Yamagola
Theatrical release poster
Directed byT. Rama Rao
Screenplay byT. Rama Rao
Story byD. V. Narasa Raju
Produced byS. Venkataratnam
StarringN. T. Rama Rao
Jaya Prada
CinematographyS. Venkataratnam
Edited byA. Sanjeevi
Music byChakravarthy
Production
company
Sree Pallavi Films
Release date
  • 21 October 1977 (1977-10-21)
Running time
150 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageTelugu

Yamagola (transl. Havoc in Hell or transl. The Great Havoc) is a 1977 Indian Telugu-language fantasy comedy film directed by T. Rama Rao who co-wrote the film with D. V. Narasa Raju. It stars N. T. Rama Rao and Jaya Prada, with music composed by Chakravarthy. The film was produced by S. Venkataratnam who also worked as the cinematographer.

Yamagola released on 21 October 1977 and received positive reviews. The dialogues penned by D. V. Narasaraju were perceived as a satire on contemporary politics, especially the Emergency and are considered as one of the highlights of the film along with the performances of the cast and the music.[1][2][3] It was remade in Hindi as Lok Parlok (1979)[4] and in Tamil as Yamanukku Yaman (1980),[5] while also inspiring the 2007 Telugu film Yamadonga.[6]

Plot

The film begins in a village where its President Satyam makes the area prosperous and confronts the barbarities of a tyrant Rudrayya. Satyam falls for a charming girl Savitri daughter of Rudrayya. Knowing it, Rudrayya intrigues and murders Satyam utilising a professional killer Ram Sastry in the traditional form. After that, Ram Sastry asks Rudrayya to wait until he completes demonic prayers. But as it's getting late Rudrayya buries the body in the backyard.

Now the soldiers of hell temporally send Satyam to heaven where he creates turmoil and turbulence and encounters Indra. Afterward, he is moved to hell where too, he gives rise to a mayhem situation by starting a union of hell soldiers and making their revolt. Satyam opposes Yama Dharma Raja and Chitragupta which calms down through negotiations when Yama realises to reform their laws. Hence, he lands on earth with Chitragupta in human form and declares lock-out. Eventually, Satyam also restores his life with a promise to return until their arrival.

By that time, Police are in search of Satyam and suspect Rudrayya. Consequently, Satyam approaches panic-stricken Rudrayya as his resemblance. As an unbeknownst Rudrayya appoints and forges him as Satyam whereby, and he starts mocking him. Parallelly, Yama and Chitragupta on Earth face several challenges and are ultimately seized by Police when Satyam acquits them. Being exhausted they decide to go back which frightens Satyam as he should also die. So, he plans with Savitri and invites them to Rudrayya's house. Accordingly, Savitri serves them with adoration and asks a boon to perform her espousal with her beau which he accepts.

During the time of the wedding, Satyam is under the veil and Yama blesses the long life of the couple, therefore, Satyam escapes from death. Suddenly, Rudrayya fires on Satyam. Here as a flabbergast, Satyam wakes up and it is revealed to be his dream. Immediately Rudrayya re-attacks but Satyam ceases him. At last, it is affirmed that Ram Sastry is Satyam's friend Ramana Murthy and all is his play when Rudrayya pleads for pardon. Finally, the movie ends on a happy note with the marriage of Satyam and Savitri.

Cast

Production

The film was inspired by Rama Rao's own Devanthakudu (1960), and two other films — Death Takes a Holiday (1934) and Chase a Crooked Shadow (1958). Devanthakudu, in turn was a remake of the 1958 Bengali film Jamalaye Jibanta Manush based on the novel of the same name by Dinabandhu Mitra.[5] Principal photography began on 28 May 1977, and was completed in 27 working days.[5]

Soundtrack

Music was composed by Chakravarthy.[8][7]

