Mayabazar

For the 2008 Malayalam film of the same name starring Mammootty, see Mayabazar (2008 film).

మాయాబజార్ Mayabazar
Mayabazar poster
Directed by	Kadri Venkata Reddy
Produced by	B.Nagi Reddy, Chakrapani
Written by	Pingali Nagendra Rao (story, dialogue and song lyrics) Kadri Venkata Reddy (adaptation)
Starring	Gummadi, NTR, ANR, S.V.Ranga Rao, Savitri and Others
Music by	Ghantasala Saluri Rajeswara Rao
Distributed by	Vijaya Vahini Studios
Release date(s)	27 March 1957
Running time	181 min. (approx)
Language	Telugu/ Tamil
Budget	Rs.2,00,000 (estimated)

Mayabazar (Telugu: మాయాబజార్) is a folklore Telugu Cinema first released in Andhra Pradesh, India on 27 March 1957, produced by B.Nagi Reddy and Alur Chakrapani. It was also dubbed in Tamil (released a month later), and the Telugu version was later dubbed in Kannada. The story, dialogues, and song lyrics were written by Pingali Nagendra Rao.. It was directed by the Telugu director K. V. Reddy. Mayabazar is considered one of the enduring classics of Indian Cinema.^[1] The music delivered by Saluri Rajeswara Rao (uncredited) and Ghantasala has been extremely popular. The film stars Gummadi Venkateswara Rao as Balarama, NTR as Krishna, ANR as Abhimanyu, S. V. Ranga Rao as Ghatothkacha, and Savitri as Sasirekha. Each and every artist induced life into the characters they played and the movie ultimately became iconic. A digitally remastered colour version was released in 2010.

Background

The film is based on a folk tale called "Sasirekha Parinayam" popular in Andhra Pradesh, based on the Mahabharata but not present in it.^[2] In the initial days of beginning of this project once it was decided to name the movie as "Sasi Rekha Parinayam". But at a later time it was finalised as "Mayabazaar".

The plot

During the Pandavas' Agnyatavasa (period of exile), Arjuna sends his wife Subhadra and their son Abhimanyu to Dwaraka to stay with her brothers, Krishna (N.T.Rama Rao)and Balarama (Gummadi Venkateswara Rao). Sasirekha (Savitri), Balarama's daughter and Abhimanyu (Akkineni) have been in love with each other from their childhood. Their families had agreed to get them married when they were children. However, Balarama's wife refuses to honour that commitment as the Pandavas no longer have their kingdoms and are in exile. Balarama decides to conduct Sasirekha's marriage with Lakshmana Kumara (Relangi Venkata Ramaiah) who is son of his favourite disciple, Duryodhana (Mukkamala). Krishna advises Subhadra to approach Ghatotkacha (S.V.Ranga Rao). Initially Ghatotkacha assumes them to be intruders in his forest and attacks them, but later apologizes once he realizes who they are. He goes to Dwaraka along with his retinue. Using his magical powers he assumes the form of Sasirekha (Ghatotkacha becomes Maya Sasi Rekha) and goes about wrecking her marriage with Lakshmana Kumara, while the real Sasirekha is married to Abhimanyu. Parallelly, to break the marriage of Maya Sasi Rekha with Lakshmana kumara, Ghatotkacha's follower's (Ramana Reddy- Played a magician role) enter the Bridegroom's guest house (Vididi griha) and draws hilarious comedy to the audience with Balaiah and Allu Rama Lingaiah. This a must watch movie for the Telugu people in terms of the Story, Performance of the artists, Music and especially the special effects by a foreign camera man (in 1950's).

Credits

All the actors/actress(Savithri, NTR, ANR, S.V. Ranga Rao, Gummadi etc.) who are considered as big shots (greatest) in Telugu cinema field acted in this movie.

Cast

Character	Actor/Actress	Notes
Krishna	N.T.Rama Rao
Abhimanyu	Akkineni Nageswara Rao
Ghatotkacha	S.V. Ranga Rao
Sasirekha	Savitri
Balarama	Gummadi Venkateswara Rao
Subhadra	Rushyendramani
Revati	Chaya Devi
Rukmini	Sandhya (Mother of Tamil Nadu chief Minister Ms.J.Jayalalita)
Lakshmana Kumara	Relangi Venkata Ramaiah
Duryodhana	Mukkamala
Shakuni	CSR
Karna	Mikkilineni Radhakrishna Murthy
Dussasanudu	R. Nageswara Rao
Hidimbi	Suryakantham
Chinnamaya	Ramana Reddy
Sarma	Allu Ramalingaiah
Sastry	Vangara Venkata Subbaiah
Satyaki	Nagabhushanam
Daaruka	Madhavapeddi Satyam

Crew

• Director: Kadri Venkata Reddy
• Assistant Director: C. Nageshwara Rao
• Story and Dialogues : Pingali Nagendra Rao
• Screen adaptation: Kadri Venkata Reddy
• Producers: Alur Chakrapani and B. Nagi Reddy
• Production Company: Vijaya Pictures
• Original Music: Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao and Saluri Rajeshwara Rao
• Orchestra: A. Krishna Murthy
• Cinematography: Marcus Bartley
• Film Editing: C.P. Jambulingam and Kalyana Sundaram
• Art Direction: Madhavapeddi Gokhale
• Set Decoration: K. Srinivasan and Kuppuswamy
• Makeup Department: Bhaktavatsalam and Peetambaram
• Production Managers: Jagannath and Chalapathi Rao
• Sound Department: A. Krishnan and V. Sivaram
• Still Photographer: Vrishabendraiah
• Choreographer: Pasumarti Krishnamurthi and Gopinath
• Playback singers: Jikki Krishnaveni, M. L. Vasantha Kumari, P. Leela, Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao, Rushyendramani, Madhavapeddi Satyam and P. Susheela

Songs

Maya Bazaar's songs are legendary in Telugu cinema. The titles of almost all the songs have been reused as movie names in later years.

