Magadheera – Hit movie

SS Rajamouli gives a hit again! I think all his movies did well in Tollywood. This is no exception – Magadheera has all it’s needed to be a hit movie. Good story, good music, nice performances from the cast and A class direction.

Ram Charan Teja did well in the movie. Though the second movie, he gave a good performance in the movie. His voice resembles very much that of Chiru’s. He voice has to be more fine tuned. But still, I think he’s identified as Chiranjeevi’s son. It would take quite a bit of time to get his own name. Kajal has been amazing, gorgeous and what ever. She is at her best in this movie. Music is good, story is good – on similar lines with Arundhati, centuries apart a rebirth etc. etc. But one thing that misses the logic is telugu speaking kingdom in Rajasthan :-p, that too before four centuries. Overall, the movie is good, and will attact family audience a lot. Another hit movie of the year!

Good dose of movies – end of 2008

It feels good to watch good movies back to back with in days. Watched four movies last week – Blade Babji, Vinayakudu, King and Nachavule.

First about King – Srinu Vaitla did a good job. But the movie is too long. After watching good movies like Happy Days, Bommarillu and KBL, we are used to most songs being mixed in the story line. But in King, of course due to Nag, most songs were in a separate location, disconnected from the movie, so was boring to me. And the plot is too long, mix/spoof of many movies. Some I felt were – Chandramukhi, Ready, Chandralekha, Dhee, Race. The film will be a hit due to Nag’s stardom, may be not otherwise. Nagarjuna takes a new title with the movie – “King”. Chiranjeevi and Bala Krishna are actively in to politics. So, next big stars are Nag and Venky. And may be, he realized he is too old (old by age, nothing else definitely) to have the title Yuvasamrat. And what might be the best title? May be he felt like Shahrukh Khan and selected this title. And the last song says it all, a mini Om Shanthi Om. The earlier title probably would go to his son, Naga Chaitanya. The movie is a proper masala, no message, no take away. It’s just an entertainer. I give it a 3/5.

Blade Babji – Old movie, but I watched it just a few days back during the vacation. Naresh seems to have understood very well what he is best at, hence the comedy movies. Another fun filled movie, pure entertainment, no logic etc. etc. I give it a 2.5/5.

Vinayakudu – I watched the first movie of the banner on a DVD – Aa Naluguru. Though the film is philosophical for young people, it portrays middle class life very well. It carries many good points: a fifteen paise post card and a bit of good intention in your heart can save someones life; obscenity in news papers; etc. And the second movie dint disappoint either. Now, it’s not a philosophical movie, it’s a love story. Vinayakudu is a well written film. The concept is good, a small town obese guy comes to the city and falls in love with a city girl. Performances of all artists are good. Timely comedy steals the show – a girl asking the hero to sell the scooter and buy a second hand bicycle; auto driver talking about fly-overs etc. The director tried to explain what true love is in a very novel way. And in between, the dark lives of some corporate citizens etc. A good movie. Producer proved a point – a movie need not have a huge budget to be good. It should be an inspiration for other producers. I give it a 3.5/5.

Nachavule – What should I say about this movie? Ravi babu does it again – a different film. The posters of the movie were just innovative and the movie dint disappoint either. The first half of the movie is just different and refreshing. Good comedy, the one-line flirts were superb. The heart attack scene should have been dealt better. The movie deals with a lot of problems young people face and the burning problem of inappropriate leakage of MMS. The performances were natural. Paavu Takkuva Tommidi song is excellent. And the black theme song is amazing, and the movie has a good colour theme through out. The movie could have been done better in the last half an hour. But, it’s a good movie overall, trying to say what love is all about. I give it a 3/5.

And bye bye 2008, Happy new year to all!

Vaaranam Ayiram

I’m not sure if that’s the best title for the movie. But, the title looks apt only at the climax of the movie. Leaving that, the movie is another good one from Goutam Menon. The second half is a little dragged and boring, but the movie is watchable on a whole.

I love the first half of the movie very much. Especially, the scenes between Surya and Sameera Reddy. I’m addicted to the Nenjukkul… song and the train scene where both meet for the first time. The ultimate thing is the style Surya says “I’ll come in to your life and sweep you off your feet”; it’s just awesome. Only Gautam can get these kind of scenes right.

And the Nenjukkul song is ultimate. I’m loving it. I don’t know how many times I viewed it on youtube. Each and every scene between Surya and Sameera is ultimate. Thanks Gautam for a good half-movie.

