Tollywood Kaburlu

Credits

Banners: United movies

Cast: Ram, Rakul Preet Singh, Sonal Chauhan, Sai Kumar, Ravu Ramesh, Brahmanandam, Jayaprakash Reddy, Raghu Babu, Supreeth, Brahmaji, Subbaraju, Abhimanyusingh, Vennela Kishore, Prabhas Srinu, Fish Venkat, Tejaswini etc

Cinematography: Sameer Reddy

Editor: Goutham Raju

Music: SS Thaman

Lyrics: Bhaskarabhatla, Sri Mani

Art: A.S. Prakash

Action: Ram-Laxman, Vijay & Stunt Shiva

Choregraphy: Raju Sundaram

Story: Veligonda Srinivas

Dialogues: Anil Ravipudi

Screenplay & Direction: Gopichand Malineni

Producer: Paruchuri Kireeti

Release date: 29 May, 2015

Context: If you remember correctly this movie came in peak summer season in 2015 with no competition, I was in senior year of HS with about two weeks left for finals it came on May 29th, 2015. Liked the songs before release binged them and then saw the trailer and was like I’m not doing anything better this weekend so my dad and I went. The theater was so full that my Dad and I were the only people in the theater. But we enjoyed it timepass. For some reason, just was in the mood to rewatch it again. And it was below average movie. First half was good but 2nd half tested patience like anything. 

Interesting facts

I gave dates to producer Paruchuri Prasad during the shoot of Balupu. Ram wanted to do a film right from Don Seenu days. I was doing a script for Allu Arjun - Dil Raju combination film. It was a family entertainer. Meanwhile Paruchuri Prasad delivered Shadow and he was in urgent need to make an entertainer. He has asked me to start the project asap. After taking permission from Dil Raju, I went to Paruchuri Prasad. 

I needed a good script in minimal time. That’s when VV Vinayak has suggested a story written by Veligonda Srinivas. I listened to the story and liked the idea. We took the raw story (Me, Kona Venkat, Veligonda Srinivas and Anil Ravipudi) and developed into full-fledged script. In 3 months, we had the perfect script.

We had pooja ceremony on May 17 and started to shoot the film on 1st June. We were affected by two big strikes in Telugu film industry. We also had a cast containing 30 people. It became difficult to get back the dates due to strike. However, the total number of working days is just 92 which is fair for a big budget film. 

You will see a stylish new look for Ram in this movie as we hired Baski who is instrumental in Prabhas having great looks in Mirchi movie.

Hansika was cast as the female lead but replaced with Rakul due to dates issue. They also tried to get Jagapathi Babu as villain but it didnt work out. For 2nd heroine tthey asked Catherine Tresa but she said no due to wanting to focus on female leads not supporting roles. Finally in July 2014 they casted Sonal Chauhan as 2nd lead. 

Due to delay in music sittings filming began June 16th, 2014 in Hyderabad. Initially they wanted to film in the United States but for some unknown reasons they changed the location to Lisbon Portugal for the outside India portions. 

Pollachi, Annapurna Studios, Ramoji film City, and climax was filmed at Samalkota. 

May 1st 2015 audio and theatrical trailer launched on May 1st at JRC Convention Center in Hyderabad. Initially they wanted to release on may 15th but got postponed to May 29th. 

Movie released in 525 centers and 750 locations overall. and people said timepass routine commercial template and format. But in summer with AC people went and enjoyed. 

Sold for 16 crores and collected 15.44 crores share and ended up as above average. With satellite and audio rights movie was likely a hut but dont know.

Writing/Direction:

Interesting writing happens in the form of Rakul Preet’s character and interval twist. You won’t expect that Ram planted everything and Rahul Preet’s character as a treehugger generates a lot of entertainment and gives a fresh feeling for heroine’s personality. 

Comedy and jokes are excellent in 1st half with Vennela Kishore and JP Reddy but then 2nd half, honestly its so exhausting.

