Chiranjeevi and Radhika starrer “Abhilasha“ released in 1983 is termed as one of the career defining films for many stalwarts in Telugu Cinema. ‘Creative Commercials’ producer K.S. Rama Rao, Novel Writer Yandamuri Veerendranath, Director Kodanda Rami Reddy and of course the lead actor Chiranjeevi found a new milestone recorded in their film careers through this film. It is time to trace back how this legendary film was made.
Nearly 30 years ago. Those were the days Chiranjeevi was striving to make his own mark on Telugu Film Industry. One day, after a long shooting schedule, he returned home during the night. The first thing he noticed was his mom Anjana Devi intently reading a popular Telugu magazine “Andhrajyothi”. After a bath and change of clothes, he still observed his mom reading the same book with so much interest and got surprised. Though Chiranjeevi was aware that his mother is an avid reader of novels, he was pleasantly surprised to see her read a novel with such rapt attention.
Chiranjeevi sat next to her and asked, “Mom? Is the serial so good?” (“Entamma serial antha bagundha?”). Anjana Devi uttered a scream of exclamation apparently realizing just then her son was home and said, “Shankaram (Chiranjeevi’s original name) it’s you! Yes, this serial ‘Abhilasha’ is written by Yandamuri Veerendranath. It is really good!” (“Shankaram nuvva! Ounu..Yandamuri Veerendranath raasina Abhilasha serial idhi.Chala bagundhi!”)
Chiranjeevi started becoming curious to know more about it. He asked his mom about the specialty about the serial. Then his mom excitedly went on saying, “The Hero’s name is yours in this. I have been imagining just you while reading this novel. If anyone comes forward to cast you as the hero in this novel, please accept without hesitation! It will be a sure shot hit!”
A phone call diverted this issue and Chiranjeevi left from the scene to attend it. Few months passed away after this incident. Creative Commercials owner K.S. Rama Rao met Chiranjeevi at a shooting to discuss about the further project. By then Creative Commercials already was into production business by releasing dubbing films into Telugu. Fims liks “Erra Gulabeelu”, “Mouna Geetham”, “Tik Tik Tik” were well received by audience and K.S. Rama Rao was established as a producer with taste. But this upcoming project would be crucial as it would be the first straight film in Telugu.
K.S. Rama Rao promptly told Chiranjeevi that he wants to begin his Telugu film production career with Chiranjeevi as the lead and also got a great story for the same. He handed Chiranjeevi a Novel. Chiranjeevi, who doesn’t have a habit of reading novels casually saw the cover page of the book and was again surprised! It was Yandamuri’s ‘Abhilasha’. Chiranjeevi immediately remembered his mother’s advice and readily agreed for the film.
Thus, on Oct 1982- the auspicious Vijayadasami day, K.S. Ramarao turned producer in the banner of Creative Commercials for the first straight movie in Telugu. Little he knew that he would create a storm of great cinema right from then!
The storywriter Yandamuri particularly expressed his wish that Chiranjeevi only had to play the role and for that reason, he intentionally named the hero character as Chiranjeevi in the book. Yandamuri worked with popular dialogue writer Satyanand and made the dialogues ready for the film.
Kodanda Rami Reddy, who already worked with Chiranjeevi till then in films like “Nyayam Kavali”, “Prema Picchollu” was selected to be the director for this project. Kodanda Rami Reddy initially could not understand the story properly because it deals with a complex subject of Legal Abolishment of a Law.
Such subject was totally unheard of in Telugu Cinema till then. But when Yandamuri took the pain to explain the story in clear cut way, he readily understood the scope of the story and as a film. Apparently Kodanda Rami Reddy’s wife is an ardent reader of novels and felt delighted that her husband is directing a story based on novel for the first time.
The shooting began in Vizag and Kodanda Rami Reddy took every pain to make each frame convincing for the reader audience as well. He asked Yandamuri to be with him all the time for guidance during the shooting. The best part was filming in Vizag Central Jail for duration of 20 days where the prisoners themselves cooked with the cast and crew. The superintendent even organized for a grand party after the filming was finished. This is a small example of how accommodating even prisoners can be, when Telugu Cinema Shooting happens!
Most of the songs were pictured around Vizag and Araku area and one can observe many Sunrise and Sunset frames in the film. Kodanda Rami Reddy explains the same saying that Vizag is most known for its visual beauty and they wanted to explore the best out of it. One particular song “Sandhe Poddhula Kada” was shot in Ooty Botanical Gardens in just a single day.
While the shooting in Vizag was going on, one teenager used to come daily to watch the shooting and he is none other than Puri Jagannadh - who incidentally directed Chiranjeevi’s son Ram Charan’s debut movie 'Chirutha' in 2007! He used to lie at home saying he is attending EAMCET coaching and religiously come to watch the shooting!
When the big day of preview in Madras arrived, Kodanda Rami Reddy’s wife called her husband and told that whoever watched the film are saying it is a huge flop! The director was aghast listening to this and immediately called Yandamuri to meet near Tank Bund. He started off crying and Yandamuri convinced him saying that as it’s a new concept, it would take time for the film to grow on the audience.
Yandamuri’s prediction turned out to be true. When the film released it was an instant hit. Chiranjeevi earned unmistakable craze among the youngsters with his dance and acting performance. Critics appreciated Chiranjeevi’s amazing scope in performing. It offered the much needed thrill for Telugu audience during the days when most of Telugu Cinema comprised of Family Drama, Politics and Mythological subjects.
And yes! That is how a blockbuster named “Abhilasha” was made!
