Samarasimha Reddy

Samarasimha Reddy is a 1999 Indian Telugu-language action drama film, produced by Chengala Venkat Rao under Satyanarayanamma Productions banner and directed by B. Gopal. It stars Nandamuri Balakrishna in the title role alongside Anjala Zaveri, Simran, Sanghavi, and music composed by Mani Sharma. The film is written by V. Vijayendra Prasad along with Ratna Kumar and Paruchuri brothers.

Samarasimha Reddy released on 13 January 1999 and was industry hit. It earned a distributor share of ₹15 crore on a budget of ₹6 crore. The film won a Filmfare Award South and a Nandi Award. It was dubbed and released into Tamil under the title Shanmuga Pandian.

Plot
The film begins with Kanthamma, a shrew running a small-scale hotel, torments her stepchildren Vasu & his three sisters, Sangeeta, Sarala, & Saraswati, where Vasu revolts over Kanthamma and quits the house. Years roll by, and Kanthamma goes into bankruptcy of a charming Srikakulam Chittamma who entices customers as an opponent. Meanwhile, an energetic Abbulu joins as an employee at Kanthamma and spins her business to prosperity. The three sisters see their childhood photograph with him when he affirms himself as Vaasu. He asks them to quiet as their aunt drives him away again. Presently, Abbulu aims to perform the wedding of Sangeeta, educate Sarala, & recoup paralyzed Saraswati. Hence, he strives hard to accumulate money and wangles Kanathamma.

Consequently, Abbulu squabbles with Chittamma, resulting in several falls for him, where he hides from the sons of savage amputee factionist Veera Raghava Reddy, who are intensively in search of him. Therefore, Abbulu forces them to be seized by the cops when the local SP gets startled and bows his head down before Abbulu. Frenzied, Veera Raghava Reddy calls his daughter Anjali from abroad, who inflames and pledges to seek vengeance. In the interim, the siblings of notorious goon Aakula Bandabbai tease Sangeeta when Abbulu thumps them. Angered, Bandabbai forcibly tries to knit Sangeeta with his brother by bribing greedy Kanthamma. Before this time, Abbulu recovers Saraswati, who is facing a risk. He saves Sangeeta, too, and warns Kanthamma, declaring himself Vaasu. As a flabbergast, Anjali arrives, proclaiming him as a homicide of Vaasu named Samarasimha Reddy.

Being conscious of it, the three girls loathe and treat him like feces. Plus, Anjali's men batter him, which he thresholds with patience. Chittamma shelters him to whom Abbulu/Vaasu/Samarasimha Reddy divulges his story. An argument arises when his sisters hinder Samarasimha Reddy from conducting obsequies of Vaasu. Then, Anjali turns it in her favor and makes Samarasimha Reddy drink poison and collapse. Parallelly, Bandabbai's gang raids on three when Samarasimha Reddy awakes and thrashes them. Immediately, SP admits him in the hospital, states the eminence of Samarasimha Reddy, and spins rearward.

Samarasimha Reddy is a roaring lion of Rayalaseema, son of powerful factionist Narasimha Reddy. After leaving home, Samarasimha Reddy nurtures Vaasu as his younger, and Vaasu turns into true blue. Veera Raghava Reddy upholds fierce rivalry with them. Once, Samarasimha Reddy backs, triumphing on Veera Raghava Reddy when he mocks, and Samarasimha Reddy violently counterstrikes him. Meanwhile, Samarasimha Reddy's alliance is fixed with his cousin Deepika, and the entire family proceeds to shop. Veera Raghava Reddy, which flames with ignominy ruses, slaughters them by backstabbing. Spotting it, Samarasimha Reddy onslaughts on Veera Raghava Reddy and leaves him alive by amputating as a penalty. Accidentally, Vaasu dies in that combat by the stab of Samarasimha Reddy. Before leaving the breath, Samarasimha Reddy said Vaasu to guard his sisters. As per his wish, he supports them with his hard earnings only.

Listening to it, everyone understands his virtue, including Anjali. Currently, with the Chittamma guides Anjali to espouse Samarasimha Reddy. Informed thereof, her brothers attempt to slay her when Veera Raghava Reddy impedes them and moves with the proposal. Initially, Samarasimha Reddy refuses, but at the request of all, be in accord to establish peace. Soon after the wedding, Veera Raghava Reddy runs through Anjali, uttering her as the enemy's wife, but she is secured. Samarasimha Reddy revolts when the entire terrain is reformed, including Veera Raghava Reddy's sons viewing his righteousness. At last, Veera Raghava Reddy is unable to tolerate his success and commits suicide. Finally, the movie ends on a happy note.

Cast

 * Nandamuri Balakrishna as Samarasimha Reddy / Abbulu / Vaasu
 * Anjala Zaveri as Anjali
 * Simran as Srikakulam Chittamma
 * Sanghavi as Neelaveni
 * Jayachitra
 * Jaya Prakash Reddy as Veera Raghava Reddy
 * Satyanarayana as Police Commissioner
 * Kota Srinivasa Rao
 * Thilakan as Narasimha Reddy, Samarasimha Reddy's father
 * Sumitra as Samarasimha Reddy's mother
 * Prithvi as Vaasu
 * Siva Parvathi as Samarasimha Reddy's sister
 * Brahmanandam
 * M. S. Narayana
 * Sujitha
 * Sangita Madhavan Nair
 * Jayalalita
 * Venu Madhav
 * Ahuti Prasad
 * Mohan Raj
 * Satya Prakash
 * Devraj as Veera Raghava Reddy's son
 * Vinod as Veera Shankara Reddy, Veera Raghava Reddy's oldest son
 * Hemanth Ravan as Veera Rajendra Reddy, Veera Raghava Reddy's youngest son
 * Basha as Veera Raghava Reddy's son
 * AVS
 * Gundu Hanumantha Rao
 * Ironleg Sastri
 * Duvvasi Mohan
 * Bandla Ganesh
 * Suresh Yerra
 * Syreshta
 * Ramya Sri
 * Padma Jayanthi
 * Master Baladitya

Production
Writers Paruchuri brothers and director B. Gopal discussed nearly 25 to 30 Stories for this film. Finally, they finalized this story. At that time for a few years, love and family-based Stories dominated. It was the only film that became a box-office hit without a love track at that time. And also it is the first film which was an industry hit with a faction-based storyline. This film showed the path to Telugu filmmakers to make a successful commercial film. In the later years, many faction-based story movies were made in Telugu film industry.

Filming took place at Ramoji Film City in Hyderabad.

Soundtrack
Music was composed by Mani Sharma. Music released on Supreme Music Company. All Songs chartbusters tracks.

Critical reception
Full Hyderabad rated the film 7.5 and wrote, "The biggest strength of the film is its script that has action and sentiments in the right combination."

Box office
The film had a 227-day run at three theatres, 175 days run at (28 direct + 1 shift) total 29 centres, 50 days at 122 centres, 100 days at 72 direct and late & indirect 32 centres, total 104, and also had a 365-day run at one theatre.

Awards

 * Filmfare Awards South
 * Filmfare Award for Best Director – Telugu – B. Gopal


 * Nandi Awards
 * Best Costume Designer – Rambabu