Telugu Cinema Prapamcham

Cast: Vinod Kumar (Kranthi), Sithara (Jhansi), Allu Ramalingaiah, Atluri Pundarikakshaiah (Bangaru Kotaiah), Rami Reddy (Bangaru Babu), Sutti Velu, Jaya Prakash, Tatineni Prakasha Rao (Dinavani Editor), CS Rao (Governor), Dasari Narayana Rao, Sakunthala, Archana, Ayesha Jaleel Story and Screenplay: Dasari Narayana Rao Dialogues and Lyrics: Dasari Narayana Rao Music: SA Rajkumar (debut) Cinematography: PS Prakash Editing: B. Krishnam Raju Art: Chalam Fights: Judo Ratnam Producers: C. Venkata Raju, G. Siva Raju Director: Dasari Narayana Rao Release Date: 26 April

Cast: Narayana Rao, PL Narayana, Shakuntala, Jaya Padma Story: Yandamuri Veerendranath Dialogues: Madireddy Sulochana Rani Music: Nirmal Kumar Producer: Sampana Bhaskara Rao Director:  Kadiyala Siva Ramaiah Banner: Anthyodaya Art Films Release Date: 14 November

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.