, Screenplay, Producer, and Direction: N.T. Rama Rao
Songs:
1.E talli ninu kannadO nEnu nee tallinainaanuraa
Playback: P. Susheela
Lyrics: C. Narayana Reddy
Cast: N.T.R, Chalapathi Rao
2.jayeebhava! digvijayayeebhava!
Playback: S.P. Balasubrahmanyam, G.Anand, etc.
Cast: N.T.R
Lyrics: C. Narayana Reddy
3.jaabili kanTE challanidi
Lyrics: Dasaradhi Krishnamacharyulu
Playback: P.Susheela, S.Janaki
4.chitram! bhaLaarE, vichitram!
Lyrics: C.Narayana Reddy
Playback: P.Susheela, S.P.Balasubrahmanyam
Cast: N.T.R, Prabha
5.telisenulE, priyarasikaa!
Lyrics: C. Narayana Reddy
Playback: S. Janaki, P. Susheela
Cast: N.T.R, Prabha, B. Saroja Devi etc
6.O kurusarwabhaumaa!
Lyrics: C. Narayana Reddy
Playback: P. Susheela, S. Janaki, etc.
Cast: N.T.R, Jayamalini
7.annaa, dEvuDu lEDannaa!
Lyrics: C. Narayana Reddy
Playback: S. Janaki, Chorus
Cast: Sarada, N.T.R, Jaggarao, etc.
8.idiraa, doraa, madira!
Lyrics: C. Narayana Reddy
Playback: S. Janaki, etc.
Cast: Halam, Mukkamala
9.Ela Saantammo mari
Lyrics: C. Narayana Reddy
Playback: V. Ramakrishna
Cast: N.T. Rama Rao, Harikrishna
10.kalaganTinO swaami
Lyrics: Dasarathi
Playback: P.Susheela, Ramesh
Cast: Balakrsihna, Deepa
Verses:
jayati ravi udaya samayE
Background
dhaaruNi raajyasampada madambuna
Cast: Satyanarayana
kuruvRddhul guruvRddhabaandhavulanEkul
Cast: satyanarana
ekkaDa nunDi raaka yiTaku
Playback: V. Ramakrishna
Cast: N.T.R (Krishna)
baavaa, eppuDu vacchiteevu
Playback: V. Ramakrishna
Cast: N.T.R
kauravapaanDavul penagu kaalamu
Playback: S.P. Balasubrahmanyam
Cast: N.T.R (Suyodhuna)
munduga vacchiteevu
Playback: V. Ramakrishna
Cast: N.T.R (Krishna)
aayudhamun dharmipa
Playback: V. Ramakrishna
Cast: N.T.R (Krishna)
nandakumaraa!
Playback: Madhavapeddi Ramesh
Cast: Harikrishna
aalunu biDDa EDupu
Cast: Prabhakar Reddy
oka durmaarguDu
Cast: Satyanarayana
niduravochumTivO lEka bedari palkuchunTivO
Playback: V. Ramakrishna
Cast: N.T.R (Krishna)
kurupati peNutoDal
Playback: V. Ramakrishna
Cast: N.T.R (Krishna)
aalamulOni
Cast: Satyanarayana
paalaDuganga
Playback: Madhavapeddi Ramesh
Cast: Harikrishna
ayinanu pOyiraavalayu hastinaku
Cast: N.T.R (Krishna)
SreekRshnaa
Cast: P.J.Sharma
tammuni koDukulu sagapaalimmaniri
Playback: V. Ramakrishna
Cast: N.T.R (Krishna)
tanayula vinichedavO
Playback: V. Ramakrishna
Cast: N.T.R (Krishna)
aluguTayE yerungani
Playback: V. Ramakrishna
Cast: N.T.R (Krishna)
santOshambuna sandhi sEyudurE
Playback: V. Ramakrishna
Cast: N.T.R (Krishna)
samaramu sEyarE balamu saalina
Playback: S.P. Balasubrahmanyam
Cast: N.T.R (Suyodhana)
jayati janananda
Playback: V. Ramakrishna
Cast: N.T.R (Krishna)
amchitulayina
Playback: V. Ramakrishna
Cast: N.T.R (Krishna)
E saaTi vahilOna
Playback: V. Ramakrishna
Cast: N.T.R (Krishna)
sootuni chEtikin doraki
Playback: S.P. Balasubrahmanyam
Cast: N.T.R (Karna)
kaamamu chEtagaani
Playback: V. Ramakrishna
Cast: N.T.R (Krishna)
vamdaaru bhaktamandara
Cast: Mikkilineni Radhakrishnamurthy
SreevaikunTha nivaasaaya
Cast: Mikkilineni Radhakrishna murthy
raNamuna
Cast: Kanchana
udayaadri
Playback: S.P. Balasubrahmanyam
Cast: N.T.R (Karna)
paTTapagalimTe
Playback: Madhavapeddi Ramesh
Cast: Harikrishna
E moola daagenO
Playback: V. Ramakrishna
Cast: N.T.R (Krishna)
About the film:
Many films were based on Mahabharata in Telugu, but the difference between all those films and this one is the characterization of Duryodhana. While making the Sree Krishna Pandaveeyam itself, N.T.R projected Duryodhana as 'Suyodhana' with a positive touch to the role. In this film, he projected Duryodhana as a well-educated person who knew dharma and other things much better than anyone. Some people even say that the title of the movie could actually have been maanadhana veera suyOdhana - such is the importance and characterization of Suyodhana in this movie!
