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Tollywood Kaburlu

Tollywood Kaburlu

Teja Rao
TV & Film

Andariki Namaskaram! Welcome to Tollywood Kaburlu, a weekly Telugu movie podcast hosted by Teja Rao, an aspiring actor and screenwriter in USA with new episodes every Monday. Our podcast mainly revisits old Telugu movies and assesses their rewatch value in present day. In addition, we occasionally review new Telugu movies and talk about Telugu music. Hope you enjoy listening to the nostalgia blast! Email us your feedback and requests at Tollywoodkaburlu1@gmail.com Youtube Link: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBQpxAc1vvnfBykdF3qRXLw

205 - Why I stopped the Podcast .....(Podcast Enduku Aapalsochindi)
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  • 205 - Why I stopped the Podcast .....(Podcast Enduku Aapalsochindi)
      High time to actually take my career off the ground. Can only talk big for so long, met a producer and we are talking so we will see what happens. Started a new job and no time to be honest and takes a lot of time out of the day The real reason is basically loss of interest in Telugu cinema. I remember having a conversation with Pranav before we did our 150th episode for Malliswari and he told me he’s losing interest. I thought he was joking and I was like I could never, but turns out he was 100% right and I have lost interest as well. TFI’s banisas and fans will do their best to continue watching but the overall interest has waned. Reason being nobody is making movies anymore, it’s all brain rot to satisfy their fans and lack of commercial directors as well evolving of what people call commercial cinema has changed but main thing is there is no writing, and there is no passion I realized that having the nostalgia about telugu cinema is actually dangerous because it’s affecting my mental health and making me wonder why nobody can make good movies anymore but the truth is Telugu cinema is finished and that time is over We made two episodes last year and we explained why things suck right now and It’s basically the same or has gotten worse. Nowadays cant even have expectations anymore so in reality its just the current state of telugu movies. When you dont like anything, what’s the point of watching Its become a toxic relationship so why would you want to stay in one? It’s not giving anything in return and only making you feel bad. Such is the current state of telugu cinema I neither have interest to rewatch old Telugu movies or even talk about new ones. There are many other podcasts that review current telugu movies that I advise you to listen to them instead. Perhaps I will meet you all on the small screen or big screen someday. But for the time being and likely, this podcast is over. Thanks for listening and all the memories and time. I really appreciate it. 
    Sun, 14 Sep 2025 - 39min
  • 204 - Revisiting Choodalani Vundi (1998): Review + Interesting Facts

    Credits

    Banner: Vyjayanthi Movies 

    Cast: Megastar Chiranjeevi, Soundarya, Anjala Zhaveri, Prakash Raj, MAster Teja Sajja, Authi Prasad, Bramanandham, MS Narayana, Brahmaji, Venu Madhav, Bandla Ganesh, Dhulipala Sitarama Sastry 

