Dasara Bullodu story at a glance
It is very crucial to have a commercial success along with supreme talent to excel in any profession. Even great artists like ANR who did roles of their heart’s consent waited for commercially viable scripts. In order to change with the transforming times, ANR used to take extreme care in makeup, costumes, wigs, songs, steps and the best female lead- along with the suitable roles. With the 1969 film Adhrushtavanthulu, ANR created a new trend which clicked quite well. ANR balanced heavy sentimental subjects with energetic songs, good dance steps which would suit his body language and fun moments. Dasara Bullodu is another film which took ANR to that commercial hilt once again. Vanisri, who acted opposite ANR in Athmeeyulu, Bhale Rangadu during the year 1969 paired with him once again in this film as a rural belle and complemented his mesmerizing energy levels. In fact, Jayalalithaa was initially considered for this role but because of no dates for outdoor shootings, she had to come out of the project in the last minute. With the advice of ANR, Vanisri was chosen for this role. It is even said that Vanisri’s remuneration was higher than ANR’s for this film!
Story Details:
The film is in the backdrop of a beautiful village on the shores of River Godavari. A young group exists who live life in their own terms and tease people. The leader of that group is Gopi (ANR). That is the reason he is nicknamed as Dasara Bullodu. Gopi’s brother Vasu (Gummadi) and sister in law Yashodamma (Anjali Devi) look after him with great care. The couple has a girl child Chitti (Baby Rani). Bulleyya (Nagabhushanam) is an evil person who cheats villagers and earn money. His daughter Nirmala (Chandrakala) loves Gopi but doesn’t express it. Bulleyya plans to make Gopi his son in law eyeing the latter’s property. Vasu and Bulleyya get into an argument about the cultivated land borders. Bulleyya gets determined to create a rift in Vasu’s family. Radha (Vanisri) is a poor woman who is quite jovial and fun loving.Gopi and Radha are already in love. Niramala realizes this fact and decides not to come in between their love .In the flashback, Bhushayya is village’s president and incidentally father of Vasu and Gopi. His wife Bullemma (Suryakantham) is a hot tempered woman and because the couple is childless they adopt Gopi as their son. Bullemma is none other than the sister of Bulleyya and they plan to create troubles in Vasu’ s family and create the property troubles between the brothers. They make conditions so that Gopi would never reunite with Vasu’s family and to make things worse they fix the alliance between Gopi and Nirmala. Radha decides to sacrifice her love and convinces Nirmala to marry Gopi. Radha eventually agrees to marry another guy named Bodi Babu. It is when the shocking news of Nirmala’s cancer comes out. She realizes about her health and decides to unite Gopi and Radha at any cost. But the marriage between Gopi and Nirmala gets fixed and the day arrives. A fire accident happens in that marriage venue and Gopi rescues Nirmala from the danger. Nirmala unites Gopi and Radha and leaves the world.
Performances:
ANR is fantastic as the village youth Gopi. His performance is highly energetic and shares great chemistry with Vanisri. He excels in emotional scenes as well. Vanisri is adorable as the village belle with beauty and performance in right proportions. The unique sarees in which she is seen throughout the film was quite a rage those days. Chandrakala gets a memorable role as Nirmala with good scope to perform. Gummadi and Anjali Devi are adequate as brother and sister in law respectively. Nagabhushanam is good as the evil Bulleyya and Suryakantham complements him perfectly as the sister Bullemma.
Technical Aspects:
Athreya’s dialogues and lyrics are a major lifeline for the film. The emotional dialogues in the second half are really heart wrenching. Music by K.V.Mahadevan is quite melodious and commercially successful as well. Songs like Ettago Unnadhe Olammi, Nallavade Ammommo Allari Pillavade, Pacchagaddi Koseti Paduchu Pillo, Chethilo Cheyyesi Cheppu, Vellipothunnava Amma, Ellayya Gari Malayya Gari became all time hits. Venkataratnam’s photography gets the best out of the glamour quotient of Vanisri and ANR. On the advice of ANR, V. B.Rajendra Prasad debuted as director with this film.
Cast and Crew:
Gopi- ANR
Radha- Vanisri
Nirmala- Chandrakala
Vasu- Gummadi
Yashodamma- Anjali Devi
Bulleyya- Nagabhushanam
Bullemma- Suryakantham
Dialogues and Lyrics- Acharya Athreya
Music- K.V.Mahaevan
Story, Producer and Director- V. B. Rajendra Prasad
Banner- Jagapati Art Pictures
Release Date- 13th January 1971