Credits

Banner: Sri Venkateswara Cine Chitra & Reliance

Cast: Pawan Kalyan, Samantha, Praneetha, Boman Irani, Nadiya, Rao Ramesh, Kota Srinivasa Rao, Brahmanandam, Ali, MS Narayana, Raghubabu, Mukesh Rushi, Dr. Bharath Reddy, Posani Krishna Murali, Ahuti Prasad, Brahmaji, Sameer, Hema, Srinivas Reddy, Dhanraj, Jai Venu etc

Music: Devi Sri Prasad

Lyrics: Ramajogayya Sastri, Sri Mani, & Devi Sri Prasad 

Choreography: Siva Shankar, Dinesh, Shobi, Ganesh, Jani

Production Designer: S. Ravindar

Fights: Peter Heins

Director of Photography: Prasad Murella

Editing: Praveen Pudi

Written & Directed by: Trivikram Srinivas

Producer: BVSN Prasad

Release date: 27 September 2013

Writing/Direction: So basically by the 11th minute you get to know the story of the movie and the point, Trivikram establishes it. Trivikram is my favorite writer in Telugu cinema and I aspire to be like him and I’m a huge fan of his writing because logically, they always have a proper set up and payoff. Like in the beginning you’re wondering who kidnapped Samantha and it’s revealed be Brahmi. But this movie actually feels overwritten and as a result, it gives an underwhelming feeling. 

At the time it released, the movie seemed so good due to Trivikram’s direction and writing particularly emotional scenes and entertainment. 10 years later, the emotional scenes work but the entertainment has not aged well at all, giving the movie just an average feeling, This is honestly the worst feeling you have for a movie but can’t deny what you saw. 

The movie’s main story is Gautham has to bring back his aunt. Main conflict point. Trivikram’s style of writing always has multiple subplots going on parallel with main story. And it;s same Trivkkram template of a guy posing as somebody else and solving all the problems in the house. If you think about it Athadu is the same template but that movie is a masterpiece writing and direction and technical wise. 

Attartiniki Daredi follows the same template but here it’s an ultra rich dude who’s trying to solve his family issues. So not only does he have to bring back his aunt, he has to Now it is upto him to make a chink in his aunt's steely armor, untangle the tangled lives of his cousins and their marriages, pick one for himself, protect his aunt's family from unscrupulous businessmen, and then deal with baddham Bhaskar. 

All of these subplots go on within the movie to provide entertainment. Yet I felt the only scene that worked was the elevation and warning scene where PK beats up Posani to get the hotel contract back. The elevation here is goosebumps and I felt was the best scene in the movie. 

Then in 2nd half Sidhappa Naidu track is introduced for another half of conflict and then is Brahmi is brought in. But it just didnt give that feeling of a complete amazing entertainer like the first time. It’s just average like strictly ok in present day. Mainly because the romantic track is worst, neither of them have any chemistry with Pawan Kalyan, bava maradalu track gives irritation and then PK is slapping his assistant or anybody else the entire movie like Ali or Brahmi. 

Brahmi track is actually savior in the 2nd half because the rest of it is so flat. Interval and climax twist work very well due to the sensible emotional scenes but other than that, nothing else besides some dialogues that are really good. 

There is also a lot of athi scenes in the movie such as jeep chase scene it falls in the water and then other jeeps bump into that and it reaches land, Samantha slipping and getting memory loss, Ali falling on that spiky thing on the car, glasses fight, interval chase, and then climax buying out an entire train station for a meeting. 

Direction by Trivikram is ok. I think due to the fact that it's not his best written work or directed work it feels that way. But some dialogues and scenes are brilliantly written like the warning scene, interval, climax twist, and Brahmi scenes.

Credits

Banner: Sri Bharati Enterprises

Cast: Nitin, Genelia, Pradeep Rawat, Nassar, Sashank, Rajiv Kanakala, Tanikella Bharani, Indu, Venu Madhav, Ajay, Chatrapathi Sekhar, Sameer, Supreeth, Madhunandhan, Ping Pong Surya, SS Rajamouli, SS Kanchi, Shravan, 

Story: Vijayendra Prasad

Dialogues: M Ratnam

Music: MM Keeravani

Cinematography: KK Senthil Kumar 

Stunts: Ram-Lakshman, Vijay

Costumes: Rama Rajamouli

Editing: Kotagiri Venkateswara Rao

Art: Anand Sai

Screenplay - Direction: SS Rajamouli

Producer: A Bharati

Theatrical release date: 23rd September 2004

Writing/Direction: Writing is thop raa babu. Simply its a tale of good vs evil and its extremely well written and even better executed. 

