Tollywood Kaburlu

By Teja RaoTV & Film

Tollywood Kaburlu episodes

May 10, 2024Revisiting Nenunnanu (2004): Review + Interesting Facts
Credits
Banner: kamakshi Movies
Cast: Nagarjuna, Arti Agaral, Shriya, Sudha, Mukesh Rushi, Brahmanandam, Ali, Sunil, Allari Ravi, Pasupati, Paruchuri Venkateswara Rao, Siva Parvathy, Tanikella Bharani, Subba Raju, Jenny, Anant, MS Narayana, Dharmavarapu Subramanyam, Kaushal & Anitha (special appearance)
Camera: J Siva Kumar
Story: Bhupati Raja
Dialogues: Paruchuri Brothers
Music Director: MM Keeravani
Lyrics: Sirivennela & Chandrabose
Action: Vijay
Choreography: Lawrence, Raju Sundaram & Ashok Raj
Art: Srinivasa Raju
Editing: Marthand K Venkatesh
Producer: D Siva Prasad Reddy
Screenplay and Direction: VN Aditya
Release date: 7th April 2004
Interesting Facts:
VN Aditya who just directed Manasantha Nuvve and met Nagarjuna and told NAgarjuna a youth subject. Nagarjuna said maybe 10 years ago it would have worked but I cant do it now. My age, character, and behavior should be very matured and then put his story aside and they took Bhupathi Raja’s story and VN Aditya developed it and added a love story

In this time, VN Aditya 2nd movie became a flop and lot of people advised them to change the director bu Siva Prasad reddy said no. Aditya is a class director, Sivaprasad wanted to make a mass film so they spent 6 months writing a screenplay that appeals to class and mass audiences

Keeravani music apparently was one of the highlights of the film. But as well all know he was not the first music director of the film.

First they hired RP Patnaik to compose the music for the movie. He already composed a 2 tunes for the movie.

Then Keeravani came and scored the music and BGM. Siva Prasad Reddy was a huge fan of ANR and wanted to remix one of his old songs. First they thought of remixing song Muddante Cheda from Adrushtavanthulu, finally because it suited the situation they remixed Ettago Unnadi Olammi from Dasara Bullodu

They thought about the title of the movie for a long time (chill rojulu) but after Seetharama Sastry wrote the song Nenunannu, they fixed that as the title

The song Ee Swasalo became very famous. Nagarjuna and the public loved the song, heroine sings while hero fights so theres that class and mass.
Audio was launched on March 11th, 2004 at Shilpa Kala Vedika. The fans of Akkineni Nagarjuna had a field day as their favorite hero had just completed a hat-trick in the form of - Santosham, Manmadhudu and Shivamani - and is going to continue the winning spree with Nenunnanu as well.

Stars of four generations of Akkineni Dynasty - ANR, Nagarjuna, Sumanth & Akhil - graced the occasion.

ANR released the audio and gave the first cassette to Nagarjuna. Venu Madhav and Suma anchored the event.

VN Aditya watched the movie in editing an dubbing setup many times, after watching, first copy he didnt feel anything but NAgarjuna and Siva Prasad Reddy felt nervous. They didnt know what to expect and watching the movie in theater andholu praracharam chesthunaru. After watching first half, Nag and Siva Prasad didnt say anything and it made VN Aditya nervous. But after watching full movie, Nagarjuna put his hand on Aditya’s shoulder and said the movie came out very well and you’re sending me for a Nice holiday very happily.

Nagarjuna released the movie on his own in Nizam. And movie became a hit at the box office. Nagarjuna said at the audio launch of the movie it would be a hit and it came true.

VN Aditya watched the movie with fans at Vijayawada on release day. Talk in industry was that movie poyyindi and VN Aditya felt bad. On 7th day of release he went to 15 theaters to see the movie with public. Audiences response was great from audience. During the making of Nenunannu, Nagarjuna liked his working style and offered him another movie which was Boss I love you and it was a flop.

Box office details: The film collected 14 crores and had a 50-day run in 125 centres and a 100-day run in 42 centres. It was one of the highest grossers in Nagarjuna's career while major business was from A centers
51 min
May 07, 2024Revisiting Balu ABCDEFG (2005): Review + Interesting Facts
Banner: Vyjayanthi Movies
Cast: Pawan Kalyan, Shriya, Neha Oberai, Gulshan Grover, Jersey Singh, Sunil, Suman, Saurabh Shukla, Dharmavarapu Subramanyam, Rajan P Dev, Brahmanandam, Jaya Sudha,
Music: Mani Sharma
Dialogues: Kona Venkat
Lyrics: Sirivennela, Jonnavithula, Chandrabose
Choreography: Kalyan, Vaibhavi Merchant, Saroj Khan
Cinematographer: Ramesh
Art: Anand Sai
Stunts: Stun Siva & Vijayan
Editing: Kotagiri Venkateswara Rao
Story - Screenplay - Direction: Karunakaran
Executive Producer: Saibaba
Co Producer: Priyanka Dutt
Producer: Aswini Dutt
Theatrical release date: 6th January 2005
Interesting Facts:
Both Karunakaran and PK were struggling at the time. PK didn’t have any successes after Kushi with Johnny and Gudumba Shankar disappointing the audience and Karrunakaran after Tholi Prema directed Yuvakudu and Vaasu which both didnt do well at box office.