To Gautam: The Telugu version of the lyrics suck big time. Next time, please make movies jointly for both Tollywood and Kollywood. I guess it would pay off and you are an awesome director. Lyrics just can’t be written for the tune and exact translation wont work many a time. I would never go to theatre to listen to this kind of lyrics. Otherwise, find someone who can write good lyrics.

A good change in Tollywood

Last week, went home for Diwali vacation; and did not celebrate Diwali. Watched three movies, one per day, just to kill time. Not taking laptop to home is good.

This was the third movie I watched in the vacation: Kotha Bangaru Lokam. From the first look at posters, I thought it’s yet another routine teen (junior college – yeah, saw the chemistry book in Swetha’s hand) movie, but when I asked people around, the feedback was quite good. The movie was well received by many. These days, I stopped watching movies of big stars in Tollywood, just to avoid watching meaningless fights and listening to dialogue that no gentleman will talk in real life. My attention turned towards comedy, entertaining (Asta Chamma was a good one) and teen movies. Here I have to mention that teen movies are also notorious for meaningless content – hero just gets everything he wants, students comment lecturers in class like no where, etc. etc. To mention a few in the recent times- Godavari, Bommarillu and Happy Days were excellent movies that set a trend. Godavari portrayed love between adults, Bommarillu showcased love and also relationship between parents and children, and Happy days reminds us of the good old college times. I enjoy this change in Tollywood. Not very long ago, was there a time when half of the cinema halls in my town were showing Hindi movies.

Coming to the latest hit Kotha Bangaru Lokam – I tried to get a ticket to watch this movie on three days, I could get it only on the third day. The first half of the movie is good, with regular teen movie stuff with a nice college backdrop. The dialogue of the study class instructor (That annamata matteru) is fun. The second half of the movie is excellent.

Balu and Swapna are two students of the same college who meet by accident for the first time. As always, it starts with small fight between the two. The two are raised by different kinds of parents – Balu by a lovable middle class parents, who give unconditional love and full freedom to the child; and Swapna by rich parents who are very strict. The two meet in college and fall in love. Swapna’s father comes to know of their love in an unwanted manner through news paper and takes her back home. Second half is about how they come together again.

The movie makes perfect sense, except that the rich father doesn’t search for his daughter for four years after she eloped. It portrays feelings and mindset of parents and teens very well.

It’s a very good movie to watch. The music adds to it. Swetha Basu’s (Swapna) performance is awesome in the movie. (Eekada is simply cute and funny)

I give it 4/5.

Yamuna Teeram, Sandhya Ragam

Anand, a refreshing movie that I would love to see again and again. I woke up only after noon today, and this movie that was telecast on MAA TV was a good start for the day. I’m a fan of Sekhar Kammula movies, they are very different from other movies that are sick with exaggerated heroism of big stars in Tollywood.

The most beautiful thing about the movie is the lighting. The fresh morning sun light, and the two coffee cups. Wow, I would see it again and again. And the music adds to the wonderful movie. I love it.

Sa-Ro-Ja

Another from the director of Chennai-600028, Venkat Prabhu. After hearing from several people about the movie, I went to watch it with lot of expectations. I should say the director did not disappoint me.

The movie is about four ordinary city dwellers, who are by no means special. They set on a journey to Hyderabad from Chennai to watch an IPL match and meet with an unexpected situation on the way. How they react to the situation and how they come out of it is the movie.

The unexpected situation is that they run into a kidnapper gang den. The gang kidnaps a businessman’s daughter for ransom and these four folks unexpectedly run into their den and save the girl from the kidnappers. Unfortunately, all the kidnappers are suspended and dismissed policemen. A top cop forms a gang and plans to make quick buck by kidnapping his friend’s daughter and reveals it in the climax.

The director tried to highlight the imbalance created in the Indian middle class – if one reads between the lines, that is believed to have been created by the new high paying middle class jobs and run-away success entrepreneurs, mostly related to information technology. The cop who plans the kidnap says that he is very disappointed that he is at the same financial status and his friend is enjoying a higher status for ‘no reason’. And he wanted to make a quick buck by kidnapping his daughter.

Artists’ performances were good. But Jayaram was not 100 percent fit for the character. (dint watch Telugu version, so no comment on Sri Hari’s acting). Venkat Prabhu has mastered the art of gelling hilarious scenes in middle of serious situations. The climax is a little bit of mess with lot of people fighting. The last ten minutes of the movie could have been better.

It’s a mix of themes of Anjathey and Katrathu Tamil.