Story goes on two conflict points much like any Rajamouli movie. Entire 1st half is dedicated to fight between the students and then literally at the perfect time at the interval BIkshu Yadav character is brought in and the two parallel stories combine into it. In screenwriting, there’s something called when all hope is lost for the protagonists. Generally it happens in 2nd act of a movie, here it happens at interval so its like now what, how are they going to win? 2nd half is packed with a cat and mouse game and then it reminds of Lagaan in terms of the final challenge given by Pradeep Rawat. 

Ironically Lagaan has cricket, this has rugby and Pradeep Rawat is part of both iconic films. 

But more than that to blend a foreign sport that literally nobody knew about in Rugby with mass elements and revenge in it is just brilliant and actually mind blowing to be honest. Nevause nobody would even think of that.The most important character is actually a cheerleader next to Indu at 29:19 she explains the entire rugby game to the audience so they understand it. 

It also perfectly captures the college life, trends, and the lifestyle of youth back then so if you notice there’s a lot of youth elements combined with mass moments in the entire movie, so it appeals to all sections of audience. 

So in a way it was ahead of its time and could say its pathbreaking movie because nobly had made a youth film like this so far. Despite whole Uday Kiran and Tarun dmination, dont believe they made something like this. 

It also has a love track to create romance, comedy track with the students, Venu Madhav and SS Kanchi, and then so much action with he rugby scenes. 

Themes of the movie are human belief/sprit the will to win for the eagles, good vs evil in the team vs Bikshu Yadav and then revenge, Generally revenge is done for main characters in Rajamoulo movies but this entire movie if you think about is Rajeev Kanakala;s revenge on Bikshu Yadav for taking his land and killing his father. 

Direction by Rajamouli is perfect and proves why he’s the master story teller. Entire 1st half is extremely trendy and well done with the student fights and romantic track with Bikshu Yadav in between, but the way he established all the characters and in creating drama and emotion was too good. 

Especially Nassar death scene that’s the highlight scene of the movie purely due to the raw emotion it invokes. You hate the villains so much and want to go into the screen and kill them. Theres always one scene like that in every Rajamouli movie which makes you hate the villain and want to see them die asap. 

Also symbolically he showed wings and claws. Because claws destroy wings if they touch them both the student groups are always fighting with each other, but what happens when a bull crushes the claws and wings? Then an Eagle forms and the eagle somehow kills the bull. Climax scene is goosebumps stuff. 

The taking, emotions, and pure adrenaline it gives the audience you have so many mass moments in a 40 minute climax episode. End shot is unlimited goosebumps. And you see the stamp. Even in 2004 he was it his peak story telling abilities. 

Credits

Banner: Suresh Productions

Cast: Venkatesh, Nayana Tara, Sivaji, Ramya Krishna, Asish Vidyardhi, Jaya Prakash Reddy, Rahul Dev, Ravi Babu, Riaz Khan, Tanikella Bharani, Paruchuri Venkateswara Rao, Ali, Raghubabu, Jhansi & Shriya (item song)

Music: Devi Sri Prasad

Cinematography: B Bala Murugan 

Art Direction: Nrayana Reddy 

Lyrics: Chandrabose, Bhaskarbatla & Sahithi

Interesting Facts: 

Credits 

Banner: Parameswara Art Productions

Cast: Pawan Kalyan, Shruti Hassan, Abhimanyu Singh, Suhasini, Nagineedu, Ajay, Tanikella Bharani, Kota Srinivasa Rao, Gayatri Rao, Ali, Rao Ramesh, Brahmanandam, Giridhar, Fish Venkat, Malaika Arora Khan (SA) etc

Music: Devi Sri Prasad

Original Story: Abhinav Kashyap & Dilip Shukla
Screenplay: Ramesh Reddy and Vegesna Satish & Harish Shankar
Dialogues - direction: Harish Shankar S
Producer: Ganesh Bandla
Release date: 11 May 2012

Interesting Facts: https://www.idlebrain.com/movie/postmortem/gabbarsingh.html

Writing/Direction: Writing is already proven story. Dabangg is a blockbuster story with the right emotions. Harish Shankar just took the basic story and adapted it to our Telugu sensibilities to perfection. The difference here is the addition of the Antyakshari scene and then in Hindi, Mahesh Manjrekar dies but in this one Kota lives and they changed that aspect of romantic track. 

