Tollywood Kaburlu

Credits 

Banner: United Pictures

Cast: Bala Krishna, Nayana Tara, Sneha Ullal, Namitha, KR Vijaya, Saikumar (Malayalam), Hemanth, Shravan, GV, Kinnera, Kota Srinivasa Rao, Brahmanandam, Rehman, Ali, Krishna Bhagawan, Venu Madhav, LB Sriram

Music: Chakri
Background music: Chinna
Cinematography: Arthur Wilson
Editing: Kotagiri Venkateswara Rao
Fights: Ram - Laxman
Art: AS Prakash
Story - screenplay - dialogues - direction: Boyapati Seenu
Producer: Paruchuri Kiriti

Interesting Facts and Context: Watched it on Youtube back in 2011 and liked it for the fights but it was a blur. Balayya’s first hit in 9 years and Boyapati hat trick. Highest grossing movie of 2010 and comeback for Balayya. Rewatched it and its not good. Very boring movie with over action and no logic. 

After two years, I got a call from Bala Krishna and I was in Vijayawada. I met him after 2 days and asked him to give me some time to prepare story. I took 15 days to come up with the story line. We had taken uttermost care about the elder get-up. I didn’t want any make up for that get-up except for a bit on Vaseline on lips. We shot the younger Bala Krishna role related scenes first. Then shot the elder character. Later on we shot songs so that Bala Krishna gets a glowing look on his face after removal of elder-getup beard. Simha was made with a budget of 18 crores and you all know how big that hit was.

Collected 32 crores share and was a blockbuster at the box office, Balayya became the only the 3rd hero to cross 30 crore share at the box office after Mahesh Babu in Pokiri and Ram Charan in Magadheera and was also the first hero of 4 Pillars to cross 30 crores share collections. 

4th highest grossing movie of all time after release. Magadheera, Pokiri, Arundhati and Simha. 

50 days direct in 217 centers, 338 centers for 2nd shows and added screen all time record, 100 days in 92 centers, 175 days in 3 centers. 

Writing/Direction: Classic example of a movie that you can only watch once. One more thing is the standard of regular telugu movie fans and Balayya fans seem to completely different they clearly seem to lap up anything Balayya does because even Veera Simha Reddy was a hit due to the Sankranthi with that bad of a story and screenplay. Now people will say im a hater and say I dont understand commercial movies. You’re missing the point. The point is that movie could have been amazing. Instead its so badly written and cringeworthy. 

Simha the writing is decent untul the pre interval. Aditya Menon blows up a gas station and Balayya casually takes a car and rescuers Sneha Ullal and then comes back home and another fight. Interval. I always found the movie funny that he’s a doctor but kills people in his free time. 

Highlight is Balayya hits Saikumar in the head and then he comes out of a coma after 28 years. Such ridiculous logic. 

The movie was entertaining until it just became very boring. The following points make no sense 

Then the comedy is so cringeworthy, the dialogues dont hit the same, over the top sentiment, routine villainy, and back to back so many fights. 

Clearly inspired from Magadheera flashback last fight and then climax fight of same location years apart, using same weapon to kill the hero. Flashback last fight he probably kills 200 people lmao and then dies.

Flashback lasts 1 hour 3 mins. 

Banner: Lakshmi Narasimha Productions

Cast: Allu Arjun, Shaam, Shruti Haasan, Saloni, Prakash Raj, Ravi Kishan, Posani Krishna Murali, Brahmanandam, Kota Srinivasa Rao, Mukesh Rushi, Sayaji Shinde, Ali, Jayaprakash Reddy, MS Narayana, Raghubabu, Tanikella Bharani, Srinivasa Reddy, Raghu Karumanchi, Duvvasi Mohan, Pavithra Lokesh, Pragathi etc

Story: Vakkantham Vamsi

Music: S.S. Thaman

Lyrics: Chandrabose, Varikuppala Yadagiri, Rehaman, Vishwa

Dialogues: Deepak Raj - Vikram Siri

Editor: Gowtam Raju

Cinematography: Manoj Paramahamsa

Action: Ram-Lakshman

Art: Narayana Reddy

Screenplay - Director: Surender Reddy

Producers: Nallamalupu Srinivas (Bujji) & Dr. Venkateswara Rao

Release date: 11 April, 2014

Writing/Direction: Look at this movie 3 ways 

Story has 2 main points: relationship between Lucky and Ram and then bringing Shiva Reddy down. 

To set this up, the writing points are Ram’s friend is the officer who dies and to fullfill his friends dream, he takes it upon himself to bring him down. So the overarching main story here is his friends dream and clearing his name. 

Generally in writing you have something where it says your opening image should be your closing image. Best example is Aravinda Sametha. The movie starts and ends at the temple and dried up tree. It’s a general rule but you dont’ have to to follow it. 

