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| Image from IMDB |
Chiranjeevi is, arguably, the biggest star to shine in the Telugu film industry. And I hope and pray that he gives us one more thrilling ride. I was a movie buff since forever. I have seen actors start, grow, some change track, and some disappear. Only the persistent make it big.
I am not sure which is my first Chiranjeevi movie but I remember he had a negative role in it, and in most of his early roles. In fact, he was so good in negative roles that filmmakers developed the character and made it bigger. This can be called phase I of Chiranjeevi's career. And to name some movies - Manavoori Pandavulu, Kukka Katuku Cheppu Debba, Tayaramma Bangarayya, Idi Katha Kaadu. He sported a curly oily hair-style (typical Telugu style of those days) and was always angry. It culminated in a movie called Punnnami Nagu (1980). Chiranjeevi was the villain. For the love of god, I can't name the hero. For those who know this movie- you know. For those who don't here is a titbit. I heard it was an animal-based movie. I convinced my mom to send me and my younger bro to see this movie. I was in 7th or 8th class. Now, it was an animal movie but had a twist. Chiranjeevi was a human snake and girls were dying without being bitten... how and why?
This brings us, obviously, to phase II. He was the hero with negative shades. Mogudu Kaavali (or is it Nyayam Kavali) and Rani Kasularangamma are that I've seen. Such movies were a no-no for the established stars. So it went to the second rung. But the public loved these movies and craved for more. This phase gave Chiranjeevi one of his biggest hits - Chettaniki Kallu Levu. I loved this movie for its mind games. It was later made into Andha Kanoon.
Phase III brought in the ladies. Chiranjeevi changed track. No hate, No violence. Just romance and comedy. And songs and dance. Intlo Ramayya Veedhilo Krishnayya, Patnam Vachchina Pativrathalu, Subhalekha, Maga Maharaju, Manthrigari Viyyankudu were some of the big hits of this phase. The biggest hit, however, was Manchu Pallaki (a remake of Tamil movie Palaivana Solai). A small movie that went big.
Then comes the movie that launched Chiranjeevi's career into stratosphere. Khaidi (1983) - a rehash of Stalone's First Blood. A big blockbuster and a game-changer in the Telugu cine industry. The heroine was Madhavi. The songs were a hit and the dances, god, were never-seen-before on screen. One particular song became a rage - Ragaltundi Moguli Poda. The theme - two snakes dancing entwined. Now use your imagination.
Here are some movies of his that I absolutely enjoyed - Yamudiki Mogudu, Pasivadi Pranam, Rakshashudu, Jagadeka Veerudu Athiloka Sundari, Adavi Donga, AYAM (hope you know which).
The last great movie of Chiranjeevi (only according to me) was Gang Leader. It was a well-rounded movie. Emotions (brother love and all that), comedy (Vijayshanti in a role that matched Chiranjeevi in every way and a career-best role by Nirmala), villains (Rao Gopalrao and his brother, and Allu Ramlingaiah and Boring Papa), some very hummable songs and well-picturised dances sequences (That glowing lights looks so jaded now) along with breath-taking action made it a big hit. I happened to watch it in Kurnool. On its 100th day. What you need to know here is that on the 100th day of a movie, the songs are repeated. So after the movie ended, all the songs were repeated giving us a bonus 40 minutes. Plus, it’s kinda different feel viewing the movie with fans. Balakrishna fans will make sure you don’t hear a single dialogue. One movie of his I saw, at 6 in the morn. I just can’t remember its name. BTW, I was once in the district committee of Balakrishna fans association. Dont ask.
But today I will focus on a big hit of Chiranjeevi's early career - Abhilasha. It was released the year I did my 10th. Yandamuri's novel by the same name was released a few years earlier. On hindsight, Yandamuri was a big hack. All his writings were sly copies of Hollywood. It was serialized in a weekly magazine and was a bit hit. The many turns and twists kept the readers hooked. Then the novel was made into a movie. The hero was an up-and-coming actor called Chiranjeevi. It had something to do with death penalty, leading to a suspenseful climax. The movie became a big hit. Much credit goes to the evergreen music by the the one-and-only Ilayaraja. And the deft direction by Kodanda Rami Reddy. This movie had the famous Chiranjeevi-Radhika pairing. It also launched the banner Creative Commercials. But more importantly, it saw the birth of Chiranjeevi's signature Step-Dancing.