I give it a 3.5/5

Phoonk

Today, I watched Phoonk with my roommates. I’ve seen few movies on black magic in Telugu, which are usually scary. Phoonk is really very low on getting me scared. Except some sound effects, there’s hardly anything that can scare badly. I watched his Bhoot, which was better than Phoonk in scaring the hell out of me. But, Bhoot was a different kind of movie.

On the whole, RGV kept Phoonk short and simple, his usual style. The movie is all about black magic. When I was at school, I used to hear stories on black magic from fellow students and teachers as well. There was one guy who told me that his grand father was killed by his enemies using black magic. I’m very neutral to the concept of God, I know people who are for and against the concept of God. It’s really hard to think of these abstract subjects. But one for sure, God exists if and only if devil exists. Oh! Gimme a break.

Coming to the plot of movie. The movie opens with Rajeev, a builder, talking to his employees. While excavating for the building, a stone like Lord Ganesh in shape is found, so all his workers want him to construct a small shrine to the Lord. But, Rajeev being an atheist, doesn’t agree to the proposal. His lawyer friend, who is neither an atheist nor a theist, tries to convince him that there is hardly anything he is going to lose by constructing the shrine. But Rajeev is just not convinced. After that, to celebrate a new contract that he won, he throws a party at which the lawyer reveals that Rajeev’s employees had cheated on him. Rajeev angered by that, throws those two employees out of the scene and dismisses them. As a revenge to the humiliation, the two thrown out employees plan to do black magic on Rajeev’s daughter, knowing Rajeev loves his daughter so much.

It all begins then, the typical black magic stuff – bones, lemon, kumkum and turmeric powder appear in his courtyard. Being an atheist, he asks his servants to throw it off, but they refuse to do so and Rajeev throws it off in the bin and get back to his work. After that, his daughter complains that somebody has cut her hair. Rajeev hardly pays attention to the matter. After that, again typical black magic stuff, some one picks up mud from the place bones were placed, after the girl stands there.

Then, it becomes worse. The girl behaves wild, she shouts hysterically with out her knowledge. Her arm gets twisted with out her knowledge and she floats in air. Rajeev and his wife worried, call up on the doctor and a psychiatrist. As usual, they look it from scientific view and take her to hospital. But finding nothing unusual, they say it’s a split personality kind of disorder and treat that way. A fake swamiji appears in middle trying to drive the evil spirits away. Rajeev’s mother feels that doctors can hardly do anything and says black magic was done on the little girl.

The lawyer, seeing all the pain his friend is undergoing, asks him to consult another magician who knows about black magic. They bring him to the little girl. The magician detects that and asks to take him to the house. He detects everything bad there and says two people have done this black magic for taking revenge and there was another person helping them and points to his driver. Then, they find where the evil people (his ex-employees) are and destroy the black magic. The magician kills the evil lady by his super power.

On a whole, it’s a good movie, but not scary enough. Sudeep’s performance is very good, so is the little girl’s. There are open ends and RGV has announced a contest to suggest the story for Phoonk 2. Try it out if you can.

Related Read: A report on banamati/chetabadi and how strong the superstition is prevalent in the masses of Andhra Pradesh.

Kamal’s Dasavataram

Kamal Haasan is a unique actor whose capabilities are beyond any rhetoric to explain. If you try to ask anyone in South India if they like Kamal Haasan’s acting, it should definitely sound rhetorical to them. He is the Oracle of acting. His method acting is his asset and it’s unique in the class. Always, his characters and roles have a Kamal’s touch.

I’m a great fan of his movies. When I was young, I enjoyed his Apoorva Sodarulu (అపూర్వ సోదరులు). Which kid doesn’t want to see the ’short’ Kamal? Who would forget Sagara Sangamam (సాగర సంగమం)? Is there any one who dint watch Bharatiyudu (భారతీయుడు)?

And now his latest film Dasavataram is the focal point of many controversies. After all, it’s a Kamal movie and people try to become popular by creating controversies. I’m not advocating for Kamal Haasan here, but that is one of the general routes in which people try to become popular. I’m looking forward to this movie. Kamal must have been excellent in this movie. Acting in ten roles in a single movie should be the wit’s end for most actors. Here is one more movie that is going to excel. Wait for the release.

Catch some action on movies.yahoo.in

A legend named SPB

The below article is based on GreatAndhra.com’s article.

About the author:
From this new year (Vyaya), Sri MBS Prasad will write about topics realated to movies, in a series called ’some gatalu’ (gatalu means past). Sri Prasad writes comedy articles, essays; also he is a translator and has done more than 350 such works. He writes stories and essays in telugu and english. He worked as editor of Mullapudi Sahiti Sarvaswam; managing editor of Hasam, a laugther/comedy-music magazine; host in worldspace radio’s padakkurchi kaburlu program.

