Intlo Ramayya Veedilo Krishnayya - Retrospective

Cast:
Chiranjeevi ...Rajashekaram
Madhavi ... Jayalaxmi
Poornima .. Chitti talli
Gollapudi Maruthi Rao (debut).. Subbarao
Sangeeta ...Seeta
Annapurna, P.L.Narayana, Bheemeshwara Rao, Gadiraaju Subbarao, Hanuman Reddy
Kakinada Shyamala, Vijayalaxmi, Jayasheela, Girija Raani
Guests : C.S.Rao, Chakrapani, Roopa Chakravarthy

Dialogues: Gollapudi Maruthi Rao
Lyrics: C.Narayana Reddy
Playback: S.P.Balasubramanyam, P.Susheela
Operative cameraman: S.M.Kabeerlal
Camera: S.S.Lal
Music: J.V.Raghavulu
Banner: Pratap Art Productions
Producer: K.Raghava
Story, Screenplay and Direction: Kodi Ramakrishna
Reel: 19 Color 35 MM
Release Date:  23rd April 1982
Duration: 2 hrs 15 minutes

Story:

Rajashekaram (Chiranjeevi), a civil engineer, comes to a village and falls in love with Jayalaxmi (Madhavi). They get married and move to a city. The neighbor Subba Rao (Gollapudi MAruthi Rao) casts an evil eye on Jayalaxmi and creates problems in their life. How everything gets solved is the rest of the interesting film.

Kodi Ramakrishna shares his experience:

This is the debut film for me and also for Gollapudi Maruthi Rao garu. As a student I was actively involved in cultural activities like stage dramas. I first met Dasari Narayana Rao and K.Raghava garu when they both came for the film function of their Tata Manavadu in Palakollu. When I later met Dasari personally, I expressed my desire to work with him. He asked me to finish off studies and meet him. I did accordingly when they again came for the film function of Chaduvu – Samskaram in Palakollu.

They said we would inform you soon. One day while doing the rehearsal I got a telegram from Guruvu garu to come and join him in the film's shooting. I was thrilled as well as feared whether I succeed or not. But my friends encouraged me and made to board the train to Madras. Once I landed there I got to know that it is Vakada Apparao, a close friend of mine who gave the telegram. Not Dasari garu as I believed/ Vakada Apparao was working with the team at that time.  As I already came I decided to try my luck.

I went for the shooting one day and there they are doing a scene with student leader. Raghavagaru replaced the artist with me saying here is the real student leader came to do the role and I did that small role in the film. Later when they started the film Toorupu Padamara I requested to give me a chance as an assistant. Though there are already many assistants working with him, he agreed to take me reluctantly. On a pay of Rs 100 per month, I joined him.

First film offer:

I was working for Toorpu Padamara and then also very much involved in post-production work like voice dubbing. Seeing this Raghava garu offered me the film and asked me to come up with a good script. So I worked hard and came up with the story - Tarangini. We had started work for this film, a song was also recorded. But my wellwishers raised doubts about the film. "How would you make such a bold subject with newcomers and that too in very first film of yours," they questioned me.

So Raghava gaaru dropped off the idea of making this film. I asked him to give me some to come up with another script. I took six months and prepared the based for Intlo Ramayya Veedhilo Krishnayya. He loved the character of Sangita and immediately given go ahead.

Association with Gollapudi :

I didn’t have personal acquaintance with Gollapudi but I used to see him on the morning walks. We acquainted with each other and became friends. HeI came in as help in narrating the story to Raghava garu. After the story was approved, my producer insisted on Gollapudi playing the role of Subbarao. Initially he didn’t show interest. As it was life and death situation for me, I too pressurized on him and he finally agreed on.

On the first day of the shoot, his shot was done at the 2.30 am in the morning. At that time he commented: “You have begun this at odd hours. If the film flops, everyone will blame me. But I still have full confidence on you.” His confidence provide right and the film became super hit.

Association with Chiranjeevi :

Producer Raghava believes in the idea of making films with lesser known stars. But I had Chiranjeevi in mind for the lead role. When I broach Chiru’s name to my producer, he thought for a moment and replied that if Chiranjeevi agrees, he’s fine with the choice. I met Chiru and asked me to help me out in my first film. He agreed to listen to my story. After the narration he said: “The character best suits for Chandramohan. For an action hero like me, I believe it may backtrack”. I requested him again for a complete narration of script. We sat in his bedroom that night. I had started narrating him at 9pm and ended well over 12 am. He liked the script still had doubts whether audience accepts him in such a soft role. I convinced him and the rest is the history.

Filming

Most of the shooting we did in Palakollu and surroundings. Climax was shot in Chiranjeevi house and also in Antervedipalem. The boat journey in the climax was shot on Antervedi where River Godavari meets with Bay of Bengal. While we were shooting in Chiranjeevi's house for the climax, Sushmita (chiranjeevi's daughter) was born.  At the shooting on the boats an incident took place. I was cruising in another boat while Chiru and the rest of the cast on another boat.

Chiranjeevi threw an orange towards me and asked me to catch it with my mouth. "If you catch it, the film will be big hit, else it flops," he said. The boats are moving far wider from each other, so I was not sure that I would catch it. But luckily I could grab it my mouth. In the film, a misunderstanding between the lead pair Chiranjeevi and Madhavi happens. Like wise, it happened between them off screen too during shooting. Only towards the end of film only they resolved their misunderstandings.

Censor Problems:

At that time Ramalaxmi Arudra was one of the members of the jury in the censor board. She wanted to ban the film. She didn't like the title. She said why not it could be Intlo Yesu (Jesus) and Veedhilo Allah. And also she didn’t like the character of Sangeeta. She said the film portrays women in bad light. She suggested chopping off two songs (both versions of the title song). At that time it was talking point in the film industry as we went for 25 times for censor certificate. After some time, the board members changed and the new jury agreed to pass the certificate if we agree to chop off some scenes of our choice. Raghava garu was against to it but I said ok and deleted a scene and got the certificate and it was released on the very next day.

Post-release:

The film was a sensational hit. It was released in Alankar theatre in Vijayawada and ran for 100 days (we had a clash with one of Dasari’s film on 100th day. Dasari’s film was released in the same theatre. So Intlo Ramayya Veedhilo Krishnayya was shown on the morning show on that day and from mataniee Dasari’s film was shown.). And from there it was shifted to Shankuntala theatre and there too it had run for another 100 days. It ran for a year in Shanti theatre in Hyderabad. I owe my success to Raghava garu, Chiranjeevi and Gollapudi.

About Tarangini:

After the super success of the IRVK, Chiranjeevi heard the story of Tarangini and wanted to do both the roles – hero and villain. Even our producer Raghava ordered for print for the posters of the film opening with that but I felt it would not work and hence chose Suman and Bhanuchander for those roles.

Remakes:

The film was later remade in Tamil, Kannada and Hindi. Hindi version was titled Ghar Me Ram, Ghalli Me Shyam (1988). Govinda and Neelam played the lead roles. Anupam Kher did the role of Gollapudi. It was a moderate success.

An Article by Sri Atluri