India’s regional cinema has been largely advanced in terms of experiments with content, medium, music or visuals. There have been major breakthroughs in technical aspect of filmmaking, more substance and richness in content and higher path-breaking innovations in terms of feel and texture of films.
As we look back at hundred years of Indian cinema’s existence, here is a list of Telugu films that have been experimental in the aspects mentioned above:
1. Mayabazar (1957)
This is a magnum opus of Telugu cinema. It was the first Telugu film to be rooted in Telugu culture and its fragrance is yet to fade even after fifty seven years of its making. Based on a folk tale Sasirekha Parinayam, it is a story drawn from the epic Mahabharata. It is the journey of Abhimanyu who weathers all obstacles and ultimately marries his beloved Sasirekha, who is the daughter of Balarama, brother of Lord Krishna. This film proved to be the coming together of powerful forces of Southern cinema. Directed by Kadri Venkata Reddy, the film has almost all big names of Telugu, Tamil and Kannada film industry. It had giants such as NT Rama Rao, Akkineni Nageshwar Rao, Savithri and S V Ranga Rao. Besides this, the film was especially known for its special effects and the scintillating cinematography of Marcus Bartley. It is still considered a landmark film in Indian cinema for its visuals imagery.
2. Oka Oori Katha (1977)
This is Mrinal Sen’s Telugu debut. It was based on progressive Hindi writer Premchand’s story Kafan. Interestingly, it is one of the few films in Telugu cinema that depicts the plight of the poor in the most realistic way.
3. Shankarabharanam (1979)
K Viswanath has been a leading light and art house viewers’ hope in Telugu cinema. Rooted in classical Telugu culture, there is an element of devotional spirit in his films. Films such as Sagara Sangamam, Swati Mutyam, Swarna Kamalam and Saptapadi are a reflection of his distinct oeuvre that till date remains unparalleled. Be it the chaste use of Telugu, the religious feel and spirit of his characters, correct depiction of milieu or the soft use of background scores to accentuate emotions or using classical music as a journey to understand and know people, a viewers finds himself in a temple kind of environment when he is viewing K Viswanath’s films. Shankarabharnam is one such successful attempt at reviving classical music in Southern films. The film is an ode to Guru-Shishya tradition in classical music and continues to enthrall the audience even today. A special mention of its music director K V Mahadevan is needed here.
This film is directed by Bengali filmmaker Goutam Ghose. This film is a classic case of how milieu is important to a cinematic story. It is a story about coming together of the peasant community against the oppression of the Nizam rule. It was based on a story written by Urdu and Hindi short story writer Krishan Chander.
5. Pushpaka Vimanam (1987)
This film is sheer visual delight in the literal sense! Directed by Singeetham Srinivasa Rao, it is a silent black comedy in a time where filmmakers were finding it difficult to produce even a talkie film. It is one of the early attempts of another versatile actor Kamal Haasan to be part of experimental cinema. It was an able tribute to the greatest movie legend Charles Chaplin. Masquerading as a rich man, and going through a maze of Chaplinsque kind of situations, the protagonist’s love affair does not culminate in a definite relationship.
6. Shiva (1989)
Ram Gopal Varma emerged as another powerful force to reckon with not only in Telugu cinema but also in Indian cinema. His film Shiva brought a new idiom to Indian cinema in terms of the realistic portrayal of student politics. It was quite hard-hitting for its times in terms of power-packed performances. It was one of the early attempts at how state politics and student politics when merged can be detrimental to the very purpose of educational institutions. The famous scene of removing pedal chains in a bicycle for hitting one’s opponent became quite a cult scene.
7. Eega (2012)
This romantic-fantasy film directed by S S Rajamouli is a successful attempt at experimenting at telling a story of how a lover reborn as a housefly takes revenge on a man who prevents his union with his beloved and kills him. It is known for its innovative narration and high-end special effects.
There are also some other movies which released in the recent times and are totally off the routine track.
8. Johnny
9. Oosaravelli
10. 1 Nenokkadine