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I am a member of SPB Fans group on Yahoo! Many of our members can’t read telugu. So a small effort to make them happy by putting forward some words about SPB in english. I’m from Andhra Pradesh and am very proud to hail from the same place as SPB. I’m not a good translator, I did my best. Forgive me for mistakes. Comments are welcome.

Though this is on my blog, the credit goes to the original author for giving such a informative and wonderful biography of SPB. Thank you.

Here is my two cents, here we go…

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Where to start about Balu? Is there anyone who doesn’t know him? He is seen on TV programs every week. Always talks about himself, his companions, colleagues and people who he admires. So, there is nothing to say about him, which you do not know. But, we can talk a lot about his character, his career, ups and downs in his life and his labour to become the favourite singer of telugu people.

As a singer, Balu was born on 15th December 1966. We know that Ghantasala had fallen ill since 1969, he passed away after five years. So, we may say that SPB easily came and filled up the vacuum created by Ghantasala’s death, and luck favoured SPB. Moreover, some people think that his sweet voice made his entry in to the cinema world a cakewalk.

All this was before 35 years, we may not know many things about that period, and we may not remember all of them. The vacuum created by Ghantasala’s illness and inability to sing benefited Ramakrishna(Telugu hero Saikrishna’s father). His voice was similar to Ghantasala’s voice, in lower pitch he resembled Ghantasala. Moreover he is nephew of Suseela.

He was the playback singer for ANR (Nageswara Rao) in Vichitra Bandam (1972); audio was a hit. Since then ANR wanted Ramakrishna to sing his songs. ANR wanted Ramakrishna to sing for Andalaramudu (1973). But Bapu, Ramana duo got SPB to sing. Let me talk about this later. What is observable here is, Balu dint get to sing for leading heroes very easily. His hard work and commitment got him further chances, and chances declined for Ramakrishna. Nothing came at free of cost to him. He got everything by his hard work. To know how he climed his ladder of success is not only informative but also inspiring.

Balu’s father, Sambamurthy is a harikatha scholar; he always took balu with him for his performances. He made him play flute and harmonium, but never taught him formal music. Middle class family with eight children, of which five girls; even a radio is hardly affordable to them. How can he think of his son entering in to the world of art in such a situation?

Balu was born in a village in Andhra-Tamilnadu border, studied in Srikalahasti, Nellore etc. When he was studying in PUC at Tirupati, he developed interest in art clubs, programs etc and got an arrear in a subject; he passed after that and joined engineering in Ananthapur. After studying two years, he dint like the place and being away from home.

Back home, he went to Madras and joined MIE (AMIE). Thus he came to Madras and joined some institute, but continued his trails to become a singer, for he got many prizes in singing competitions and big shots praised his songs.

He met numerous people to become a singer. We know that Kodandapani is the God Father of Balu; his recording studio is named after him. But he was not the only person who encouraged Balu.

I will tell about some important moments in his early days. What ever his talent may be, he has tried hard to get some chances. He came to Madras at 18 or 19. Balu was praised by Bharani at a light music competition, who happened to work for Chitralaya Sridhar as a ad designer. He took Balu to Sridhar’s shooting spot, where Balu sang a hit song with his confidence and no stage fear. He asked Balu to meet him at his office.

Though Sridhar was a producer, director and from andhra, most of his movies were made in Tamil. His music director was MS Viswanathan. The day next, Balu sang a Hindi song infront of him. He commended it and asked to sing a Tamil song. Balu replied that he doesn’t know Tamil and if someone tells him the song, he would write it in Telugu and sing it.

MS got a book of Kadalikkum Neramillai (காதல்லீக்க நேரமில்லை). It was the original of Preminchichoodu (ప్రేమించి చూడు), which was Sridhar’s movie. Balu wrote the song in telugu script and sang it. MS told that he has sung well but could not pronounce Tamil properly. MS told him that he would give chances if Balu learnt Tamil.

Balu sang in many languages – Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, Hindi, Tulu (I added). What ever song, he writes it in Telugu and sings it. Balu’s troop was on a Singapore trip. After the curtain was raised, Balu realized that he forgot his book in the hotel. He was supposed to sing Tamil songs, and he doesn’t know to read Tamil Script. He asked someone to get his book from hotel, and in that twelve minutes he managed with some song ‘Ragamo, Anuragamo’. He has lot of talent like this. (sarcastic)

As adviced by MS, Balu learnt Tamil, which needs lot of interest. Nagaiah has written in his autobiography – Once Kannamba was afraid to act a role in Tamil movie for she doesn’t know Tamil. Nagaiah advised her to learn Tamil so that she would get more chances. After that, she delivered a long (famous) dailouge in a Tamil movie.

