Lava Kusa
లవకుశ Lava Kusa | |
---|---|
Directed by | C. Pullaiah and C. S. Rao |
Written by | Samudrala Raghavacharya |
Produced by | Shankar Reddy |
Starring | N. T. Rama Rao, Anjali Devi, T. L. Kanta Rao |
Music by | Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao |
Release date | 29 March 1963 |
Language | Telugu |
Lava Kusha (Telugu: లవకుశ; Lavakusa) is a classical Telugu cinema directed by C. S. Rao and Chittajallu Pullayya and the story of the movie is written by Samudrala Raghavacharya. It is produced by A Shankara Reddy under Lalitha Siva Jyoti Pictures.[1] The movie was released on 29 March 1963 and instantly became one of the highest grossing Telugu movies of all time. It was also dubbed in Tamil and Kannada and achieved similar success there as well.
Plot
This movie is based on Uttara Kanda which is the later part of Sri Ramayana written by Valmiki Maharshi. It depicts the lives of Lava and Kusha, the sons of Rama and Sita. The story begins with Sri Rama Pattabhishekam and about the brief period of Rama Rajyam, Rama sending Seeta exile on hearing the accusations of a washerman, Birth of Lava and Kusha, their visit to Ayodhya, Ashwamedha Yagna and coflict between Rama and his sons and Pattabhishem of Lava and Kusha and Rama and finally ending his Avatar.
Cast
Actor | Character |
---|---|
Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao | Lord Rama |
Anjali Devi | Goddess Sita |
Chittor V. Nagaiah | Valmiki Maharshi |
Master Nagaraju | Lava |
Master Subrahmanyam | Kusha |
Tadepalli Lakshmi Kanta Rao | Laxmana |
Kaikala Satyanarayana | Bharata |
Shobhan Babu | Shatrughna |
Kannamba | Kousalya |
Sandhya | Sriramas Sister |
S. Varalakshmi | Bhoodevi |
Arja Janardhana Rao | Anjaneya |
Ramana Reddy | Valmiki's disciple |
Suryakantham | Valmiki disciple's wife |
Relangi Venkata Ramaiah | Washerman |
Girija | Wife of Washerman |
Sivaramakrishnaiah |
Crew
- Director: C. S. R. Rao and Chittajallu Pullayya
- Writer: Samudrala Raghavacharya
- Producer: Allareddy Shankar Reddy
- Production Company: Lalitha Siva Jyoti Pictures
- Cinematography: P. L. Roy
- Film Editing: A. Sanjeevi
- Art Direction: T. V. S. Sarma
- Choreography: Vempati Satyam
- Lyrics: Samudrala Raghavacharya, Kosaraju Raghavaiah and Vempati Sadasivabrahmam
- Music Director: Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao
- Playback singers: Jikki Krishnaveni, J. V. Raghavulu, K. Rani, Madhavapeddi Satyam, P. B. Srinivas, P. Leela, Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao, P. Susheela, Mallik
Soundtrack
The film has 37 songs and padyams, many are very popular and memorable.[2]
- Sri Vidhyam Jagatam Dhatri (Solkam) (Singer: Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao)
- Saptasva Rathamaroodham Prachandam Kashyapatmajam (Slokam) (Singer: Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao; Cast: NTR)
- Navajyothyo (Poem) (Singer: Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao)
- Intaku Boonivacchi Vachiyimpaka Podune (Singer: Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao)
- Jaya Jaya Rama Srirama (Singers: Raghavulu, Sarojini)
- Ramanna Ramudu Kodanda Ramudu (Singers: P. Susheela, Rani)
- Virise Challani Vennela Marala Eenadu Maa Kannula (Singers: P. Susheela, Jamuna Rani)
- Ravanu Samharinchi Raghuramudu (Poem) (Singer: Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao)
- Vollanori Maamaa Nee Pillani (Singers: Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao, Jikki, J. V. Raghavulu, Swarnalatha)
- Ye Mahaneeya Sadhvi Jagadeka Pavitrata (Poem) (Singer: Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao)