Apparently Karunakaran had PK in mind when making Vasu but instead they made with Venkatesh. Around that time Aswini Dutt announced that he wanted to make a film with Pawan Kalyan

Karunakaran readied a nice love story and narrated it to PK during Gudumba Shankar time and Pawan okayed it. Pawan actually gave the outline for the film and Karunarakan developed the story.

During that time in 2004, a lot of star directors now were upcoming and it was very hard to narrate a story to PK back then and didn’t have access. If they did, either he rejected it or he slept during the narration and missed films like Athadu, Idiot, Amma Nanna O Tamil Ammayi and Ghajini.

During this time, Aswini Dutt finalized combination of PK and Karunakaran on Vjyanthi Movies banner and project was announced. Since he gave good music for Gudumba, PK put Mani Sharma as music director and his good friend Anand Sai as art director

Movie has two heroines so they took Shriya for one main heroine role and for 2nd heroine, they wanted to cast Asin in it the role. But later on they felt we need a fresh face girl to get the right impact and casted Neha Oberoi.
This film also has the backdrop of Delhi, Agra and Old City. We erected a set with Taj Mahal backdrop. We did a set worth 90 lakhs for Old City in RFC. This set would have a bit of Roman architecture. For the first time in Pawan Kalyan's career, the backdrops for songs in this film are very vivid and most colorful.
Nitin Raikwar came to Hyderabad and stayed here for 4 days to pen lyrics for the Hindi song Hut Hatja
Back then, PK was a style icon so whatever he wore became a trend. He went to Milan, Italy and stayed there for 5-6 days to explain the pants makers about what he want. Four months after placing the order, the pants makers delivered it in India. Renu Desai designed the pants and in Jan 1st week they held a pressmeet in December 1st week in 2004 to announce this.

Pants sold really well. Just when websites were becoming popular, they put a few stills of the movie in idlebrain.com and said showcase your talent in idle brain with these stills.

Not just PK fans, but MB Fans and youth eagerly waited for the movie due to the sensation Tholi Prema created in youth back then. It also started MB vs PK fan wars in discussion sites and SKN was involved in these fights. MB fans said why 1.5 lakhs cost for pants, PK fans said why put 20 crores for Arjun.

December 25, 2004 audio was released and got a great response. Inthe Inthe and Hut Hatja got terrific response in public and due to cassette being sold have to listen to everything and slowly all the songs caught on and audio become a super hit

Title was Balu ABCDEFG, around that time youth stayed using phones and SMS language so going with the trend they put the title like that. After hearing the title, fans thought they’re coming with another solid love story, thought of releasing 1 week before Sankranthi. Finally they announced Jan 6th 2005 released and budget was 15 crores and released grandly.

