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Satya Harischandra (1965)

APK | June 09, 2008


Vijaya Productions is one of the pioneers in Telugu cinema in terms of content, conceptualization and execution. KV Reddy directed 5 movies under this banner. While Nagi Reddy and Chakrapani produced all the movies except Jagadeka Veeruni Katha, Satya Harischandra and Uma Chandi Gowri Shankarula Katha; KV Reddy produced these three along with directing them. KV Reddy, however, was not too happy with the fact that the Vijaya duo were cashing in on his name and secondly, he has some hassles with Chakrapani.

Still, they made movies together and Satya Harischandra was one such movie that had to be directed by KV Reddy because the duo felt no one else can do justice to what is perhaps one of the most popular plays in India. No one doubted the success of the movie after the project was embarked upon because of the names associated with it, from the writer Pingali to the production company to the lead actor-NTR.

S. Varalaxmi and NTRThe earlier movie that came in this same combination was Jagadeka Veeruni Katha, which was a success. The erstwhile production manager of Vauhini Productions, KV Reddy had a flawless system of management with his projects from schedules to budget and production and post-production. Satya Harischandra was such a popular play that people knew all the dialogues and songs of the play by-heart. The earlier two Satya Harischandra movies that came out had the very same dialogues and songs, so being what he is, KV Reddy decided to try new dialogues and lyrics with the old, old play.

The movie bombed, shocking the production house so used to blockbusters and consistent, if not constant success. The familiar territory that the popular play tread on was gone, and the novelty did not strike a chord with the audience.

Relangi, who played Nakshatrudu in the previous Harischandra movie, played Kala Kaushikudu in this one. The 'Taddinam' song picturized on him and his disciples is reminiscient of Vivaha Bhojanambu of Maya Bazaar, though it did not really gel all that well with the audiences either. After Gundamma Katha, NTR became even more popular and his 135th movie coincided with the debuts of two new young actors including Krishna and Shobhan Babu.

Satya Harischandra was an important role for NTR to fill in the variety of characters (especially mythological) that he played-even if it did not do well. SV Ranga Rao was asked to play the role of Viswamitra, which he rejected-having played Satya Harischandra himself in the hit film of a still bygone era [1956]. This 1965 release with NTR, unfortunately, bombed at the BO and was compared to SVR's Harischandra which the viewers seemed to prefer over the new and novel version.

This movie, along with the other flop in this combination in 1968, Uma Chandi Gowri Shankarula Katha, signified the end of era. KV Reddy and Vijaya split, along with the other unit members like Pingali and others who were on Vijaya's payroll. However, NTR was undeterred and cast his son, Balakrishna as Satya Harischandra in the movie Brahmarshi Viswamitra which came after NTR became the Chief Minister!