Telugu Films 1995: A summary [From Hindu]
Dev Mannemela
Lifted from the online edition of Hindu: [ofcourse without permission]
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THE HINDU ONLINE : Family entertainers take the front seat
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The success of some low budget films in Telugu proved that well
researched screenplay and story content draw the audience to
theatres. M. L. Narasimham writes.
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Telugu cinema in 1995 not only withstood the strike call
given by the Film Employees Federation of South India (FEFSI)
which brought the industry to a standstill for over 70 days and
the competition from a couple of satellite channels that have
sprung up in Telugu language too but also had a fairly good ratio
of successful films compared to the previous year. However, the
success rate is nothing much to boast of, just around 20 per
cent. In terms of numbers, the releases were more thanks to the
boom in dubbed films. The number of releases were 148 in 1995 of
which 80 were straight films, the rest dubbed ones, mostly from
Malayalam and Tamil.
Though the technical aspect of film-making improved with
latest technology being used (computer graphics in ``Ammoru'' and
Dolby sound system in ``Drohi''), most of the 80 straight
releases were masalas with oft repeated themes and the macho
image of the hero intact. As is the case in most of the movies,
the heroine is there to fill the glamour part.
But a welcome change the industry witnessed last year was
the success of some low budget films, proving a point that a well
researched screenplay and story content always draw audience to
theatres, irrespective of the stars involved. D. Ramanaidu's
``Taj Mahal'' (director Muppalaneni Siva), Ram Gopal Varma's
``Gulabi'' (directed by debutant Krishna Vamsy) and ``Anaganaga
Oka Roju,'' Muthyala Subbiah's ``Ammayi Kapuram'' are fine
examples. ``Gulabi'' was made with financial support from
Amithabh Bachchan Corporation Limited.
But the biggest box office hit of the year was Mohan
Babu's ``Pedarayudu'' (director Ravi Raja) which in its 200 days
of run grossed over the 27 crores. The film is still running in
some centres. A remake of the Tamil hit, ``Nattamai'', the film's
mega success is largely due to restrained performances by Mohan
Babu, Bhanupriya and Soundarya with Rajnikanth doing a brilliant
cameo role.
That Telugu cinema which had a glorious past is trying to
find a new identity is evident by the way the audience rejected
the routine fare even if it starred their favourite stars. They
welcomed family entertainers which were clean and wholesome, even
if they starred newcomers, and were made by debutant directors.
Gone were the days of double meaning dialogues and vulgarity and
it was the family theme that took the front seat.
Chiranjeevi, continues to have a lean patch with just one
out of his three releases, ``Alluda Mazaaka'' proving a success
at the box office. Balakrishna had only one release, ``Matho
Pettukoku'', a failure. Nagarjuna's solo starrer ``Gharana P{=3
Bullodu'' was a big hit and he made two special appearances in
``Ghothkachudu'' and ``Sisindri'' which starred his one year old
son, Akhil. Venkatesh too had only one release, ``Pokiri Raja'',
a disaster at the box office.
K. Viswanath made his debut as an actor with ``Subha
Sankalpam'' starring Kamal Hasan which was a big hit. Suman had
seven releases of which ``Khaidi Inspector'' and Dasari's ``Maya
Bazaar'' were average successes. Rajendra Prasad, Jagapathi Babu
and Anand had five movies each with Jagapathi Babu coming up
trumps with two hits, ``Ayanakiddaru'' and ``Subhamastu''.
Veteran A. Nageswara Rao had a solo release in ``Maya
Bazaar''. While Sobhan Babu's three movies collapsed at the box
office, Krishna had a solo hit, ``Amma Donga'' of the six movies
in which he had acted. His 300th starrer, ``Telugu Veera Levara''
failed to evoke response from the audience. R. Narayana Murthy
had two hits out of three ``Cheemala Dandu'' and ``Orey
Rickshaw''. Naresh and Suresh continues to have a lean period
though their work was appreciated in films like ``Sogasu Chooda
Tharama'' and ``Ammoru'' respectively.
``Taj Mahal'' gave a boost to Srikanth's career and
``Gulabi'' came as a shot in the arm for Chakravarthy.
Of the heroines, Soundarya topped the list with 11 films
followed by Aamani (10), and Indraja (8). All the three actresses
got performance oriented roles in films like ``Ammoru'',
``Subhasankalpam'' and ``Sogasu Chooda Tharama'' respectively.
Roja (7), Rambha (4), Meena, Nagma and Priya Raman three each and
Vijayashanti (2) had a lean year. Ooha (4) had success
in``Ayanakiddaru'' and ``Ammaleni Puttillu'' while Ramya Krishnan
(6) was appreciated in ``Ayanakiddaru'' and ``Ammoru''. Among the
younger generation heroines, Ravali and Maheswari stood out with
good performances. Both of them starred in three films each.
Ravali's performance in ``Orey Rickshaw'' and ``Vaddu
Bava Thappu'' was appreciated while Maheswari gave an excellent
performance in ``Ammayi Kapuram''. Her other two starrers
``Gulabi'' and ``Khaidi Inspector'' proved hits. Jayasudha
acquired a new image with her scintillating performance in
``Aunty''. But veterans like Sarada and Vanisri drew a blank.
However at the end of the year, Vanisri had a hit in ``Amma Naa
Kodala'' which starred Soundarya and Vinod Kumar.
Among the directors, Kodi Ramakrishna had the maximum
number of films (6) followed by Sagar (4), Dasri Narayana Rao,
Muthyala Subbiah, A. Kodanda Rami Reddy and E. V. V.
Sathyanarayana who had three each and K. Rahavendra Rao (2).
Debut making directors: Krishna Vamsy (``Gulabi''), C. V.
Reddy (``Badili''), Gopichand (``Mr. Mayagadu''), Muppalaneni
Siva (``Dear Brother''), Gangadhar (``Bala Prapancham''),
Bheemineni Srinivasa Rao (``Subhamastu'') and Sai Prakash
(``Ammaleni Puttillu'' debut in Telugu). p73
In the music field Koti ruled the roost with 15 films
followed by Keeravani (8), Vandemataram Srinivas (7),
Madhavapeddi Suresh (6), Sri (4), M. M. Srilekha and Raj three
each.
Among the dubbed films, ``Bombay'', ``Basha'', ``Sathi
Leelavathy'' and ``Premalayam'' (dubbed from ``Hum Aap Ke Hai
Kaun'') proved major hits. Apart from the storyline, music was a
contributing factor for the success of these films.
The industry bid adieu to yesteryear comedienne Girija,
comedian Chidathala Appa Rao and directors T. Madhava Rao and M.
Mallikarjuna Rao.
And the year ended on a happy note with the success of
the ``Rangeela'' maker Ramgopal Varma's ``Anaganaga Oka Roju''
with Chakravarthy and Urmila Matondkar in the lead.
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Dev Mannemela de...@spimageworks.com
Sony Pictures Imageworks (310) 641-1614 (O)