Eenadu Head Office. Hyderabad. The chairman Ramoji Rao was glancing over a heap of national newspapers present on his table. Suddenly he happened to see a single column in Anand Bazaar newspaper. He marked it and sent to his associate Atluri Ramarao. The column featured an inspiring story of a dancer named Sudha Chandran who lost her leg in an accident, but got a Jaipur Leg and excelled in the field of Classical Dance. Ramoji Rao was highly impressed with the determination and self confidence the dancer had and felt if such story is made into a film, it would impact many more people in positive way. Accordingly, he gave the responsibility of building a team for the film to Atluri Ramarao.
"Alturi Ramarao's search for the ideal female lead began in numerous dance academies in Madras, but nobody agreed to act in a feature film. Ultimately, one girl was selected and dates were taken for the filming." Popular writer Ganesh Patro joined the team as he got very impressed with the story.
The story was ready in three months and Ramoji Rao suggested how the climax should be. As the lead role becomes physically challenged, she gets rejected by her lover. But when she gains back her confidence and resumes dance, her lover comes back hoping that he would be accepted by her. But Ramoji Rao suggested that her role would go to new heights if she rejects the lover as a sign of self respect.
Versatile director Singeetham Srinivasa Rao was chosen for the film and the film production team wanted to introduce a new talent in the form of the lead actress for it. Alturi Ramarao searched for the ideal female lead began in numerous dance academies in Madras, but nobody agreed to act in a feature film. Ultimately, one girl was selected and dates were taken for the filming.
Meanwhile the production team was searching desperately for Sudha’s whereabouts. Just then, somebody tipped off saying Sudha gave a dance performance in Madras Doordarshan studio and the readily found out that Sudha’s father K.D.Chandran works in Bombay’s American Embassy. Sudha’s family came to Madras and met the film’s production team. Chandran was delighted to know that a film is being made about the inspiring life of his daughter. Sudha narrated all the incidents in her life which transformed her to a stronger individual and these conversations were taped. The writer Ganesh Patro was delighted to get so many new incidents to be written in the film’s story.
During the lunch time Atluri Rama Rao got a spark of thought in his mind. He suddenly felt why can’t they rope in Sudha herself in the film. Accordingly, they took some pictures of Sudha and sent to Ramoji Rao. Though Ramoji Rao felt her face is not suitable for a glamorous heroine role, she is undoubtedly perfect for this story.
Things came back to square one when Sudha was not ready to act for the film. Sudha’s father , a huge lover of stage plays tried to convince her saying very few people can get a chance to act in their own life history film and she should not take it in lighter note. Fortunately, Sudha agreed and the actress who was selected before had to be sent back.
The filming of “Mayuri” began on 10th November 1984 in Hyderabad Jubilee Hills office. The muhurtham shots were filmed with Sudha, Baby Varakashmi and Master Chakravarthy.
Sudha is very fluent in Hindi. Hence Atluri Rama Rao used to write down the Telugu dialogues in Hindi script which made her work easier in rendering her lines for the film. Dr. P.K. Sethi (Magsaysay Award Winner) was the one who arranged Jaipur Leg for Sudha in real life. Atluri Rama Rao and Art Director Bhaskar Raju went to Jaipur to meet the hospital staff to explain about the film. They were delighted to know about it and readily agreed to use the hospital premises for the filming.
The scene featuring Sudha getting her artificial leg was filmed in a natural way with co-operation for the real time doctors. Jaipur is a beautiful city with historic buildings and whenever the film’s concept was explained people were very delighted and used to give permission promptly!
The song “Gowri Shankara Srungam” was picturized in Govinda Dev temple which is five kilometers away from Jaipur. Some other locations were Amer Fort, Rambagh Palace, Ramgarh Dam for the film. During the filming in Sheesh Mahal of Amer Fort, the cameraman Hari Anumolo went missing when he went to explore the location. Once the path is missing, it is very difficult to get back there.
Interesting point was nobody in the film’s team yet knew how Sudha’s artificial leg was arranged till the scenes were filmed. When they saw how the artificial leg was arranged for her, the whole unit was in heart wrenched state. That one scene was enough to make audience tearful even on the silver screen.
The most crucial climax scene was filmed at the sea side Glass house in Madras. It was Atluri Ramarao’s guest house. The location was ideal for the scene and the emotion was rightly carried by it.
Sudha was given a remuneration of 1 lakh rupees for the film. Prominent playback singer SPB scored the music for the film and Veturi penned the lyrics. The film was made simultaneously in Hindi as well with the title “Nache Mayuri”.
The song “Ee Paadam” which comes in titles features a shot of two legs performing classical dance. The search for beautiful legs started yet again and finally a girl named Sri Durga was chosen for it. She is none other than the famous actress in Kannada Cinema saw later- Malasri.
Mayuri fim was released on 8Th march 1985 and was a tremendous success. It was a huge success in Hindi as well and was dubbed later in Tamil by SPB buying the rights.