But movie didn't get expected result and was finally above average grosser at box office.
59 min
May 03, 2024 Revisiting Anji (2004): Review + Interesting Facts
Credits
Banner: MS Arts
Cast: Chiranjeevi, Namrata Sirodkar, MS Narayana, Tinu Anand, Bhupinder Singh, Rami Reddy, PT Raj, Saraswatamma, Baby Keertana, Baby Meghana, Baby Muthya, Master Vamsi, Master Bharat, Master Ajay, Ramya Krishna (SA), Rajya Lakshmi (SA) and Reema Sen (SA)
Music: Mani Sharma (Sri for one song)
Dialogues: Satyanand
Cinematography: Chota K Naidu
Art: Ashok
Lyrics: Sirivennela, Bhuvana Chandra, Chandrabose
Choreography: Lawrence, Raju Sundaram, Raja Sekhar, Robert
Stunts: Kanal Kannan, Peter Heins
Visual Effects: Firefly Creative Studio
Creatives for visual effects: Bapu
Editing: KV Krishna Reddy
Production: Edu Kondalu
Story - Screenplay: MS Arts Unit
Direction: Kodi Rama Krishna
Producer: Shyam Prasad Reddy
Release date: 15th January 2004
Writing/Direction
It's perfect example of good concept, bad execution. The story has potential but the screenplay is so bad to be honest. Its so badly written lmao.
The movie is so clearly a mixture of Temple of Doom and The Last Crusade: In temple of doom, he has to bring back the Shiva Lingam and in last crusade they have to find the Holy Grail which grants immortal powers. Holy Grail is in a temple, here the Shiva Lingam is also in a temple or in some save when you enter it.
Opening sequence and first 15 minutes is excellent, then the credits roll and everything seems well and good until Anji intro and first song. Ok. Then a random scene with forest people trying to capture an elephant. Then it introduces heroine and tries to bring in conflict point and tie in the story.
But the villain is very weak, heroine is irritating and MS NArayana character is supposed to be henchman of the villain and it also gives irritation and is not funny. It's so forced and cringeworthy.
Basically its an adventure movie with commercial elements: action, comedy, romance, emotion, and drama.
But any adventure movie, the set pieces need stakes.
Look at Indiana Jones, the opening scene which this is clearly inspired from he takes the thing and then a giant boulder comes and basically the villain gets it. I didnt feel it so much in this movie. For example he goes to get the sessanam, gets it, comes back, it gets burned. Ok. But somehow Naga Babu knows everything lol.
The drama is decent, action is there but forced, comedy is worst, and romance is non existent. Basically movie starts off well but then it tries to go in romantic and comedy track and fails miserably.
Also interval is illogical and so convenient. He falls off a cliff of such height, he will most likely not be alive and falls where the snake and that knife formed into 72 years ago.
Also if the tantrik 72 years ago dropped the praying materials into some black hole, how did some random priests in Uruvakona recover it? We are never told.
Then Bhatia comes and then its like he has motives and then they bring tie in the subplot between elephant trapper and Bhatia who join hands to kill Sivayya.
And then from there movie just gets unbelievably violent. He dies. And then Anji comes for revenge to kill everyone and then finally they go to climax. And it got very boring and exhausting.
Climax is illogical because only Anji goes yet somehow if everything was that difficult how come in climax Bhatia comes just like that. In any adventure movie hero and villain always go through final hurdles and location together. Here he just comes somehow.
And its just athi that he shoots the girl. So violent and over the top for no reason.
Finally the movie ends and its just like. Ok. Movie ends but you dont feel anything.
Are the graphics good? I mean maybe but ive seen Star Wars and Indiana Jones but it doesn’t feel anything. Its very clear its not that range.
Direction by Kodi Ramakrishna is not good. As said before beginning and end are very good with set pieces and excitement but rest of the movie is so badly directed and executed you can’t forgive the rest.

59 min
April 30, 2024 Episode 160 - Revisiting Vasu (2002): Review + Interesting Facts
Credits
Banner: Creative Commercials
Cast: Venkatesh, Bhumika Chawla, Ali, Vijay Kumar, Manjula, Varsha, Sunil, Jogi Naidu, Achyut
Dialogues: Trivikram Srinivas
Lyrics: Sahiti, Pothula Ravi Kiran & Sirivennela
Camera: Ramesh Babu
Art: Anand Sai
Music: Harris Jayaraj
Editing: Marthand K Venkatesh
Fights: Vijay
Story - Screenplay - Direction: A Karunakaran
Producer: KS Rama Rao
Theatrical Release Date: 10th April 2002
Interesting Facts:
It’s Venkatesh’s 50th film
Harris Jayaraj Telugu debut, I heard it was Venkatesh's choice
They filmed the last song Vaale Vale Poddula of the film in a set erected at Chennai on Venkatesh and Bhumika Chawla.
The first set of 2 lakhs of albums was sold in 4 days after the audio release. The audio has got unanimous hit talk all over.
Writing/Direction
Oh man, where to start? Honestly speaking watching this movie was an experience. One because it was relatable, but two because it could have been so much better.
If you want to work in the arts or want to be an artist, it will be so relatable for you and it was for me since I want to be an actor and writer in films.
Movie is basically about a guy who aspires to be a singer and what obstacles he faces to get there. Similar movies are Satyam and then Gowtam SSC.
After watching this film I realized this and Satyam almost same story. Good intention hero, gets into a fight and thrown out of his house by his dad, has aspirations in music industry, heroine misunderstands him, his friends are there to support him, lastly needs heroine family permission to marry her, father accepts their mistake and he gets heroine in the end.
The conflict in the movie isn’t well done or strong enough is the problem. The two points aren’t good.
The first point is between Venkatesh and Vijayakamumar. His dad wants him to become IPS but he wants to become a singer. There’s really only one scene where we feel this emotion and thats when they have a heart to hear conversation. This is the only time.
Other conflict point is making heroine like him. He does all chiller stuff stalking the girl and doing weird things following her and trying to make her fall for him.
And they have no chemistry because heroine is not developed properly. What does she do? What are her interest? What are her goals in life? We know nothing about Divya as a character other than the fact that she is Vasu’s love interest.
Also all of the songs are Vasu’s fantasies about her. He imagines something and then cut pana oru song Thalaiva except intro song and climax song. None of them are natural and are so out of sync.
Their love story is not believable at all and is so convenient that she happens to stay in their house.
Also the point of the movie is Vasu’s struggle etc. To be quite frank, we never actually feel it in the movie due to weak conflict points. He gets rejected, he hangs out with his friends, etc. but we never feel the real struggle of his musical efforts.
Because we don’t really feel invested, director tries to add sister sentiment as a subplot and it works to an extent because its all connected to the story but it felt more forced rather than natural.