    Music: Mani Sharma 

    Cinematography: Chota K Naidu 

    Editing: Kotagiri Venkateswara Rao 

    Art Direction: Thota Tharani 

    Fights: Vijayan 

    Lyrics: Veturi & Chandrabose 

    Choreography: Saroj Khan, Raghava Lawrence, Raju Sundaram 

    Costume Design: Manish Malhotra 

    Producer: C. Aswini Dutt 

    Release date: August 27th, 1998 

    First title of the movie was Kaalika, alternative title Kolkata, Kolkata Kalika since its Kolkata backdrop, hence he started the movie with Kali Matha title card and credits Chiranjeevi was the one who put the title Choodalani Undi Coming to Railway Station scene, Gunashekar wrote about a 20 page booklet like a novel to write the scene. More action, literally no dialogues. He said it was going to be like this and he learned to write scenes from DV Natasha Raju. He told Chiru garu and he laughed and said this is a scene for Pawan Kalyan like in Tholi Prema, why are you doing it with me, because its on you its like this, for him it would be different, but lastly he enjoyed it a lot Then he told Chota K Naidu and he Las got very excited bhale undi. Coming to filming of it, Aswnini Dutt suggested Ramoji Film City train station. But Gunahsekar wanted live location Nampally Railway Station with live crowd and ambiance, Aswini Dutt got shocked, taking CHiru to Nampally scene. Ramoji Film. City is fine, but it has to be realistic. Dutt felt it would be very difficult. They got permission but hoe would be control the crowd and then how are we going to film it become a huge challenge. 2-3 days they had a lot of discussions about it Chota K Naidu and his team perfectly planned all the lighting and camera movements etc, got all the shots ready. Filmed 3 days at NAmpally and then 1 day at Kachiguda was the plan. Aswini Dutt acted as a latti master as well to control the crowd Finally they completed Namapally scenes in 2 days with planning and then 1 day at Kachiguda Choodalanu Undi is the first Telugu movie to be filmed in Kolkata, Kolkata apartment was done in Annapurna 7 acres Yamaha Nagari - Raju Sundaram, Rama Chilakamma and Oh Maria done by legendary Saroj Khan Regarding the inclusion of Hariharan, Udit Narayan, Shankar MAhadevan, it was collective decision between Gunashekar and Mani Sharma. He specifically told Mani Sharma that the sounds should be new, from Iliayaraja to AR Rahman and brought a new trend of introducing new singers, composing and engineering, told him the sound should be ultimate sound should be new for audience Until then only dubbing songs heard Udit Narayan, Hariharan, and Shankar Mahadevan, nobody sang straight songs in Telugu Automatically first choice is Balu garu for any song, but to take it to the next level we have to use new singers for the other songs, obviously for Rama Chilakamma Chiru and Aswnini Dutt opposed Udit Narayan for it, even balu wanted to sing it, but they objected, he got angry, and then they sang it with Udit Narayan sang it and the rest is history Dialogues were written by Divakar Babu, he gave him a script book, he loved writing for Chiru and Soundarya scenes, Chiru did improvisation for all their poetic conversationsChoodalani Undi collected 12.2 crores share and just missed industry hit status, ran for 100 days in 63 centers, all time record and first Telugu movie to run in more than 60 centers for 100 days, ran for 175 days and was the first South Indian film to be covered on India Today Delhi cover page, industry record and highest grossing South Indian fllm at that point in time In JyothiChitra magazine, Chota Prasad journalist asked for the 20 pages and he put the first page with his handwriting and then JoythiChitra printed the rest During the 100 days function in Vijayawada, Chiru bought the entire team gold chains 
    Mon, 17 Mar 2025 - 48min
  • 203 - Revisiting Athanokkade (2005): Review + Interesting Facts + Daaku Maharaj Reaction + Thandel Reaction

    Credits

    Banner: NTR Arts

    Cast: Kalyan Ram, Sindhu Tonali, Prakash Raj, Asish Vidyardhi, Brahmanandam, Venu Madhav, Chandra Mohan, Surya, Ajay, Ramireddy, Chalapati Rao, Ahuti Prasad, GV Sudhakar, Raghu Babu, Dharmavarapu Subramanyam, Devi Charan, Rajya Lakshmi, Pinky Sudeepa

    Music: Mani Sharma

    Dialogues: Marudhuri Raja

    Lyrics: Chandrabose, Sai Sri Harsha, Chinni Charan & Bandaru Danayya

    Cinematographer: C Ram Prasad

    Art: P Narayana Reddy

    Stunts: Stun Siva

    Story - Screenplay - Direction: Surender Reddy

    Producer: Janakiram Nandamuri

    Theatrical release date: 7th May 2005


    Interesting Facts

    After working as an assistant director for 9 years, Surender Reddy readied a story to make his debut as a director and through director Sagar met NTR. The person who have appointment was Sagar’s apprentice VV Vinayak NTR heard the story but he was fully busy but if possible let’s work together for next movie (kudirithe next movie cheddam) Take this story to my brother Kalyan ram and so he met Kalyan Ram. As said before his first two movies flopped. With 3rd film have to get success at any cost. Surender Reddy narrated the story for 15 minutes and Kalyan liked the story elements and said let’s do this film, please work on the script. Then he came back and told hi the full story and said I dont like it, then he took another 6 months to work on the script and then the final version came and he okayed the movie, They already told it to Harikrishna garu, he said bagundi manchi break vasthadi, go ahead When thinking of procure, if we do it another producers banner, this story shouldn’t have any limits, we should do what we like and start our own banner, sat with Harikrishna, Jananki Ram and NTR and finally they felt putting it on NTR name would be good and thus they started NTR arts banner. Cast and crew ready and on November 15th, 2004 movie was launched at Annapurna Studios. They wanted Prakash Raj for a small role but he didnt have dates then NTR gave reference and he did the movie Annapurna Studios, Aluminum Factory, Shankarpalli Highway, Ramanaidu Cine Village, and Ramoji Film city shooting Motham ayypoyindi March 25th, 2005 hit the gummadikaya. Budget was 8 crores. Then April 9th 2005 audio was launched May 7th, 2006 with 72 prints movie was released. First scene audience were shocked, hero intro scene, heroine villains plan chesthe hero chamapadam, interval scene. Reverse screenplay technique worked wonders and a lot of similar followed this same screenplay technique. Kalyam Ram became a star, Surender Reddy became a star director, first hit on NTR banner Arts After 3 weeks, increased to 100 prints Ran for 50 days in 80 centers, 100 days in 46 centers and collected more than 20 crores gross Bhadra, Narasimhudu and Andarivaadu released within 3 week gap of Athanokkade otherwise it would have collected more. Remade in Tamil as Aathi with Thalapathy Vijay and Trisha Ashsih Vidyarthi won Best Villain Filmfare award and Surender reddy won Best Debut Director Nandi Award 
    Mon, 03 Mar 2025 - 39min
  • 202 - Episode 200 - Revisiting Surender Reddy and Raviteja's Kick (2009): Movie Discussion ft. Vamsi Krishna

