110-637: Singeetam Srinivasa Rao (born 21 September 1931) is an Indian film director, screenwriter, producer, composer, and actor. He is widely regarded as one of India's most versatile and innovative filmmakers. He has directed around sixty films across multiple genres and languages, including Telugu , Kannada , Tamil , Hindi , and English and is credited with revolutionizing South Indian cinema through his experimental approach . He has garnered numerous accolades throughout his career, including two National Film Awards , five Nandi Awards , three Karnataka State Film Awards , and three Filmfare Awards South . In 2011, he
220-596: A Critics' Choice Award for Best Foreign Language Film . From its inception, Telugu cinema has been renowned as the preeminent centre of Hindu mythological films in India. Today, it is also recognised for its advanced technical crafts, particularly in visual effects and cinematography , making it one of the most sophisticated in Indian cinema. Telugu cinema has produced some of India's most expensive and highest-grossing films , including Baahubali 2 (2017), which holds
330-731: A memorandum of understanding with the Motion Picture Association of America to combat video piracy. In the years 2005, 2006, 2008, and 2014 the industry has produced the largest number of films in India, exceeding the number of films produced in Bollywood . The digital cinema network company UFO Moviez marketed by Southern Digital Screenz (SDS) has digitised several cinemas in the region. The Film and Television Institute of Telangana, Film and Television Institute of Andhra Pradesh, Ramanaidu Film School and Annapurna International School of Film and Media are some of
440-525: A "must watch" with children. Eega won various awards at the 8th Toronto After Dark Film Festival . Sub Genre war drama Kanche (2015) by Krish Jagarlamudi explored the 1944 Nazi attack on the Indian army in the Italian campaign , during World War II in an engrossing background tale of caste-ism while giving it a technically brilliant cinematic rendition. Sankalp Reddy explored submarine warfare in his directorial debut Ghazi (2017), based on
550-462: A Special Biography. Srinivasa Rao received three Karnataka State Film Awards — two for Best Screenplay and one for Best movie. He composed lyrics for films like Bhairava Dweepam (1994) and soundtracks for a few Kannada films. He edited many magazines in Telugu such as Bharati , and scripted plays like Brahma , Antya Ghattam , and Chitrārjuna . Chitrārjuna was also translated into English, and
660-498: A child artiste in Eradu Nakshatragalu in which he played dual role. Most of his Kannada films were produced by Parvathamma Rajkumar whose ability to judge what would work with the audience and whose story-picking knack he believed in. He was the only director to have worked with her on at least one film in each of the seven years during 1982 to 1988. Srinivasa Rao also collaborated with Balakrishna in three films —
770-479: A film production company called 'Star of the East Films' also called 'Glass Studio', the first production company established by a Telugu person. He sent his son, Raghupathi Surya Prakash Naidu (R. S. Prakash) to study filmmaking in the studios of England , Germany , and United States . In 1921, they made Bhishma Pratigna , generally considered as the first Telugu feature film. Venkaiah Naidu produced
880-407: A folklore film hero into a star of social films. Missamma (1955), directed by L. V. Prasad , and adapted from two Bengali works, became a landmark in Telugu cinema. It was celebrated for its blend of humour, drama, and social commentary. Savitri emerged as a leading actress after this film. Likewise, Thodi Kodallu (1957) and Mangalya Balam (1959) were also adapted from Bengali novels. In
990-816: A journalist at the time writing for Telugu Swatantra. He continued his efforts to meet his favourite director K. V. Reddy and in 1954 he was finally able to meet him. K. V. Reddy gave him a copy of The Monkey's Paw and asked him to write a script based on it. Srinivasa Rao wrote the script along with dialogues in three months. K. V. Reddy was impressed and took him as an apprentice . He later graduated as an associate director under K. V. Reddy and worked with him for all his films from Donga Ramudu (1955) until Uma Chandi Gowri Sankarula Katha (1968) including Mayabazar (1957), Jagadeka Veeruni Katha (1961), Sri Krishnarjuna Yuddham (1963). In 1972, Srinivasa Rao ventured into film direction with Neethi Nijayithi , an offbeat Telugu film. The film won critical acclaim but
1100-485: A modern-day setting as opposed to mythological and folklore films. Later, more 'social films' i.e. films based on contemporary life and social issues, were made by filmmakers. Notable among them was Vandemataram (1939), touching on societal problems like the practice of dowry . Telugu films began to focus more on contemporary life, with 29 of the 96 films released between 1937 and 1947 featuring social themes. In 1938, Gudavalli Ramabrahmam has co-produced and directed
1210-405: A new era of comedy in Telugu cinema, where his movies captivated audiences with their blend of humour and social commentary . "Before his movies, comedy was a small part of movies and comedians were sidekicks to the hero or villain. Jandhyala proved that comedy can itself be a full-length subject and achieved a great success in this endeavor." His films are well known as clean entertainers affable to
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#17327971813661320-678: A number of poems for children in Hindi. His poems were appreciated by the Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore . In 1951 Lok Sabha elections Harindranath Chattopadhyaya won from Vijayawada Lok Sabha constituency in Madras State as an independent candidate, supported by the Communist Party of India . He was the member of the 1st Lok Sabha from 14 April 1952 to 4 April 1957. His most famous acting role
1430-521: A part of all seven movies of Srinivasa Rao starring Rajkumar. B. C. Gowrishankar , a regular cameraman for Rajkumar movies, was selected as the cinematographer for Srinivasa Rao's later movies - Pushpaka Vimana and Michael Madana Kama Rajan . Another regular technician of Rajkumar movies - art director Peketi Ranga - was also selected as the art director for Srinivasa Rao's Michael Madana Kama Rajan . His favourite litterateurs are Vemana , Mark Twain , and P. G. Wodehouse . He feels no one has expressed