Many Telugu people like Savitri,Shavukaru Janaki, SV Ranga Rao had double chances (In Tamil n Telugu), but our big heroes have no such chances. Ghantasala lost his market in Tamil. Gemini Vasan felt that his diction in Tamil was not good, so MM Raja was given chances. But our Balu was so careful that he did not receive any such complaints; Balu’s hindi diction also did not receive any complaints – such is his interest.

After an year of first meeting with MS, Balu again happened to meet him after a recording. He greeted him ‘Vanakkam Sir’ (in Tamil). He passed just shaking his head, suddenly stopped and inquired ‘Was it you whom I met in Sridhar’s Office?’ Balu replied in Tamil, ‘Amam Sir, Naanthan’.

MS: I asked you to meet me again, why dint u come?

Balu: You asked me to learn Tamil properly and come. So…

MS: You speak Tamil well now, this is enough.

MS told his assistant: Bring this guy to my office tomorrow.

Actually, Balu sang a Tamil song with LR Eeswari, but it has collected dust. MS sang a duet with Suseela in SantiNilayam(1969). The movie was based on ‘Sound of Music’, Gemini Ganesan was the hero. A song was based on him ‘Iyarkai Ennum Ilayakkani’ (இயற்கை என்னும் இளையக்கன்னி) was sung by Balu.

Balu’s mentor Kodandapani was not a top music diretor in Telugu, but MS was. MS composed music for MGR films also – Neerum Nerupum (நீரும் நெருப்பும்) MGR’s double action movie. What ever the talent may be, fame comes to singers only when they sing for big stars. In those times, NTR, ANR were top in Telugu; MGR, Sivaji in Tamil. When Balu sings for these stars, he would become famous; and MGR was a king in Tamil cinema. He can convince his producers if he likes the voice.

When that kind of a person offered a chance, Balu was suffering from Typhoid. If MGR waits for this song, his Jaipur shooting should be cancelled, that hits the call sheets of many other artists too. Who would wait for a new singer? Though Kodandapani encouraged Balu, he remained as a track singer. He thought it was a track song that he sung in Sri Sri Sri Maryada Ramanna (శ్రీశ్రీశ్రీ మర్యాద రామన్న). It was a song to be sung by Suseela, PB Srinivas, Eelapata Raghuramaiah or Ghantasala. As Ghantasala was ill, Balu sang his track. Afterwards, they recorded his song as it was good.

Thus Aemi Ee Vinta Mohamu (ఏమి ఈ వింత మోహము) was recorded in 1966 and released in 1967. This shed a little light on Balu, but it did not take him to good heights. Those times, his post was ‘Assistant of Kodandapani’. He taught Balu some songs to sing the track for the comfort of singers. He asked producers to give money to Balu for that. When Balu was a track singer, he got a chance in ManchiKutumbam to sing Tyagaseelavamma Mahila Anuragaseelavamma (త్యాగశీలవమ్మా మహిళా అనురాగశీలవమ్మా, మంచి కుటుంబం). After singing the full song, he was told that Ghantasala will sing the song and it was just a track what he sung.

Muhurtam was set for Sukha Dhukalu. Ghantasala was ill and could not come, he had to sing Medante Meda Kadu (మేడంటే మేడా కాదు, సుఖదుఃఖాలు). When producers felt sentimental, Kodandapani struk at the right time saying ‘If you agree, my assistant will sing the song, we can start the recording’. They agreed and thus Balu sung play back for Chandra Mohan.

In the same year, he sung a song for Rammohan in Privatu Mastaru – Paaduko Paaduko Paadutu Chaduvuko (పాడుకో పాడుకో పాడుతూ చదువుకో). Mullapudi VenkataRamana liked Balu and offered him hero role in Bangaru Pichuka. Balu declined and asked for chances to sing. Thus he sung a song in that movie. Movie was a flop, but music was not. Balu sung with Suseela, Mahadevan composed. Balu was as fresh behind the screen as Chandramohan was on the screen.

For long time, Balu’s voice was identified only with Krishna. Krishna was youth icon then, Balu’s voice suited him well. It helped both of them to build their careers. Guntalakidi Gumma – Nenante Nene was very good on the screen as it was behind the screen.

