Bhakta Prahlada (1931)

Bhakta Prahlada is the first Telugu talkie movie made in 1931 by H.M. Reddy, a pioneer in Indian film industry. It is a classic mythological drawn from the Vishnu Purana. Prahlada, the son of the demon Hiranya Kasipa (Subbaiah), defies his father and worships Vishnu. He is imprisoned but Vishnu protects him.
Cast: Munipalle Venkata Subbaiah or V.V. Subba Rao (Hiranya Kasipa), Krishna Rao (Prahlada), Surabhi Kamalabai (Leelavathi), L.V. Prasad (friend of Prahlada), Doraswami Naidu (Indra), Chitrapu Narasimha Rao (Brahma and Chandamarka), BV Subba Rao
Story: Dharmavaram Krishnamacharyulu
Music: H.R. Padmanabha Sastri
Lyrics: Chandala Kesavadasu
Cinematography: Govardhanbhai Patel
Producer: Manikyalal Seth
Director: H.M. Reddy
Banner: Bharat Movietone (Sri Krishna Film Company)
Budget: Rs. 20,000
Duration: 108 mts.
Release Date: 15 September 1931
Trivia: Valluru Venkata Subba Rao (V.V. Subba Rao) was born in Munipalle near Ponnur. So, later he called as Munipalle Subbaiah. He took highest remuneration in Surabhi Samajam at that time. He came back to his home village when his father died in 1929. H.M. Reddy send Doraswami Naidu to pick up Subbaiah to Mumbai for the role Hiranya Kasipa.
This was the first and last film of Krishna Rao (Prahlada). He was the only son of Ramulamma and Ranga Rao, the surabhi artistes. He received Rs. 400 as remuneration for his role.
The shoot of the film completed within 20 days in Imperial Studio, Bombay.
Manikyalal Seth, the producer, was belongs to Gujarat.