1540-808: A pre-recorded experimental film — a musical in which he wants to use pre-recorded sequences and dialogues while shooting. He also wants to make a documentary on the making of Apoorva Sagodhararkal. He also wants to write a book on the making of Pushpaka Vimana , and his autobiography in the form of a screenplay. Srinivasa Rao is particularly noted for his collaboration with two actors - Dr. Rajkumar and Kamal Haasan - which resulted in commercially successful and critically acclaimed movies. With Kamal Haasan he made films such as Pushpaka Vimana (1987), Apoorva Sagodharargal (1990) and Michael Madana Kama Rajan (1991) among others, He also directed Kamal Haasan in his 100th film Raja Paarvai / Amavasya Chandrudu (1981). He directed Rajkumar in seven Kannada films in
1650-588: A record 14 Nandi Awards including the Nandi Award for Best Feature Film . Srinivasa Rao won the Nandi Award for Best Screenplay Writer for Brundavanam and the Nandi Award for Best Director for Bhairava Dweepam . Aditya 369 and Bhairava Dweepam are considered classic films in science fiction and fantasy genres respectively in Telugu cinema . He made over half of his films in Telugu. He directed nearly 30 Telugu films across genres. His most recent film
1760-971: A record 14 Nandi Awards , while Pushpaka Vimana , a dialogue-less film, earned the National Film Award for Best Popular Film . Aditya 369 and Bhairava Dweepam are celebrated as landmark films in the science fiction and fantasy genres, respectively, within Telugu cinema . He is particularly noted for his collaborations with actors Rajkumar and Kamal Haasan , which resulted in several commercially successful and critically acclaimed films. With Kamal Haasan, he worked on films such as Sommokadidhi Sokokadidihi (1979), Raja Paarvai / Amavasya Chandrudu (1981), Pushpaka Vimana (1987), Apoorva Sagodharargal (1989) and Michael Madana Kama Rajan (1990). His collaboration with Rajkumar produced films like Haalu Jenu (1982), Chalisuva Modagalu (1982), Eradu Nakshatragalu (1983), and Bhagyada Lakshmi Baramma (1986). Singeetam Srinivasa Rao
1870-531: A tent house called Esplanade in Madras to exhibit his films. In c. 1912-14 , he established Gaiety Theatre on Mount Road , the first ever permanent cinema theatre in Madras and all of South India . He later constructed the Crown Theatre and Globe Theatre. In his theatres, he screened American and European films as well as silent films made in various parts of India. In 1919, he started
1980-406: A vital role during this era, with the double act of Relangi and Ramana Reddy becoming immensely popular. Their performances provided comic relief in several films. This era, marked by groundbreaking films, innovative storytelling, and international recognition, remains a golden chapter in the history of Telugu cinema. The Telugu film industry, commonly known as Tollywood, traces its origins to
2090-403: Is a symbol of Holy Spirit. 'Futurity' is a very different poem. Here the poet presents the man in the unique form. According to the poet time is the eternity's womb. Each man is like a foetus. All birth is yet to be born since man is unfinished and still in the making and the foetus is awaiting the time to be born. 'Shaper Shaped' is one of the most beautiful poems by Harindranath Chattopadhyay. It
2200-472: Is marked by its stark simplicity. The poet shows how the shaper has been shaped into the objects which he used to shape earlier. A potter shapes the clay & he makes a beautiful pot. The poet praises his work of art. At the end of the poem, the poet kneels at the feet of the Supreme Power who is the creator of the potter. He also acted in the 1984 Mumbai Doordarshan TV Serial Ados Pados, Amol Palekar
2310-463: Is mounded by the Potter. When the potter made this goblet he used all his skills and he made the beautiful goblet which was full of impulse. The Potter worked hard with the clay and the clay enjoyed the fragrant companionship of the little flower and the unshapely earth which the Potter has taken away. Fire is a tragic poem by Harindranath Chattopadhyay. In this poem the newly born baby asked query about
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#17327971813662420-462: Is particularly revered for its innovative use of special effects , such as the first illusion of moonlight, showcasing the technical brilliance of the era. Mayabazar remains a classic, inspiring generations of filmmakers and continuing to captivate new audiences. In 2013, CNN-IBN included Mayabazar in its list of "100 greatest Indian films of all time," with the public voting it as the "greatest Indian film of all time." This period also continued
2530-463: Is the first Indian film depicting the Indian movie world. The film was directed by Y. V. Rao and scripted by Balijepalli Lakshmikantha Kavi , starring V. Nagayya . Rao subsequently made the sequel films Savithri and Sathyabhama (1941–42) casting thespian Sthanam Narasimha Rao . The outbreak of World War II and the subsequent resource scarcity caused the British Raj to impose a limit on
2640-435: Is the highest bidder and life is the lowest one. Then why there is strife in life. According to the poet the man is the coffin of life and life is the cradle of death. 'Sorrow' is a short poem by this intellectual poet. The small poetic piece brings attention to the importance of sorrow which is created by creator. The poet says a person who lost his lover realizes deep and intense sorrow. The poet uses an image of dove which
2750-553: The National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil , and Tharam Marindi (1977), which won Nandi Award for Best Feature Film . He went on to direct notable films like Panthulamma (1978), Mayuri (1985), Anand (1986), Pushpaka Vimana (1987), Aditya 369 (1991), Brundavanam (1992), Magalir Mattum (1994), Bhairava Dweepam (1994), Madam (1994), and Son of Aladdin (2003). Mayuri won
2860-706: The Erasing Borders Festival of Classical Dance, Indo-American Arts Council , New York, 2013. Experimental film Parampara has garnered the Platinum Award for Best Feature at the International Indonesian Movie Awards. 2018 biographical film Mahanati based on the life of veteran actress Savitri has garnered the "Equality in Cinema Award" at the 2018 Indian Film Festival of Melbourne . During
