Tanikella Bharani on Shiva
I first met Ramu in the sets of
Rao Gaari-illu (Siva Nageswara Rao recommended me for the film, but I haven't done that film actually - D.V. Narasaraju
gaaru did that film). Though he was an assistant director of the film, he used to be very silent and observing. He was introduced to me as Nagarjuna's friend. He used to be different from
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| Nagarjuna in Siva |
others. I used to be close with him at that time. I didn't work for that film due to certain reasons. D.V. Narasaraju
gaaru wrote the dialogues for that film. Then one day, I received a call from Ramu asking me to come and meet him at Annapurna Studios. I went there and he was sitting in the big office in the Studio. He informed me that he was directing a film, and I was happy and surprised. Then, he came up that he would like me to write the dialogues for that film. The first version I wrote was more of a comedy version, which he read and trashed it on the spot and said he'd like me to work on it in a serious way. That's how the present version came up. ...Then, one day when shooting was in progress, he called me to him. I was in jeans and shirt. He asked me to take the shirt off and wear a
laalchii (
kurta) on my jeans and said I'd be perfect for the role. I was not informed what role I was doing! When I asked him which role it was, he informed that they tried some other actor for the role of Nanaji and had some problems to make it work out. Thus, I was chosen for the role. I agreed, and told them to leave my getup to me, changed my dress to
kurta and
pyjamah, applied oil to my hair and
surmaa to my eyes and big
sindoor to my forehead. He liked the getup too, and you know the result on the screen! The role gave me much recognition. I repeated my role in Hindi too. The credit of dialogues and everything goes to Ramu and not to me! I shifted my career towards than writing, eventually. I was paid Rs. 25,000 as a writer back then, and as an artiste, I was paid Rs. 35,000!
Chakravarthy on his debut
I wanted to become an artiste since I was a child. Uttej, who was a friend of mine, asked me to come and meet Ramu, without telling me that Ramu was conducting a screen test was new artistes. I even surpassed every other wannabe in the queue, and stepped into his office directly, since I didn't know I was supposed to stand in the same line! ...I failed in the screen test, and I returned home nearly crying! My sister consoled me saying it would be a loss to the film industry if I am not given a chance and that I need not be worrying! She was sure I'd get selected and that I'd be a good actor who'd get a lot of recognition. Ramu
gaaru thought my communication was good and he felt that I had a spark in my eyes, and I was selected! ...After the movie completed its shoot, Ilayaraja
gaaru came out of the recording room for re-recording and asked Ramu gaaru, "Who's this JD? I hate that guy!" Ramu gaaru said that it's good since that's what people should think about that role! That was the first and the best compliment I had received! Then, Mahesh
ji (Mahesh Bhatt) and Paresh Rawal also said that same thing when they watched the Hindi version.
Tailpiece: Ramu remade the film in 2006 with police backdrop with Mohit Ahlawat and Nisha Kothari in the lead. The film was a disaster in both Hindi and Telugu!
shiva Celebrated 100 days in 22 centers. Here are the collection of Gross and Share details of this blockbuster...
|
City |
Theatre |
Days 4 shows full |
Days 3 shows full |
100 days Gross |
100 Days Share |
Total Days |
|
Hyderabad |
Devi 70 MM |
4 |
85 |
2355000 |
1400000 |
155 |
|
Vizag |
Jagadamba |
85 |
120 |
1962500 |
1100000 |
155 |
|
Vijayawada |
Raj 70 MM |
64 |
85 |
1876126 |
1050000 |
148 |
|
Guntur |
Manga Deluxe |
64 |
64 |
1576933 |
800000 |
134 |
|
Nellore |
Krishna A/C |
22 |
58 |
1300750 |
900000 |
130 |
|
Tirupati |
PGR Movieland |
22 |
50 |
1092161 |
500000 |
169 |
|
Warangal |
Gemini A/C |
12 |
26 |
945107 |
511107 |
120 |
|
Kurnool |
Anand A/C |
53 |
53 |
877465 |
511000 |
155 |
|
Kakinaada |
Chandragupta |
50 |
82 |
857522 |
518000 |
184 |
|
Rajamundry |
Kumari A/C |
30 |
52 |
824650 |
500000 |
100 |
|
Chitoor |
Raghava A/C |
50 |
50 |
763947 |
350000 |
100 |
|
Ananthapur |
Shanti Theatre |
20 |
20 |
76-669 |
330000 |
113 |
|
Eluru |
Kalpana |
22 |
53 |
652430 |
390000 |
127 |
|
Eluru |
Srinivasa |
18 |
|
618400 |
536997 |
100 |
|
Cuddapah |
Royal |
22 |
22 |
618792 |
335196 |
100 |
|
Madanapalli |
Krishna Theatre |
29 |
42 |
765738 |
362000 |
100 |
|
Bhimavaram |
Satyanarayana |
14 |
35 |
515228 |
260000 |
100 |
|
Tadepalligudem |
Laxminarayana |
5 |
20 |
377478 |
170908 |
100 |
|
Tanuku |
Narendra |
3 |
14 |
374742 |
135418 |
100 |
|
Chilakaluripeta |
Vishwnatha |
20 |
35 |
370333 |
130872 |
100 |
|
Palakollu |
Annapurna |
4 |
15 |
387880 |
130333 |
100 |
|
Podduturu |
Sudha theatre |
18 |
23 |
742280 |
378872 |
100 |
|
Amalapuram |
Venkatrau |
42 |
42 |
481992 |
348800 |
100 |
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Photos Courtesy : Telugunaadi
Acknowledgements : Pulagam Chinanarayana
Edited by Nachaki
Article by Sri