Track listing
No.TitleLyricsSinger(s)Length
1."Olammi Tikka Reginda"VeturiS. P. Balasubrahmanyam, P. Susheela3:15
2."Chilaka Kottudu Kodithe"VeturiS. P. Balasubrahmanyam, P. Susheela3:21
3."Aadave Andala Sura Bhamini"VeturiS. P. Balasubrahmanyam, P. Susheela6:00
4."Gudivada Ellanu Gunturu Poyyanu"VeturiP. Susheela3:06
5."Samaraaniki Nede Prarambham"Sri SriS. P. Balasubrahmanyam3:12
6."Vayasu Musurukosthunnadi"C. Narayana ReddyS. P. Balasubrahmanyam, P. Susheela3:16
Total length:22:10

Release

Yamagola was released on 21 October 1977.[9] The film celebrated a silver jubilee run at 6 centres and ran for 40 weeks in Hyderabad and Vijayawada.[5][10]

Reception

A reviewer for Andhra Jyothi praised D. V. Narasaraju's dialogues, performances of the cast and called it, "a colourful film which would entertain all kinds of audiences."[1] Another reviewer for Andhra Patrika wrote, "Yamagola is a satirical film on the current societal conditions told in a light-hearted manner." The reviewer noted the satirical dialogues of Narasaraju as the major highlight of the film and commended the performances of the cast and the music.[2] Kompella Viswam of Sitara magazine noted the similarities between Yamagola and C. Pullayya's Devanthakudu. Furthermore, he praised the dialogues penned by D. V. Narasaraju especially those on Sanjay Gandhi and the Emergency, the performances of the cast and the direction of T. Rama Rao.[3]

Legacy

The film was remade into Hindi as Lok Parlok in 1979, with Jaya Prada reprising her role.[4] It was also remade in Tamil as Yamanukku Yaman (1980).[5][11]

Yamagola also inspired the 2007 Telugu film Yamadonga directed by S. S. Rajamouli. The film which follows the basic plotline of Yamagola starred Rama Rao's grandson N. T. Rama Rao Jr.[12][6]

References

  1. 1 2 "Yamagola Review". Andhra Jyothi. 26 October 1977. Archived from the original on 27 June 2023. Retrieved 27 June 2023 – via Indiancine.ma.
  2. 1 2 "Yamagola Review". Andhra Patrika. 25 October 1977. Archived from the original on 27 June 2023. Retrieved 27 June 2023 – via Indiancine.ma.
  3. 1 2 "Yamagola Cinema Review". Sitara. 6 November 1977. Archived from the original on 27 June 2023. Retrieved 27 June 2023 – via Indiancine.ma.
  4. 1 2 Salam, Ziya Us (5 September 2014). "Lok Parlok (1979)". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 6 September 2014. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Sri (7 December 2007). "Retrospect : Yamagola 1977". Telugucinema.com. p. 2. Archived from the original on 3 November 2008. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
  6. 1 2 "Here's how Tollywood star Jr NTR redefined himself as an actor". The Indian Express. 20 May 2018. Archived from the original on 24 April 2022. Retrieved 24 April 2022. The fantasy film also had a similar plotline to that of NTR's Yamagola (1977)
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Sri (7 December 2007). "Retrospect : Yamagola 1977". Telugucinema.com. p. 1. Archived from the original on 9 November 2008. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
  8. ↑ "Yama Gola (1977)-Song_Booklet". Indiancine.ma. Archived from the original on 27 June 2023. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
  9. ↑ "యమగోల". Andhra Patrika (in Telugu). 21 October 1977. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
  10. ↑ "Silver Jubilee Films Of NTR". CineGoer. 9 January 2007. Archived from the original on 16 June 2012. Retrieved 14 April 2010.
  11. ↑ Naresh Kumar, K. (1995). Indian cinema: ebbs and tides. Har-Anand Publications. p. 98. ISBN 9788124103449. Archived from the original on 3 September 2021. Retrieved 16 August 2019.
  12. ↑ "5 SS Rajamouli Films That Broke All Records at Box-Office". News18. 25 March 2022. Archived from the original on 24 April 2022. Retrieved 24 April 2022. Yamadonga (2007), a fantasy play reminiscent of the classic Yamagola
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