2970-921: The Padma Bhushan in 1973. Harindranath a poet and singer, he is famous for poems such as Noon and Shaper Shaped . His father was a Doctorate of Science from the University of Edinburgh , settled in Hyderabad State , where he founded and administered the Hyderabad College, which later became the Nizam's College in Hyderabad. His mother was a poet and used to write poetry in Bengali. His other interests were politics, music, theatre and cinema. His first book of poems, The Feast of Youth,
3080-502: The Raja of Challapalli , who produced Rojulu Marayi, acquired land in Hyderabad in March 1956 to set up a studio. In 1959, Maa Inti Mahalakshmi , the first Telugu film entirely filmed in Hyderabad, was released. Akkineni Nageswara Rao was one of the first prominent figures to move his film business entirely to Hyderabad, encouraging others to do the same and playing a crucial role in
3190-563: The United States . Speaking about the centenary of Indian cinema at the CII Media and Entertainment Summit 2012, filmmaker Shekhar Kapur said regional cinema is surpassing Hindi cinema in content and story, and cited Eega (2012) as an example. Kapur said he was impressed with its story and use of technology, and called it, "no less than a Hollywood superhero film". Shah Rukh Khan called Eega an "awesomely original" film and
3300-625: The comedy thriller , Chantabbai , the vigilante thriller , Kondaveeti Donga the first Telugu film to be released on a 70 mm 6-Track Stereophonic sound , the western thriller Kodama Simham , and the action thriller , Gang Leader , popularised genre films with the highest estimated footfall. He received the Padma Vibhushan , the second-highest civilian award, in 2024. Sekhar Kammula debuted with his National Award -winning film, Dollar Dreams (2000) featuring dialogue in both Telugu and English. Dollar Dreams explored
3410-465: The science fiction and fantasy genres, Aditya 369 and Bhairava Dweepam are celebrated as landmark films within Telugu cinema. Prasanth Varma has cited Singeetam as his primary inspiration, particularly admiring his ability to create a diverse body of work without repeating himself. Similarly, Nag Ashwin has expressed admiration for Bhairava Dweepam and Aditya 369 , considering them among his favourite films. In 2010, Srinivasa Rao headed
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3520-702: The social problem film , Mala Pilla starring Kanchanamala . The film dealt with the crusade against untouchability, prevailing in pre-independent India. In 1939, he directed Raithu Bidda , starring thespian Bellary Raghava . The film was banned by the British administration in the region, for depicting the uprise of the peasantry among the Zamindar 's during the British raj . The success of these films gave an impetus to Y. V. Rao , B. N. Reddy and others to produce films on social themes. Viswa Mohini (1940)
3630-596: The "100 Greatest Indian Films of All Time." Raghupathi Venkaiah Naidu was a photographer and photographic studio owner in Madras who was drawn into filmmaking . Since 1909, he was involved in producing short films . He shot 12 three-minute-long short films and exhibited them in Victoria Public Hall , Madras . He also travelled to Bangalore , Vijayawada , Sri Lanka , Rangoon and Pegu to exhibit his films. In c. 1909-10 , he established
3740-507: The "first legit Pan-Indian Superstar" in Indian cinema. Actors like Prabhas , Allu Arjun , Ram Charan and N. T. Rama Rao Jr. enjoy a nationwide popularity among the audiences after the release of their respective Pan-Indian films. RRR propelled Telugu cinema into the mainstream outside India, fuelling the growth of Pan-India movies. It received universal critical acclaim for its direction, screenwriting, cast performances, cinematography, soundtrack, action sequences and VFX . The film
3850-542: The 1950s, largely influenced by the formation of Andhra Pradesh in 1956. Sarathi Studios was established in Hyderabad in 1956, marking the beginning of this transition. It was the first film studio facility in Hyderabad. Before this, Hyderabad was primarily known for Hindi film releases. The success of Rojulu Marayi (1955), which ran for 100 days in Hyderabad, prompted the then Revenue Minister of Andhra Pradesh, K. V. Ranga Reddy to urge Telugu filmmakers to relocate to Hyderabad. In response, Yarlagadda Sivarama Prasad ,
3960-522: The 1970s, completing the transition by the 1990s. This period also saw the rise of star-driven commercial films, technological advancements, and the development of major studios like Ramoji Film City , which holds the Guinness World Record as the largest film studio complex in the world. The 2010s marked a new era for Telugu cinema as a pioneer of the pan-Indian film movement, expanding its reach across India and globally. This established
4070-445: The 1980s. Notable among them are Haalu Jenu (1982), Chalisuva Modagalu (1982), Bhagyada Lakshmi Baramma (1986), and Rajkumar's 200th film Devatha Manushya (1988). He was also the first person to direct Dr. Rajkumar and all his three sons. He directed Shiva Rajkumar and Raghavendra Rajkumar in their debut movies, Anand (1986) and Chiranjeevi Sudhakara (1988) respectively. He had also directed Puneeth Rajkumar as
4180-658: The 1990s, the Rayalaseema dialect was portrayed in films about the factional conflicts in the area, while the Telangana dialect, already having been pegged to villainous and comedic roles, saw an increase in this usage in reaction to the shift of the Telugu film production from Madras to Hyderabad. After the formation of the state of Telangana in 2014, Telangana culture gained more prominence, and more films were produced portraying Telangana culture, and dialect. Screenwriters such as Chandra Sekhar Yeleti experimented with
4290-477: The 2003 International Children’s Film Festival Hyderabad , and subsequently premiered at the 37th International Film Festival of India . The 2008 animation film Ghatothkach received special mention at the Grand Finale - Children's Film Festival 2014 of the 44th International Film Festival of India . Srinivasa Rao plans to make a sequel to Aditya 369 in the future. He also expressed his wish to direct
4400-760: The Jury of the Indian Panorama at the 8th Chennai International Film Festival. In 2011, Srinivasa Rao received the Life Achievement Award from the Film Federation of India at the 4th Global Film Festival . Srinivasa Rao was also the Guest of honor alongside Barrie Osbourne at the Media and Entertainment Business Conclave 2012 hosted by FICCI and FFI. In 2012, Srinivasa Rao served as one of