This is the first film shot in Ramakrishna Cine Studios in Hyderabad that was started on June 07, 1976 by Tamil superstar MGR. On the same day, he clapped the muhurth shot for this film. Also, this is the 248th film for NTR, 5th film for both Balakrishna and Harikrishna's, and the 3rd film on Ramakrishna Cine Studios banner.
Intially, NTR wanted ANR to play the role of Krishna as he was already playing the roles of Suyodhana and Karna. When NTR asked ANR, ANR said that the Pandavas should appear shorter when shown by his side, and that'd spoil the overall screen presence He said he will do the film Chankya Chandragupta if he was given a choice. NTR's original plan at that time was to make Chanakya Chandragupta with him in the role of Chanakya and Balakrishna in the role of Chandragupta. When ANR offered to do the role of Chanakya, NTR made changes accordingly and did the role of Chandragupta. However, the script of Chankya Chandragupta was not ready yet, and there was news that Krishna was planning the film Kurukshetram with a story line similar to Dana Veera Soora Karna (DVS Karna). Thus, NTR started DVS Karna immediately, with an intent to release the film for Sankranthi at any cost.
After much mulling over and asking around, they finally zeroed in on Kondaveeti Venkatakavi to write the script and dialogues for the film. At that time, he was the Principal of a Sanskrit college. Kondaveeti Venkatakavi (KVK) is an athiest, and he thus rejected the offer. When NTR personally went and requested, he was unable to say no and both NTR and KVK started working on the script. With this film, KVK got lot of name. Especially, the dialogues of the film were a super duper hit. The film's dialogues were released as LP and audiocassettes and were sold like hot cakes! (HMV, the company that released the audio, says that there are considerable sales of the cassettes, and CDs, even now). Particular scenes such as the first meeting of Karna and Suyodhana, Sakuni's encouragement to Suyodhana to go to the raajasUya yaagam, the Mayasabha scene and the subsequent mental upset of Suyodhana, the scene that precedes Draupadi's vastraapaharaNam, and the raayabaaram scene are all famous for their lengthy and complicated dialogues. The dialogues were immensely popular even though they were in chaste bookish Telugu (graanthikamu). Notable is the "positive spin" that the dialogues give to Suyodhana's character without changing the original story any much, particularly in scenes such as vastraapaharaNam and raayabaaram, where he projects himself as the good guy and Pandavas and Krishna as crooked minds. While most mythological and folkloric movies since the 1950s were all in more or less colloquial tongue (vaaDuka bhaasha), this movie from the 1970s used graanthika bhaasha completely. After this film, KVK worked for films like Tandra Paparayudu, Sreemadvirata Parvam, Sreemadvirat Pothuluri Veerabrahmendraswami Charitra etc. He later worked in Eenadu magazine until his death (in charge of news headlines, which were popular in their own way).
While NTR was busy with the DVSK, Krishna was busy with the Kurusketram. While the former was completely made locally in Ramakrishna Cine Studios, Kurukshetram was shot in Mysore, Rajasthan, and other places with huge settings. Only three people who worked for both the films were C. Narayana Reddy, Kaikala Satyanarayana (Duryodhana in Kurukshetram), and Gummadi (Dharmaraju in Kurukshetram).
Most of the verses in the film are taken from paanDavOdyOga vijayam and SreekRshna raayabaram by the famous poet duo Tirupati Venkata Kavulu. Pundareekashayya had got the rights for these while making the film SreekRshnaavataaram in the past. Krishna wanted to use them for Kuruskshetram and gave a blank cheque to Pundareekakshayya, who refused the offer and gave the rights to NTR for free! S.P. Balasubrahmanyam and Peesapati Raghuramayya (who was famous on the stage for the role of Krishna) sang the raayabaram verses intially, but NTR was not satisfied with that. He even though of using the verses that originally rendered by Ghantasala for the film SreekRshnaavataaram. It was Saluri who suggested to use Ramakrishna for the verses. Once the film was released, Ramakrishna got a lot of name.
Padmalaya got the rights of Ghantasala's Bhagavadgeeta audio after his death and used those verses in Kurukshetram, while DVS Karna has "prosaic" Bhagavadgeeta for the most part.