Writing I Felt was decent and its basically like watching a Puri Jagan movie where hero character carries entire movie and dialogues are like bullets. Movie is entertaining and it Like it keeps the movie going but the hero villain conflict which is the only point in the film wasnt equal. Gabbar Singh is always ahead of Sidhappa Naidu. 

But much like Dabangg where Salman Khan carried the movie, its the same thing here. Its out and out Pawan Kalyan mania from start ti finish. He carries every single scene with his timing and charisma and dominates everybody. Its true one man show. Literally without Pawan this movie is nothing. 

There is entertainment in each and every single but I guess on rewatch, the emotional connect just wasnt there. The Antyahkshi scene was the bumper offer here basically. That scene isn’t in the original but here it was the scene that elevated the movie to blockbuster I feel. And the situation for it happen was Sidhappa tells Gabbar that he will make him get a heart attack. Next day he checks the watch and realizes something is off so he kidnaps the entire villains gang. Meaning he could have put that scene just for entertainment but he actually added stakes and purpose to it which made it even better, In a commercial movie like this, have to appreaicye that writing and creativity. 

Direction is perfect. What happened was However Harsih Shankar did what everybody or every fan dreams of. Presenting the their hero as fans would want to see him. I think due to Pawan’s stardom in youth and family audience, it made the movie a blockbuster. Also unlike Bro, the references like Kushi, Gang Leader, Mutamestri, and Jalsa song references worked brilliantly and they were used partly for the situation. Not like Bro.

Harish Shankar I think it’s his best movie mainly due to entertainment and the way he handled the adaptation to Telugu nativity. Some scenes are brilliantly handled 

All of the are peak elevation scenes and give goosebumps due to the direction, PK screen presence and BGM. 

Technicalities: 

Songs by DSP are CLASSIC RAA AYYA. Each and every song is a classic. One of the best commercial albums and a huge reason for the movie being a hit I think was due to the amazing album. 6 songs, all chartbusters especially Kuvvu keka. My personal favorites are Dekho Dekho Gabbar Singh and Akasam Ammayithe. BGM is good. The main one used is the title song BGM that comes in interludes with trumpets basically. But interval scene BGM gives goosebumps. 

Art Direction by Brahma Kadali is OUTSTANDING. Entire RFC was redone, the market set and then street set and then Pollachi flavor and then to recreate the whole village atmosphere where the story is taking place. Carnival set in interval and then dolls and everything designed for Shruthi Hassan house and store.

Credits 

Banner: Vaarahi Chalani Chitram 

Cast: Nani, Sudeep Samantha, Noel Sean, Aditya Menon, Srinivas Reddy, Thagubothu Ramesh (cameo), Hamsa Nandini (cameo), Sivanarayana (cameo) 

Music: MM Keeravani

Dialogues: Janardhan Maharshi

Cinematography: KK Senthil Kumar

Art: S Ravinder

Editing: Kotagiri Venkateswara Rao

Visual FX: Makuta FX

Story - screenplay - direction: SS Rajamouli

Presented by: D Suresh Babu

Producers: Sai Korapati

Release date: 6 July 2012

Interesting Facts: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eega

Writing/Direction: Writing by Vijayendra Prasad is masterpiece. Eega is a perfectly written movie and perfectly executed. The line itself if you tell anybody they will tell you this is the dumbest thing they have ever heard. But when you see it, it’s next level. Most of all, movie is extremely entertaining. 

Sudeep’s characterization is peak Rajamouli is making you hate the villain, but because the characterization s so good, Sudeep is able to give that masterpiece performance. Literally from first scene with hamsa Nandini, you get to know what type of person he is and his character in a nutshell. A ruthless womanizer businessman. Then he sets his sights on Bindu and every time they meet you can feel that ibbandi through the screen and that he might do something to her. then kills Nani and it turns his life upside down. 

