Telugu industry has a very firm relation with literature and philosophy. Amidst other industry which runs short of themes, who blend in masala to get their collection, that makes Telugu industry stays unique
Haritha S Sundar
from Hyderabad
Baahubali, a Rajamouli trick that could attract the film lovers once again to Telugu cinema. Tollywood is famous for many such flicks. Telangana and Andhra Pradesh can boast about many factors, like having the most number of cinema
theatres, state having the apt premises for the best production facility. The journey of the industry that started since the time of Raghupathi Venkaiyyah Naidu, father of Telugu film industry has reached in such a stage where the industry releases big budget films and gaining huge collection records worldwide.
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Tollywood has got another achievement. It has been always open hearted to literatures irrespective
linguistic barriers as well as geographical borders. May be this is to re-install the literature’s influence over the present generation or to complete the literature by bringing it on reel. So literally, many novels and poems had given hope to Telugu industry.
Mid 90’s was the era of Gudipati Venkatachalam. He focussed on suppression of people, its effects and mainly the conditions of women in and around their homes. Indraganti Mohan Krishna’s movie Grahanam was inspired by his famous short story Guna Dosham.This is a simple example that Telugu literature could travel beyond time.
Telugu literature encouraged works on women empowerment and works by women authors. If we go in search of the relation rooted between reel and paper, some names are to be quoted.
Yaddanapudi Sulochana Rani — Princess of Romantic works. This description of her is apt when one goes through her works — 13 works of her had been made as films. The character “Vanishree” of Jeevana Tarangalu
directed by D.Raamanaidu had won the hearts of film aspirants. Films Secretary (1976) directed by K S Prakash Rao, Agni Poolu by K Bappaya (1981) were
commercial successe. Notable works by Rani like Amma Nanna, Radha Krishna, Chandipriya, Prema Lekhalu, Bangaaru Kalalu, Vichitra Bandham, Jai Jawan, Aatma Gowravam, Kanchana Ganga had been made as films of the same names. Her novel Mina was taken to the reel twice as Mina in 1973 by Vijaya Nirmala and in 2016 by Trivikram Sreenivas as A Aa. When her works with romantic
elements adapted as movies, audience accepted those with open hearts.
Muppala Ranganayakamma —Marxist-Feminist writer, who had to drop her studies due to her family burdens though she passes SSLC in 1955. She had written 15 novels and many short stories. Her work Ramayana: The Poisonous Tree, written from the perception of Marx had paved way too many controversies. She had translated Karl Marx’s Das Capital. Her novel Balipeetam which tells the story of an Upper Class women getting married to a lower caste guy and further consequences. In 1975 under Narayana Rao Dasari’s direction it was made to a film. Films Gorintaku, Radhama Pelli, Krishnaveni were also based on her novels. Malladi Venkata Krishna Murthy was a writer who could replicate the essence of life into the paper as such. He expertised in humour and travelogue and is quoted as someone born for the literature world. Thirteen of his works were made into films which include Golmal Govindam, Repati Koduku, Shh… gupchup, Vichitram, Lucky chance, Dabbueveriki Chedu, Dhrama Yudham, Srivari Shobanam, Mr V, Teeneteega, Chantabbai, Neeku Naku Pellanta Rendu Rellu Aaru were all inspired by his works. When majority were successes in Box office, films like Golmal Govindam couldn’t make through.
Yandamoori Veerendranath focussed on current affairs and social issues. Most of us still remember Chiranjeevi’s
helpless face in
the film Challenge in which he steals
to buy medicine for his bedridden mother and stands helpless without having money to conduct his mother’s funeral. The film was adapted from his novel Dabbu to the power of Dabbu. Raakshasudu, Abhilaasha, Kaashmoraa, Muthyamantha Muddu, Rudra Netra were other films inspired by his notable works.
Arekapudi (Koduri) KousalyaDevi knows well the hearts of Telugu audience.Many of her works were made as films. In 1974, a film based on her work Chakravaaham was made into a drama film directed by V Madhusudhanan Nair. His work Prem Nagar which told the story of Love and the depression of Love had influenced films in Hindi and Telugu, and Rajesh Khanna’s and Hema Malini’s
performance were praised by the critics. Another novel Shanghutheertham was also made into a film 1987 Box office hit Aha Naa Pellanta movie is based on Satyam Gaari Illu by Aadi Vishnu.
The film Jyothi (1976) created a revolution in Telugu film industry, starring Jayasudha and Murali Mohan in the lead was based on the novel Mamatala Kovela by C Anand Rao. The story revolved around a teenage girl getting married to an old man and the consequences they had to face by the stories cooked up by the people around them.
Aaranyakhaanda (1986) is based on the novelby Komanappali Ganapathi Rao. The film could put a light on the feudal system and caste systems
present at that time.
Mahal to Kokila — Vamshi’s novel was replicated on the reel as Sithara in 1984 and it told the story of love in
a different aspect. Bhaanupriya’s
performance as Sithaara is still a
landmark in the film industry
In short, Telugu industry is rich with literature. Stories, along with poems and folk songs are widely used in the films.This can be considered as the
dedication of artists to preserve the art and Telugu literature.
So, Telugu industry has a very firm relation with literature and philosophy. Amidst other industry which run short of themes, who blend in masala to get their collection, that makes telugu industry stays unique.