Initially, Saluri Rajeswara Rao was the music director for the film. The songs E talli ninu kannadO and the verses were all set to music by him. While he recorded the songs, rest of them were done by Pendyala Nageshwara Rao. However, the title card shows only Pendyala's name. The film has ten songs and 35 verses. This might be the only film which has so many singing items (Lavakusa, maybe?). This was the last movie for Pendyala.
Sarada, who worked with NTR in the film Jeevita Chakram many years ago then, acted as Draupadi. She had a lot of doubts before agreeing to do the role. Most of all, she was nervous to work with NTR as she was aware of his strictness. On the first day of the shooting, she was so nervous that she took a lot of takes for her part. After the shooting for the day, NTR talked to her and made her more comfortable. After that film, she did many films with him. Actually her re-entry into the films in her second innings was with the NTR's Chandashasanudu. Chalapathi Rao did three roles (Jarasandha, Atiratha, Indra) and also appears in two other getups as disguises of Indra, while Jayabhaskar did a dual role (Surya, Ekalavya) in the film. It was NTR who gave a chance to Dhulippala as Sakuni in the film Sree Krishna Pandaveeyam. For this film also, he was choosen for the same role for a remuneration of Rs. 1116/-!
Balakrishna played the role of Abhimanyu in the film, which got him very good recognition. Hariskrishna did the role of Arjuna. After Thatamma Kala, this was the second and the last film where all the three of them worked together. This was the only film in which you can see NTR's daughters, even for a second, on the screen in the dance scene of jaabili kanTE challanidi. Though the complete song was shot, ANR suggested that the scene should be deleted and NTR took out the song before the censor. However, one can still see his daughters on the screen for a moment.
The film was completed in 43 working days which was record, given that each of the three characters of NTR took at least three hours to put the makeup and two hours to remove it! NTR never used to see the rushes before the release, and thus they edited the film within days, without seeing the rushes. Kannappa, who earlier worked for NTR's Manashulanta Okkate worked for this film too. As there was no time for the work to be checked, one can notice the wire work in a couple of scenes, but the audience never bothered about that! Mayasabha work was not completed by the time of the shooting. So, NTR took close-ups while the paitings were done and long shots once the painting was all completed, in order to save time. However, this detail did not reflect on the screen! Harikrishna and Balakrishna also painted the sets along with the Art Department personnel (Courtesy: YVS Chowdary)
The film was censored on Jan. 12, 1977 and was released on Jan. 14. (The film was released with 30 prints in all, but Gemini was unable to print all 30 prints in the short time given, and thus the film was released in 14 centers on the first day and in 16 centers the next day). The film ran for 100 days in 9 centers and 250 days in Hyderabad Shanti Theatre. The film's cost was less than ten lakhs. It earned more than one crore in the first run itself! Another record of the film was that it was sold for 60 lakhs for the repeat run in 1994 with 30 prints and earned more then one crore in the repeat run too! (The distributors invested ten thousand per area and got a one scope print per district from Gemini Labs).
The film can be claimed to be the one of the lengthiest films in Telugu film industry and even in the Indian film industry on the whole! It's running time is 4 hrs 17 minutes. Out of this, NTR can be seen on the screen for nearly four hours, which is also a record! (Though Raj Kapoor's magnum opus Mera Naam Joker runs for 4 hrs 24 minutes, the film was later trimmed by forty mintues.) A Russian cultural group that visited India at that time saw the film and was wonderstruk with the film, and NTR's ablities that sustained and entertained a lengthy film!
NTR's Panduranga Mahathyam(1957)
N.A.T. Private Limited
Panduranga Mahatmyam (1957)
Technical:
Reels: 18
Black and White
Duration: 2 hours 55 minutes
Release Date: November 27, 1957
Cast:
N.T. Rama Rao ... Pundareeka
Anjali Devi ... Rama (Pundareeka's wife)
V. Nagayya ... Pundareeka's father
Rshyendramani ... Lakshmi (Pundareeka's mother)
K.V.S. Sarma ... Kukkuta muni, Vrutthasura
B. Saroja Devi ... Kalavathi
Ammaji ... Champa
'Shavukaru' Janaki ... Rama's sister
Padmanabham ... Sreehari
Kasturi Sivarao... Rangadasu
Balakrishna ... Ramadasu
A.V. Subbarao ... Indra
Lord Krishna ... Nirmala (baby Vijayanirmala)
Kuchalakumari, Tangappa ... Dancers
Other cast: Peketi Sivaram, Vangara Ventaka Subbayya, Koneswara Sastry, Ramachandra Rao, Lakshmayya Chowdary, Boddapati, Chayadevi, Nimmi, Reeta
Dialogues, Lyrics: Samudrala Ramanujacharya
Camera: M.A. Rehman
Choreography: Vempati Satyam
Playback: Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao, V. Nagayya, Madhavapeddi Satyam, P. Susheela , P. Leela, P.G. Krishnaveni (Jikki), A.P. Komala, Pithapuram Nageswara Rao, M.S. Rama Rao
Music: T.V. Raju
Assistant Music Director: Joseph
Editing: J.D. Joshi
Art: Thota Venkateswara Rao
Production Executive: Atluri Pundareekakshayya
Producer: N. Trivikrama Rao
Director: Kamalakara Kameswara Rao
Songs:
Om namaSSivaaya ..... hara hara hara SambhO!