The emotions are too good in the movie. Basically the emotional connect is Rajampuli special and he is literally the only director in the world who can make you root for and feel emotional about a housefly.

The psychological aspect and toll the Eega has on Sudeep we as an audience feel that through the frustration of his character after the Eega starts making his life a living hell. It’s basically showing that actions have consequences as the tantra told him. 

There’s also foreshadowing actually. When Nani finds the barrel, I mean on the rewatch you notice but right there Rajamouli tells you how the movie is going to end. In most of his films foreshadowing is evident and Eega is the same. 

There’s also a funny scene during Eega Eega montage where Sudeep is looking up how to kill a fly and then Samantha is looking up how to kill a human. Rajamouli is also in the movie. If you pause at 39:35, he is the guy throwing the cigarette in Eega introduction scene. 

The overarching theme of the movie is revenge just like any other Rajamouli movie: the soul of a murdered man is reincarnated as a fly and seeks revenge against his killer. And then Love after death. Nani dies sacrificing himself by Killing Sudeep to save Bindhu and is reborn again after this. 

There are many elevation scenes such as: 

Direction by Rajamouli is perfect. A lot of people say it’s Rakamouli’s best work. I personally feel it’s Baahubali 2 but Eega is also worthy. He made the movie from the Sega’s POV so effortless and entertaining so that it’s an amazing cinematic experience. The effort for everything in the movie is visible and of course he extracted an iconic performance from Sudeep. Each and every scene is brilliantly directed and as mentioned before the sheer fact that he made you emotional over a housefly means he can literally do anything and everything. The fact that the fly doesnt talk either and the entire thing is built on fun and entertainment and suspense makes it even more impressive and incredible. Eega is proof as to why he’s the master story teller. 

Satyam Review + Interesting Facts 

Credits 

Banner: Annapurna Studios

Cast: Sumanth, Genelia, Kota Srinivasa Rao, Brahmanandam, Tanikella Bharani, Sridhar, Rajesh, Malladi Raghava, Nirmala Reddy, Varsha, Prakash, Naveen, Chakri, Apoorva, Kondavala Lakshmana Rao, Jenny, Gowtam Raju

Music: Chakri

Cinematography: Sameer Reddy - Raja

Fights: Vijay

Choreography: Lawrence, Shankar, Ashok Raj, Vidya

Art: JK Murthy

Editing: Nandamuri Hari

Dialogues: Sateesh - Ravi

Costumes: Sekhar

Presents: Smt Akkineni Annapurna

Producer: Akkineni Nagarjuna

Story - screenplay - direction: Surya Kiran

Release date: 19th December 2003

Context: Watched it on VHS way back and became a fan of Sumanth after this. Actually I think in USA I was biggest fan of Sumanth Anna. Binged all his movies until all hope was lost later on. Remember the climax fight in train more than anything and then I’m in Love song. That’s it. Rewatched it during 2020 and loved it. It’s my favorite movie of Sumanth more than Godavari because Satyam is all around commercial movie compared to Godavari and has great pacing. Godavari has more romance, great writing, more feel and realistic but slower pace with Shekar Kammula mark. But this has action, comedy, sentiment, family drama, fantastic writing, and just overall way better entertainment value. Watched it again for the podcast and loved it. 

Interesting Facts: Director Surya Kiran was trying as an actor but then on the request of Thiruputhisamy who directed Azad and Ganesh he passed away, he wanted to become a director. He toured a lot of studios and then became went to Annapurna to Meet Nagarjuna. He met him then said give me a date to narrate to Supriya. Nagarjuna was shooting Bava Nachadu at the time in Chennai a fight scene with Kanal kannan. He met Nag and he said come back to Hyderabad. HE came back and narrated stories and Nag didnt like any of them. Finally he told him Satyam story and he introduced him to Sumanth. First he told him Dhana 51 but Nag said no  Satyam is a script which can make an upcoming hero a star do that only and the movie started.  