So there Rajiv Kanakala shoots his friend and then kills Ravi Kishan so it starts and ends with his character which is interesting. 

Then you would think why did they have MS Narayana character: his son gets hurt and then Posani vehicle they take to the hospital and this is a set up for the make a wish foundation because that’s when Lucky meets him and gets him promoted. 

In the process, Lucky finds out that Shiva Reddy tried to kill his brother and then locks horns with him putting him in direct contact and then he Shiva Reddy promises he will destroy his life in a day which he does. Then Lucky does the same by faking cancer and using make a wish to destroy his operations and Trump card here is Kill Bill Pandey who provides unlimited entertainemnt. Actually more than anything in the movie you are waiting for Brahmanandams entrance and when it comes it gave goosebumps lmao. Non stop entertainment but I do find it to a bit overrated. Its good but people hyped it like it’s the best character ever. 

Everything in between: romantic track, Ali scenes, Saloni track, Prakash Raj, is done in the name of entertainment and it works big time. Makes rishi character is also there for action purpose and mass warning scene is goosebumps. 

Everything is very well written and connected. Even though its a commercial movie, the writing is excellent and thats why it became a blockbuster at the box office. 

Direction by Surender Reddy is fantastic. You never feel bored at any point and the elevation scenes, comedy scenes, everything worked out perfectly. After Kick, this is easily his best movie. 

Here is our take on Panjaa movie if we had written the script! Enjoy!

Credits 

Banner: Sanghamitra Arts & Arka Mediaworks

Cast: Pawan Kalyan, Anjali Lavania, Sara Jane Dias, Jackie Shroff, Atul Kulkarni, Sesh Adivi, Subbaraju, Tanikella Bharani, Paruchuri Venkateswara Rao, Ali, Brahmanandam, Jhansi etc

Music: Yuvan Shankar Raja

Lyrics: Ramajagoyya Sastry (Panjaa title song, Veyyi Raa Cheyyi Vey Raa, Paparayudu_, Chandrabose

Art Direction: Rajeevan

Opening sequence: Open the movie in Kolkata, father dying. Who and why they killed him, show that he was involved in violence and it sort of runs in the family and it took their lives. 

They come to Kolkata and you can keep the same sequence but it’s very uncomfortable to watch on screen. Mother and sister die and Jai is heartbroken. 

Then show Jai as someone wandering, completely lost, sits in rain, has no food. In a nearby area, a man named Bhagwan stays and having recently lost his wife, sees Jai on the street. He was once an empathetic man who cared for others before he got his power. 

Then he asks Jai what happened and Jai says these men raped and killed my mom. Bhagawan finds them and gives the gun to Jai and he kills them. 

Bhagawan asks Jai if his heart is satisfied. He says he doesn’t know. But much like Athadu, he doesn’t know anything else. And becomes a killer to ease the pain of his traumatic childhood. In Bhagwan’s house, he raises some plants and they calm his mind. By doing this we can empathize with his character and root for him. 

In Bhagawan’s house, he meets Munna who has always had psychological issues from the beginning but he and Jai get along somewhat. Bhagwan slowly rises to power by performing other jobs and becomes a huge kingpin in that Kolkata. 

Open on present day. Kolkata gang wars are established and like opening of Pokiri, somebody is doing investigation into gang wars there and find out that it’s a war between Bhagawan and Kulkarni. Kulkarni has been a huge rival to Bhagwan over the last 25 years and is determined to kill him. Yelagaina aa Bhagwan gaadini champali. He launches an ambush on Bhagawan. Goons rush the house and see that it’s empty. Two goonns standing outside are there and the car explodes! PK intro just like the original movie. 

Back to back fights and then Jai comes home and he is exhausted. The psychological effects of being a killer and these gang wars have taken a toll on him. Since he was young, he used to raise plants to get away from the stress so he hangs out in the greenhouse and meets the girl. Because they have the same interest and they keep hanging out and they fall in love. 

Delve more into Jai and Bhagawan’s relationship and how their dynamic works. As well as Jai and Munna. Munna is known to be psychotic and he is jealous to Jai because showed him same love and affection that he showed to him. Jai takes a special attraction towards Anjali because what he saw when he was young had a special bond with his mother and sister. 

Bhagwan felt that his son and adopted son were always equal and didn’t listen to Jai’s warnings about Munna because he is his son. 

Feeling betrayed, Bhagwan decides to kill Jai and like a cat and mouse game from Awara movie. One fight after the other with road trip type of screenplay with heroism. Eliminate all the comedy part with Brahmi and just stick to racy screenplay with action.