Playback: Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao
Cast: K.V.S. Sarma
1.kanavEraa muniraaja mauLee!
raagam: jayajayawanti
Playback: P. Leela
Cast: Kuchalakumari
2.taram taram, nirantaram, nee andam, ahaa, aanandam
Playback: Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao
Cast: N.T. Rama Rao
3.hE kRshNaa! mukundaa! muraarI!
raagam: mOhana/raagamaalika
Playback: Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao
Cast: N.T. Rama Rao, Vijayanirmala
(and SreekRshNa karNaamRtam)
4.Sree kaaminee kaamitaakaara (danDakam)
raagam: aarabhi
Playback: Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao
Cast: N.T. Rama Rao
5."ammaa!" ani arachinaa aalakinchavEmammaa!
Playback: Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao
Cast: N.T. Rama Rao
6.E paadaseema kaaSeeprayaagaadi pavitrabhoomula kanna vimalataramo (Verse)
raagam: shaNmaukhapriya
Playback: Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao
Cast: N.T. Rama Rao, V. Nagayya, Rshyendramani
7.chebitE vinTiva, gurU gurU? vinakE cheDitira Sishyaa Sishyaa!
Playback: Madhavapeddi Satyam, Pithapuram Nageswara Rao
Cast: Kasturi Sivarao, Balakrishna
8.pedavula raagam, madi anuraagam
Playback: P.G. Krishnaveni (Jikki)
Cast: B. Saroja Devi
9.ekkaDivaaDO yakshatanayEndu
Playback: A.P. Komala
10.neevani nEnani talachitiraa!
Playback: Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao, P. Susheela
Cast: N.T. Rama Rao, B. Saroja Devi
11.vannera chinnela neraa!
Playback: Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao, P. Leela
Cast: N.T. Rama Rao, Anjali Devi
12.jaya jaya gOkula baalaa! muraLeegaana vilOlaa!
Playback: V. Nagayya
Cast: V. Nagayya
13.O daari gaanani samsaari dari jErETi (saadhuvula paaTa)
Playback: M.S. Rama Rao, Chorus
14.ekkaDOyi muddula baava
Playback: Pithapuram Nageswara Rao, A.P Komala
Cast: B. Saroja Devi, Ammaji
15.aanandamu O aanandamidEnOyi sakhaa!
Playback: P. Susheela
Cast: B. Saroja Devi
16.tOlu titti yidi, tooTulu tommidi
Playback: Madhavapeddi Satyam, Pithapuram Nageswara Rao
17.sannuti sEyavE manasaa!
Playback: V. Nagayya
Cast: V. Nagayya
18.adee bijaa EkhalE (Bhajan)
Playback: Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao, A.P Komala
19.tuma bina mOrE
Playback: A.P. Komala
20.aaj kaa sunhEraa din hai
Playback: Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao
21.aatalaaDa raaraa kannayyaa!
Playback: A.P. Komala
22.akkaDa unDE paanDurangaDu
Playback: Chorus
Story:
Pundareeka (N.T. Rama Rao), a wayward, falls in the trap of Kalavathi (B. Saroja Devi) though he is married to Rama (Anjali Devi). He even steals in his own house to present gifts to Kalavathi. Rama and Pundareeka part with the latter's parents, in the wake of theft accusations. Once Kalavathi possesses all the property of Pundareeka, she kicks him out of the house. A realized and reformed Pundareeka searches for his parents and changes his ways. How the place was named after him is the rest of the story.
About the film:
Background:
After the super success of Jayasimha, NTR wanted to make another film. At that time ANR's Vipranarayana was a big hit. NTR also wanted to do a devotional film comparable to Vipranarayana. While looking for a suitable story, NTR heard that the Tamil super hit Haridas (1946), starring Thyagaraja Bhagavatar and Vasundhara Devi (mother of noted actress Vyjayanthimala) that ran for 110 weeks at that time, was being screened for a special midnight show in Elisonstone theater in Madras on the occasion of Ekadasi. NTR, along with Trivikrama Rao, Pundareekakshayya, and D.V.S. Raju (DVS was sleeping partner for the films Thodudongalu, Jayasimha, Panduranga Mahatmyam, Seetarama Kalyanam and Gulebakavali Katha), went and saw the film and they liked it. They discussed further and finalized that it can be tailored for NTR. For script modifications, dialogues, and lyrics, they approached Samudrala Junior who ealier worked for NAT banner for the film Jayasimha. The film was completely shot in Vauhini Studios.