- Ye Nimishaniki Yemi Jaruguno Evaroohinchedaru (Lyrics: Kosaraju; Singer: Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao; Cast: Kanta Rao and Anjali Devi)
- Jagadabhi Ramudu Sreeramude (Singers: Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao, P. Susheela, P. Leela, Mallik)
- Yendhuke Naa Meedha Kopam Yemite Nee Paritapam (Singers: Pithapuram Nageswara Rao, Swarnalatha)
- Ramakathanu Vinarayyaa Ihapara Sukhamulanosage (Singers: P. Susheela, P. Leela; Cast: Master Nagaraju and Subramanyam)
- Voorake Kanneeru Nimpa Karanamemamma (Singers: P. Susheela, P. Leela; Cast: Master Nagaraju and Subramanyam)
- Vinudu Vinudu Ramayana Gaatha Vinudee Manasara (Singers: P. Susheela, P. Leela; Cast: Master Nagaraju and Subramanyam)
- Sriraamuni Charithamunu Telipedamamma (Singers: P. Susheela, P. Leela; Cast: Master Nagaraju and Subramanyam)
- Sriraghavam Dasaradhatmaja Maprameyam (Singers: P. Susheela, P. Leela)
- Srirama Sugunadhama Jayarama Parandhama (Singers: P. Susheela, P. Leela)
- Sandhehinchakumammu Raghuramu Premanu Seethamma (Singer: Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao; Cast: Nagaiah and Anjali Devi)
- Aswametha Yagaaniki Jayamu Jayamu Jayamu (Singers: Ghantasala, Madhavapeddi, Raghavulu, Rani, Sarojini)
- Savanaswambidi Veera Maatayagu Kausalya (Poem) (Singers: P. Susheela)
- Hreemkarasana Garbhitanala Sikham (Poem) (Singers: P. Susheela)
- Leru Kusalavula Saati Sari Veerulu Dharrunilo (Singers: P. Susheela, P. Leela; Cast: Master Nagaraju and Subramanyam)
- Stree Balavrudhula Thega (Singers: Ghantasala, P. Susheela, P. Leela)
- Sriraama Paranthamaa Jayarama Parandhama (Singers: P. Susheela, P. Leela, Rani)
Box-office
- It was released in 26 centres and had run for 100-days in all the 26 centres.[3]
- It had a 175-day run in 16 centres,grossing more than Rs.10 million.[4]
Awards
- Tadepalli Lakshmi Kanta Rao and N. T. Rama Rao were awarded the Rashtrapati Award for their roles.
Trivia
- It's the first Telugu film to gross Rs. 10 million.[4]
- This movie is considered to be the biggest blockbuster of all time in the annals of Telugu film history.
- Production began in 1958 but was stopped due to financial constraints. When it restarted, C. Pullaiah's health was deteriorating, so his son C.S. Rao took over.
- It is also produced in Tamil.
- This film was produced by Allareddy Shankara Reddy who went on to make other blockbusters - Rahasyam (starring ANR) and Sathi Savithri (starring the legendary N.T.Rama Rao). Prior to producing Lava Kusha, the Allareddy family produced Manavathi and Charanadasi under the Lalitha Siva Jyothi banner.
- Master Nagaraju who played the role of Lava is the only son of popular stage and film actor A. V. Subba Rao. He started his career with Bhakta Ramadas of Chittor V. Nagaiah in 1957. He continued in the cine field and acted in Sepoy Kuthuru, Tiger Ramudu, Annadammulu, Laxmi Kataksham, Sampoorna Ramayanam, Satynarayana Vratha Mahatyam, Bhishma, Sitarama Kalyanam, Anthasthulu, Sri Krishnavataram, Chakradhari, Vinayaka Vijayam, Astalakshmi Vaibhavam.[5]
- Master Subramanyam who played the role of Kusha is son of V. Subba Rao. He has acted in films like Velugu Needalu, Sitarama Kalyanam (as Balaramudu), Sri Venkateswara Mahatyam. He is now established as tailor near Amalapuram.
References
- ^ http://www.cinegoer.com/lavakusa.htm
- ^ Lava Kusha songs and padyams at Ghantasala Galamrutamu.
- ^ CineGoer.com - Box-Office Records And Collections - Lavakusha's All-Time Records
- ^ a b CineGoer.com - Box-Office Records And Collections - Silver Jubilee Films Of NTR
- ^ http://www.khojhyderabad.com/city/interview/lavakusa.asp