When his career was at this stage, Balu got a chance in MGR’s movie. It was a different level compared to singing for Krishna and Chandramohan. Again he missed that chance due to bad health. But MGR waited for Balu to recover. He started to Jaipur only after the recording. MGR told Balu his logic, “You might have told to others that you are going to sing for me. They would not believe that it was due to your health. They would think that you dint sing well and so I changed you. It would be a block for your future. When talk comes out that I’ve postponed my shooting for you, your image will improve, and it will be good for you.”

Wow! what a thought! Today many producers start with out proper planning and stop abruptly, which is a blow to many new stars. Not only a blow on their expectations, but they will get a good name of ‘Iron leg’ in the industry.

Balu sung Ayiram Nilave vaa (ஆயிரம் நிலவே வா) was composed by Mahadevan, but MS made him to sing that song in his program. He got best singer award from TamilNadu government for that, which was his first award from government.

When Balu was at a good pace in Tamil, Yesudas songs used to be hits. Balu was set back by this. In telugu, he was singing for second-grade heroes. He sung for Nagabhushanam, Kanta Rao etc.

Balu has sung a song with Ghantasal in Ekaveera. Then the talk was – This guy sings well, but being at par with Ghantasala is doubtful. He sung two songs with Ghantasala – Enado vechina Udayam (Manchi Mitrulu), Prati Ratri Vasanta Ratri (Ekaveera). In both the songs, he proved that he was less to none. When Ghantasala was asked about his successor in America, he could tell ‘Bala Subrahmanyam’

Slowly, everyone had to choose Balu. Sobhanbabu wanted chose Ramakrishna instead of Ghantasala, but finnaly Balu sang that song.

In 1970s, Balu hardly sung, but performed in many concorts. Ilayaraja brothers were in his troop. With all these guys, he roamed all around and gave many concorts, and remained popular. Stage craft is his art. He knows how to talk, how much to talk, what to talk. His wit and brilliance has drawn audience to the concorts. People went even if he din’t sing, just to listen to him. On TV, he is a master of anchoring.

He know using not only songs, but also words. Giving information about people, encouraging them, commentary, smile, he has so many skills to bring beauty to any event. He can organise programs very well abroad also.

His telugu is pure. You can find no slang in his language, inspite of Nellore and Chittoor having distinct slangs. His letters are also good. Crisp, brief, neat hand writing, looks as if you have to preserve it carefully (Author says he has some letters).

Satyam was another music director who gave many songs to Balu. He was an assistant to Adinarayana Rao and TV Raju. He is an expert in flute, violin and dholak. He gave many offers to Balu. Ae divilo virisina parijatamo and Ae parijatamuliyagalano cheli (ఏ దివిలో విరిసిన పారిజాతమో, ఏ పారిజాతములీయగలనో చెలి) brought the tenderness in Balu’s throat to the music lovers.

But thier first meeting was not good. Balu had to sing a song, for which Satyam came to a conclusion that Balu cannot sing that song. Moreover LR Eesari can give special effects in such songs. Balu ran to tears and came out of the place, and production executives had to rebuke Satyam. He had to get it sung by Balu.

Slowly he became a fan of Balu. Ae divilo virisina parijatamo female version (ఏ దివిలో విరిసిన పారిజాతమో) was sung by Janaki. Satyam asked Balu to sing better than her. Balu became nervous and had to sing the song again.

Balu got a chance to sing for ANR. Bapu, Ramana came to Balu’s house and told him that Ghantasala was ill and they wanted him to sing for ANR. But ANR was not confident that Balu’s voice would suit him. They asked him to come to their office to sing the songs and record them, so that they can convince ANR easily.

It was a good chance for Balu, top star and top directors. Exactly on the recording date, Balu had a foreign trip and everything was booked for whole troupe; agreements were signed. He had to leave the chance to sing for ANR.

Inspite of all these events, he reached the top. Balu can sing for both ANR and NTR, but with different tones; where as Ghantasala does not. Balu knows mimicry and it was useful for him in dubbing. His friend Chakravarthi pulled him to dub. Chakravarthi (originally Appa Rao) He sang in Nazar’s Burra Katha troupe. He came to Madras to become a singer, but became an assistant director. He was dubbing in free times and earned money. Dubbing for Nagesh in ‘Server Sundaram’ brought him good fame.

When Balu sang for Maryada Ramanna, Appa Rao praised him and got acquainted with him. He was assistant director to CS Rao. He got two chances – one music director, one director. On Balu’s advice, he chose to take up music director chance. His first movie was Mooga Prema.

