Filmmakers have been borrowing the titles of old classics for a long time. South First gives an overview of the phenomenon.
Recent Telugu films with old titles. (X)
Is it the nostalgia that kicks off when Telugu filmmakers borrow the titles of old classics for new films? Or, is it a mere gimmick to woo audiences to theatres?
Whatever might be the reason, a slew of new Telugu films, the titles of which have been inspired by old classics, have done abysmally bad at the box office in recent times.
For instance, Friday, 3 May, saw the theatrical release of actor Allari Naresh’s comedy caper Aa Okkati Adakku. However, it is a classic title that was once raved for its comedy in the 1990s.
But, when compared to his director-father late EVV Satyanarayana’s cult film with the same title, Allari Naresh’s latest outing did not impress the critics and audiences much.
Nevertheless, director Malli Ankam says he felt it was an apt title for the story. “We may have seen many instances within our family circles — if a bachelor is pestered for marriage, he would say, Aa Okkati Adakku. Hence, I used the title for my venture,” he tells South First.
He adds, “Audiences are drawing comparisons with the old film Aa Okkati Adakku, which was released in 1991. But both are quite different. And, we’ve been saying this since day one.”
The filmmaker reiterates that the story of his directorial debut has heartful comedy and a message at the end. “We wanted to portray the pain through our characters. And I think we’ve done it well.”
A poster of the 1991 film ‘Aa Okkati Adakku’. (X)
Giving an apt title to the story has always been a marketing trick in Telugu cinema.
This is not the first time that the filmmakers have borrowed the titles of yesteryear films.
There are several instances in the past; say, Rudraveena (1988, 2022), Swathimuthyam (1985, 2022), Malleswari (1951, 2004), Missamma (1955, 2003), Devadasu (1953, 2006), Geethanjali (1989, 2014), Tholi Prema (1998, 2018), and Kushi (2001, 2023). Aa Okkati Adakku (1991, 2024) is the latest addition to the list.
Senior film critic Anumula Rajababu opines, “Filmgoers are driven by the titles sometimes. A section of audiences come to theatres with the expectations and memories that they have from old classics. If a new film misses the feel and flavour of the classic, audiences get disappointed.”
About the Allari Naresh-starrer, he says, “Filmmakers should be cautious while selecting titles of old classics — content-wise and artistes-wise. Aa Okkati Adakku, the old classic directed by Allari Naresh’s father EVV Satyanarayana, had brilliant performances from Rajendra Prasad and Rao Gopal Rao.”
Praising the classic film, Rajababu adds, “Their comic timing and performances are major standalone features that added weight to the box-office performance of the film. In general, giving such cult titles to new projects generates interest among audiences. And, this certainly shows an impact on audiences.”
A poster of the 1998 film ‘Tholi Prema’. (X)
Barring a few, most of the Telugu films, inspired by old films have bitten the dust at the box office.
However, Varun Tej’s 2018 release, Tholi Prema, is one such film that broke the routine.
“Compared to Pawan Kalyan’s Tholi Prema, content as well as performances of the lead pair — Varun Tej and Raashi Khanna — in the 2018 flick were good enough to get the pat from audiences,” points out Rajababu.
Meanwhile, a few sections of audiences feel that a film doesn’t necessarily have to unique title every time.
About the latest phenomenon, film enthusiast-writer Raja Sathish quips, “I might make a film and give it the title Sholay. If a filmmaker feels that an old title is relevant to his film, he would go with it.”
He elaborates, “Swathi Muthyam (1985) and Sankarabharanam (1980) were two cult films in Telugu cinema. The titles of these old classics were used for two films in 2015 and 2022.”
Raja Sathish adds, “Director Lakshman K Krishna felt the old title, Swathi Muthyam, was relevant to the subject of his project released in 2022. Likewise, Sankarabharanam (2015) revolved around a building with the same name. Whether or not the title matches the old flick is immaterial.”
Meanwhile, let’s check the titles of upcoming films that are inspired by the bygone classics:
This 1992 cop drama starred Mohan Babu and Mamtha Kulkarni in the lead roles. It was one of the blockbuster hits in the career of the veteran actor.
Now, a movie is being made with the same title (Donga Police). It casts Mass Maharaja Ravi Teja in the lead.
Jathi Ratnalu (2021) director KV Anudeep is helping with the project.
Thammudu is Powerstar Pawan Kalyan’s career-best film. It caused a sensation in the year 1999.
A film is being made with the same title with actor Nithiin.
While the old classic featured Pawan Kalyan as a pugilist, Nithiin’s new flick, directed by Venu Sriram, shows the protagonist as the archer.
After film titles like Tholi Prema and Kushi (2023) were reused by Varun Tej and Vijay Deverakonda respectively, Thammudu is the third film of Pawan Kalyan that is being reused in Telugu cinema.
Sundarakanda (1992), a Telugu-language romantic comedy directed by K Raghavendra Rao, was a hit film in Venkatesh Daggubati’s career.
A new Telugu movie with the same title starring Nara Rohith is being made.
The project will introduce debutant Venkatesh Nimmala as a director to the industry.
Currently, the shooting is underway. The film is expected to hit the screens on 6 September.
Kajal Aggarwal will next appear in a movie titled Sathyabhama, which was once a hit film in 1981 under the direction of K Raghavendra Rao.
Kajal will portray the role of a cop in this action thriller. The flick is scheduled for release on 17 May.
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