Vasu is a rom com so the romantic part is bad but comedy is surprisingly good. Trivikram’s dialogues and Venkatesh and Sunil comic timing are good and keep you entertained.

However last 50 minutes are excellent and have great emotion. If rest of the movie was like that, definitely movie would have been a success. Climax is clear Trivikram inspiration of hero liking a girl but her marriage is fixed with someone else so inside he is feeling bad etc.

Direction by Karunakaran is ok. He should have focused more on having stronger conflict points and heroine character to make her a real character so romantic track would have been better but overall it was a weak effort from him. Because the movie never bores you, his direction seems fine, but writing wise its a huge disappointment.
56 min
April 26, 2024 Revisiting Sammohanam (2018): Review + Interesting Facts
Credits
Banner: Sridevi movies
Cast: Sudheer Babu, Aditi Rao Hydari, Naresh, Tanikella Bharani, Pavitra Lokesh, Harshini, Nandu, Kadambari Kiran, Hariteja, Rahul Ramakrishna, Kedar Shankar, Shishir Sharma
Music: Vivek Sagar
Cinematographer: PG Vinda
Production design: Ravinder
Lyrics: Sirivennela Sitarama Sastry, Ramajogayya Sastri
Editor: Marthand K Venkatesh
Story, Dialogues, Screenplay & Direction: Indraganti Mohan Krishna
Producer: Shivalenka Krishnaprasad
Release Date: June 15th, 2018
Sold or 8 crores WW and Finally it collected 7 cores are at the box office and was average at the box office.
Writing/Direction:
So honestly speaking its basically Notting Hill but with telugu masala. If you ask me Sammohanam is a commercial film but its missing the two things that would make it more appealing which is action and emotion. But its a rom com for sure. And its a very conversational film and the conversations are very meaningful and well done.
You can almost think of film as more than meets the eye. That’s precisely Sudheer babu’s point in the movie. He feels film industry is so fake and its basically a mukhabhagam. He doesnt like his dads thing and if you notice his sankocham towards it when he’s asked to help Aditi Rao Hydari out.
He sincerely feels its so fake and tells his dad this and everything. If you notice the whole movie whenever something related to films is Brought up, he always denies it and has a chinna choopu towards it.
So when the love interest themselves is a heroine, it has the potential for a lot of conflict and interesting moments and it does. The more time they spend with each other, the more the attraction goes, Thats why when she leaves, they both feel bad and he feels he’s losing a part of himself.
Movie goes in a very smooth and breezy manner in first half. But this movie can be summed up as a tale of two halves. First half is very entertaining but the movie literally ends at the interval.
For comedy purpose they put Naresh track and introduced that subplot and its so entertaining and funny. Naresh makes it so believable.
Also that movie Kummestha is very funny. At times I got reminded of Neninthe because its a film set within film industry and the characters and people are so funny like the guy who plays the writer of the film promises Naresh.
Also Vijay’s friends and everyone are so excited when he meets Samara he has that clout etc. so its very funny.
The only conflict left in the movie is if they will unite which they do because its a Telugu movie.
And 2nd half is so boring and slow man. It tested patience. All the scenes felt like filler. And then introduces heroine flashback which seemed so out of place unconvincing. Just randomly in there and felt forced. It also doesnt help that that guy really couldn’t act. The comedy scene they put is also funny but by that point you’re just kind of waiting for the movie to end.
Basically thats the reason she rejected him and overall when I saw it felt unconvincing mainly because of how badly done it was. If they gave another reason I would have believed it.
The only meaningful scene was the rejection scene which is very real and relatable because it all happens to us at some point. When he gets rejected as well, its also very well done.
Also liked that Vijay’s character is a children’s book artist. The book he wrote was very good. The climax is also feel good and leaves you with a good feeling but I dont know. Felt very mixed on rewatch. It was ok at best.
Direction by Mohankrishna Indraganti is pretty good. Writing, acting, rom com feeling, and overall vibe of the movie is very good but pacing and 2nd half were not great.
Music and BGM by Vivek Sagar is CLASSIC.
Overall:
Sammohanam is a decent movie on rewatch. First half, good music, relatable scenes and performances are the good part but a boring 2nd half and slow pace outdo the positives. Movie ends nicely but its take it or leave it in the end. I dont think its repeat value movie.