Balu sang a song in the movie. After that ‘Sarada’ movie turned Chakravarti’s career. Ramakrishna sung all the songs, but the title chorus was sung by Balu. With Sarada, Chakravarti ruled telugu cinema music for 15-20 years.

Most of Chakravarti’s songs were rhythm oriented. He insisted Balu to participate in his recording on birthdays and new year days. When Balu and Suseela were planning foreign trips, Chakravarthi booked all recording studios for a month, so that Balu can sing for him.

It is interesting to know how Chakravarti got Balu into dubbing profession. Vijaya Bapineedu dubbed Balachandar’s Manmadha Leelai (Tamil) in to Telugu. Chakravarthi dubbed for Kamala Hasan. There is another character that speaks with Brahmin slang. He asked Balu to dub for that character. Balu declined, so he asked Balu to come and offer coconut at the Muhurtam time.

After pooja, he started telling dialogue. When the clerk character came on to screen, he asked Balu to deliver the dialouge like Balu’s father, so that it will be a guidance to other dubbing artists. Balu started speaking, he signalled the recording staff and they recorded. “Play it once. He will listen to it” and Balu was surprised and happy to listen it.

“Do you play this and ask dubbing artist to speak like this?” asked Balu. “How come different artist, you told dubbing at muhurtam, that’s it you are commited to dub this character. If you walk out, producer will feel sentimental and treat it as a bad omen”, replied Chakravarthi. Thus born dubbing artist Balu. After that, Balu has dubbed many Kamal movies. He imitates so well that it suits Kamal very well. Balu doesn’t have the gruffness Kamal has in his voice. Once Kamal said “I would love to have your voice”.

When Kamal went to Bollywood, Balu also went with him and made telugu presence felt there. Maro Charitra’s hindi version ‘Ek Dhooje keliye’ songs were a huge hit, and audience were mesmerised by the songs. He had few more hits, but he dint settle in Bollywood. Depending on only bollywood is waste of time, and he has a good market in south indian films.

One of Balu’s arts is music composing. In his concorts he used to introduce some changes and observed the pulse of audience. He used to do different experiments. In 1975, Peketi Sivaram produced a documentary on AP, length of 15 min. Balu gave background score to that movie, thus his first music composing.

In 1979, Balu composed music for Dasari Narayana Rao’s Kanya-Kumari. Veturi blessed Balu that he would become a good music director. Bapu moulded Balu as a good music director. Bapu listens to gazals a lot. Balu also joined him in that.

Bapu gave chance to Balu in another movie, Turpukelle Railu (Train going towards east). Bapu wanter a sound track as if train is running on a tabla. Balu exactly gave what he wanted.

A song (chuttu changavi cheera) in that movie was hit. It was based on the gazal ‘Rafta Rafta’. Bapu wanted it in the same style. Ramana also praised violin progressions in the song, for which Balu felt very happy.

Once after a composition, when Balu was about to pack up, Veturi wrote two lines and gave it to Balu. Bapu came by and told, “Why should we leave such a beautiful combination of green and moon, let’s create a situation and fit this song in, write the remaining song also”.

Balu might have the art to recognize talent, many famous people worked with him in their intial stages. When Balu was running orchestra, three villagers came to him. One of the three brothers told “It’s very difficult for us to make a living, we dint learn music but we can play instruments”. Balu gave one of them a harmonium and asked him to play. Soon after he played, Balu recognized his talent and felt he is ingenious.

Balu told him “I’ve people to play harmonium, you play guitar”. He is Ilayaraja (The Maestro). Others Drums Bhaskar and Gangai Amaran – Guitarist and Lyricist.

Another music director, AR Rehman also worked in Balu’s orchestra. His father Sekhar was the first to offer a chance to Balu in Malayalam. A famous malayalam film music director Devarajan asked his assistant (Sekhar) to get someone else to sing a song and left for a different place. He used the opportunity to bring Balu in to Malayalam. After the song is done, he told his boss that it was just a track and if he doesn’t like it, he would get it done by whom he said. Devarajan felt that Balu’s voice was good and asked to finalize it. Thus, Balu’s entry in to Malayalam.

A big discussion happened before selecting Balu to sing for Sanakarabharanam. Balu declined it for he did not learn classical music and he had not enough confidence. Director Viswanath also agreed. But Puhelendi insisted that Balu should sing, for ‘Dorakuna Ituvanti Seva’ kind of song needs emotions, it need not be technically 100 per cent.