4510-680: The Royal Reel Award at the Canada International Film Festival . 2013 Social problem film , Naa Bangaaru Talli won Best Film award at the Detroit Trinity International Film Festival. Minugurulu (2014) about blind children received Best Indian Film at the "9th India International Children's Film Festival Bangalore ". 2013 Cultural film, O Friend, This Waiting! has received special mention at
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4620-476: The Special Jury Award (Feature Film - Director) at the 46th National Film Awards . K. Raghavendra Rao explored devotional themes with Agni Putrudu (1987), Annamayya (1997), Sri Ramadasu (2006), Shirdi Sai (2012) and Om Namo Venkatesaya (2017) receiving various state honours. Singeetam Srinivasa Rao introduced science fiction to the Telugu screen with Aditya 369 (1991),
4730-479: The Telugu film industry produces over 300 films annually, contributing significantly to the region's economy and maintaining a prominent position in Indian cinema. The Prasads IMAX located in Hyderabad is one of the largest 3D IMAX screens, and the most attended cinema screen in the world. As per the CBFC report of 2014, the industry is placed first in India, in terms of films produced yearly. The industry holds
4840-400: The Telugu film industry to relocate from Madras to the new state capital, Hyderabad . Despite these calls, the industry remained in Madras, where studios were already established and actors and technicians were settled. One early response to the call for relocation was the establishment of Sarathi Studios in Hyderabad in 1956, although it initially struggled to attract filmmakers. Over time,
4950-436: The actor even though they were not directed by him. This stands as a testimony for the faith Rajkumar had in the abilities of Rao and the admiration Srinivasa had for Rajkumar. In 1988, when Rajkumar announced his desire to temporarily retire from acting, Singeetam decided to concentrate on Tamil movies where he mostly had Kamal Haasan in the lead roles. The Kannada Film Journalists Association has honoured Srinivasa Rao with
5060-438: The best off-beat films of the year by various international juries. Paul Nicodemus of The Times of India cited Prashanth Varma 's super-hero film Hanu Man for merging elements of mythology with contemporary action, and offering a unique viewing experience in Indian cinema. Pan-Indian film is a term related to Indian cinema that originated with Telugu cinema as a mainstream commercial cinema appealing to audiences across
5170-497: The box office. In addition to mythological and social films, the period was marked by an increasing influence of world cinema and Bengali literature on Telugu filmmakers. The International Film Festival of India , initiated in 1952, exposed Indian filmmakers to global cinema, inspiring them to experiment with new storytelling techniques. Devadasu (1953), an adaptation of Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay 's 1917 Bengali novel Devdas , transformed Akkineni Nageswara Rao (ANR) from
5280-515: The box office. A sequel, entitled Aditya 999 , was delayed indefinitely in July 2016. Another science fiction in Tamil, Chinna Vathiyar was also an instant hit. The 1994, folklore Bhairava Dweepam garnered the state Nandi Award for Best Direction . The 2003 animation film , Son of Aladdin , had 1100 shots and 125 characters. The film won Special Mention in the Competition section at
5390-514: The conflict between American dreams and human feelings. The film re-introduced social realism to Telugu screen, and brought back its lost glory which until then was stuck in its run-of-the-mill commercial pot-boilers. Vanaja (2006) won several international awards including the first prize in the live-action feature film category at the Chicago International Children's Film Festival . Dream (2012), has garnered
5500-547: The country with a spread to world markets. S. S. Rajamouli pioneered the pan-Indian films movement with duology of epic action films Baahubali: The Beginning (2015) and Baahubali 2: The Conclusion (2017), that changed the face of Indian cinema. "Pan-India film" is both a style of cinema and a distribution strategy, designed to universally appeal to audiences across the country and simultaneously released in multiple languages. Film journalists and analysts, such as Baradwaj Rangan and Vishal Menon, have labelled Prabhas as
5610-463: The decade include Mayabazar (1957), Panduranga Mahatyam (1957), Suvarna Sundari (1957), Bhookailas (1958), Jayabheri (1959), Sri Venkateswara Mahatyam (1960), and Raja Makutam (1960). Among these, K. V. Reddy's Mayabazar stands as a landmark in Indian cinema, blending myth, fantasy, romance, and humour in a timeless narrative. The film excelled in various departments, including production design, music, and cinematography. It
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#17327971813665720-511: The early 1990s, Hyderabad had become the central hub for Telugu cinema, further strengthened by the development of large film studios like Ramoji Film City , a 1,600-acre integrated film studio complex, which holds the Guinness World Record as the largest film production facility in the world. In 2006, 245 Telugu films were produced, the highest in India. The influence of Telugu cinema extended beyond regional boundaries, with many successful films being remade in other Indian languages. As of 2022,
5830-691: The early 20th century in Madras (now Chennai), which was the capital of the Madras Presidency , a region that included Andhra. Raghupathi Venkaiah Naidu , often regarded as the father of the Telugu film industry, was a pioneering figure who established Star of the East Films and the Glass Studio. The industry initially flourished in Madras, with major studios such as Vauhini Studios , founded by Moola Narayana Swamy and B. N. Reddy in 1948, and Prasad Studios, established by L. V. Prasad in 1956. The shift from Madras to Hyderabad began in
5940-464: The family audiences without any obscene language or double entendre . Aha Naa Pellanta! is considered one of the best comedy films in Telugu cinema. Ram Gopal Varma 's Siva , which attained cult status in Telugu cinema, is one of the first Telugu films produced after the migration of Telugu film industry from Madras to Hyderabad to feature characters speaking the Telangana dialect. Varma
