The controversial book of Mallemala
Mallemala’s autobiography Idee Naa Katha, which capsuled 50 years of his experiences in the Telugu film industry, was rare in that it exposed the shady side of the leading personalities of Tollywood. The book became so controversial even before it hit the market because of its inflammable contents.
It is to the credit of this earthy, no-nonsense man that he chose to write about things that even the most powerful in the industry would not touch with a barge pole. Indeed Mallemala died a man with his head held high, even if the book were in a way ‘proscribed’ by the industry lobby.
So what are the contents of the book that so disturbed and embarrassed the film folk? Here is a brief look.
How NTR came into politics
Mallemala also describes the event that triggered NTR’s unexpected foray into politics. Magunta Subbirami Reddy, the well-known industrialist, who later turned politician, built three cinema theaters in Nellore. Mallemala organized NTR for the inauguration of the theater complex on the Magunta’s request. N Janardhana Reddy, who was the Revenue Minister then, was also invited.
Protocol demands that Janardhana Reddy’s name should figure first on the invitation card. But realizing that NTR would get upset over this, Mallemala arranged to have 100 cards printed separately to please the hero’s ego. But that was not the end of the story.
When NTR arrived in Nellore and was refreshing himself in a room at a guest house, Janardhana Reddy arrived and made unsavoury remarks about his room being used by others, which made NTR feel bad. Later that evening, the chill continued with Janardhana Reddy trying to assert his superiority. An upset NTR did not even have his food.
Before leaving Nellore, NTR apparently remarked to Mallemala that Janardhana Reddy behaved the way he did only because of his political power. “We will also get into politics, and our inspiration should be Vivekananda,” NTR told him.
Srikrishna Vijayamu still
NTR vs Nagabhushanam
Mallemala had faced problems with NTR when the latter took strong objection to the character of Poundraka Vasudeva in Srikrishna Vijayam (1971). NTR did not like the idea of another Krishna in the film even if he were to be a fake. “Who is this fellow? I have acted in so many mythologicals. I haven’t heard of Poundraka Vasudeva,” an angry NTR asked him.
Mallemala explained that this character was mentioned in Bhagavatham, but NTR did not like that anybody else should be wearing the Krishna costumes complete with ‘Nemali Pinchamu’. An upset NTR said that in that case, he would have a ‘social’ costume, if Poundraka, being played by Nagabhushanam, is to have Krishna costumes.
An equally curt Mallemala said that he was okay with the idea but needed time to prepare his ‘social’ costume. NTR fumed at the sarcasm, but later fell in line with the theme and allowed Poundraka to have his part! During this conversation, Mallemala apparently told NTR that he might be a great actor but did not know everything about puranas.
Fall-out with NTR
Mallemala and NTR had good relations throughout despite the intermittent hiccups. Mallemala says that NTR would exploit his producers for his personal needs also. He claims in his book that NTR did not pay him money after booked rooms for guests for NTR’s daughter Bhuvaneswari’s marriage with Chandrababu Naidu. “That’s your contribution to the wedding,” is the answer Mallemala got when asked for refund.
In another instance, Mallemala tells us how NTR got plants for his 20 acre land that the hero bought in Hyderabad. After arranging for the plants, I had sent my brother for costs, but NTR did not pay, Mallemala says. “Your brother does not seem to know our friendship,” NTR told Mallemala’s brother.
Mallemala had a bitter experience when he was made to wait by NTR endlessly. His wife felt humiliated. “She made me promise that I will never make another film with NTR,” Mallemala said.
Jr NTR’s arrogance
Mallemala introduced Jr NTR as a child artiste with his Ramayanam, which gave recognition NTR’s grandson. Apparenlty, the dirctor of the film Gunasekhara was not willing to accommodate Jr NTR. “But I sensed the potential of the boy and insisted that he should be cast,” Mallemala recollects. However, after NTR grew up to be a leading hero, Mallemala experience the young actor’s inflated ego. MP Subbrami Reddy came to visit me, so I requested Jr NTR to wait for five minutes. But Jr NTR was rude and left in a huff saying that he would not wait for ‘some’ Subbirami Reddy. “I consider the boy still to be intelligent, but he has become so full of himself,” the veteran film maker wrote in his book.
Chiru Unhelpful
Allu Ramalingaiah was a close friend of Mallemala and hence the former was thinking of Chiranjeevi for his daughter, Mallemala seconded him. When one of his films bombed at the box office, Mallemala was advised by Allu to produce a film with Chiranjeevi. As promised Allu recommended him to his son-in-law. But Chiru refused to meet him or talk to him. Later, when the plans were afoot for Anji, the idea was to cast Venkatesh. But because of his proximity to Shyam Prasada Reddy, Mallemala’s son, Chiru snatched the film, Mallemala claims. The film eventually bombed at the box office, leaving Mallemala ina financial lurch.
Gunashekar Ungrateful
Mallemala introduced Gunashekhar as director with Ramayanam. But he had to face lot of issue with Gunashekhar during the making of the film. Even a lyric written by Mallemala himself was removed from the film, besides allowing the budget to overshoot.
Later when Mallemala wanted Gunasekhar to make a film for him to come out of financial straights, the latter refused to oblige. “You cannot afford me now,” Gunasekhar bluntly told him, when Mallemala, along with his wife, went to meet the director.
Jamuna vs Jayalalitha
M S Reddy describes how the leading lady of the day Jamuna crossed swords with Jayalalitha during the shooting of his film Srikrishna Vijayam. Jamuna, claiming senior, wanted to be recognized as such and entered into cat-fights with Jayalalitha on the sets. Once Jamuna even removed her make-up and walked away. Reddy apparently told her he was ready to replace her and she relented. She also demanded that her name should appear first on the titles, which Reddy refused to oblige. “I had to walk through razor’s edge all through the shooting of the film,” Reddy recalls in his memoirs.
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