Technical:
Director Kamalakara Kameswara Rao debuted with Chandraharam and then made Penki Pellam, both with NTR, and both the movies were disasters at the box-office. However, NTR still had a faith in his talent and still gave him a third chance in the form of this film. And, he indeed proved NTR right by giving him one of the greatest hits of the hero's entire career. Utmost care had been taken in each shot. There were many symbolic shots in the film, such as gradually waning moon in the song vannela chinnela neraa! to indicate passage of time, night turning into day as Rama awaits Pundareeka, etc. Thota's art and Rehman's camera are worth mentioning. They did a wonderful job for the film. Each detail is taken care of very well indeed.
Musical:
Songs like jaya kRshNaa mukundaa muraaree!, "ammaa!" yani arachinaa..., hara hara hara SambhO!, etc. are all-time hits. The song jaya kRshNaa mukundaa muraaree! was such an all-time great hit that it is the only Telugu song that's played in Vayur Krishna temple in Kerala even to this day! The film's assistant music director Joseph later composed music for N.A.T 's Gulebakavali Katha. This is the only film Nagayya sang under the direction of T.V. Raju; however he did not get credited as a playback singer for his own songs for the movie. Ghantasala's songs from the movie are huge hits even today, but his name too missed out of the titles! After seeing the première of the film, Smt. Ghantasala Savithramma gaaru pointed this flaw to NTR, who was too shocked to hear this and apologized to Ghantasala gaaru personally.
Cast:
B. Saroja Devi shares her experiences
My mother used to go to NAT office at that time to request a chance for me in NTR's films. I was 14 years old then; I already made my debut in Kannada with Mahakavi Kalidasa (1955), and I was also working with MGR in Tamil when I signed this film. In fact, both the cameraman M.A. Rehman and NTR's personal makeup man Peethambaram both rejected me, feeling that my dusky appearance will not suit opposite the fair and handsome N.T. Rama Rao. But NTR convinced them to take me for the role of Kalavathi. After this film, I made a place for myself as a glamorous heroine in both Telugu and Kannada. Singer Krishnakumari dubbed my voice for this movie (and Seetarama Kalyanam). Though I was very happy to do the film under NAT banner, and that too opposite NTR gaaru, I was in two minds since it was a negative character, but NTR gaaru patiently explained to me the character and made me take up the role. A newbie I was, I did not know much about makeup, and my makeup used to go away very quickly. Peethambaram gaaru had hard time to keep in the makeup, and he finally had to use hard brush to paint my face. Pundareekakshayya gaaru helped me with the language as I was not familiar with Telugu... Thus happened my debut in Telugu.
Vijayanirmala shares her experiences
Vijayanirmala, who appeared in the role of Lord Krishna in a song and a couple of scenes, recollects her memories for TeluguCinema.Com. She says that this was her third film and the first one in Telugu. (She did a couple of Tamil films as child artiste before this film, and NTR called upon her for a screen test for Lord Krishna's role, after seeing her films.) NTR, who was already famous for his portrayal of Lord Krishna, made her makeup for the film himself. After she was selected for the role, she practiced full two weeks for the song. She fainted on the sets once, and NTR felt that it was because of evil eyes, stopped the shoot, performed pooja, and started the shooting again. With the great respect that she since had for NTR, she requested NTR to inaugurate their recording theater, and screened the jaya kRshNaa mukundaa muraaree! song as the first one in the theater.
Chayadevi played two roles in the film. She appears as Subbamma and also as Yashoda (in the song jaya kRshNaa mukundaa muraaree!). K.V.S. Sarma also appeared in two roles. Ammaji (Jayachitra's mother) played the role of Champa.
Records:
NTR's two other films released in the same month - Saarangadhara on 1st and and Kutumba Gauravam on 7th, but that didn't affect this film any bit; Panduranga Mahatmyam became one of the biggest hits for NTR and also for Kamalakara Kameshwara Rao. Made under a budget of less then four lakhs, the film celebrated 100 days in 9 centers and ran for 24 weeks in Vijayawada and Guntur. The 100-days run was celebrated Sreelakshmi theatre in Vijayawada, which is now transformed into Swarna Picture Palace complex. 2007 marks the golden jubilee of the movie's release.