6050-479: The film dealt with exploratory dystopian and apocalyptic themes. The edge of the seat thriller had characters which stayed human, inconsistent and insecure. The film's narrative takes the audience into the post apocalyptic experience through time travel, as well as folklore generation of 1500 CE, which including a romantic backstory, the "Time Machine" made it a brilliant work of fiction. Jandhyala popularly known as "Hasya Brahma" ( Brahma of comedy), ushered
6160-484: The film song. Playback singers like Ghantasala, Rao Balasaraswathi Devi , P. Leela , Jikki , P. B. Srinivas and P. Suseela emerged as prominent voices, defining the musical landscape of the era. This period also saw the rise of notable dance choreographers like Pasumarthi Krishnamurthy and Vempati Peda Satyam, who enhanced the artistic quality of Telugu cinema. The 1950s also saw the formation of Andhra State in 1953 and Andhra Pradesh in 1956 leading to calls for
6270-746: The film was also showcased in the United States . Nartanasala (1963) won three awards at the third Afro-Asian Film Festival in Jakarta . K. V. Reddy's Donga Ramudu (1955) was archived in the curriculum of the Film and Television Institute of India , and Nammina Bantu (1960) received critical acclaim at the San Sebastián International Film Festival . Films like Ummadi Kutumbam (1967), Sudigundalu (1968), and Bapu 's Sakshi (1967) were showcased at various international film festivals, highlighting
6380-699: The film's script as a part of the mentorship. Srinivasa Rao was the executive director of the 1970 Kannada movie Samskara directed by Pattabhirama Reddy . It won the President's gold medal for National Film Award for Best Feature Film . Singeetam made his Kannada directorial debut with the 1982 blockbuster Haalu Jenu starring Rajkumar . He went on to direct six more Kannada blockbusters with Rajkumar - Chalisuva Modagalu (1982), Eradu Nakshatragalu (1983), Shravana Banthu (1984), Jwaalamukhi (1985), Bhagyada Lakshmi Baramma (1986) and Devatha Manushya (1988). Two of these were based on novels. He
6490-478: The film, while R. S. Prakash directed and produced it along with playing the title character Bhishma . As the first Telugu film exhibitor and producer, Raghupathi Venkaiah Naidu is regarded as the 'Father of Telugu cinema'. From 1921 to 1931 about a dozen feature films were made by Telugu people . C. Pullayya made a three- reel short film, Markandeya (1926 or 1931) at his house in Kakinada . In 1921,
6600-472: The films he directed in Kannada were produced by Parvathamma Rajkumar and all were critically and commercially successful. Of the seven films Srinivasa Rao directed with Rajkumar in lead roles, four movies were remade in Telugu. Singeetam's association with Rajkumar was a rare one where he not only directed cult classics and landmark movies but also co-wrote screenplay and composed music for movies produced by
6710-535: The first Telugu feature film . As the first Telugu film producer and exhibitor, Naidu is regarded as the 'Father of Telugu cinema'. The first Telugu talkie film , Bhakta Prahlada (1932) was directed by H. M. Reddy . The 1950s and 1960s are considered the golden age of Telugu cinema, featuring enhanced production quality, influential filmmakers, and notable studios, resulting in a variety of films that were both popular and critically acclaimed. The industry, initially based in Madras , began shifting to Hyderabad in
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#17327971813666820-544: The first cinema hall in Andhra , Maruthi Cinema was established in Vijayawada by Pothina Srinivasa Rao. Y. V. Rao and R. S. Prakash established a long-lasting precedence of focusing exclusively on religious themes — Gajendra Moksham , Nandanar , and Matsyavataram —three of their most noted productions, centred on religious figures, parables, and morals. The first Telugu film with audible dialogue, Bhakta Prahlada ,
6930-606: The first female producer of Telugu film industry. The first film studio in Andhra , Durga Cinetone, was built in 1936 by Nidamarthi Surayya in Rajahmundry . Sampurna Ramayanam (1936) was the first film produced by the studio relying mostly on local talent. In 1937, another studio called Andhra Cinetone was built in Visakhapatnam . However, both the studios were short-lived. Early Telugu silent films and talkies were deeply influenced by stage performances, continuing
7040-508: The formation of Andhra Pradesh opened new markets for Telugu films in the Telangana region, laying the groundwork for the industry's eventual expansion into Hyderabad. During this golden era, several Telugu films received international recognition. Malliswari (1951), a historical romance film directed by B. N. Reddy , was screened at the 1952 Peking film festival, making it the first Telugu film to be screened in China . A 16 mm print of
7150-456: The global reach of Telugu cinema. Vijaya Productions, led by Nagi Reddi and Chakrapani , became the most successful production company of the era. Their collaborative approach brought together some of the best talents in the industry, resulting in a string of hits that defined the golden age of Telugu cinema. Vijaya Productions operated like a Hollywood studio , with staff hired on monthly salaries, and working regular hours. Comedy also played
7260-489: The highest among all Indian film industries. As of 2023, Andhra Pradesh has the highest number of movie screens in India. Since 1909, filmmaker Raghupathi Venkaiah Naidu was involved in producing short films and exhibiting them in different regions of South Asia. He established the first Indian-owned cinema halls in South India . In 1921, he produced the silent film , Bhishma Pratigna , generally considered to be
7370-462: The industry as a major force in Indian and world cinema and boosted the nationwide popularity of Telugu actors. Baahubali 2 (2017) won the Saturn Award for Best International Film , while RRR (2022) became the first Indian feature film to win an Academy Award and received various international accolades, including an Academy Award and a Golden Globe for the song " Naatu Naatu " and
7480-611: The industry's relocation. He insisted on working in films produced in Andhra Pradesh, except for those made at Vauhini and Venus Studios in Madras. In 1976, the Andhra Pradesh government allocated 22 acres of land in Banjara Hills , Hyderabad, to Akkineni Nageswara Rao for the establishment of a film studio. This led to the founding of Annapurna Studios in 1976. By the 1970s and 1980s, most production houses had moved to Andhra Pradesh or opened branch offices there. By