Last he eliminates everyone and kills Bhagwan in a big hand to hand fight, master vs henchman and kills him with a knife piercing his neck, symbolizing that a claw has pierced the tigers neck and killed him, giving justification to the title Panjaa. 

The end. 

Why I started it: For entertainment, connectivity, and so I can connect with audience in future 

I enjoy it: it’s fun to dissect these old movies and talk about them and present it to the audience in my perspective, hopefully it gives the listeners a new perspective. 

Lastly: hopefully I can continue entertaining folks with interesting topics and everything.

Why I'm not supporting Adipurush thoughts: 0:00 - 13:00

2023 Tollywood Half Year Review 

Hero of the year: N/A 

Best Film - Balagam

Best Actor - Nani for Dasara 

Best Actress: Samyuktha Menon for Virupaksha  

Best Supporting Actor: Deekshith Shetty for Dasara 

Best Supporting Actress: Rhino for Writer Padmabushan 

Best Music Director: Ajay - Atal for Adipurush 

Best Director: venu Yedlandi for Balagam 

Album of the year: N/A 

Best Singer: N/A - Karthik for Adiupurush 

Best Female Singer - N/A 

Worst Movie - Veera Simha Reddy 

Worst Director - Gopichand Malineli for Veera Simha Reddy 

Movies I didn't watch this year: Kalyanam Kamaneeyam, Hunt, Michael, Butta Bomma, Amigos, Organic Mama Hybrid Alludu, CSI Sanatan, Phalana Abbayi Phalana Ammayi, Das Ka Dhamki, Ravansura, Meter, Shaakuntalam, 10 ruppes, Hello Meera, Two Souls, Agent, Raa Raa Penimiti, Vidyarthi, Ramabanam, Ugram, Arangetram, Bhuvana Vijayam, Katha Venuka Katha, Anni Manchi Sakunamule, Samajavaragamana, Malli Pelli, Ahimsa, Chakravuyham, Nenu Student Sir, Pareshan, Unstoppable, Takkar, Vinamanam, Adipurush,

Credits

Banner: Sri Venkateswara Art Films 

Cast: Pawan Kalyan, Preeti Jhangiani, Aditi Gowitrikar, Bhupinder Singh, Achyuth, Brahmanandham, Ali, Chandra Mohan, Mallikarjuna Rao, Tanikella Bharani, Venu Madhav, Surya, Kitty 

Music: Ramana Gogula 

Cinematography: Madhu Ambat 

Dialogues: Chintapalli Ramana 

Editor: Marthand K Venkatesh 

Choreography: Harish Pai 

Art Direction: Anand Sai 

Art Department Assistant: Chinna 

Thrills: A. Vijay 

Producer: Burugapalli Sivaramakrishna 

Story, Screenplay, Direction: P.A. Arun Prasad 

Context: My all time favorite movie of Pawn Kalyan and Ramana Gogula mass. This was one of the most influential movies of my childhood because I was in India at the time and remember the craze and pop culture and styling impact the movie had. Must have listened to Vayyari Bhamma song a million times that was my favorite. It was a sensation and shook all of Andhra. This was the first time I got to know of Pawan Kalyan’s craze. Even now it feels so fresh because of the songs, writing, emotion, and Pawan Kalyan livewire performance. Classic movie. 

Credits

Banner: Sri Saideva Productions

Cast: Venkatesh, Trisha, Sreeram, Kota, K Viswanath, Colors Swathy, Sunil, Jeeva, Prasad Babu, Suman Setty, Anant, GV, Melkote, Rajeswari, Vinaya Prasad, Mumaith Khan & Meghanaa Naidu.

Music: Yuvan Shankar Raja

Editing: Anthony, Kola Bhaskar

Art Direction: Narayana Reddy
Dialogues: Ramesh Gopi
Cinematography: Balamurugan
Story - screenplay - Direction: (Sri Raghava) Selva Raghavan
Producer: NV Prasad & Sanam Naga Ashok Kumar
Release Date: 27 April 2007

Context and Interesting Facts: Saw it on DVD way back nd liked it, songs are now classic and them rewatched for the podcast. It was a feel good movie with amazing performances, classic music, and Venkatesh incredible performance along with superb emotions and relatable content. a terrible ending in my opinion. Why? Well that’s why ya’ll are listening to this podcast right lmao. SO I will explain 

Interesting Facts: 

Credits

Banner: Geetha Arts
Cast: Allu Arjun, Rakul Preet Singh, Aadi Pinishetty, Srikanth, Catherine Tresa, Brahmanandam, Anjali, Jayaprakash Reddy and others.
Dialogues: M Rathnam
Music: S S Thaman
Cinematography: Rishi Punjabi

Production Design: Rajeevan, Sahi Suresh

Editor: Kotagiri Venkateswara Rao
Stunts: Ram Lakshman, Ravi Varma
Producers: Allu Aravind
Story, Screenplay and Direction by: Boyapati Sreenu
Release Date: 22 April 2016

Interesting Facts and Context:

Watched it in theaters and liked it. It was a mass entertainer that was action packed. Remember it got bad reviews bt had a feeing that it would be a hit at the box office. 