I am not sure which is my first Chiranjeevi movie but I remember he had a negative role in it, and in most of his early roles. In fact, he was so good in negative roles that filmmakers developed the character and made it bigger. This can be called phase I of Chiranjeevi's career. And to name some movies - Manavoori Pandavulu, Kukka Katuku Cheppu Debba, Tayaramma Bangarayya, Idi Katha Kaadu. He sported a curly oily hair-style (typical Telugu style of those days) and was always angry. It culminated in a movie called Punnnami Nagu (1980). Chiranjeevi was the villain. For the love of god, I can't name the hero. For those who know this movie- you know. For those who don't here is a titbit. I heard it was an animal-based movie. I convinced my mom to send me and my younger bro to see this movie. I was in 7th or 8th class. Now, it was an animal movie but had a twist. Chiranjeevi was a human snake and girls were dying without being bitten... how and why?
This brings us, obviously, to phase II. He was the hero with negative shades. Mogudu Kaavali (or is it Nyayam Kavali) and Rani Kasularangamma are that I've seen. Such movies were a no-no for the established stars. So it went to the second rung. But the public loved these movies and craved for more. This phase gave Chiranjeevi one of his biggest hits - Chettaniki Kallu Levu. I loved this movie for its mind games. It was later made into Andha Kanoon.
Phase III brought in the ladies. Chiranjeevi changed track. No hate, No violence. Just romance and comedy. And songs and dance. Intlo Ramayya Veedhilo Krishnayya, Patnam Vachchina Pativrathalu, Subhalekha, Maga Maharaju, Manthrigari Viyyankudu were some of the big hits of this phase. The biggest hit, however, was Manchu Pallaki (a remake of Tamil movie Palaivana Solai). A small movie that went big.
Then comes the movie that launched Chiranjeevi's career into stratosphere. Khaidi (1983) - a rehash of Stalone's First Blood. A big blockbuster and a game-changer in the Telugu cine industry. The heroine was Madhavi. The songs were a hit and the dances, god, were never-seen-before on screen. One particular song became a rage - Ragaltundi Moguli Poda. The theme - two snakes dancing entwined. Now use your imagination.
Here are some movies of his that I absolutely enjoyed - Yamudiki Mogudu, Pasivadi Pranam, Rakshashudu, Jagadeka Veerudu Athiloka Sundari, Adavi Donga, AYAM (hope you know which).
The last great movie of Chiranjeevi (only according to me) was Gang Leader. It was a well-rounded movie. Emotions (brother love and all that), comedy (Vijayshanti in a role that matched Chiranjeevi in every way and a career-best role by Nirmala), villains (Rao Gopalrao and his brother, and Allu Ramlingaiah and Boring Papa), some very hummable songs and well-picturised dances sequences (That glowing lights looks so jaded now) along with breath-taking action made it a big hit. I happened to watch it in Kurnool. On its 100th day. What you need to know here is that on the 100th day of a movie, the songs are repeated. So after the movie ended, all the songs were repeated giving us a bonus 40 minutes. Plus, it’s kinda different feel viewing the movie with fans. Balakrishna fans will make sure you don’t hear a single dialogue. One movie of his I saw, at 6 in the morn. I just can’t remember its name. BTW, I was once in the district committee of Balakrishna fans association. Dont ask.
But today I will focus on a big hit of Chiranjeevi's early career - Abhilasha. It was released the year I did my 10th. Yandamuri's novel by the same name was released a few years earlier. On hindsight, Yandamuri was a big hack. All his writings were sly copies of Hollywood. It was serialized in a weekly magazine and was a bit hit. The many turns and twists kept the readers hooked. Then the novel was made into a movie. The hero was an up-and-coming actor called Chiranjeevi. It had something to do with death penalty, leading to a suspenseful climax. The movie became a big hit. Much credit goes to the evergreen music by the the one-and-only Ilayaraja. And the deft direction by Kodanda Rami Reddy. This movie had the famous Chiranjeevi-Radhika pairing. It also launched the banner Creative Commercials. But more importantly, it saw the birth of Chiranjeevi's signature Step-Dancing.
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Which is you favorite Chiranjeevi movie? Do let me know....
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ReplyDeleteThanks you.... I am sure you will like this too. https://hguy.blogspot.com/2022/05/movie-halls-of-hyderabad-and.html
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