7590-456: The largest film schools in India. The Telugu states consist of approximately 2800 theatres, the largest number of cinema halls of any state in India. Being commercially consistent, Telugu cinema had its influence over commercial cinema in India. The 1992 film Gharana Mogudu is the first Telugu film to gross over ₹ 10 crore at the box office. Produced on a shoestring budget of ₹ 1.2 crore, 2000 film Nuvve Kavali became sleeper hit of
7700-569: The late 1940s and 1950s. These studios played a crucial role in the development of Telugu cinema, contributing to the production of over 300 films between 1950 and 1960. Many Telugu-Tamil bilinguals were made during this period. During this era, the Telugu film industry became one of the largest producers of folklore , fantasy , and mythological films. Directors like K. V. Reddy and B. Vittalacharya pioneered these genres, creating films that captivated audiences with their imaginative storytelling. As demand for films grew, filmmakers recognised
7810-875: The late 1940s and early 1950s, many members of the Praja Natya Mandali and Abhyudaya Rachayithala Sangham, both affiliated with the Communist Party, transitioned into the film industry, bringing with them progressive ideas that subtly influenced the industry, though they eventually adapted to the commercial demands of mainstream cinema. During the 1950s and 1960s, Telugu film songs entered a golden era marked by exceptional lyricism, orchestration, and technological advancements. Prominent lyricists like Samudrala Sr. , Pingali Nagendra Rao , Devulapalli Krishna Sastry , and Kosaraju Raghavayya , alongside composers like Saluri Rajeswara Rao , Ghantasala , T. V. Raju , Pendyala , and Master Venu , set new standards for
7920-586: The late 1990s. It was screened for 200 days in 20 screens grossing over ₹ 20 crore . Dasari Narayana Rao directed the most number of films in the Telugu language, exploring themes such as aesthestics in Meghasandesam (1982), Battle of Bobbili in the biographical war film Tandra Paparayudu (1986), alternate history with Sardar Papa Rayudu (1980), and gender discrimination in Kante Koothurne Kanu (1998) for which he received
8030-417: The latter part of his career. He co-wrote the screenplay for two Kannada movies produced by Rajkumar's banner that were not directed by him - Shruthi Seridaaga (1987) and Samyuktha (1988). He was also the script-writer of Belliyappa Bangarappa (1992). A disciple of legendary composer S. Rajeswara Rao , he has composed music for two Kannada films - Bhagyada Lakshmi Baramma and Samyuktha. Most of
8140-560: The lead actors, which bought a rather fictional storyline a sense of authenticity at a time when the industry was being filled with unnecessary commercial fillers. It went on to gather a cult following in south India, with a dubbed Hindi version titled Hairaan released to positive reports from Bollywood critics, the Ann Arbor Film Festival , and the Fribourg Festival . Chiranjeevi 's works such as
8250-530: The leaping flames. Actually the infant's dead mother was set on the fire and the child asked question to the flames. The fire already consumed the dead mother and unveiled life in its lonely nakedness. The answer came from the Fire that it is the terrible desire that shaped the infant in his mother's womb. 'Beside the Death Bed' is a philosophical poem by this great poet. In this poem, Chattopadhyay says that death
8360-535: The mysterious altercation between PNS Ghazi and INS Karanj during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 . Indo-Asian News Service called new-generation film maker Sandeep Vanga 's Arjun Reddy the "most original, experimental work to come out of Telugu cinema in a long time", and said the protagonist's (played by Vijay Deverakonda ) "rise, fall and rise ... is nothing short of poetic and heart wrenching". Actor-dancer Allu Arjun produced and acted in
8470-564: The mythological Sri Seeta Rama Jananam (1944) under his home production, Prathiba Picture, marking Akkineni Nageswara Rao 's debut in a lead role. The 1950s and 1960s are often regarded as the golden age of Telugu cinema. This era witnessed significant advances in production quality, the establishment of iconic studios, and the rise of influential filmmakers who shaped the industry. Prominent production houses such as Vijaya Productions , Vauhini Studios , Bharani Pictures , Prasad Art Pictures , and Annapurna Pictures were established during
8580-696: The off beat film Aithe (2003) with a caption "all movies are not the same". Aithe was made on a shoestring budget of about 1.5 crores and went on to collect more than 6 crores. After almost two years he delivered another thriller Anukokunda Oka Roju (2005) both films were a refreshing change of pace to the audiences, produced by Gangaraju Gunnam . Aithe was remade in Tamil as Naam (2003) and in Malayalam as Wanted (2004). Mohana Krishna Indraganti explored themes of chastity and adultery in his 2004 literary adaptation Grahanam , based on Dosha Gunam written by social critic G. V. Chalam . The film
8690-519: The potential to remake earlier productions with enhanced cinematic techniques. Many mythological films originally made in the early talkie era, which featured actors from drama troupes and were limited by the technical constraints of the time, were reimagined in this era with improved technologies. Pathala Bhairavi (1951) emerged as the most successful folklore film of the decade and turned its lead actors, N. T. Rama Rao and S. V. Ranga Rao , into stars. Other notable mythological and folklore films from
8800-468: The producer nor the director of these two films were Telugus. In 1933, Sati Savitri directed by C. Pullayya received an honorary diploma at the 2nd Venice Film Festival . In the same year, Pruthvi Putra , based on the story of Narakasura was released. It starred Kalyanam Raghuramayya and was produced by Pothina Srinivasa Rao, who had previously built the first cinema hall in Andhra in 1921. This
8910-494: The record as the highest-grossing film of all time in India. Over the years, Telugu filmmakers have also ventured into parallel and arthouse cinema. Films like Daasi (1988), Thilaadanam (2000), and Vanaja (2006), among others, received acclaim at major international film festivals such as Venice , Berlin , Karlovy Vary , Moscow , and Busan . Additionally, ten Telugu films have been featured in CNN-IBN 's list of
