Telugu cinema, also known as Tollywood, is a part of Indian cinema based in Hyderabad, India.Since 1909, Raghupathi Venkaiah Naidu was involved in many aspects of Indian cinemas history like producing short films, travelling to different regions in Asia to promote film work. In 1921, He produced Bhishma Pratigna the first silent film in the state. He is cited as the father of Telugu Cinema.
In 1931, the first Telugu film with audible dialogue, Bhakta Prahlad, was produced by H.M. Reddy. Popularly known as 'talkies', films with sound quickly grew in number and fanbase. In 1934, the industry saw its first major commercial success with Lavakusa. Directed by C. Pullaiah and starring Parupalli Subbarao and Sriranjani in lead roles, the film attracted unprecedented numbers of viewers to theaters and thrust the young film industry into mainstream cultureThough it is celebration time for talkies, can we forget the efforts of pioneers like Dhundiraj Govind Phalke better known as Dadasaheb Phalke who made India's first silent film Raja Harischandra (1913) and R. G. Torney or our own Raghupathi Venkaiah, his son R.S. Prakash and C. Pulliah who made cinema popular during the silent era taking film rolls and projectors exhibiting films in nook and corner of the South? Raghupathi Venkaiah hailed as father of Telugu cinema is the first exhibitor in the South. He bought crono-megaphone, the first projector equipped to reproduce `sound' by disk system and exhibited short reels way back in 1910. He travelled all over the South and in Burma and Ceylon. Venkaiah established Star of East studios known as glass studio to produce silent films.
The success of Alam Ara made Irani to diversify into regional language productions in Telugu and Tamil the same year. It was Ardeshir Irani's associate Hanumantha Muniappa Reddy who directed Bhakta Prahalada and was released six weeks ahead of the first Tamil Talkie, Kalidas that Reddy himself directed with a mixed cast of Telugu, Tamil and Hindi actors. Bhakta Prahlada had an all-Telugu starcast featuring Munipalle Subbiah as Hiranyakasipa and Surabhi Kamalabai as Leelavathy. Both the films were made in Bombay. By 1936, the mass appeal of film allowed directors to move away from religious and mythological themes. That year, under the direction of Krithiventi Nageswara Rao, Prema Vijayam, a film focusing on social issues, was released. Its success prompted the production of dozens of other immensely successful 'social films', notably 1939's Vandemataram and Maala Pilla. Touching on societal problems like the status of Untouchables and the practice of giving dowry, Telugu films increasingly focused on contemporary living: twenty-nine of the ninety-six films released between 1937 and 1947 had social themes.
September 15, 1931 saw the release of the first Telugu talkie Bhakta Prahalada in Crown in Kakinada, Maruthi in Vijayawada, Gaiety in Madras and Minerva in Machlipatnam. Just a few months earlier, on March 14, 1931, the first Indian talkie film, Alam Ara was released at Majestic Cinema, Bombay and in other parts of the country including Maruthi Talkies, Vijayawada. People thronged the cinema halls where it was exhibited. With its box office success the country's first black marketeering in cinema tickets began with a four anna (a quarter of a rupee) ticket getting sold for Rs. 4 or 5! Another doyen, C. Pullaiah after gaining experience in the cinematic art, purchased a second hand movie camera in 1924 in Bombay returned to native Kakinada with an intention to make films in Andhra soil. He shot a thousand feet silent film, Markandeya, with himself cast as Yama and made the film with so many indigenous methods and projected the film on a white washed wall in his house to the amazement of his friends through the very same camera with which he shot the film. He used to call cinema as Goda Meedi Bomma. It was C. Pullaiah who gave Telugu cinema's first super duper hit, Lavakusa (1934) starring Parupalli Subbarao and Sriranjani (Sr.). It was his second feature film .
People flocked to the theatres from near by villages in bullock carts to see Lavakusa. History repeated when C. Pullaiah and his son C. S. Rao remade the film in 1963 with N. T. Rama Rao and Anjali Devi. At a time when the market was flooded with mythological films, Indian Art Cine tone attempted a social, Prema Vijayam (1936) directed by Krithiventi Nageswara Rao. However, the success of reformist filmmaker Gudavalli Ramabrahmam's Malapilla (1938) starring Dr. Govindarajula Subbarao and Kanchanamala and Rythubidda (1939) with Ballari Raghava and Suryakumari gave an impetus to Y.V. Rao, B.N. Reddy and others to produce films on social themes.
The outbreak of World War II and the subsequent resource scarcity caused the British Raj to impose a limit on the use of filmstrip in 1943 to 11,000 feet, a sharp reduction from the 20,000 feet that was common till then. As a result, the number of films produced during the War was substantially lower than in previous years. Nonetheless, prior to the ban, an important shift occurred in the industry: independent studios formed, actors and actresses were signed to contracts limiting who they could work for, and films moved from social themes to folklore legends. 1942's Balanagamma typified these changes: the film featured fantasy elements of cultural lore, was produced by Gemini Studios, and its producers added a restricting clause to the lead actress' contract. By 1947, nearly all films were produced by studios with contracted actors.