:
Panduranga Mahatmyam (1957)
Technical:
Reels: 18
Black and White
Duration: 2 hours 55 minutes
Release Date: November 27, 1957
Cast:
N.T. Rama Rao ... Pundareeka
Anjali Devi ... Rama (Pundareeka's wife)
V. Nagayya ... Pundareeka's father
Rshyendramani ... Lakshmi (Pundareeka's mother)
K.V.S. Sarma ... Kukkuta muni, Vrutthasura
B. Saroja Devi ... Kalavathi
Ammaji ... Champa
'Shavukaru' Janaki ... Rama's sister
Padmanabham ... Sreehari
Kasturi Sivarao... Rangadasu
Balakrishna ... Ramadasu
A.V. Subbarao ... Indra
Lord Krishna ... Nirmala (baby Vijayanirmala)
Kuchalakumari, Tangappa ... Dancers
Other cast: Peketi Sivaram, Vangara Ventaka Subbayya, Koneswara Sastry, Ramachandra Rao, Lakshmayya Chowdary, Boddapati, Chayadevi, Nimmi, Reeta
Dialogues, Lyrics: Samudrala Ramanujacharya
Camera: M.A. Rehman
Choreography: Vempati Satyam
Playback: Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao, V. Nagayya, Madhavapeddi Satyam, P. Susheela , P. Leela, P.G. Krishnaveni (Jikki), A.P. Komala, Pithapuram Nageswara Rao, M.S. Rama Rao
Music: T.V. Raju
Assistant Music Director: Joseph
Editing: J.D. Joshi
Art: Thota Venkateswara Rao
Production Executive: Atluri Pundareekakshayya
Producer: N. Trivikrama Rao
Director: Kamalakara Kameswara Rao
Songs:
Om namaSSivaaya ..... hara hara hara SambhO!
Playback: Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao
Cast: K.V.S. Sarma
1.kanavEraa muniraaja mauLee!
raagam: jayajayawanti
Playback: P. Leela
Cast: Kuchalakumari
2.taram taram, nirantaram, nee andam, ahaa, aanandam
Playback: Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao
Cast: N.T. Rama Rao
3.hE kRshNaa! mukundaa! muraarI!
raagam: mOhana/raagamaalika
Playback: Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao
Cast: N.T. Rama Rao, Vijayanirmala
(and SreekRshNa karNaamRtam)
4.Sree kaaminee kaamitaakaara (danDakam)
raagam: aarabhi
Playback: Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao
Cast: N.T. Rama Rao
5."ammaa!" ani arachinaa aalakinchavEmammaa!
Playback: Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao
Cast: N.T. Rama Rao
6.E paadaseema kaaSeeprayaagaadi pavitrabhoomula kanna vimalataramo (Verse)
raagam: shaNmaukhapriya
Playback: Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao
Cast: N.T. Rama Rao, V. Nagayya, Rshyendramani
7.chebitE vinTiva, gurU gurU? vinakE cheDitira Sishyaa Sishyaa!
Playback: Madhavapeddi Satyam, Pithapuram Nageswara Rao
Cast: Kasturi Sivarao, Balakrishna
8.pedavula raagam, madi anuraagam
Playback: P.G. Krishnaveni (Jikki)
Cast: B. Saroja Devi
9.ekkaDivaaDO yakshatanayEndu
Playback: A.P. Komala
10.neevani nEnani talachitiraa!
Playback: Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao, P. Susheela
Cast: N.T. Rama Rao, B. Saroja Devi
11.vannera chinnela neraa!
Playback: Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao, P. Leela
Cast: N.T. Rama Rao, Anjali Devi
12.jaya jaya gOkula baalaa! muraLeegaana vilOlaa!
Playback: V. Nagayya
Cast: V. Nagayya
13.O daari gaanani samsaari dari jErETi (saadhuvula paaTa)
Playback: M.S. Rama Rao, Chorus
14.ekkaDOyi muddula baava
Playback: Pithapuram Nageswara Rao, A.P Komala
Cast: B. Saroja Devi, Ammaji
15.aanandamu O aanandamidEnOyi sakhaa!
Playback: P. Susheela
Cast: B. Saroja Devi
16.tOlu titti yidi, tooTulu tommidi
Playback: Madhavapeddi Satyam, Pithapuram Nageswara Rao
17.sannuti sEyavE manasaa!
Playback: V. Nagayya
Cast: V. Nagayya
18.adee bijaa EkhalE (Bhajan)
Playback: Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao, A.P Komala
19.tuma bina mOrE
Playback: A.P. Komala
20.aaj kaa sunhEraa din hai
Playback: Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao
21.aatalaaDa raaraa kannayyaa!
Playback: A.P. Komala
22.akkaDa unDE paanDurangaDu
Playback: Chorus
Story:
Pundareeka (N.T. Rama Rao), a wayward, falls in the trap of Kalavathi (B. Saroja Devi) though he is married to Rama (Anjali Devi). He even steals in his own house to present gifts to Kalavathi. Rama and Pundareeka part with the latter's parents, in the wake of theft accusations. Once Kalavathi possesses all the property of Pundareeka, she kicks him out of the house. A realized and reformed Pundareeka searches for his parents and changes his ways. How the place was named after him is the rest of the story.
