Lava Kusa

Lava Kusa
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	C. Pullaiah C. S. Rao
Produced by	Shankar Reddy
Written by	Sadasivabrahmam (Telugu dialogues) A. K. Velan (Tamil dialogues)
Starring	N. T. Rama Rao Anjali Devi T. L. Kanta Rao
Music by	Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao, K. V. Mahadevan
Cinematography	P. L. Rai
Release dates	29 March 1963
Language	Telugu Tamil

Lava Kusa (also spelled as Lava Kusha) is a 1963 Indian bilingual Hindu mythological film directed by C. S. Rao and his son C. Pullaiah. The film's script was written by Samudrala Raghavacharya. The film was produced by Shankar Reddy under Lalita Sivajyothi films. The film was shot in both Telugu and Tamil languages with the same title, but with slight differences in the cast. The film was a remake of 1934 film of same name which was also directed by C. Pullaiah. The story is an adaptation of the Uttara Kanda from Ramayana. It revolves around the roles of Lava and Kusa, sons of Seetha (Anjali Devi),Rama (N. T. R.). The Telugu version stars Kanta Rao, Shoban Babu, S. Varalakshmi, Kaikala Satyanarayana in supporting roles, replaced in that order by M. R. Radha and Manorama in the Tamil counterpart.

Production began in 1958 but was stopped due to financial constraints. When it restarted, C. Pullaiah's health was deteriorating, so his son C. S. Rao took over. The soundtrack features 27 songs, with the musical score primarily composed by Ghantasala and KV Mahadevan, and the lyrics by Vempati Sadasiva and Samudrala Raghavacharya (Telugu) and Maruthakasi (Tamil). The film has won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu for that year. It was also dubbed in Kannada, and later in Hindi in 1974. This film was later remade with the title Sri Rama Rajyam in year 2011.

Plot

This movie is based on Uttara Kanda which is the later part of Ramayana written by Valmiki Maharshi. It depicts the lives of Lava and Kusa, the sons of Sita and Rama. The story depicts Sri Rama Pattabhishekam and about the brief period of Rama Rajyam, Rama sending Seeta exile on hearing the accusations of a washerman, Birth of Lava and Kusha, their visit to Ayodhya, Ashwamedha Yagna and conflict between Rama and his sons and Pattabhishekam of Lava and Kusha and Rama finally ending his Avatar.

Cast

Production

Lava Kusa was a remake of film of same name which Pulliah had directed in 1934.^[3] Production began in 1958 but was halted for four years due to financial constraints.^[4] When it restarted, C. Pullaiah's health was deteriorating, so his son C. S. Rao took over.^[5] During the production, Kanta Rao was offered the role of Rama finally he was even offered the role of Shatrughna as he became physically weak due to eusinophilia but he was finally chosen for the role of Lakshman.^[6][7] The set of Valmiki Ashram was built at Ramavaram Garden, Chennai.^[4]

Soundtrack

Soundtrack was composed by Ghantasala and lyrics for Telugu version were written by Vempati Sadasiva, Samudrala Raghavacharya. K. V. Mahadevan composed music for Tamil songs and the lyrics were written by A. Maruthakasi. The film has 37 songs and Poems (Padyam), many are very popular and memorable. Telugu track list^[8]

Tamil track list^[9]

Box-office and Impact

The film ran for 75 weeks uninterruptedly. This is an unbroken record.^[10][11] It was released in 26 centres and had a 100-day run in all the centers, which was a record and ran 150 days in all those centers and 175-day run in 18 centres. Due to the huge demand for the film from other centres in Andhra Pradesh, most prints had to be shifted to other centres. It had run for 100-days in 62 centres and 175-day run in 18 centres, grossing more than 10 million.^[12][13]

Awards

• National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu^[14]
• Rashtrapati Award- best acting N. T. Rama Rao and Tadepalli Lakshmi Kanta Rao.^[15]

Legacy

Lava Kusa is considered a classic of Telugu cinema. In January 2007, M. L. Narasimham of The Hindu listed Lava Kusa with Mala Pilla (1938), Raithu Bidda (1939), Vara Vikrayam (1939), Bhakta Potana (1942), Shavukaru (1950), Malliswari (1951) Peddamanushulu (1954) and Mayabazar (1955) as films impacting society and Telugu cinema.^[16] Rama Rao reprised the role of Rama in a number of films over a two-decade career.^{[lower-alpha 1]} Bapu used Lava Kusa's storyline in his 2011 film, Sri Rama Rajyam starring Rama Rao's son Nandamuri Balakrishna.^[18]

Notes

References

External links

• Lava Kusa at the Internet Movie Database

Ramayana by Valmiki
Ikshvaku dynasty	Dasharatha Kausalya Sumitra Kaikeyi Shanta Rama Bharata Lakshmana Shatrughna Sita Urmila Mandavi Shrutakirti Lava Kusha (genealogy)
Vanara	Hanuman Sugriva Vali Tara Rumā Angada Nala Nila Kesari Anjana Makardhwaja
Rakshasa	Ravana Vibhishana Kumbhakarna Indrajit Akshayakumara Atikaya Devantaka Kabandha Khara Dushan Mandodari Maricha Mayasura Narantaka Prahasta Sarama Subahu Sulochana Sumali Surpanakha Tataka Trijata Trishira Viradha
Sages	Agastya Ahalya Arundhati Bharadwaja Kambhoja Parashurama Vasistha Vishvamitra Rishyasringa
Other characters	Jambavan Janaka Kushadhwaja Jatayu Manthara Ashwapati Maya Sita Sampati Shabari Shravan Vedavati
Places	Ayodhya Mithila Dandakaranya Kishkindha Lanka
Seven Kandas (Books)	Balakanda Ayodhya Kand Aranya Kanda Kishkindha Kanda Sundara Kanda Yuddha Kanda Uttara Kanda
Versions, adaptations & inspired works	Film and television Hanuman Kanchana Sita Lanka Dahan Lava Kusa Mutyala Muggu Ramayan (1986) Ramayana: The Epic Ramayana: The Legend of Prince Rama Ramayanam Seetarama Kalyanam Sita Kalyanam (1934) Sita Kalyanam (1976) Sita Sings the Blues Sri Rama Rajyam Literature Adbhuta Ramayana Adhyathmaramayanam Adhyatma Ramayana Ananda Ramayana Bhaṭṭikāvya Hikayat Seri Rama Kakawin Ramayana Krittivasi Ramayan Phra Lak Phra Ram Raghunatha Ramayana Ramakien Ramavataram Ramcharitmanas Reamker Saptakanda Ramayana Sri Ramayana Darshanam Vilanka Ramayana Yama Zatdaw Performing arts & others Geet Ramayan Ramlila Singkil
Others	Lakshmana rekha Pra Ram Pra Satrut