The word 'cinema' was derived from a Greek word 'Kinema' which means to move further or to move ahead.
In 1986 Lumiar Brothers exhibited a silent picture at Bombay. Later
R.G.Torney, with the assistance and help of foreign technology, produced
two silent movies Bhaktha Pundalika in 1910 and Raja Durbar in 1911.
It was Dundiraj Govind Falke - the first Indian to produce a silent picture without the aid of foreign technology or technicians. It was he who produced and directed Raja Harischandra and also acted in the title role. The movie was released on 3rd May, 1913. To commemorate his name the Government of India is honoring the stalwarts in filmdom for their services by giving the "Dada Saheb Falke" awards since 1970. Devika Rani was the first recipient of this award.
The under mentioned personalities from the Telugu cinema field were honored with the Dada Saheb Falke award for the years mentioned against their names.
• Sri B.N.Reddy - Producer & Director - in 1975.
• Sri L.V.Prasad - Producer & Director - in 1983.
• Sri B.Nagi Reddy - Producer - in 1987.
• Sri A.Nageswar Rao - Artist - in 1991.
As far as Telugu films are concerned, Raghupati Venkaiah from Machilipatnam pioneered Telugu silent movies. He sent his son R.S.Prakash to foreign countries to acquire knowledge about film craft. Prakash toured Germany, Italy and America and also worked for the movie "Ten Commandments" under Cicil.B.Demille. Raghupati Venkaiah is the first Telugu producer to make a silent picture Bhisma Prathigna in 1921 under the direction of his son R.S.Prakash. Prakash acted the title role 'Bhishma'. Later they produced Matsyavatar, Nandanar and Gajendra Moksham etc., Stalwarts like Y.V.Rao and C.Pulliah associated with R.S.Prakash and Venkaiah.
Later C.Pullaiah produced Bhakta Markandeya a slient movie and
it was produced at Kakinada. C.Pullaiah acted in the title role of
'Yamadharma Raja'.
In those days for the silent movies (as they are without dialogues)
there were certain commentators who used to stand at the gates of the
theatre or in front of the screen to narrate the film. K.Siva Rao,
K.Sadasiva Rao, K.Hanumantha Rao, P.Kondalarao, D.Narasimha Rao
were popular among such commentators.
To commemorate the service of Raghupathi Venakaiah, the Govt. of Andhra Pradesh installed an award in his name in 1981. And it is being given to those who rendered meritorious services to Telugu screen. Now let us see the growth of Telugu Cinema, decade wise since 1931.
In 1931, the first Telugu film with audible dialogue, Bhakta Prahlad, was produced by H.M. Reddy. Popularly known as 'talkies', films with sound quickly grew in number and fanbase. In 1934, the industry saw its first major commercial success with Lavakusa. Directed by C. Pullaiah and starring Parupalli Subbarao and Sriranjani in lead roles, the film attracted unprecedented numbers of viewers to theaters and thrust the young film industry into mainstream cultureThough it is celebration time for talkies, can we forget the efforts of pioneers like Dhundiraj Govind Phalke better known as Dadasaheb Phalke who made India's first silent film Raja Harischandra (1913) and R. G. Torney or our own Raghupathi Venkaiah, his son R.S. Prakash and C. Pulliah who made cinema popular during the silent era taking film rolls and projectors exhibiting films in nook and corner of the South? Raghupathi Venkaiah hailed as father of Telugu cinema is the first exhibitor in the South. He bought crono-megaphone, the first projector equipped to reproduce `sound' by disk system and exhibited short reels way back in 1910. He travelled all over the South and in Burma and Ceylon. Venkaiah established Star of East studios known as glass studio to produce silent films.
The success of Alam Ara made Irani to diversify into regional language productions in Telugu and Tamil the same year. It was Ardeshir Irani's associate Hanumantha Muniappa Reddy who directed Bhakta Prahalada and was released six weeks ahead of the first Tamil Talkie, Kalidas that Reddy himself directed with a mixed cast of Telugu, Tamil and Hindi actors. Bhakta Prahlada had an all-Telugu starcast featuring Munipalle Subbiah as Hiranyakasipa and Surabhi Kamalabai as Leelavathy. Both the films were made in Bombay. By 1936, the mass appeal of film allowed directors to move away from religious and mythological themes. That year, under the direction of Krithiventi Nageswara Rao, Prema Vijayam, a film focusing on social issues, was released. Its success prompted the production of dozens of other immensely successful 'social films', notably 1939's Vandemataram and Maala Pilla. Touching on societal problems like the status of Untouchables and the practice of giving dowry, Telugu films increasingly focused on contemporary living: twenty-nine of the ninety-six films released between 1937 and 1947 had social themes.