About the film:
Background:
After the super success of Jayasimha, NTR wanted to make another film. At that time ANR's Vipranarayana was a big hit. NTR also wanted to do a devotional film comparable to Vipranarayana. While looking for a suitable story, NTR heard that the Tamil super hit Haridas (1946), starring Thyagaraja Bhagavatar and Vasundhara Devi (mother of noted actress Vyjayanthimala) that ran for 110 weeks at that time, was being screened for a special midnight show in Elisonstone theater in Madras on the occasion of Ekadasi. NTR, along with Trivikrama Rao, Pundareekakshayya, and D.V.S. Raju (DVS was sleeping partner for the films Thodudongalu, Jayasimha, Panduranga Mahatmyam, Seetarama Kalyanam and Gulebakavali Katha), went and saw the film and they liked it. They discussed further and finalized that it can be tailored for NTR. For script modifications, dialogues, and lyrics, they approached Samudrala Junior who ealier worked for NAT banner for the film Jayasimha. The film was completely shot in Vauhini Studios.
Technical:
Director Kamalakara Kameswara Rao debuted with Chandraharam and then made Penki Pellam, both with NTR, and both the movies were disasters at the box-office. However, NTR still had a faith in his talent and still gave him a third chance in the form of this film. And, he indeed proved NTR right by giving him one of the greatest hits of the hero's entire career. Utmost care had been taken in each shot. There were many symbolic shots in the film, such as gradually waning moon in the song vannela chinnela neraa! to indicate passage of time, night turning into day as Rama awaits Pundareeka, etc. Thota's art and Rehman's camera are worth mentioning. They did a wonderful job for the film. Each detail is taken care of very well indeed.
Musical:
Songs like jaya kRshNaa mukundaa muraaree!, "ammaa!" yani arachinaa..., hara hara hara SambhO!, etc. are all-time hits. The song jaya kRshNaa mukundaa muraaree! was such an all-time great hit that it is the only Telugu song that's played in Vayur Krishna temple in Kerala even to this day! The film's assistant music director Joseph later composed music for N.A.T 's Gulebakavali Katha. This is the only film Nagayya sang under the direction of T.V. Raju; however he did not get credited as a playback singer for his own songs for the movie. Ghantasala's songs from the movie are huge hits even today, but his name too missed out of the titles! After seeing the première of the film, Smt. Ghantasala Savithramma gaaru pointed this flaw to NTR, who was too shocked to hear this and apologized to Ghantasala gaaru personally.
Cast:
B. Saroja Devi shares her experiences
My mother used to go to NAT office at that time to request a chance for me in NTR's films. I was 14 years old then; I already made my debut in Kannada with Mahakavi Kalidasa (1955), and I was also working with MGR in Tamil when I signed this film. In fact, both the cameraman M.A. Rehman and NTR's personal makeup man Peethambaram both rejected me, feeling that my dusky appearance will not suit opposite the fair and handsome N.T. Rama Rao. But NTR convinced them to take me for the role of Kalavathi. After this film, I made a place for myself as a glamorous heroine in both Telugu and Kannada. Singer Krishnakumari dubbed my voice for this movie (and Seetarama Kalyanam). Though I was very happy to do the film under NAT banner, and that too opposite NTR gaaru, I was in two minds since it was a negative character, but NTR gaaru patiently explained to me the character and made me take up the role. A newbie I was, I did not know much about makeup, and my makeup used to go away very quickly. Peethambaram gaaru had hard time to keep in the makeup, and he finally had to use hard brush to paint my face. Pundareekakshayya gaaru helped me with the language as I was not familiar with Telugu... Thus happened my debut in Telugu.
Vijayanirmala shares her experiences
Vijayanirmala, who appeared in the role of Lord Krishna in a song and a couple of scenes, recollects her memories for TeluguCinema.Com. She says that this was her third film and the first one in Telugu. (She did a couple of Tamil films as child artiste before this film, and NTR called upon her for a screen test for Lord Krishna's role, after seeing her films.) NTR, who was already famous for his portrayal of Lord Krishna, made her makeup for the film himself. After she was selected for the role, she practiced full two weeks for the song. She fainted on the sets once, and NTR felt that it was because of evil eyes, stopped the shoot, performed pooja, and started the shooting again. With the great respect that she since had for NTR, she requested NTR to inaugurate their recording theater, and screened the jaya kRshNaa mukundaa muraaree! song as the first one in the theater.
Chayadevi played two roles in the film. She appears as Subbamma and also as Yashoda (in the song jaya kRshNaa mukundaa muraaree!). K.V.S. Sarma also appeared in two roles. Ammaji (Jayachitra's mother) played the role of Champa.
