Telugu Cinema is known as Tollywood which is the prestigious film industry in the Telugu language based in Film Nagar, Hyderabad, Telangana. Telugu cinema was formed in 1909 when Rahupathi Venkaiah first made a short film as a filmmaker.
He also traveled in different parts of the Asian regions to promote his films. He produced first silent Telugu movie “Bhishma Pratigna”. He is also known as the father of “Tollywood” which has become the third largest film industry in India after Bollywood and Kollywood.
Savitri was the first ever Telugu movie produced in 1933 by East India Film Company which was based upon a stage play “Mylavaram Bala Bharathi Samajam” also directed by the father of “Telugu Theatre Movement” Chittajallu Samajam.
The movie was shot with a budget of US $14000 (Approximately Rs.1 Million), it was the blockbuster movie of those times which won several awards including “2nd Venice International Film Festival”.
First film studio was built in 1936 in South India, Durga Cinetone by Nidamarthi Surayya in Rajahmundry, Andhra Pradesh. In 1951, South Indian Film “Patala Bhairavi” was ranked in nominated for “India International Film Festival” which was held in Mumbai on 24 January 1952.
100 Greatest Indian Films of All Times
- Bhairavi – 1951
- Malliswari – 1951
- Devadasu – 1953
- Mayabazar – 1957
- Nartanasala – 1963
- Maro Charithra – 1978
- Maa Bhoomi – 1979
- Sankarabharanam – 1979
- Sagara Sangamam – 1983
- Siva – 1989
Today Telugu Cinema has become one of the largest film industry in India. It has exceeded the number of films produced by any Film Industry in India. Ramoji Film City of Telugu Film Industry has a pretty unique Guinness World Record for the largest film production facility in the World.
The Prasads IMAX is located in Hyderabad which has one of the largest 3D IMAX screens with the most number of viewers in the world. In terms of producing maximum films in a year, Telugu Cinema is number one in India as per CBFC reports.
In order to combat video privacy, Telugu Cinema holds the memorandum of understanding with the Motion Picture Association of America. India’s highest grossing movie “Baahubali” was also produced by Arka Media Works of Tollywood.
The movie broke all records not only in Telugu Cinema but it was number one grossing movie in Indian Cinema (Bollywood) as well, Baahubali is the only and first Indian movie which earned more than 400 crores from India only and earned approximately Rs.2000 Crores overall (Including domestic and international). Second edition “Baahubali – The Conclusion” is the only Indian movie who earned “Saturn Award for Best International Film” and first from Telugu Cinema (Tollywood).
First Telugu movie was released in 1912 which was a silent movie. Anusha Adusumalli was a complete movie directed by Raghupathi Venkaiah Naidu and his son R.S Prakah in 1921. Gottumukkala first introduced Digital theater in 1935 and established Andra Cine Tone build in Visakhapatnam.
History of Telugu Films.
- First film with audible dialogue was Bhakta Prahlada
- First south Indian Talkie “Kalida”
- Bhakta Prahlada is known as “Telugu Film Day” released in 1931
- First major commercial Success “Lavakusa”
- 29-96 films released between 1937 to 1947
- 1940’s movie “Viswa Mohini” was depicted Worldwide
- First Film “Malliswari” was screened at International Film Festivals like “Asia Pacific Film Festival” released in 13 prints along with Chinese Dubbing in 1953. This Movie received India’s prestigious “Dada Saheb Phalke Award” and “Doctor of Letters” honor.
- In 2006 more than 245 films were released “Highest number of films produced in a year in India”.
- Nandi Awards is the most prestigious “Telugu Film Award”.
- Today there are more than 2800 Telugu theaters in India.
- Lalitha Kala Thotanam was known as “Cultural and historical symbol of the Telugu Culture”
Unique Records by Movies
- Bommarillu was released in 2006 with 72 prints, collected 5 Crore on its first week, Film was also released in the USA and collected Rs. 3 Crores ($73200), It was believed that more than 65000 people liked this movie as per the survey conducted by a popular entertainment portal. The film collected an overall 25 crores at that time (First Highest-grosser Telugu movie at that time). The film was remade in Tamil, Oriya, Bengali and Urdu/Hindi later.
- In 2006, Pokiri got commercial success which was the first action movie at that time. It was nominated for IIFA in 2006.
- Walt Disney co-produced First South Indian movie “Anaganaga O Deerudu”
- In 2009, Magadheera collected 78.1 Crores and surpassed all “Highest-grosser Telugu movies” at that time.
- Comedy Action movie “Dookudu” was released in 2011 with 79 screens in the USA and Los Angeles Times marked it as “The biggest hit you’ve never heard of”. It was opened in 21 cities and made a record business of R.1 Billion breaking every previous record.
- In 2012, Eega crossed Rs. 1.25 billion.
- Attarintiki Daredi earned Rs. 492 Million in 2013 worldwide and Rs. 798 million in three weeks becoming the biggest Telugu film of all times.
- Nenokkadine and Aagadu earned more than any movie in India in 2014 surpassing US and Bollywood films and also became the highest opening weekend Indian Film, it crossed Krrish3 and Kick this year.
- Epic Telugu movie “Baahubali: The Beginning” broke all records in 2015 and became the first ever highest-grossing Indian film leaving behind all Bollywood movies in terms of revenue. It became the first and only Telugu movie to cross 650 crores Worldwide and first non-Hindi movie dubbed in Hindi and crossed R.1 billion. The film was also not nominated for “Saturn Award for Best Fantasy Film” by the American Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films.
Guinness World Record
- Ramoji Film City is the largest Film Studio complex in the world opened in 1996 (674 hectares – 1666 acres – 47 sound stages0
- Most Prolific producer with 130 Films – D.Rama Naidu
- Most number of films directed (151 Films) – Dasari Narayana Rao
- Acting in the most number of films in a single language (1000+)- Brahmanandam
- Most number of songs sung (male playback singer) – S. P. Balasubramanyam
- Female director with the most number of films(47 films) – Vijaya Nirmala
- The highest number of songs (Female) – P.Susheela
Telugu Film industry is becoming the most prestigious non-Hindi industry worldwide and has also been acclaimed by International media as well. Baahubali: the Conclusion earned more than Rs. 1800 Crores overall and it was the first Indian movie to cross this figure, later Dangal movie broke it is a record and earned Rs.1100 Crores in China only, crossing overall record set by Baahubali: The conclusion and set a record business of Rs.2000 crores.