    Credits 

    Banner: RR MovieMakers

    Cast: Ravi Teja, Ileana, Shyam, Brahmanandam, Kota, Venu Madhav, Sayaji Shinde, Jaya Prakash Reddy, Ali, Benerjee, Chalapati Rao

    Music: Thaman S
    Cinematography: Rasool Ellore
    Art: Narayana Reddy
    Stunts: Vijay
    Editing: Gowtam RajuScreenplay - direction: Surender ReddyProducer: RR VenkatRelease date: May 8th, 2009


    Interesting Facts 

    Director Surender Reddy first movie blockbuster next two movies flops, so he took a break, he asked Vakkantham Vamsi who we worked on with Ashok to prepare an entertainment subject without an ounce of blood and he told him Kick story. Surender Reddy liked it. Along with Vamsi, they spent it for 6 months, script came out well and dialogues were written by Abburi Ravi   First they told it to NTR, NTR said hero characterization is nice but ee time lo experiment cheyyadam avasaram ani reject chesaru, next they met Prabhas, he rejected it, and they he felt the characterization wouldn’t suit anyone else but Rvaiteja, went and met him and Tod him to the story and immediately said yes, at the time he was supposed to do a socio fantasy movie called Kandireega with Krushna Vamsi  The budget was too much and that would take a long time so he put that aside and signed this movie, hamayya finally hero dorakaru anukunnaru, Ileana heroine, Kota Rao Ramesh Brahmanandham, Venu Madhav, Sayaji Shinde rest of the cast fixed  But for Raviteja opposite/villain role they couldn’t fi d anyone. They asked a lot of people in telugu and even asked Jagapathi Babu, but a Tamil magazine in a movie called Aagamu Puram Surender Reddy saw Shyam stills, and he contacted him and without a 2nd thought, Shyam did the movie  October 9th 2008, Ramaniadu studios movie was launched, Hyderabad, Ramoji Film City, Sanghi Temple, Annapurna Studios, Rama Naidu Studios, Switzerland, and Malaysia movie was filmed, Himachal Pradesh they filmed the movie  April 2009 shooting finished. April 19th 2009, audio was released and budget 14 crores  May 9th, 2009 movie released, movie got stunning openings, new story and Raviteja performance tho movie oopu aadindi  Another blockbuster for Raviteja, after 4 years hit for Sruender Reddy, another hit for Ileana, vakkantham Vamsi became a star writer,  and Thaman became a star music director with jus his 2nd film and his telugu debut and Shyam became kick Shyam after.  Box office, 50 days in 220 centers and shift centers 100 days in 55 centers collected a share of 28 crores share and more than 40 crores gross at the box office. Appatlo Jalsa movie tho Kalisi it stood as all time top 5 highest grossing telugu movies at the time of it’s release, in 2009 top 3 movies of all time, collected highest share that year after Magadheera I think, 28 crores share not even some star heroes had that record at that time  Nizam collected 3 crores share which was also huge. Remade in Tamil, Kannada, and Hindi and I believe it was a success in all the remade languages. 

    Agenda 

    1) First watch and impressions

    2) How your liking towards it grew towards the movie. 