Records:
NTR's two other films released in the same month - Saarangadhara on 1st and and Kutumba Gauravam on 7th, but that didn't affect this film any bit; Panduranga Mahatmyam became one of the biggest hits for NTR and also for Kamalakara Kameshwara Rao. Made under a budget of less then four lakhs, the film celebrated 100 days in 9 centers and ran for 24 weeks in Vijayawada and Guntur. The 100-days run was celebrated Sreelakshmi theatre in Vijayawada, which is now transformed into Swarna Picture Palace complex. 2007 marks the golden jubilee of the movie's release.
:
December 14, 2006
List of Famous KAMMA's from Politics
POLITICIANS
* Makineni Basavapunnaih- One of the stalwarts and foremost theoriticians of the Indain communist movement.Affectionately known as Comrade MB,He was among the outstanding leaders of the glorious Telengana people’s struggle and along with Comrade P.Sundarayya, was deeply involved in the organisation, execution and conduct of the Telengana struggle.
* Chandra Rajeswara Rao - Freedom fighter, eminent socialist, long time general secretary of the communist party of India
* Koratala Satyanarayana- Marxist Ideologue, Polit Bureau member of the Communist Party of India
* Lavu Bala Gangadhra Rao- Despite coming from a landlord background, Comrade LBG’s communist life was one of simplicity and unflinching commitment to the cause of liberating the exploited in the country.He served the party in various capacities — as member of the Polit Bureau, member of the Central Committee and secretary of the Andhra Pradesh state committee.
* N. Chandrababunaidu - Former Chief minister of Andhra Pradesh.
* Venkaiah Naidu - President of the Bharatiya Janata Party, 2002-2004
* BV [ Bodapati ] Raghavulu- Present Secretary of the state community party
* Kotha Raghuramaiah - Minister in Nehru, Lal Bahadur Sastry and Indira Gandhi’s cabinets
* Moturi Hanumantharao- CPI(M) Polit Bureau Member, Editor of Prajasakti Dialy since its inception.
* Kalluri Chandramouli - Minister in three provinces, Madras, Andhra and Andhra Pradesh
* Kakani Venkata Ratnam - Former Minister
* Alapati Venkata Ramaiah - Former Minister, Freedom Fighter
* Nadendla Bhaskara Rao - Former Chief Minister of A.P.
* Paritala Ravindra - Faction leader and a revolt from Ananthpur
* Renuka Chowdhary - Minister of Tourism in the center.
* VS [Vadlapatla] Ramadevi- Former Governer of Karnataka,Former Chief Election Commissioner
* PS Ramamohan Rao- Former Governer of Tamilnadu
* VAIKO-[Vaiyapuri Gopalaswamy Naicker]- MDMK President,MP from Sivakasi,Noted Tamil Activist and secessionist.
* Makineni Basavapunnaih- One of the stalwarts and foremost theoriticians of the Indain communist movement.Affectionately known as Comrade MB,He was among the outstanding leaders of the glorious Telengana people’s struggle and along with Comrade P.Sundarayya, was deeply involved in the organisation, execution and conduct of the Telengana struggle.
* Chandra Rajeswara Rao - Freedom fighter, eminent socialist, long time general secretary of the communist party of India
* Koratala Satyanarayana- Marxist Ideologue, Polit Bureau member of the Communist Party of India
* Lavu Bala Gangadhra Rao- Despite coming from a landlord background, Comrade LBG’s communist life was one of simplicity and unflinching commitment to the cause of liberating the exploited in the country.He served the party in various capacities — as member of the Polit Bureau, member of the Central Committee and secretary of the Andhra Pradesh state committee.
* N. Chandrababunaidu - Former Chief minister of Andhra Pradesh.
* Venkaiah Naidu - President of the Bharatiya Janata Party, 2002-2004
* BV [ Bodapati ] Raghavulu- Present Secretary of the state community party
* Kotha Raghuramaiah - Minister in Nehru, Lal Bahadur Sastry and Indira Gandhi’s cabinets
* Moturi Hanumantharao- CPI(M) Polit Bureau Member, Editor of Prajasakti Dialy since its inception.
* Kalluri Chandramouli - Minister in three provinces, Madras, Andhra and Andhra Pradesh
* Kakani Venkata Ratnam - Former Minister
* Alapati Venkata Ramaiah - Former Minister, Freedom Fighter
* Nadendla Bhaskara Rao - Former Chief Minister of A.P.
* Paritala Ravindra - Faction leader and a revolt from Ananthpur
* Renuka Chowdhary - Minister of Tourism in the center.
* VS [Vadlapatla] Ramadevi- Former Governer of Karnataka,Former Chief Election Commissioner
* PS Ramamohan Rao- Former Governer of Tamilnadu
* VAIKO-[Vaiyapuri Gopalaswamy Naicker]- MDMK President,MP from Sivakasi,Noted Tamil Activist and secessionist.
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