Telugu Cinema Prapamcham

Cast: Suryanarayana, Surabhi Balasaraswathi Editing: Rajan-Tilak Director: Kallakuri Sadasiva Rao Trivia: In the editors duo, Tilak was none other than KB Tilak, the famous director of the later days.

Cast: Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Jr. Sriranjani, B. Jayamma, Surabhi Balasaraswathi Music: Nalam Nageswara Rao, Saluri Rajeswara Rao Editing: Rajan-Tilak Producer: Hemalatha Director: KS Ramachandra Rao Banner: Gnanambika Pictures Trivia: In the editors duo, Tilak was none other than KB Tilak, famous director in the later days. Popular Songs: 1. Kanugonavaa priyasakhaa 2. Menatta kooturani nenu 3. Nanne raajuni chesaavamte 4. Priyaa neepaina mohamburaa

Synopsis: The son of the gardener Thota Raamudu (NTR) falls in love with Indumathi (Malathi), the princess of Ujjain. When he faces resistance from the king, he approaches a Sorcerer (SVR), who actually plans to sacrifice this young, brave lad to the goddess Patala Bhairavi (Girija) to attain the magic statuette, which would grant any wish. Raamudu finds about this plan and sacrifices the sorcerer and obtains Patala Bhairavi. Cast: NT Rama Rao (Thota Ramudu), Malathi (Indumathi), SV Ranga Rao (Nepala Mantrikudu), Padmanabham, Balakrishna, CSR Anjaneyulu, Girija, Surabhi Kamalabai, Krishna Kumari, Lakshmikantam, Hemalathamma Rao, Relangi (Anjaneyulu), Savitri, Chadalavada Kutumba Rao Story: Kamalakara Kameswara Rao Dialogues and Lyrics: Pingali Nagendra Rao Music: Ghantasala Playback: Ghantasala, VJ Varma, TG Kamala Devi, Relangi, AP Komala, Pithapuram Nageswara Rao, P. Leela Cinematography: Marcus Bartley Choreography: Pasumarthi Krishna Murthy Art: Madhava...

Synopsis: While out on a hunt, a king meets a beautiful woman (Anjali Devi) who turns out to be a demon. The king decides to marry her even after the objections of his wife and son (Akkineni). After the wedding, the demon sends her stepson (Akkineni) out on an impossible mission to retrieve a rare herb. He succeeds with the help of Keelugurram (flying horse). Cast: Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Jr. Lakshmirajyam, Anjali Devi, Kanakam, Sruyasree, Surabhi Kamalabai, Gangaratnam, M. Subbulu, AV Subba Rao, Relangi, P. Koteswara Rao, D. Satyanarayana Dialogues and Lyrics: Tapi Dharma Rao Music: Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao Playback: Ghantasala, Vakkalanka Sarala, C. Krishnaveni Producer and Director: Mirjapuram Raja Banner: Sobhanachala Pictures Release Date: 19 February Trivia: Though he given tunes for 'Mana Desam' at first, Ghantasala's first released film was 'Keelugurram'. C. Krishnaveni, an actress and singer, given voice for song on Anjali Devi. ...

Cast: G. Varalakshmi (Saroja), Lakshmirajyam (Sita), KS Prakasa Rao (Dr. Prakash), Rallabandi Kutumba Rao (Gangadhara Rao), Kona Prabhakara Rao (Raja Rao), LV Prasad, Kasturi Siva Rao, Venkumamba, Surabhi Balasaraswathi Story and Dialogues: Tapi Dharma Rao Lyrics: Tapi Dharma Rao Music: Pendyala Nageswara Rao Playback: Ghantasala, G. Varalakshmi Cinematography: Sridhar Art:  TVS Sharma Director: LV Prasad Producers: K. Bhaskara Rao, KS Prakasa Rao Banner: Swatantra Films Release Date: 10 December Trivia: This was debut film for Pendyala Nageswara Rao as a music director. Tatineni Prakasha Rao, the associate director, directed the scenes of his guru LV Prasad. Popular Songs: 1. Navvulaina navvavate bulbul 2. Aalakinchandi baaboo aalakinchandi 3. Chakkera kottuku vachchaave

Cast:  Balasaraswathi, D. Kotiratnam, Sundaramma, Chenchuratnam, Padmanabha Rao, Ramakrishna Sastry, Kalyanam Raghuramaiah, Rama Murthy Lyrics: Sadasiva Brahmam Playback:  Rao Balasaraswathi Devi Music: Saluri  Hanumantha Rao Cinematography: PL Rai Editing: Rajan-Tilak Sound: K. Ramachandran Director: VPT Sadasiv Banner: Sri Chatrapathi Pictures Release Date: 20 Febraury Trivia: In the editors duo, Tilak was none other than KB Tilak, the famous director of the later days. Popular Songs: 1. Gopala krishnudu nallana