September 15, 1931 saw the release of the first Telugu talkie Bhakta Prahalada in Crown in Kakinada, Maruthi in Vijayawada, Gaiety in Madras and Minerva in Machlipatnam. Just a few months earlier, on March 14, 1931, the first Indian talkie film, Alam Ara was released at Majestic Cinema, Bombay and in other parts of the country including Maruthi Talkies, Vijayawada. People thronged the cinema halls where it was exhibited. With its box office success the country's first black marketeering in cinema tickets began with a four anna (a quarter of a rupee) ticket getting sold for Rs. 4 or 5! Another doyen, C. Pullaiah after gaining experience in the cinematic art, purchased a second hand movie camera in 1924 in Bombay returned to native Kakinada with an intention to make films in Andhra soil. He shot a thousand feet silent film, Markandeya, with himself cast as Yama and made the film with so many indigenous methods and projected the film on a white washed wall in his house to the amazement of his friends through the very same camera with which he shot the film. He used to call cinema as Goda Meedi Bomma. It was C. Pullaiah who gave Telugu cinema's first super duper hit, Lavakusa (1934) starring Parupalli Subbarao and Sriranjani (Sr.). It was his second feature film .
People flocked to the theatres from near by villages in bullock carts to see Lavakusa. History repeated when C. Pullaiah and his son C. S. Rao remade the film in 1963 with N. T. Rama Rao and Anjali Devi. At a time when the market was flooded with mythological films, Indian Art Cine tone attempted a social, Prema Vijayam (1936) directed by Krithiventi Nageswara Rao. However, the success of reformist filmmaker Gudavalli Ramabrahmam's Malapilla (1938) starring Dr. Govindarajula Subbarao and Kanchanamala and Rythubidda (1939) with Ballari Raghava and Suryakumari gave an impetus to Y.V. Rao, B.N. Reddy and others to produce films on social themes.
The outbreak of World War II and the subsequent resource scarcity caused the British Raj to impose a limit on the use of filmstrip in 1943 to 11,000 feet, a sharp reduction from the 20,000 feet that was common till then. As a result, the number of films produced during the War was substantially lower than in previous years. Nonetheless, prior to the ban, an important shift occurred in the industry: independent studios formed, actors and actresses were signed to contracts limiting who they could work for, and films moved from social themes to folklore legends. 1942's Balanagamma typified these changes: the film featured fantasy elements of cultural lore, was produced by Gemini Studios, and its producers added a restricting clause to the lead actress' contract. By 1947, nearly all films were produced by studios with contracted actors.
The word 'cinema' was derived from a Greek word 'Kinema' which means to move further or to move ahead.
In 1986 Lumiar Brothers exhibited a silent picture at Bombay. Later
R.G.Torney, with the assistance and help of foreign technology, produced
two silent movies Bhaktha Pundalika in 1910 and Raja Durbar in 1911.
It was Dundiraj Govind Falke - the first Indian to produce a silent picture without the aid of foreign technology or technicians. It was he who produced and directed Raja Harischandra and also acted in the title role. The movie was released on 3rd May, 1913. To commemorate his name the Government of India is honoring the stalwarts in filmdom for their services by giving the "Dada Saheb Falke" awards since 1970. Devika Rani was the first recipient of this award.
The under mentioned personalities from the Telugu cinema field were honored with the Dada Saheb Falke award for the years mentioned against their names.
• Sri B.N.Reddy - Producer & Director - in 1975.
• Sri L.V.Prasad - Producer & Director - in 1983.
• Sri B.Nagi Reddy - Producer - in 1987.
• Sri A.Nageswar Rao - Artist - in 1991.
As far as Telugu films are concerned, Raghupati Venkaiah from Machilipatnam pioneered Telugu silent movies. He sent his son R.S.Prakash to foreign countries to acquire knowledge about film craft. Prakash toured Germany, Italy and America and also worked for the movie "Ten Commandments" under Cicil.B.Demille. Raghupati Venkaiah is the first Telugu producer to make a silent picture Bhisma Prathigna in 1921 under the direction of his son R.S.Prakash. Prakash acted the title role 'Bhishma'. Later they produced Matsyavatar, Nandanar and Gajendra Moksham etc., Stalwarts like Y.V.Rao and C.Pulliah associated with R.S.Prakash and Venkaiah.
Later C.Pullaiah produced Bhakta Markandeya a slient movie and
it was produced at Kakinada. C.Pullaiah acted in the title role of
'Yamadharma Raja'.
In those days for the silent movies (as they are without dialogues)
there were certain commentators who used to stand at the gates of the
theatre or in front of the screen to narrate the film. K.Siva Rao,
K.Sadasiva Rao, K.Hanumantha Rao, P.Kondalarao, D.Narasimha Rao
were popular among such commentators.
To commemorate the service of Raghupathi Venakaiah, the Govt. of Andhra Pradesh installed an award in his name in 1981. And it is being given to those who rendered meritorious services to Telugu screen. Now let us see the growth of Telugu Cinema, decade wise since 1931.
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