Ramudu-Bheemudu completes 50 years

Hyderabad: D. Ramanaidu, one of the top producers of India who features in the Guinness Book of Records for having made films in all Indian languages, shares some of his special memories with DC. Having produced more than 100 films, Ramanaidu is called the ‘Movie Moghul’. His first film Ramudu Bheemudu completes 50 years. It was, released in May 1964 and starred NTR playing a double role.

“I started my career with director Tapi Chanakya,” remembers Ramanaidu. “When I asked Tapi Chanakya to direct Ramudu Bheemudu many people in the industry criticised me because he had delivered nine continuous flops. I was cautioned that I was wasting my money taking him on as the director,” says Ramanaidu.   

“Kosaraju Ramulu, my confidant and advisor at that time, actually asked me to take Tapi Chanakya and writer D.V. Narasaraju for my first film,”he says.

The search for a story was on and Narasaraju, along with Ramanaidu and Chankaya, used to see films from other languages to get a good story. “I asked Narasaraju garu how  a big writer like him, who had given the story for blockbusters like Gunndamma Katha did not have any story,” says Ramanaidu.

Then Narasaraju spoke about the story he had in hand, but it had been rejected by many, including Nagireddy Chakrapani, a top producer at the time.

“We went to the beach and he narrated the story of Ramudu Bheemudu,” says Ramanaidu. “Narasaraju and I met NTR and narrated the story to him. Rama Rao garu agreed to do the film immediately,” remembers Ramanaidu.

“One of the good qualities that Rama Rao garu had was that he never questioned the choice of director. When informed that Tapi Chanakya was the director, he agreed immediately and didn’t mention his flops,” says Ramanaidu.

The film became a super hit and Ramanaidu went on to make many more good films.

Interestingly, Nagireddy Chakrapani who had rejected the story, took the Tamil remake rights. “They made the film with MGR  in Tamil. They came to me and appreciated the film,” remembers Ramanaidu about how his first film that  created a sensation. The film was also made in Hindi with Dilip Kumar and was titled Ram Aur Shyam.

“At that time the story was the hero. We believed in a good story and that the producer should know each and everything about the film. The actors and the technicians always worked in sync and had respect for each other. As a producer, I used to know each and every day’s schedule. I never felt that as I was putting in money, I could just sit and be looked after. I was keenly involved with the team and sometimes if the trolley boy didn’t come, I used to work instead of him,” says Ramanaidu about his success.