Telugu Classics That Are Still Celebrated

Stars like Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao, Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Savitri and S V Ranga Rao have starred together in some of the evergreen classics of the Telugu Film Industry from the early 1950s to the early 1960s.

Magic FM takes a look at some of the major blockbusters of the golden era of Tollywood.

Pathala Bhairavi – 1951

Pathala Bhairavi portrayed NTR as a gardener’s son who has to amass wealth equal to that of the king of Ujjain to marry his daughter. The film became the first Telugu film to run in the theatres for 200 days straight. The film was equipped with special effects that took an entire generation by storm. It’s a beautiful movie with fantastical elements thus bridging two distinct genres.

Mayabazaar – 1957

Mayabazaar was a film which redefined the fantasy genre for the audiences. Mayabazaar was the first film to have been shot in multiple languages. The star cast of NTR, ANR, Savitri and S V Ranga Rao have put in their best step forward for every scene they acted in. The mythological elements mixed with pure fantasy and dreamlike visuals gave way to a movie-watching experience unlike anything in Telugu Cinema. Additionally, the movie conceptualized laptop and video calling way before they were introduced.

Gundamma Katha – 1962

Gundamma Katha was yet another classic brought to the audiences by Vijaya Vauhini Studios. The movie was well equipped with subtle humour and satire which helped it to dominate the box office. The film was termed as an all-time favourite with generations of Telugu movie audience. Its theme of women empowerment was a rarity in those times and a complete song was dedicated to it, thus making it a path-breaking moment in Telugu Cinema.