56 min
April 20, 2024Revisiting NTR's Aadi (2002): Review + Interesting Facts
Credits

Banner: Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Productions
Cast: NTR, Keerthi Chawla, Rajan P Dev, Ali, LB Sriram, Chalapati Rao, M.S. Narayana, Ahuti Prasad, Raghu Babu, Rajeev Kanakala, Venumadhav, Sangeetha and Bangalore Padma
Dialogues: Paruchuri Brothers
Music: Mani Sharma
Edting: Gautham Raju
Choreography: Pradeep Anthony, Raghava Lawrence
Photography: Ram Prasad
Stunts: Vikram Dharma
Story - Screenplay - Direction: VV Vinayak
Producer: P Naga Lakshmi
Theatrical Release Date: 28th March 2002
Interesting Facts:
In 2001 Switerzland Vadde Naveen Cheppalani Vundi and NTR Student No 1 was shooting in pakka location. VV Vuinayak was working as co director for Cheppalani Vundi, executive producer for the film was Nallamalupu Bujji and they went to meet NTR one day as Bujji already parichayam ayyadu. Vinayak has a story will you listen to it he asked NTR and NTR said once we get back to Hyderabad we will meet but he said in thappinchukovali ani uddesam lo cheppadu

But once they got back to Hyderabad, Vunayak and Bujji relentlessly tried to meet NTR and NTR was fixated to allowing them to narrate just to say no. they met and he narrated it. At first NTR pretended like he wasnt listening but by the end was so interested and liked it and said Anna we are doing this film. This will become as big of a hit as Nuvve Kavali and hugged Vinayak

Then NTR met and told this to Kodali Nani who said not Nuvve Kavali, do a mass movie like Narasimha Naidu and told him to cancel it. NTR immediately called Vinayak and Told him this issue and he felt so bad, but koncham terukuni but told him 2 action scenes, I will ready the story in a week but if you dont like they do it with someone else

Exactly after a week with 58 scenes he readied the story and NTR heard it. He said dont think for another second start it immediately. Always wanting to launch him as a director, Bellamkonda Suresh was made producer and Bujji executive producer and started shooting.

The 2 scenes that impressed NTR to do the film were little boy throwing bombs and then NTR whistles and sumos fly in the air

Filming was completed in 65 days in Hyderabad, Rayalaseema, Ramoji Film City and Australia for the songs. Budget was 2.5 crores. NTR was in fire at the time and there was no scene paper on set and Vinayak just said scene and dialogue and NTR showed his Viswaroopam

Movie released on March 28th, 2002 with no expectations because new director and despite NTR being from Nandmuri family, he did not have the support of the fans and people went first day first show to troll hi, But they were shocked, faction backdrop new style and hero elevations were all new for the audience

From a nothing movie to houseful boards to a prabhajanam, edda NTR mall puttadi raa janalu cheppevaru and NTR amazed everyone with his emotional action and dialogue delivery at just 19 years of age.

Coming to box office, it collected 19 crores share creating a sensation, becoming just the 3rd film in Telugu movie history to do so after Narasimha Naidu and Kushi, in Nellore and Uttarandhra it created all time records,

In 4 centers, it collected more than 1 crore gross and shocked people. In a lot of areas and towns and districts and did box office oochakotha, set new records like 100 days in 96 centers, only Narasimha Baidu ran in more at that point of time

Released in 105 centers and completed 100 days in 96 centers and created a sensation

After this movie, NTR became a star hero and made Vinayak a star director, got Ito the league of Chiranjeevi and after Balayya, Nandamuri fans felt they have a new heir

Lastly, the love story that Vinayak narrated was titled Sree and to this day its still with Vinayak and never got made.
50 min
April 09, 2024Revisiting Bharat Ane Nenu (2018): Review + Interesting Facts
Credits
Banner: DVV entertainment
Cast: Mahesh Babu, Kiara Advani, Prakash Raj, Sarath Kumar, Rao Ramesh, Devaraj, Posani Krishna Murali, Brahmaji, Ravi Shankar, Yashpal Sharma, Anish Kuruvilla, Ajay, Rahul Ramakrishna, Shatru, Devadas Kanakala, Prudhviraj. Jeeva, Suriya, Sithara, Aamani, Banerjee, Rajitha
Music: Devi Sri Prasad
Cinematographer: Ravi K. Chandran & Thirunavakkrasu
Lyrics: Ramajogayya Sastry
Production design: Suresh Selvarajan
Editor: Sreekar Prasad
Fights: Ram Lakshman
Story, Screenplay, Dialogues, Direction: Koratala Siva
Producer: DVV Danayya
Release date: April 20th, 2018
Interesting Facts:
Mahesh Babu inspiration to play the character is his brother in law politician Jayadev Galla who also studies in America, the way he conducts himself, and in parliament videos he also says Madam Speaker

Mahesh babu got tension when he Koratala said CM character as he’s not into politics, he got excited after a 10 mins narration, then 15-20 minutes and then in Bangkok in a health resort 5 hours narration: 1 day 2.5 hour narration first half, 2 days later 2.5 hours 2nd half narration, his first question was how are we gonna have 5 hours, how are gonna condense it down to 3 hours, after watching the final copy we feel could have made part 1 and part 2 because we left out so many scenes

