The everlasting appeal of mythology in Telugu cinema

Movies By Sujatha Narayanan Jul 08, 2024 Read the article

The greatest strength of Telugu filmmakers and producers is their ability to effectively draw from the stories of the Ramayana and Mahabharata.

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Let’s not forget that Telugu cinema immortalised Lord Rama and Krishna, on screen, through the late NT Rama Rao (NTR).

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Telugu is a highly lyrical and versatile language, making it particularly effective for classical-era storytelling. It often excels over Hindi or Tamil, even with modern actors.

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Apart from the main stories from the epics, even the ‘side stories’ like Mayabazar (1957), have already been made into super-hit films in Telugu.

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Stories from epics have always been widely cherished in India, partly due to children’s magazines like Amar Chitra Katha and Chandamama.

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With Kalki 2898 AD, Nag Ashwin has created a vibrant, video-game-like world that resonates with today’s teenagers.

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One aspect of Kalki 2898 AD that is deeply admired is how Nag Ashwin avoided bloodshed and gore while still delivering thrilling, applause-worthy action sequences.

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Folklore tales are also gaining traction, as seen with the upcoming film, Kannappa, starring Vishnu Manchu and several superstars.

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