Synopsis: Kovalan, the rich merchant of the sea in the Chola Kingdom and Kannagi, his beautiful virtuous and devout wife lived happily till the danseuse Madhavi entered Kovalan's life. He attended the maiden dance performance of the voluptuous Madhavi in the King's court. Pleased withe her performance, the Chola king gifted her gold coins and the customary green leave garland. Madhavi's mother Chitra auctioned the garland as per tradition and Kovalan bid the highest amount thus becoming the lord of Madhavi who by then fell in love with him. Kovalan's friend Velu had an amorous eye on Madhavi and was dismayed at being forestalled in the bid. Passionately in love with Madhavi, Kovalan lost all his wealth including his wife's jewels to please her mother. Kovalan went to Madurai with his wife to sell the diamond anklet that she gave him to restart business. He met a goldsmith for this purpose. The vicious goldsmith who stole the Pandyan queen's precious anklet ...

Cast:  CSR Anjaneyulu, Surabhi Kamalabai, Surabhi Balasaraswathi Playback: CSR Anjaneyulu Director: B. Narayana Rao Banner: Star Combines Notes: B. Narayana Rao's original name was Balakrishnan Narayana Nair. He was from Tellicherry.

Cast: Surabhi Kamalabai, P. Santha Kumari, Rentachintala Satyanarayana, V. Venkateswarlu Producers: Nidamarthi Soorayya, Surabhi Kamalabai Director: Hiren Bose Banner: Andhra Cinetone

Synopsis: Young Sasirekha, daughter of Balarama, finds a loving play-mate in Abhimanyu, son of Arjuna and Subhadra. Subhadra suggests to Balarama that Sasirekha and Abhimanyu would make a lovely couple, if married. Balarama falls in with the idea and promises to give his daughter in marriage to Abhimanyu only. After some years, having lost their kingdom in the game of dice with Kauravas, Pandavas are forced to go to Dwaitavanam. Sri Krishna comes to Pandavas and pacifies them with his soothing words and persuades Arjuna to send Subhadra and Abhimanyu with him to Dwaraka. During the course of conservation with Balarama, Revathi expresses disapproval of the proposal to marry Sasirekha to Abhimanyu, on the ground that the latter's father was bereft of kingdom and wealth. In Hasthinapura, Sakuni suggests to Duryodhana to win the Yadava clan to his side by a marriage alliance between Duryodhana's son Lakshmana Kumara and Sasirekha. Duryodhana approves the suggestion and i...

Cast: Kalyanam Raghu Ramaiah, Parupalli Satyanarayana, Surabhi Kamalabai Director: Pothina Srinivasa Rao Banner: Saraswati Movietone Notes: The first cinema hall in Andhra Pradesh was Maruthi Talkies in Bezawada constructed by Pothina Srinivasa Rao in 1921. This theatre was inaugurated on October 23 that year. The theatre still exists. It was the beginning of the birth of cinema theatres. The first talkie ever made in India, Alam Ara , was first released in this theatre. It enjoyed such a pride of place that all the films made at Bombay and at other production centers were first released in Maruthi Talkies, along with their release in Bombay. Srinivasa Rao also turned producer-director with his film titled Prithvi Putra in 1933, under his own banner Saraswathi Movietone. He was also the film's script writer.

Cast: Yadavalli Suryanarayana (Dushyanth), Surabhi Kamalabai (Shakuntala), Bakurupanda Venkata Rao, Nellore Naga Raja Rao Director: Sarvottam Badami Banner: Select Pictures Circuit (Bangalore) Notes: Surabhi Kamala Bai played the protagonist's role in Bhakta Prahlada - the first Telugu talkie. But how many of us know she was born on stage while her mother Leelavati, a veteran theatre artiste, was giving a performance. Leelavati was playing the character of a pregnant woman, and the crowd for a moment thought Kamala's birth was part of the play. Elated as they were, they threw coins while the pregnant mother actually wreathed in pain.

Cast: Yadavalli Suryanarayana(Rama), Surabhi Kamalabai (Sita), Bakurapanda Venkata Rao (Bharata), P. Ramatilakam, Nellore Nagaraja Rao Producer: Chunnibhai Desai Director: Sarvottam Badami Banner: Select Pictures Circuit Release Date: 24 November