He offered training to Balu, and you know the result (he got national award for Sankarabharanam). Same is the case with Bapu’s Tyagaiah. I don’t know technical details, but to me, Balu’s songs are better than other classical singers.

The reason behind such a good expression in Balu’s songs is that he is an actor too. After hearing to his songs, poems in Srinatha, Bapu fell on Balu’s legs. Balu was confused and asked “What is this?”. Bapu asked “You are Lord Saraswathi’s Child, what’s wrong in this?”. He has acted in many films. Played a guest role in Mohammad Bin Tughlak. Ramaprabha is a minister. He appears as a singer in her birthday celebrations.

After that, ‘Padosan’ was remade in Telugu as ‘Pakkinti Ammayi’ (the girl next door), in which Chakravarti acted role of Mohammad. He asked Balu to act the role of Kishore Kumar. After that Balu acted in some Tamil movies which were dubbed in to Telugu – Premikudu (Kadhalan), Jo papa lali etc. In Pavithrabandham, he acted as father of Venkatesh. He acts in TV serials too.

He is a producer too. His first production ‘Captain Krishna’ was a flop. He had debt of seven lakhs. To clear the debts, he worked hard and produced another movie ‘Charitra Heenulu’ hopeful of profits. But it was also a flop. To get out of those debts, it took ten years for him. Ghantasala had a similar situation, he produced three films and lost his money. But Balu had other avenues to earn, he has market in other languages too. In kannada, he has a big market, and he is also physically fit. So could come out of all his financial problems.

After that his ‘Subhasankalpam’ was a success. Also dubbed ‘Bhamane Satyabhamane’ into Telugu.

Balu’s another facet is publishing books. He financed Paidipala’s research on Telugu film songs. He helped financially to Janarthanastakam and Tiruppavi books. He got a out a book on Ghantasala by Gopala Krishna. Also got Ghantasala’s statue unveiled in Hyderabad.

He always had a helping hand to good deeds. He told about our ‘Hasam’ magazine on almost every stage. We din’t give a penny to him for that publicity. He not even received an issue as compliment. He paid life time membership to the magazine.

He loves Telugu. Always educates viewers about telugu poems. He always canvasses good always. He is smart in all respects.

Singers’ renumeration was very low until he came into limelight, Upto 1969 Ghantasala was given Rs. 1000 per song. Only after Balu’s arrival, singers got five digit renumeration. He assesed the Audio market and told its potential and demand. He raised the status of singers.

He doesn’t have any degrees academically, but he is a student always. Well read man. He can speak English, Hindi, Tamil, Kannada with good diction. He is a man of good taste.

We can talk about his talent for ages. So, now let me be a critic now. The main allegation on Balu was that he did not allow other singers to sing. In Ghantasala’s regime, Madhavapeddi, Pitapuram, PB Srinivas, everyone got chances. But it is a feeling that Balu exercised monopoly and did not allow others to sing. What a funny complaint is this! Is he getting many chances these days? Is he out of fame? Has his voice changed?

All these are market forces. He is believed to sing with different voices for different actors, so they asked Balu to sing for them. So he got many chances. Now a days, Teluguness in films is diluted and so he is not getting many chances. Charan also sings well. But he dint get many chances. Because, he knows to pronounce telugu clearly. It is the minus point for sure now-a-days.

Balu sung more than 35,000 songs. After Ghantasala he received PadmaSree. Since Balu dint imitate Ghantasala, he got his place. But almost 75 percent of Ghantasala’s songs were good. But it’s not the same with Balu. Of course, this is my personal opinion.

There is a reason for this. In his peak period, overall quality of songs reduced. There were hardly any situations when poet, musician and singer dicussed and improved the song. It has become a fast age. Songs are being written with out knowing what the character is, When there is no time to write, just sequence of words became songs. He has sung 19 songs on a single day. In these kind of situation, how can good songs come? Atleast music directors should be involved in this situation, but when people like Chakravarti was giving tons of tunes, how can we expect the songs to be evergreen?

It was the same situation in Hindi also in 1980s and 90s. But Kishore kumar improvised the songs and gave them life. The songs for which Balu worked like Kishore kumar will be evergreen, other songs will just pass by. They will be remembered not more than twenty years.

Before we conclude on Balu, I have to tell you some more. He is so humble on the small screen. It is astonishing, and some people don’t believe it. ‘What’s is this? He bows to everyone. Just a drama’ is the opinion of some people. But take it from me. He is very humble in his real life also. It is real modesty. I know this from common friends. I moved with him closely in some venues, so can say this for sure. He respects elders. He picks and encourages talented people. He encourages youth. He is gem of a man.