After Son of Satyamurhty, Allu Arjun and Geetha arts announced a movie with Boyapati and fresh off the success, mass commercial movie lovers got very excited at this prospect. From Allu Arjun’s perspective it was a brilliant movie because after July, he started slowly gaining respect as an actor and entertainer through every film. Now he needed that mass push to get solid mass following across Telugu states and what better move then with Boyapati. 

Aadhi Pinisetty was announced as the villain and got very excited for those that don’t now aadi himself is a telugu guy being the son of Ravi Raja Pinisetty and then first combo of Thaman and Boyapati and reunited with Allu Arjun after Race Gurram. 

Feb 18th 2016 teaser was launched and April 10th 2016 trailer was launched and Im pretty sureit was the first telugu movie to have a pre release event. Done inVizag. Also released blockbuster song and it went viral. 

It’s the first telugu movie to be shot in Bolivia, Salar De Uyini salt flat, took them 50 hours and 4 flights to get there, low oxygen so can’t really talk and salt is so sharp that if it gets stuck on your hand, it will cut it and have to go slowly when driving 10 KM but takes 3 hours because salt will slash the tire, and can’t walk barefoot. It’s also extremely hot or extremely cold.

Box office, 2nd highest grosser of 2016 after Janatha Garage, sold for 53 crores and made 71-73 crores share and was a super hit. At the time highest grosser in Allu Arjun career until AVPL. 

Writing and Direction: villain is all about brand and background, while hero hates hearing about background. Both of them say this in their intro scenes. Boyapati speciality in his movies is that villain is always very powerful and gives tough competition to a hero. 

And it’s typical Boyapati movie in the sense that there’s a hero who meets a heroine who’s in a problem and saves her from the villains. Difference here is that it’s two people. MLA Catherine gets involved on the rape case and then Janu from Vairam Dhanush. 

In the middle there’s cringe comedy, villain doing bad things, and romantic tracks but beauty of Boyapati movies are that despite how ridiculous it might seem or over the top they might be, they work and they are entertaining. At the end of the day isn’t all what we all want? And this movie did that perfectly putting all things aside and that’s why it was a super hit.

Technical Aspects 

Music and BGM by Thaman is outstanding. One of the lifelines of the movie and a staple of every Allu Arjun movie. My favorite song is probably blockbuster. Such a catchy song with all the drums and instrumentation. 

Rishi Punjabi cinematography is excellent. Movie is a vials delight each and every frame look colorful and color palette, framing, and shots are all superb. Especially opening shot of the sun setting on the water, aadi in the sauna, and then Allu Arjun eyes with Aadhi in DGP party. SO good. 

Art Direction by Rajeevan and Sahi Suresh is fantastic. Sets and everything look grand and decoration is flawless. 

Editing by Kotagiri Venkateswara Rao is perfect. 

Dialogues by M Rathnam are good especially for brand scene. 

Fights by Ram Lakshman are good. Action sequences are in typical Boyapati style and keep the narrative pacy and fun. 

Costume Design is perfect 

Guntur Kaaram thoughts first!

Credits

Banner: Sri Venkateswara Creations

Cast: Prabhas, Ileana, Prakash Raj, Kota Srinivasa Rao, Rahul Dev, Tanikella Bharani, Venu Madhav, Venu, Posani Krishna Murali, Kalyani, Sukanya, Raghubabu, Chalapati Rao, Brahmaji, Sridhar & Shriya (item song)

Dialogues: Koratala Siva & BVS Ravi
Action: Peter Heins
Music: Harris Jayaraj
Cinematography: Ram Prasad
Art: Anand Sai
Editor: Marthand K Venkatesh
Story - screenplay - direction: Vamsi Paidipally
Co-producers: Shireesh & Laxman
Producer: Dil Raju
Release Date: 27 April 2007

Context and First Impressions: Saw it in theaters in 2007 in North Bergen NJ. My dad and I were the only people in the theater that day, got some samosas and then 5 more people came later on. Came with a lot of hype and didn’t listen to the songs and only after watching the movie loved them and got to know it;s Harris Jayaraj. Didn’t understand Ileana hype back then but then rewatched the movie when I was older and its so obvious lmoa. Remember it being action packed but disappointing in the end. Flashback was disturbing and actually the downfall of the movie. Rewatched it in 2020 and same feeling. First half thop, 2nd half pace completely dips and becomes a drag. 

Interesting Facts: