Downloaded from www.tsupdate.in Film and Print Media Ask your parents about the plays they Latha went to her great grandfather’s had seen during their childhood. town in the summer holidays. She wanted to watch the latest film with her What changes have occurred in great grandfather, Rangaiah. Since drama over the period? Rangaiah was not well, they talked about his childhood days. Latha was surprised to know that there were no films in her great grandfather’s childhood. There were performances of various arts like plays, Harikatha, Burrakhatha and Tholubommalata by folk artistes. The plays were both Padya natakam, famous for rendering poems with lengthy ragas, and Gadya natakam. Rangaiah vividly Fig 22.1: recalled the experience of watching the Camera (above), play Satya Harishchandra and staying Projector (below) awake until dawn. The other plays he recalled were ‘Bhuvana Vijayam’, ‘Kanyashulkam’, ‘Bobbili Yudham’ and ‘Vara Vikrayam’. Latha has acted in a play www.tsupdate.in that they performed for their school anniversary and has also seen a stage performance. But she was surprised to know that at one time, they were the major form of entertainment. Birth of Cinema Evolution of cinema The birth of cinema in India can be attributed While drama is to be performed live to Lumiere brother’s first public show at Watson with all the instruments for music, de- Hotel in Mumbai on July 7, 1896. In 1887, SCERT TELANGANAvelopment of technology has helped in William Friese-Green of England invented shooting of a play and projecting it at camera capable of taking upto ten photographs per second using perforated celluloid film (Fig several places at the same time and again 22.1). In 1895, Woodwill Latham invented and again. Further, the cinema could be cinema projector capable of exhibiting lengthy shot over a period of time and mixing and film reels without break. editing of the footage can give an entirely and Print Media Downloaded from www.tsupdate.in Downloaded from www.tsupdate.in new effect. The plays written by George In Telugu, the first mooki was ‘Bhishma Bernard Shaw and Shakespeare were Pratigna’. The first talkie movie was visualised with camera and exhibited on the ‘Bhakta Prahalada’ released in 1931, screen as a film. Similarly, popular plays produced by H. M. Reddy. in Telugu like Vara Vikrayam, Satya Make a mime presentation of five Harishchandra, Kanyashulkam were minutes and a play for five minutes. made into films. The stage artistes made a Compare the ease of performance, beeline to the studios for a chance in films. the themes that can be presented and The popularity of plays has decreased sig- the communication to the audience. nificantly while the films have gained The first prominence. However, several film artistes Talkie movie in who became famous continue to work for Hindi‘Alam Ara’ the theatre like Gollapudi Maruti Rao, was released in Naseeruddin Shah. 1931. This was made by Ardesher Irani. The father of Telugu film in- dustry is Raghupathi Fig 22.3: Poster of Venkaiah. He was Alam Ara born in Bandar Fig 22.2: Photograph of a scene from and settled in Ma- www.tsupdate.in Shakespeare’s play dras as a still pho- What are the differences in a stage play tographer. He built and a film? Make a comparative table. a cinema studio With the help of your teacher, discuss named ‘Gaity’ in the changes in the livelihood Madras. As the opportunities from play to films. owner of Cinema Studios and The- Raghupathi Venkaiah Latha was surprised to know that atres and the pro- initially, the cinema did not have sound ducer of cinemas, and SCERTthat the projection was to TELANGANAbe he rendered his accompanied by live musicians and valuable services sometimes by commentary by the to Telugu industry. projectionist. It was only after several Hence , the then technical developments that the films Government of had sound and were known as ‘talkies’ Andhra Pradesh as they could talk. Fig 22.4: Nandi Award Downloaded from www.tsupdate.in Downloaded from www.tsupdate.in awards, Raghupathi Venkaiah Award every up drinking and get educated. The year along with Nandi to artistes for their priest’s son falls in love with a dalit girl. contributions to Telugu film industry. The priest’s wife, who is caught in a fire, Cinema - form of entertainment is saved by a dalit, and the priest realises that there should be no untouchability. Before cinema, there were various Dalits are the given entry into the forms of entertainment like folk art forms, temple and the marriage of the priest’s folk dances, classical dances, music, son and the dalit girl is blessed. dramas etc. But gradually, cinema became Rythu Bidda is about the Zamindari the major form of entertainment. The songs system, which shows the plight of the from films have a popularity of their own. toiling