For the assembly scenes they didn’t want to cut the flow so Mahesh did what he calls master scenes which means they run the entire 5-8 page scene entirely without any breaks or lag and everyone is rehearsed all artists with 2-3 cameras, as you can see in the film they came out superbly with a lot of tension and intense dialogues and Mahesh found it difficult to pronounce the political dialogues. It was one of the first schedules they did for the film and they all clicked a photo together in the Assembly set

Talking about the assembly set, Koratala Siva said it was all due to Suresh Selvarajan’s team and detail and worked on the film for 1.5 years. At max they will give one week to shoot in Assembly in Hyderabad and one week doesnt justify a set so let’s go other states like Bhopal, Kerala, and they saw it and felt our nativity isn’t there. They said let’s stay for 10 days to do some set work but they didnt allow it and they said shoot it as is. Lastly after doing some research for the Andhra Assembly, they built the set in Annapurna Studios for a cost of 2 crores

About the first oath, Mahesh said that they filmed the scene in Lucknow first, after filming told Siva that let’s take proper care to dub. That January they filming the climax and Mahesh was filming the in the dust and then on jan 26th, media team came up with the idea of the first oath but I have to dub it right and later that evening we will do it

First Devi and Koratala composed a different introduction song, but then after first oath used BGM to make 1 min rough cut

Tuck for the chief minister was done as part of a look test in Mumbai

Spent 4 crores for a set for the song of Vachadayyao Saami in an open ground in Hyderabad. It was built just for the song and they destroyed it after.

Kiara Advani was selected as the heroine marking her Telugu debut and also marked Farhan Akhtar’s Telugu singing debut with the song I don’t know

Plus everybody knows, there was a fight in the movie known as Holi fight. When Bharat (Mahesh Babu) develops closeness with his brother, both go out to play Holi, their faces smeared with colours. Then comes the fight sequence. Though they had shot the scene for nearly three days, the makers had to delete it. Fans have been asking and even after 6 years they still haven’t released it.

Finally movie released on April 20th, 2018 to good talk. Overall movie collected about 95-100 crores share and was above average to hit at the box office, Its first 100 crore share movie for Mahesh babu and it collected 3.5 million at USA box office becoming 4th highest all time grosser after Rangasthalam.

Completed 50 days in 25 centers and 100 days in 6 centers
58 min
April 05, 2024Revisiting Mahanati (2018): Review + Interesting Facts
Credits
Banner: Swapna Cinema
Cast: Keerthy Suresh, Dulquer Salmaan, Samantha Akkineni, Vijay Devarakonda, Rajendra Prasad, Tanikella Bharani, Malavika Nair, Shalini Pandey, Tulasi, Divya Vani, Naga Chaitanya, Mohan Babu, Prakash Raj
Music: Mickey J Meyer
Cinematographer: Dani Sanchez-Lopez
Lyrics: Sirivennela Seetharama Sastry & Ramajogayya Sastry
Costume Design: Gaurang Shah and Archana Rao
Dialogues: Sai Madhav Burra
Production Design: Shivam Rao
Art Director: Avinash Kolla
Editor: Kotagiri Venkateswara Rao
Written & Direction: Nag Ashwin
Producers: C Ashwini Dutt, Swapna Dutt, Priyanka Dutt
Release Date: May 9th, 2018

Writing/Direction:
Obviously this is the biopic of the greatest Indian actress of all time and Nag Ashwin chooses a back and forth screenplay meaning it runs on two parallels: the past and the present.

Generally with these types of movies, they tend to test your patience and confuse you but here its brilliantly done and so seamless.

You can look at this movie in so many different ways but much like the story I’ll talk about it in two ways: a biopic and its actually a mass movie at the same time.

So usually in films biopics are whitewashed which means you purposefully dont know the flaws or bas things about someone to glorify them.

That’s where mahanati gets things right in that it elevates Savitri garu but also shows her flaws as a person which led to her downfall.

Why I see it as a movie mass is because it has everything you’d expect from a mass commercial film and also because mahanati has the rare distinction of appealing to literally everybody.

It is about the period that made Telugu cinema famous so literally from old people to young people even those who dont know Savitri, they will enjoy the movie. Naresh gives that elevation in the movie about it:

It has amazing music, it has comedy, it has romance, it has the best drama, it has emotion and most of all it has highs, not one but so many goosebumps moments and elevations. Movie has so many elevations I lost count but here they are:
Intro scene itself crowd comes and they ask who is this Mahanati and the scene comes

Naresh speaking about Savitiri

Savitri intro on sets of KV Reddy film

What KV Reddy says to her after that

NTR introduction, Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao ee peru guthu pettukovali

Savtiri being praised for her performance in Tamil film leading into Sada Nannu song and whole Sada Nannu song

Their marriage scene temple in temple due to the Veena in BGM and dialogues: jeevitham lo natinchachu gaani, jeevithani natinchalemu

