Yamajathakudu

Yamajathakudu is a 1999 Indian Telugu-language fantasy comedy film, produced by Mohan Babu under his Sree Lakshmi Prasanna Pictures banner and directed by N. Shankar. It stars Mohan Babu, Rajendra Prasad, and Sakshi Shivanand with music by Vandemataram Srinivas. Despite releasing to positive reviews, the film was a box office failure.

Plot
Sivaji is an advocate who manipulates the legal system in judicial cases to his benefit. He takes up a rape and murder case where he represents Srinath, the son of a Member of Parlament named Narsingh. Sivaji manipulates the case and incriminates the driver, Babji, instead.

The advocate falls in love with a woman named Sirisha and decides to retire from his old, dishonest ways. As Sirisha and Sivaji get engaged, Sirisha's housekeeper—Babji's mother—Ramulamma, casts a curse on Sivaji. He promises to declare the falsely convicted Babji not guilty in a new trial, resulting in the advocate's death at the hands of Narsingh and Srinath. Yama, the Hindu god of death and justice, captures Sivaji with his noose and brings him to the underworld.

Sivaji finds out his lifespan was supposed to be 11 days longer and decides to raise mayhem in the underworld; Yama sends Sivaji back to the human realm, accompanied by Putana, where he proceeds with Babji's new trial. Savaji is almost successful in his endeavors but is interrupted by an armed attack. Chintu, Savaji's niece, is injured during the conflict and becomes blind. To save Chintu's vision, Ramulamma sacrifices her own.

Sivaji and Sirisha's wedding arrangements are in progress at Tirumala; however, Sivaji decides against the wedding due to his limited lifespan and—with the help of Putana and his ex-girlfriend Swarna—tricks Sirisha into disliking him. Yama notices Sivaji's efforts and reveals Sirisha's horoscope to him, indicating a future spouse with a long life. Sivaji rushes toward Sirisha in Tirumala while chased by Yama. He ties the mangala sutra around her neck before the deity can get ahold of him. The film ends with the newly wedded couple receiving a blessing from Yama and Venkateswara.

Cast

 * Mohan Babu as Sivaji
 * Rajendra Prasad as Yama
 * Sakshi Shivanand as Sirisha
 * Chandni as Swarna
 * Sadhika as Puthana
 * Srihari as Srinath
 * Brahmanandam as Pittapuram
 * Sudhakar as Pichaiah
 * Tanikella Bharani as M. P. Narasimham
 * Chalapathi Rao as Pedda Yama
 * M. S. Narayana as Chitragupta
 * A.V.S. as Vichitra Gupta
 * Paruchuri Venkateswara Rao as DSP Chandrakanth
 * Paruchuri Gopala Krishna
 * Raghunatha Reddy as Judge
 * Naveen as Babji
 * Venu Madhav
 * Gundu Hanumantha Rao
 * Ironleg Sastri
 * Duvvasi Mohan
 * Monica Bedi as an item number in "Ding Dong Dili"
 * Raksha as Nirajaveni
 * Siva Parvathi as Manimala Devi
 * Alapati Lakshmi as Ramulamma
 * Dubbing Janaki as Sirisha's mother
 * Baby Niharika as Chintu
 * N. T. Rama Rao as Venkateswara (archival footage)

Production
A set of Yamalokam costing lakhs of rupees was built at Annapurna Studios for the film. Rajendra Prasad plays a junior version of Yama and Chalapathi Rao plays his father. This film marks the second collaboration between Mohan Babu and Sakshi Sivanand after Collector Garu (1997). Three days into the film's shoot, Sakshi Shivanand complained that Mohan Babu had tried to visit her hotel room and try to rape her. Mohan Babu got angry and put his hand on her. After she threatened to complain to the police, Nagarjuna intervened and the shoot was completed.

Soundtrack
The music was composed by Vandemataram Srinivas and was released on Supreme Audio Company.

Reception
A critic from Zamin Ryot wrote that "The film is entertaining" and added that "The director has worked hard to make all the characters entertaining".

Box office
The film was a box office failure, and Mohan Babu sold his house in Banjara Hills to compensate for the losses.