farmers. A farmer who takes a Earlier radio and now television broadcasts loan from the zamindar votes for the these songs independent of the movie. The peasant party in elections. For this, he actors have a following in the public and is harassed and put through difficulties. fan clubs have emerged. Popular dialogues The zamindar’s son is kidnapped by his from films have become a part of daily life. own brother, which brings a change of The style and dresses of the actors and heart in the zamindar. In the true actresses are imitated by the people. With Gandhian thinking of Trusteeship, he the advent of TV, one need not go to a theatre gives away his lands to the tillers of the to watch a movie. There are dedicated land. channels and time slots for telecasting Latha told Rangaiah that their school screened the film ‘Gandhi’. films, songs, news about the film industry Rangaiah informed her that this film etc. was made in 1982 by Richard Make a list of sources of Attenborough in English. What she saw www.tsupdate.in entertainment in your village or town. was the dubbed film in Telugu. This film How will you assess their popularity? was also dubbed into Hindi and many What changes are taking place over regional languages. time? Several films on national movement were made later. In Telugu, ‘Maa Bhoomi’ Cinema and freedom movement and ‘Komaram Bheem’ are films based on landlordism and the struggles of the tribal Rangaiah is visibly excited even now people respectively. when he talks about the films Mala Pilla “Maa Bhoomi”, directed by Narasinga and Ryhtu Bidda released in 1938 and Rao, depicts the revolt by Telangana 1939.SCERT Mala Pilla is a film about untouch- TELANGANA farmers. Ramaiah, the main character as, ability and about the entry of dalits into was a labourer of a zamindar who owns 50 the temple. The protagonist is thousand acres of land. Ramaiah migrates Chowdarayya, a Gandhian, who to Hyderabad and joins a factory. He preaches to the upper caste to mend interacts and develops friendship with their ways and exhorts the dalits to give communist leaders. He learns about changes Downloaded from www.tsupdate.in Downloaded from www.tsupdate.in brought about by the Revolution in Russia. from the film ‘Donga Ramudu’ released He decides to return to the village and in 1955. struggles against Feudalism. Thus, bringing List at least two more films which an end to the Nizam’s rule through an armed are based on the freedom struggle. struggle, after the merger of Hyderabad, the Collect some patriotic songs from Indian Army suppresses the armed struggle Telugu movies. and during the course, Ramaiah dies. The songs “ Bandenaka Bandi Katti” and Influence of film on the society “Palleturi Pillagada, Pashulagache While the society influences the art, Monagada” became very popular among and hence films, it is also true that the films the people and are popular even today. influence the society. Hair and dressing ‘Komram Bheem’ was made into a styles follow the latest popular films. feature film and was released in July 2010, Dialogues, songs and mannerisms are also after more than 20 years of its making. copied and mimicked. The fan following is Mukumdamgari Bhupal Reddy played the the highest and most organised for various lead role. The director of the film Allani heroes and heroines and there are several Sridhar, received the Best First Film fan organisations. No other professionals Director Award. The film also received Best nor sports persons have such a fan Feature Film on National Integration and following. several state level Nandi awards. Komram Bheem is a Gond tribal from Present Form two groups and have a debate Asifabad. Though illiterate, he fought on the pros and cons of fan clubs. against the exploitation of the tribals by the Films can influence opinions and ideas Nizam government. He took up both legal of people in the society. There are several battles and armed struggles. Bheem was www.tsupdate.in killed on 27th October, 1940 in his fight films in Telugu depicting patriotism, with the Nizam government at Babe Jhari. people’s struggles for land, real life heroes There are several other films in Telugu who have braved many challenges, fought which are based on national movements or against corruption etc. While this is so, have a part of the story focusing on it. there are several bad influences of films. Similarly, there are several songs on Women are shown in poor light in most of patriotism and national movement. the films, which strengthens the gender dis- Suddenly, Rangaiah started singing crimination in the society. Smoking and the song ‘Vedalipo Tella Dora Vedalipo…’ drinking are often depicted in the films (‘Go aSCERTway white ruler, go away…’) frTELANGANAom which influence the young impressionable the film ‘Mana Desam’ made in 1949.