Misamma scene all time classic movie

Entire Mooga Manasulu song

Chakrapani comes and says: neeku cinemalu asavarasam vunappudu cinemalu nee avasaram teeruchindi gaa, ippudu cinema ki nuvvu avasarama, Rama Rao Krishnudu, Nageswara Rao Abhimanyudu, cinema peru MAyabazar the greatest telugu movie ever made, unlimited goosebumps

Entire MAhanati song: old man giving namaskaram, SVR saying today is scene with Savitri give me the scene paper, and Chakrapani saying everybody waits for NTR, ANR, and Sibaji Ganesan dates but all of these guys wait for Savtiri’s dates

Sivaji Ganesan always likes Savitri but he gets jealous of her success and then starts drinking to get out of the sadness. Then he tells her to do the same so she does.

Movie premiere she comes home and then in rain says im now Savitri Ganesan

Fire scene and entire Chivareki Migiledi scene

Climax scene and last shot. End credits.

I usually dont cry in movies. But the last 30 minutes made me cry and climax scene and credits made me cry a lot. It’s so sad knowing that the greatest actress who ever lived is not with us anymore.

Direction by Nag Ashwin is perfect. This movie is a masterclass in storytelling and it a classic. From writing, direction, and all technicalities, it is flawless. These are the types of movie they should make on a weekly basis meaning this range or quality in Telugu instead we get such rod films almost every week.
1 hr 20 min
April 02, 2024Episode 155 - Revisiting Vasantam (2003): Review + Interesting Facts
Credits
Banner: Sri Sai Deva Productions
Cast: Venkatesh, Kalyani, Arti Agarwal, Tanikella Bharani, Chandra Mohan, Surya, Vizag Prasad, Ahuti Prasad, Delhi Rajeswari, Akash, Sunil, VVS Laxman (special appearance)
Dialogues: Chintapally Ramana
Music: SA Raj Kumar
Songs: Veturi, Sirivennela, Kulasekhar & Chandrabose
Art: Raju
Editing: Marthand K Venkatesh
Co-director: Uma Maheswara Rao
Producer: NV Prasad & Sanam Naga Ashok Kumar
Story - Screenplay - Direction: Vikraman
Release date: 11 July 2003
Interesting Facts:
Film is was simultaneous shot in Tamil as Priyamana Thozhi with madhavan, Jyotika and Sridevi. It was average in Tamil but super hit In Telugu.
Audio was released on June 14th 2003 in Ramanaidu Studious and it was the first Vasantham is also the first Indian film to be shot in Greece (Ninnu Choodaku song was filming in Mykonos)
Additional songs shot in Switzerland and then Ammo Ammayena song was filmed at the Umaid Bhawan Palace in Jodhpur, Rajasthan
It released alongside Simhadri and ran better than Simhadri in some areas.
Overall it was a super hit at the box office.
Writing/Direction:
Based on friendship but unlike Nuvve Kavali which had great entertainment, pacing, and emotions, Vasantham has none of these. Its straight up boring.
Julie and Ashok have been childhood friends ok, and he respects her religion and everything but like nothing worked for me on the rewatch. It aged terribly.
Also his family doesnt like him because he’s trying to be a cricketer and he comes home late at night etc. But this aspect isn’t even explored well either. Its so over the top and almost serial like. They’re annoyed he comes home but how does it affect their family it’s never shown. I always come back to the movie but a guy who drinks and wastes time with his friends is much better explored in AMAV.
Movie is full of illogical and cringeworthy scenes
Chandramohan comes back home and starts laughing. And he dies while laughing. Its so suddenly and out of context. When she dies, I should feel emotion but I didnt feel shit

Venkatesh is jobless or whatever hes trying for cricket team, they find match for him for thammudu. There are 3 brothers. They go to the pellichoppulu and say please serve the coffee for Pelli koduku and she serves his brother. He feels avamanam.

When taking a photo, he sees a girl on video and falls in love with her. Finds same girl on train and when she goes to bathroom he puts a cassette in her bag. She comes back home and listens to it and falls for him.

He finally goes to Pellichoopulu and then hears the girls voice and he starts singing, girl recognizes him and they hug and cut panna Ammo Ammayena song

They get married much to the irritation of her sister and they come to a wedding and while theyre eating, she insults them. Eating also insults? What the fuck is wrong with you? So illogical and cinrgwrorthy. Such athi

He comes back home to treat his friends and you’d think its funny but its so cringeworthy and not funny at all

Ahuthi Prasad gives him a bribe and idk where such people exist much like Nuvvu nenu movie and Venkatesh agrees and then starts ill treating Julie in the name of promise. So artificial as he feels bad every time

Climax is peaks of illogical stuff. Venky and Aarti get ready to leave but they have enough time to stay in the station and watch the press conference on some tv in the station. Julie and Michael have enough time to come to station and she sings Gaali chirugaali and he hears her from being so far away and they hug and go away
Sunil and Dhamarvarupu entire comedy track actually every comedy scene is cringe max. Its not funny at all. That too Sunil tries to do his best but the comedy didnt work at all.