9020-453: The science fiction film Aditya 369 (1991), fantasy film Bhairava Dweepam (1994), and the mythological film Sri Krishnarjuna Vijayam (1996). Aditya 369 and Bhairava Dweepam are considered landmark films in science fiction and fantasy genres respectively in Telugu cinema . He directed Rajendra Prasad in two films — Brundavanam (1992) and Madam (1994). Both were commercially successful. Kannada actor Shivaram has been
9130-648: The selection committee members for the Sundance Institute 's screenwriters lab. Telugu cinema Telugu cinema , also known as Tollywood , is the segment of Indian cinema dedicated to the production of motion pictures in the Telugu language , widely spoken in the states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana . Based in Film Nagar , Hyderabad , Telugu cinema has become the largest film industry in India by box-office revenue as of 2021. Telugu films sold 23.3 crore (233 million) tickets in 2022,
9240-502: The short film, I Am That Change (2014), to spread awareness on individual social responsibility. The movie was directed by Sukumar , which was screened in theatres across Andhra Pradesh and Telangana on Indian Independence day, 2014. Adivi Sesh scripted the Neo-noir Kshanam (2016), based on a real life incident of a missing three-year-old girl. Sesh followed it up writing R.A.W. thriller Goodachari (2018), and
9350-423: The traditions of theatre onto the screen. These films often retained the same scripts, dialogues, and background settings as their stage counterparts. By 1936, the mass appeal of film allowed directors to move away from religious and mythological themes. That year, under the direction of Kruthiventi Nageswara Rao, Prema Vijayam , a film with a contemporary setting, was released. It was the first Telugu film with
9460-442: The trend of social films, which began in the late 1930s, focusing on contemporary issues and everyday life rather than mythology and fantasy. Notable social films from the decade included Pelli Chesi Choodu (1952), Puttillu (1953), Devadasu (1953), Pedda Manushulu (1954), Missamma (1955), Ardhangi (1955), Rojulu Marayi (1955), Donga Ramudu (1955), and Thodi Kodallu (1957), many of which performed well at
9570-471: The truths of everyday life better than Vemana. He was introduced to Mark Twain by an American missionary when he was eight. He considers Robin Hood to be his favourite hero of fiction. Singeetam Srinivasa Rao is widely regarded as one of India's most versatile and innovative filmmakers. He is acclaimed for revolutionizing South Indian cinema through his experimental approach . Notable for his contributions to
9680-501: The use of filmstrip in 1943 to 11,000 feet, a sharp reduction from the 20,000 feet that had been common till then. As a result, the number of films produced during the war was substantially lower than in previous years. Nonetheless, before the ban, an important shift occurred in the industry: Independent studios formed, actors and actresses were signed to contracts limiting whom they could work for, and films moved from social themes to folklore legends. Ghantasala Balaramayya , has directed
9790-497: The war docudrama Major (2022). Cinema Bandi (2022) scripted and directed by Praveen Kandregula, and produced by film making duo Raj and D. K. ; explored the theme of how a lost camera fuels dreams in a Telugu hamlet, winning the Jury Special Mention at the 53rd IFFI . Venu Yeldandi explored slice of life story from rural Telangana with Balagam (2023) hitting the right chords to be considered one of
9900-747: The wizard Barfi in Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne , the human encyclopaedia, Sidhujyatha, in Sonar Kella , and the senior member of the Board of Directors, Sir Baren Roy, in Seemabaddha The Earthen Goblet is a fine poem by Harendranath Chattopadhyay. The poem is written in a conversational tone. The poet presents a dialogue between the Goblet and the poet speaker. The poet asks the red goblet to recount its experiences as it
10010-453: Was Welcome Obama (2013). The story deals with commercial surrogacy in India where women are used as surrogates by foreigners and tells the story of one such surrogate mother who bears a foreigner's child. He is also roped in as a mentor for the upcoming Telugu science fiction film Project K . Made at an estimated budget of ₹600 crore , it is one of the most expensive Indian films ever made. Srinivasa Rao gave his inputs and opinion on
10120-493: Was an Indian English poet , dramatist , actor, musician and a member of the 1st Lok Sabha from Vijayawada constituency . He was the younger brother of Sarojini Naidu , the second woman President of the Indian National Congress and first Indian woman to hold the position, and Virendranath Chattopadhyay , an international communist revolutionary. The Government of India awarded him the civilian honour of
10230-528: Was born on 21 September 1931 in a Telugu family in Gudur of then Nellore district , Andhra Pradesh . His father, Ramachandra Rao, was a headmaster and his mother, Sakunthala Bai, was a violinist. As a school student, he showed glimpses of talent both in plays and music. He graduated with a Physics Degree from Presidency College, Chennai . In college, he honed his skills in plays such as Windows under Harindranath Chattopadhyay . After graduation his ambition
10340-686: Was considered one of the ten best films of the year by the National Board of Review , making it only the seventh non-English language film ever to make it to the list. The song " Naatu Naatu " won the Oscar for Best Original Song at the 95th Academy Awards , making it the first song from an Indian film, as well as the first from an Asian film, to win in this category. This made the film the first Indian film by an Indian production to win an Academy Award. Harindranath Chattopadhyay Harindranath Chattopadhyay (2 April 1898 – 23 June 1990)
10450-520: Was credited with the introduction of steadicams and new sound recording techniques in Telugu films. Within a year of the film's release, more than ten steadicams were imported into India. Siva attracted the young audience during its theatrical run, and its success encouraged filmmakers to explore a variety of themes and make experimental Telugu films. Subsequently, Varma introduced road movie and film-noir to Indian screen with Kshana Kshanam . Varma experimented with close-to-life performances by