    3) Songs and Technicalities - very brief 

    4) Writing and Direction 

    5) Favorite Scenes and Dialogues 

    6) why it will always be a classic 

    Mon, 03 Feb 2025 - 1h 26min
  • 201 - Muppaleni Siva and Victory Venkatesh’s Sankranthi (2005): Review + Interesting Facts

    Banner: Supergood Films

    Cast: Venkatesh, Arti Agarwal, Sneha, Srikanth, Siva Balaji, Sarvanand, Sangeeta, Rathi, Sarada, Chandra Mohan, Tanikella Bharani, Raghunatha Reddy, Sudhakar, Rallapally,

    Story: Lingaswamy

    Dialogues: Paruchuri brothers

    Lyrics: ES Murthy, Pothula Ravi Kiran, Sirivennela & Bhaskarabhatla

    Choreography: Raju Sundaram, Suchitra and Nobel

    Art: Kumar

    Music: SA Raj Kumar

    Editing: Nandamuri Hari

    Cinematography: B Bala Murugan

    Screenplay, direction: Muppalaneni Siva

    Producer: RB Chowdary

    Theatrical release date: 18th February 2005

    Interesting Facts 

    Did a movie called Dost, it didnt work he went into depression the first idea he got was title called Sankranthi, A Tamil movie called Anandam, Venkatesh showed it to him and asked him hows it, chala baguntadi babu but other commitments dooram ayyindi 

    But central point haunted him, 4 brothers melodrama what if a kodalu doesnt come, the whole drama, climax pasibidda. Also put the title because the movie has so many people in it, picture pandagala vathavarnan, Amma thinne bojanam bore kottadu

    First Srikanth said he wouldn’t do the movie, 4 brothers yemi undi, Im doing Radha Gopalam with bapu garu as main hero, Super Good banner convinced him to do the movie and forced him actually 

    First they thought of Vadde Naveen, but bhagavanthudu vere sankalpam undi ee movie ninnu chepisthundi 

    For pedda kodalu, we felt Sneha would be a good fit because she has this seriousness and she acts with her eyes 

    This was Sharwanands film successful film, he did two movies with Venkatesh this and same brother role in Lakshmi 

    They actually filmed the movie in Bhadrachalam and did the wedding scenes in a wedding function hall 

    For the climax, they wanted a location where you can fix Dashavatharalu in a lake, executive producer Vakada Appa Rao took him to Chennai, he said all the actors are from there as all the actors are from there, they went to Marina Beach, this is the climax song, due to the wind and water they’ll feel ibbandi and we have to do all these things we have to put muggulu etc how can we do it in the beach, then where else will you do it, if its Hyderabad then forget about it. Then he got a phone call one fine morning if you want to do it in Hyderabad, immediately he got reminded of the big lake in ICRSAT, there’s ways water there and lot of greenery and they fixed the Davastharalu, Thota Tharani worked as art director for that song and Suchitra Chandrabose was the choreographer 

    That morning Venkatesh got a call at 7:30 AM, they said theres a tsunami in Chennai and Marina Beach and the all the boats came onto the main road, if you walk 2 KMS but it came onto the read, and they had to do it on that day call sheet prakaram all they had all the cast dates and they had been there that day, then it would have been scary. 


    Audio of Venkatesh's latest film Sankranthi was released at a function arranged in Rama Naidu studios on the night of 20th January 2005. Sarath Kumar, K Raghavendra Rao and D Rama Naidu were invited as guests.


    Music director SA Raj Kumar said Sankranthi is his 150th film as music director in his career. His 100th film Nuvvu Vastavani went on to become a big hit. This film is 24th film with Super Good films and 45th Telugu film. He scored music for Suryavamsam, Kalisundam Raa, Raja and Vasantham for Venkatesh and all those films went on to become blockbusters


    Sarada is reentering field after a log gap. Her last film was Anthapuram. Siva worked with Srikanth for Gilligajjalu and Taj Mahal. This is his 3rd film with him. 


    Vasantham is the first Indian movie to be filmed in Turkey. Ela Vachenamma was filmed in Capadoccia which is made from Cliffs and Andala Srimathiki was filmed in Pammakulae which is famous for its hot springs. You can see the same location in Ninne Naa in Salute movie and then Nena Nenaa in Nippu movie. 

    Movie was a Blockbuster at the box office, collected 18 crores share and ran for 50 days in 177 centers and 100 days in 68 centers. 

    Tue, 28 Jan 2025 - 55min
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