Sumanth Interview: https://www.idlebrain.com/celeb/interview/interview-sumanth.html

Audio of Sumanth's re-launch film 'Satyam' was released by Akkineni Nageswara Rao at a function organized in Annapurna studios on 3rd December 2003. This film sports Genelia D'Souza as heroine. Chakri scored music. Akkineni Nagarjuna produces this film on Annapurna banner.

The film ran successfully for 50-days in 163 centers, and also completed its 100-day run in over 26 centers.

Writing/Direction: Writing is Masterpiece to be honest, This is how you a write. Film and a perfectly written film. There are 0 flaws. 

The conflict is very simple: he wants to win his father’s love and trust back and be accepted back into the family and also win over his love Ankita. 

There’s also a triangular love story that we see that’s often common in films like this. Good intentioned hero, pretty heroine, and a bad intentioned other guy who seems like a villain. Because Satyam is so likable, obviously Prakash seems like the bad guy and by the end you realize he’s a loser who doesnt have anything to offer. 

The relationship between Shankar and Satyam is beautiful and one of the most of the most unconventional on screen friendships we have ever seen between a father and the guy that likes his daughter. It doesn’t take the general trope and goes against the stereotype of dad disliking the guy. It;s so mature and well done. It also helps that Kota and Sumanth bring so much to those characters. 

The overarching theme in this movie is apardham. Satyam is misunderstood by the two most important people in his life: his father and his love. And its really sad to see because Satyam really has a heart of gold. At times I was like am I watching my own life story unfold because I like to think im a very nice guy but girls always misunderstand me and lite teesko. 

Credits

Banner: Suresh Productions 

Cast: Venkatesh, Soundarya, Bhanupriya, Jayaprakash Reddy, Brahmanandham, Ali, AVS, Tanikella Bharani, LB Sriram, Ramaprabha, Ahuthi Prasad, Hema, Atul Kulkarni, Surya, MS Narayana, Ravibabu, Satya Prakash, Raja Ravindra, Banerjee, Jhansi, Narsingh Yadav, Kolla Ashok Kumar, Nirmala, Meena Kumari, 

Music: Vandemataram Srinivas 

Cinematography: K Ravindra Babu 

Editing: K Madhav& Marthand K Venkatesh 

Art Direction: Ashok Kumar 

Choreography: Raju Sundaram, Lawrence, DKS Babu, Suchitra, and Harish Pai 

Fights: Vijay (6) 

Screenplay - Dialogues: Parachuri brothers 

Producer: Suresh Babu 

Original Story - Direction: N Shankar 

Release Date: October 7th, 2000 

Interesting Facts: 

Credits 

Banner: Yellow Flowers

Cast: Ravi Teja, Richa Gangopadhyay, Deeksha Seth, Prakash Raj, Kota Srinivasa Rao, Ajay, Sunil, Rao Ramesh, Supreet, Giri, Ali, Chandra Mohan, Sudha, Raja Ravindra, Naga Babu, Brahmaji, Sanjay Swaroop and Swati (SA)

Music: Thaman

Art Direction: Brahma Kadali (he also worked for Gabbar Singh) 

Lyrics: Anantha Sriram, Bhaskarbatla, Sirivennela, Chandrabose, Sathihi, and Harish Shankar
Fights: Ram - Lakshman

Screenplay: Ramesh Reddy, Vikram Sirikonda, Deepak Raj

Agenda

1) First watch and Impressions

2) How our liking grew towards it

3) technical aspects and music

4) Writing and Direction

4) Favorite Scenes and Dialogues

6) Final Thoughts

Credits 

Cast: Chiranjeevi, Soundarya, Ravi Teja, Venkat, Kota Srinivasa Rao, Sharat Babu, Chandi, Sishwa, Bhupinder Singh, Uttej, MS Narayana, Surya, Hema, Raja Ravindran, Simran (Special Appearance) 

Photography: Chota K Naidu

Choreography: Laurance, Brinda and Tara

Music: Mani Sharma

Editing: A. Sreekar Prasad 

Art Direction: N/A

2nd Unit Director: Boyapati Sreenu 

Dialogues: Satyanand

Story: Bhupati Raja

Screenplay & Direction: Muthyala Subbaiah

Producer: Dr Venkateswara Rao

Release Date: Jan 7th, 2000

Interesting Facts: