Lava Kusa

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For the sons of Rama, see Lava and Kusha
Lava Kusa
Lava Kusa.JPG
Theatrical release poster
Directed by C. Pullaiah
C. S. Rao
Produced by Shankar Reddy
Written by Sadasivabrahmam (Telugu dialogues),
A. K. Velan (Tamil dialogues)
Starring N. T. Rama Rao,
Anjali Devi,
T. L. Kanta Rao
Music by Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao,
K. V. Mahadevan
Cinematography P. L. Rai
Release dates
 29 March 1963 (Telugu)
Language Telugu, Tamil

Lava Kusa (also spelled as Lava Kusha) is a 1963 Telugu and Tamil mythological film directed by C. S. Rao and his son Chittajallu Pullayya. The film's script was written by Samudrala Raghavacharya. The film was produced by Shankar Reddy under Lalita Sivajyothi films. The film is bilingual, shot in both Telugu and Tamil with the same title, but with slight differences in the cast. The film was a remake of 1934 film of same name which was also directed by C. Pullaiah. The story is an adaptation of the Uttara Kanda from Ramayana. It revolves around the roles of Lava and Kusa, sons of Rama (N. T. R.) and Seetha (Anjali Devi). The Telugu version stars Kanta Rao, Shoban Babu, S. Varalakshmi, Kaikala Satyanarayana in supporting roles, replaced in that order by M. R. Radha and Manorama in the Tamil counterpart.

Production began in 1958 but was stopped due to financial constraints. When it restarted, C. Pullaiah's health was deteriorating, so his son C. S. Rao took over. The soundtrack features 27 songs, with the musical score primarily composed by Ghantasala and KV Mahadevan, and the lyrics by Vempati Sadasiva and Samudrala Raghavacharya (Telugu) and Maruthakasi (Tamil). The film has won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu for that year. It was also dubbed in Kannada, and later in Hindi in 1974. This film was later remaked with the title Sri Rama Rajyam in year 2011.

Plot

This movie is based on Uttara Kanda which is the later part of Ramayana written by Valmiki Maharshi. It depicts the lives of Lava and Kusa, the sons of Rama and Sita. The story depicts Sri Rama Pattabhishekam and about the brief period of Rama Rajyam, Rama sending Seeta exile on hearing the accusations of a washerman, Birth of Lava and Kusha, their visit to Ayodhya, Ashwamedha Yagna and conflict between Rama and his sons and Pattabhishekam of Lava and Kusha and Rama finally ending his Avatar.

Cast

Actor Character
Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao Lord Rama (Both versions)
Anjali Devi Goddess Sita (Both versions)
Chittor V. Nagaiah Valmiki
Master Nagaraju Lava
Master Subrahmanyam Kusa
Tadepalli Lakshmi Kanta Rao Lakshmana (Telugu version)
Gemini Ganesan Lakshmana (Tamil version)
Kaikala Satyanarayana Bharata
Shobhan Babu Shatrughna
Kannamba Kausalya
Sandhya Shantha-sister of rama
S. Varalakshmi Bhudevi (Telugu version)
Bhoomadevi (Tamil version)
Arja Janardhana Rao[1] Anjaneya
Ramana Reddy Valmiki's disciple
Suryakantam Wife of Valmiki's disciple
Relangi Venkata Ramaiah Washerman (Telugu version)
M. R. Radha Washerman (Tamil version)
Girija Wife of washerman (Telugu version)
Manorama Wife of washerman (Tamil version)
Sivarama Krishnaiah
Sukumari Dancer (Special appearance)

Production

Lava Kusa was a remake of film of same name which Pulliah had directed in 1934.[2] Production began in 1958 but was halted for four years due to financial constraints.[3] When it restarted, C. Pullaiah's health was deteriorating, so his son C. S. Rao took over.[4] During the production, Kanta Rao was offered the role of Rama finally he was even offered the role of Shatrughna as he became physically weak due to eusinophilia but he was finally chosen for the role of Lakshman.[5][6] The set of Valmiki Ashram was built at Ramavaram Garden, Chennai.[3]

Soundtrack

Soundtrack was composed by Ghantasala and lyrics for Telugu version were written by Vempati Sadasiva, Samudrala Raghavacharya. K. V. Mahadevan composed music for Tamil songs and the lyrics were written by A. Maruthakasi. The film has 37 songs and Poems (Padyam), many are very popular and memorable.

Telugu tracklist[7]
Tracklist
No. Title Lyrics Singer(s) Length
1. "Sri Vidyam Jagatam Dhatri (Shlokam)"   Vempati Sadasiva Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao 01:14
2. "Saptashva Rathamarudham Prachandam Kashyapatmajam (Shlokam)"     Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao  
3. "Navajyotyo (Poem)"     Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao  
4. "Intaku Bunivachchi Vachiyimpaka Podune"   Vempati Sadasiva Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao  
5. "Jaya Jaya Rama Srirama"   Samudrala Raghavacharya J. V. Raghavulu, Sarojini  
6. "Ramanna Ramudu Kodanda Ramudu"   Samudrala Raghavacharya P. Susheela, Jamuna Rani  
7. "Virise Challani Vennela Marala Eenadu Maa Kannula"   Samudrala Raghavacharya P. Susheela, Jamuna Rani  
8. "Ravanu ni Samharinchi Raghuramudu (Poem)"   Samudrala Raghavacharya Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao  
9. "Vollanori Maamaa Nee Pillani"     Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao, Jikki, J. V. Raghavulu, Swarnalata  
10. "Ye Mahaniya Sadhvi Jagadeka Pavitrata (Poem)"     Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao  
11. "Ye Nimishaniki Yemi Jaruguno Evaruuhinchedaru"   Kosaraju Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao  
12. "Jagadabhi Ramudu Sriraamude"   Samudrala Raghavacharya Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao, P. Susheela, P. Leela, Mallik  
13. "Enduke Naa Meeda Kopam Emite Ni Paritaapam"     Pithapuram Nageswara Rao, Swarnalata  
14. "Ramakathanu Vinarayyaa Ihapara Sukhamulanosage"   Samudrala Raghavacharya P. Susheela, P. Leela  
15. "Vurake Kanniru Nimpa Kaaranam Eemamma"     P. Susheela, P. Leela  
16. "Vinudu Vinudu Ramayana Gaatha Vinudee Manasara"   Samudrala Raghavacharya P. Susheela, P. Leela  
17. "Sriraamuni Charitamunu Telipedamamma"   Samudrala Raghavacharya P. Susheela, P. Leela  
18. "Sriraghavam Dasharathatmajam Aprameyam"     P. Susheela, P. Leela  
19. "Srirama Sugunadhama Jayarama Parandhama"     P. Susheela, P. Leela  
20. "Sandehinchaku Mammu Raghuramu Premanu Sitamma"   Kosaraju Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao  
21. "Ashwamedha Yagaaniki Jayamu Jayamu Jayamu"   Samudrala Raghavacharya Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao, Madhavapeddi, Raghavulu, Rani, Sarojini  
22. "Savanaashwambu idi Veeramaata yagu Kausalya (Poem)"   Samudrala Raghavacharya P. Susheela  
23. "Hreemkaraasana (Poem)"     P. Susheela  
24. "Leru Kushalavula Saati Sari Veerulu Dharunilo"   Vempati Sadasiva P. Susheela, P. Leela  
25. "Stree Balavrudhula Tega"   Samudrala Raghavacharya Ghantasala, P. Susheela, P. Leela  
26. "Sriraama Parandhamaa Jayarama Parandhama"   Samudrala Raghavacharya P. Susheela, P. Leela, Jamuna Rani  
Tamil tracklist[8]
Tracklist
No. Title Lyrics Singer(s) Length
1. "Sri Rama Paramathma"     AP Komala, K Ranee  
2. "Eedu Inai"     P. Leela, P. susheela  
3. "Jaya Jaya Rama"     Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao, P. Leela  
4. "Jagam Pugazhum"     P. Leela, P. Susheela  
5. "Jagam Pugazhum 2"     P. Leela, P. Susheela  
6. "Ramanna Ramudu Kodanda Ramudu"   Samudrala Raghavacharya P. Susheela, Jamuna Rani  
7. "Sandhegam Ennamma"     Ghantasala  
8. "Rama Suguna Seela"     P. Leela, P. Susheela  
9. "Udayamanadhe"     S. Janaki  
10. "Vetri Murasu"     P. Leela, VN Sundaram  

Box-office

It was released in 26 centres and had run for 100-days in all the 26 centres.[9] It had a 175-day run in 16 centres,grossing more than ₹ 10 million.[10] It became first Telugu film to gross ₹10 million.[10]

Awards

Legacy

Lava Kusa is considered a classic of Telugu cinema. In January 2007, M. L. Narasimham of The Hindu listed Lava Kusa with Mala Pilla (1938), Raithu Bidda (1939), Vara Vikrayam (1939), Bhakta Potana (1942), Shavukaru (1950), Malliswari (1951) Peddamanushulu (1954) and Mayabazar (1955) as films impacting society and Telugu cinema.[13] Rama Rao reprised the role of Rama in a number of films over a two-decade career.[lower-alpha 1] In May 2012, Radhika Rajamani of Rediff.com mentioned Lava Kusa for the letter L in her list, "The A to Z of Telugu Cinema".[15]

During a programme Telugu Cinema Prasthanam organised by the film society of Vishakhapatnam, writer include actor Ravi Kondala Rao placed Lava Kusa among other cult films like Raja Harishchandra (1913), Bhakta Prahlada (1932), Mala Pilla, Devadasu (1953) and Pathala Bhairavi during a speech on the role of Telugu cinema in the hundred years of Indian cinema.[16] Bapu used Lava Kusa's storyline in his 2011 film, Sri Rama Rajyam.[17] Debutant Jaya Sreesivan named his 2015 comedy film as Lava Kusa which had no similarity with the film.[18]

Notes

  1. ↑ Rama Rao reprised the role of Rama in various unrelated films such as Sampoorna Ramayanam (1958), Seetharama Kalyanam (1961) and Shri Ramanjaneya Yuddham (1974).[14]

References

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  9. ↑ CineGoer.com - Box-Office Records And Collections - Lavakusha's All-Time Records
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 CineGoer.com - Box-Office Records And Collections - Silver Jubilee Films Of NTR
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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External links

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