Its a never ending mystery on release date of first Telugu movie Bhakta Prahlada. Our media research says that Bhakta Prahlada was released today before 84 years, the February 6th 1932, but our Telugu film industry never agrees it to be. There were different arguments that ‘Bhakta Prahlada’ was released on 1931 September 15th, that is six months after first Indian talkie movie ‘Aalam Aara’ got released.
But condemning those dates, the latest update says the release as 1932 February 6th, while it was censored on January 22nd. It took nearly two more months for the movie to get released in Chennai.
Leaving apart the controversies, with all the available proofs, Its been exactly 84 years since the first Telugu mookie movie got released in the direction of HM Reddy. ‘Alam Aara’ director Ardeshir Irani wanted to direct films in Telugu and Tamil but his lack of grip on South languages asked HM Reddy to direct ‘Bhakta Prahlada’ in Telugu and ‘Kalidasu’ in Tamil.
In those days, the famous Surabhi drama society used to play Bhakta Prahlada written by Ramakrishnacharyulu. When the movie proposal came up, they were called upon to Bombay to make a plan on how it can be presented for a movie.
The movie was later shot in Krishna Movietone studios in Bombay at cost of Rs 20,000 only! Munipalle Subbaiah played the role of Hiranyakasipa and Surabhi Kamalabai slipped into the role of his wife Leelavathi. Krishnaji Rao Sindhe played the lead role Prahlada.
One of our popular directors LV Prasad too played a small role in Bhakta Prahlada and later he was seen in first Tamil talkie Kaalidaasu also. As time passed by, talkies totally overshadowed mookies. Mookie legends lost their fame slowly to talkie films and language divided audience, leaving each section wishing to have films in their own language.