Re: Telugu Dubbed English Khuddar Movies
Phyllis Sterlin
This was a far better year than the previous year, be it in terms of successful movies or content wise. Also audiences were not exactly enamoured of star value, if the movie was good it was a success, irrespective of star factor, and some of the bigger hits this year, did not feature any of the big stars. Video in a way had exposed the audiences to a wide variety of movies, and they were willing to accept any new narrative or story.
Chiru on the other hand had a rather mixed year, with Kirathukudu, Veta, Chanakya Sapadham, Magadheerudu flopping, while Kondaveeti Raja did quite well. And Rakshasudu, the 3rd movie of his under Creative Commercials banner, after Abhilasha and Challenge, was one of the big hits of this year. Honestly though, compared to the earlier two movies, this movie was distinctly underwhelming, and had some really cringe writing. But a pretty good soundtrack by Illayaraja propelled it to success.
Chantabbai was a flop on release, but later on TV, Video runs the movie was immensely successful, and has proved to be a cult favorite. It remains one of Chiru's best movies to date, personally I feel the movie suffered from expectations. Jandhyala's movies generally had a more subtle, gentle humor, while this movie was more slapstick, over the top in places, and I guess audiences could not accept it back then.
The year saw another period epic, Tandra Paparayudu, based on the Bobbili Yuddham, and it's legendary general, directed by Dasari. A brilliant performance by Krishnam Raju in the lead role, saw this movie go on to become a success. His other movies though in the same year were not so successful.
The star of the year was Balayya, with massive hits in Muddula Krishnayya, Anasuyamma Gaari Alludu, Deshodarakudu, Seetharama Kalyanam, though the much anticipated Apoorva Sahodarulu, with K.Raghavendra Rao, and him playing a dual role disappointed. It also set the trend for Balayya's movies as he unabashedly played to mass audience, with heavy double meaning dialogues, generous display of cleavage by heroines. Only exception was Seetharama Kalyanam, courtesy Jandhyala.
His Agent Vikram 007, this year a dubbed version of his Tamil movie , was quite a good Bond style spy flick. Actually this year also saw Kamal quitting Bollywood for good, his movies flopping there, and the internal politics left him frustrated. It would be a good move, as some of his best performances began to come when he left Bollywood.
Rajendra Prasad, firmly established himself as a comedy hero, with two back to back hits this year. Rendu Rellu Aaru wss a superb comedy, popular even now, with trademark Jandhyala style subtle humor, quirky characters. Rajendra Prasad and Chandramohan I feel was one of the best comic duos on screen, they both had a brilliant timing together, as they starred in a series of memorable movies like this one, Naku Pellam Kavali, Chinnodu Peddodu, Jayammu Nischayammu Raa.
Sirivennela though a flop on release, would later become popular on video, TV, a very sensitively handled story about the relationship between a blind flutist, and a mute artist. Remains one of K.Vishwanath's best movies. It also introduced one of the best lyricists in Telugu cinema, who would prefix this movie's name to his- Seetarama Sastry, and in fact would be more popular with that name.
This was the year when Illayaraja made his mark in a big way, with a series of hit albums- Rakshasudu, Swatimutyam, Ladies Tailor. Even the flop movies like Kiratukudu, Manchi Manasulu had good songs, while Abhinandana album was a huge success, even though the movie would release much later.
1986 was quite a good movie for Telugu cinema, not just in terms of commercial success, but also content wise. Audiences did not really care for star or hero, as long as the content was good. Reason why movies like Ladies Tailor, Prathidhwani, with no big stars turned out to be big hits. On the other hand, vulgarity, double meaning dialogues too became equally commonplace, and would continue to be so. But there was a healthy balance between the typical mass masala commercial flicks, and the content driven, story oriented movies.
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