Direction by Vikraman is terrible. No emotion, no entertainment, and nothing. It’s flat out boring and just unintentionally funny. Movie was aged terribly and is a rod in present day. Venky has many great family movies but Vasantham is not one of them in present day.
47 min
March 26, 2024Revisiting Nuvve Kavali (2000): Review + Interesting Facts
Credits
Banner: Ushakiron Movies
Cast: Tarun, Richa Sharma, Sai Kiran & Varsha
Music: Koti
Camera: Hari Anumolu
Art Direction: Ranga Peketi
Editing: A. Sreekar Prasad
Dialogues : Trivikram
Story: Iqbal Kuttippuram (Niram)
Story, Screenplay & Direction: Vijaya Bhaskar
Executive Producer: Sravanti Ravi Kishore
Producer: Ramoji Rao
Theatrical Release Date: 13th October 2000
Interesting Facts:
Initial choice was Mahesh babu and they sent the CD of Niram to him but no response from mahesh after a month, then they tried for Sumanth and he wanted to do it but he had already accepted two big movies at that point. They thought instead of casting big heroes, let’s try to for new faces.

75 lakhs budget was finalized for the movie but Ravi Kishore didnt have the funds for it so he approached Ramoji Rao who agreed to co produce the movie and made him an executive producer on the movie with 10 lakhs base salary and 20% of the profits in final collections go ahead. The movie was green lit.
Finally filming started and 90% of the movie was done in Ramoji Film City. First they thought 75 lakhs budget but additional 40 was needed and final budget was 1.15 crores.
Finally October 13th, 2000 released in 36 centers. Bagundi ani talk bheembatsamaina range ki vellindi.

Yevanam lo vunde sneham and prema, 0 vulgarity and anni varghalu prekshalu ki nachale cheisndi movie. Kotu musić specifilay Anaganaga Aaakasam and Kallaloki Kallu Petti were heard everywhere.

Dialogues became very famous such as paalu ante allergy, kana pale energy, manta doomramga vunte vidi telidu manishi deggaraga vunte prema telidu, ishta padithe bayapadaku, bayapadithe ishta padaku, isthapadi bayapedithe badhapadaku
Tarun became a overnight star, Richa got a break, Trivkram and Vijay Bhaskar became star writer and star director and it helped so many careers.

Started with limited released and increased to 200 theaters there after, it completed 100 days in 30 centers, 200 days in 21 centers,225 days in 17 centers, 250 days in 15 centers, 365 days in 6 centers. It is the only telugu movie to run in this many centers for this many days continuously.

Without any drop it was the last movie ti run for than year and industry talk is it had the highest footfalls of any telugu movie ever during its run.

Collected 1 crores in Hyderabad Odeon Deluxe theater itself and in Nizam it collected 8 crores share double what Kailsundam Raa made back in January. Except Ceeded it set all time record in every area and became biggest industry hit of Telugu cinema until Narasimha Naidu.

Officially the movie collected 18 crores share.

It remains the ONLY telugu movie to be an industry hit that features newcomers.
To give insight into the run it just ran and ran and ran
1. Srikakulam - Keerthika - 252 days
2. Vizianagaram - Sivaranjani - 273 days
3. Vizag - Leelamahal - 266 days
4. Rajamundry - Urvasi - 252 days
5. Kakinada - Sridevi - 266 days
6. Eluru - Kalpana - 266 days
7. Bhimavaram - Mini Mahalaxmi - 266 days
8. Vijayawada - Shanti - 295 days
9. Machilipatnam - Mini Revathi - 266 days
10. Gunadala - Vinayak - 203 days (Late release)
11. Guntur - Pallavi deluxe - 252 days
12. Tenali - Mini Sangameswara - 266 days
13. Ongole - Tulasiram - 219 days
14. Nellore - Leela mahal - 242 days
15. Anantapur - Gowthami - 277 days
16. Kadapa - Sudha - 247 days
17. Kurnool - Apsara - 259 days
18. Madanapalli - Mini Siddartha - 210 days (Late release)
19. Nandyala - Mini Venkateswara - 201 days (Late release)
20. Hyderabad - Odeon 70mm - 266 days
21. Warangal - Kakatiya - 252 days

200 days run with shifts : 2 centers
1. Tirupati - Srinivasa 94 days + Mini Pratap 164 days - 258 days run
2. Chittoor - Raghava 195 days + shift - 200+ days

Remaining 175 days centers : 4
1. Ballery - Sri Rajeshwari - 175 days
2. Nizamabad - Devi 70mm - 175 days
3. Bansuwada - Ramakrishna - 175 days
4. Hindupur - Venkateswara - 175 days
59 min

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