• Ahana Pellianta - (Singers: P. Susheela and Ghantasala; Lyricist: Pingali Nagendra Rao)

(Actress Savtri's stunning dual portrayal of a princess and a monster-prince cemented her acting prowess in Telugu Cinema.)

• Alli Billi Ammayiki
• Bhali Bhali Bhali Bhali Deva - Truths Hidden in Life (Singer: Madhavapeddi Satyam; Lyricist: Pingali Nagendra Rao)
• Chinnari Sasirekha Vardhillavamma (Singer: P. Leela; Lyricist: Pingali Nagendra Rao)
• Choopulu Kalisina Shubavela (Singer: Ghantasala and P. Leela; Lyricist: Pingali Nagendra Rao)
• Lahiri Lahiri Lahirilo - (Singers: Ghantasala and P. Leela; Lyricist: Pingali Nagendra Rao)

(A great portrayal of romance spanning three generations)

• Nee Kosame Ne Jeevinchunadi (Singers: P. Leela, Ghantasala; Lyricist: Pingali Nagendra Rao)
• Nevena Nanu Pilichinadi (Singer: Ghantasala)
• Sundari Oho Sundari - (Singers: Ghantasala and Savitri)

(Relangi's humorous song that makes many people still laugh when they see some one clap hands behind their back)

• Vinnava Yasodamma (Singer: P. Leela; Lyricist: Pingali Nagendra Rao)
• Vivaha Bhojanambu - (Singer: Madhavapeddi Satyam)

(S V Ranga Rao's portrayal of Ghatotkacha and some state of the art cinematic effects)

Box-office

• The film had a 175-day run in Durga Kala Mandir theatre, Vijayawada.^[3]
• The film had a 100-day run in 15 centres.^[4]

Golden jubilee celebrations

• A special screening was held at Lalita Kala Thoranam to celebrate the golden jubilee (50 years) run of the film on 7 April 2007.^[5]
• The celebration was jointly organised by the Department of Culture, Andhra Pradesh; Andhra Pradesh State Film, TV and Theatre Development Corporation and Kinnera Art Theatres, besides fans.^[6]
• All the artists associated with the film were felicitated on that occasion.^[5]

2010 Colour Version

The film was digitally remastered to add colour and was released to the theaters on January 30, 2010. As many as 165 artists from Goldstone Technologies have worked to transform the film into the colour version.^[7] As per the company's head Jagan Mohan, they have used around 16.7 million colour shades for the transformation. Apart from adding colour, it was also converted to a full scope movie and the sound was also remastered to a DTS system from the previous mono track.^[7] Two songs, Bhali Bhali Deva and Vinnava Yasodamma, have been removed due to poor quality of the negative film.

The list of changes made to the original movie in the 2010 color version:
1. Titles and title music - redone; Result : Visual - Good, Music - Poor
2. Childhood Abhimanyu's show of his archery skills - partly cut
3. Song "Lalli lala" partly cut involving Sasirekha's childhood
4. Song "Chupulu kalasina subhavela" - completely removed. later added in some theatres)
5. Song "bhali bhali deva" - completely removed;
6. Dance ballet "Mohini Bhasmasura" - completely removed;
7. Song "neekosame ne jeevinchunadi" was modified digitally
8. Padyam "Dhurankara Madhandhulai" was removed
9. Padyam by Shakuni - removed
10. Marriage rehearsals by Relangi - removed
11. Song "dayacheyandi" partially cut
12. Padyam "pandava bandhu koti" removed
13. Song "vinnava yashodamma" partially cut

Recently Mayabazar (2010 Color) has completed 50 days of screening. See the comments on this occasion.

References

1. ^ http://www.hindu.com/fr/2006/04/21/stories/2006042101660100.htm
2. ^ A Study In Folk "Mahabharata": How Balarama Became Abhimanyu's Father-in-law
3. ^ CineGoer.com - Box-Office Records And Collections - Silver Jubilee Films Of NTR
4. ^ CineGoer.com - Box-Office Records And Collections - Mayabazar Completes 50 Years
5. ^ ^{a b} "'Mayabazar' artistes felicitated". The Hindu (Chennai, India). 8 April 2007. http://www.hindu.com/2007/04/08/stories/2007040815810200.htm. 
6. ^ "'Mayabazar' golden jubilee celebrations on April 7". The Hindu (Chennai, India). 5 April 2007. http://www.hindu.com/2007/04/05/stories/2007040519530200.htm. 
7. ^ ^{a b} http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/telugu/article/53373.html

External links

• Maya Bazaar Color Photo Gallery at SouthScreen.com
• Maya Bazaar Widescreen Wallpapers Gallery at SouthScreen.com
• Mayabazaar Songs at TeluguFM.com
• Mayabazaar at the Internet Movie Database
• Videos of Mayabazaar Scenes and Songs at TeluguVideos.in
• Trailer of Mayabazaar(color) at idlebrain.com