10560-745: Was directed by H. M. Reddy . Bhakta Prahlada was shot over 18 or 20 days at Imperial Studios, Bombay and was produced by Ardeshir Irani who also produced Alam Ara , India's first sound film . The film had an all-Telugu starcast featuring Sindhoori Krishna Rao as the titular Prahlada , Munipalle Subbayya as Hiranyakasyapa , and Surabhi Kamalabai as Leelavathy. Bhakta Prahlada was completed on 15 September 1931, which henceforth became known as "Telugu Film Day" to commemorate its completion. Popularly known as talkies , films with sound quickly grew in number and popularity. In 1932, Sagar Movietone produced Sri Rama Paduka Pattabhishekam and Sakunthala , both directed by Sarvottam Badami . Neither
10670-444: Was honoured with the Life Achievement Award by the Film Federation of India . He began his career as an assistant to the esteemed director K. V. Reddy , working on iconic films such as Mayabazar (1957) and Jagadeka Veeruni Katha (1961). He made his directorial debut with the Telugu film Neethi Nijayithi (1972), and subsequently directed critically acclaimed social problem films like Dikkatra Parvathi (1974), which won
10780-441: Was in the Hindi movie Bawarchi ( The Chef ), which was made in 1972; it was adapted by Hrishikesh Mukherjee from the Bengali film Galpo Holeo Satti , directed by Tapan Sinha . Chattopadhyaya played the role of the strict and regimented patriarch of the house, where his sons, daughters-in-law and grandchildren lived in a joint family and still respected and abided by his rules. He had cameos in three Satyajit Ray films: playing
10890-479: Was memorably sung by Ashok Kumar in the film Aashirwad . He himself wrote the lyrics, composed the music and sang a few songs, notable among which were Surya Ast Ho Gaya and Tarun Arun Se Ranjit Dharani . He penned the first English song in any Hindi Film, and it became an all time hit – My heart is beating – in film Julie, which launched the Film Playback singing career of Preeti Sagar. He also wrote
11000-470: Was not commercially successful. He then directed the social problem film Tharam Marindi (1977) which won the Nandi Award for Best Feature Film . He made other successful Telugu films like Zamindaru gari Ammayi (1975), America Ammayi (1976), Panthulamma (1978), Sommokadidhi Sokokadidhi (1979), Mayuri (1985), America Abbayi (1987), Aditya 369 (1991), Brundavanam (1992), Bhairava Dweepam (1994), Madam (1994). Mayuri won
11110-508: Was premiered at the International Film Festival of India . The Telugu crossover films like America Ammayi (1976), and America Abbayi (1987) were box office hits. The 1990 action comedy , Michael Madana Kama Rajan - a movie about quadruplets - became an instant hit at the box office. The Telugu science fiction film Aditya 369 was one of the highest grossing Telugu films of 1991, grossing ₹ 9 crore at
11220-504: Was premiered at the 1985 International Film Festival of India, has also received several state Awards, including the State Nandi Award for Best Feature Film, and Filmfare Award South for Best Direction. The film was later remade into Hindi as Naache Mayuri . In 1988, he co-produced, scripted and directed the first Indian dialogue-less film, Pushpaka Vimana which received special mention at Shanghai Film Festival . When he
11330-602: Was published when he was 19 years old, and received praise from Arthur Quiller-Couch and James Henry Cousins . He wrote in English but of topics relating to ancient Indian culture and Vedic ideas. He was awarded Padma Bhushan in 1973. He married Kamaladevi Chattopadhyaya , a socialist and leader of women, who created the All India Women's Conference , the Indian Cooperative Union and also
11440-445: Was selected to direct the historical Amoghavarsha Nrupathunga which was supposed to be Rajkumar's 200th movie but eventually dropped. However, he subsequently went on to direct Devatha Manushya (1988) which happened to be Rajkumar's 200th film. His other non-Rajkumar Kannada directorials include Anand (1986) and Chiranjeevi Sudhakara (1988) apart from Ksheera Sagara (1992), Tuvvi Tuvvi Tuvvi (1999) and Make-up (2002) in
11550-502: Was shot with a digital camera on a modest budget of approximately ₹ 8 lakh, with artists and technicians reportedly working without any remuneration. B. Anuradha of Rediff.com noted, "In this offbeat film, Indraganti upholds the tirade against chauvinists who accuse a noble lady of infidelity, ignoring her denials with contempt". The film was featured at the Independent South Asian Film Festival in
11660-489: Was telecasted in American Television. A disciple of legendary composer S. Rajeswara Rao , he has also composed music for two Kannada movies of matinee idol Rajkumar 's banner - Bhagyada Lakshmi Baramma (which was directed by him) and Samyuktha - (which was not directed by him). The 1984 Telugu biographical dance film , Mayuri , which won the National Film Award – Special Mention (Feature Film) ,
11770-409: Was the first Telugu talkie entirely financed by Telugu people. In 1934, the industry saw its first major commercial success with Lava Kusa . Directed by C. Pullayya and starring Parupalli Subbarao and Sriranjani , the film attracted unprecedented numbers of viewers to theatres and thrust the young industry into mainstream culture. Dasari Kotiratnam produced Sati Anasuya in 1935 and became
11880-673: Was the inspiration for the All Indian Handicraft's Board , a body which revived many Indian handicrafts (such as pottery and weaving), decimated by the Industrial Revolution in Britain in the 19th century. A son died in 2008 but another survives. Kamaladevi and Harin's divorce was the first legal separation granted by the courts of India. It was amicable. Harindranath Chattopadhyaya often recited his poem Rail Gaadi on All India Radio ( Akashavani ). The song
11990-576: Was to get into films. As his attempts to meet the director K. V. Reddy failed, he took up the job of a teacher in Sullurupeta . But he continued writing and wrote two experimental award-winning plays Bhrama and Anthyaghattam. He also wrote Chitrarjuna , a musical play adopted from Tagore's Chitra - Prince of the Dark Chamber . It was translated into English by Scottish dramatist Tom Buchan for an American television channel. He also worked as
12100-484: Was working with Rajkumar, Srinivasa Rao was introduced to Rajkumar's relative, actor Shringar Nagaraj who decided to co-produce Pushpaka Vimana . The film was listed among CNN-IBN 's 'Hundred greatest Indian films of all time'. The comedy-drama blockbuster Apoorva Sagodharargal (1989) was one of the enduring works on dwarfism in popular media . The film won the Filmfare Award for Best Film – Tamil , and
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