The Telugu Film Industry has been around for a long time, it has been producing top quality movies for over 90 years now, and in its long and rich history, we have seen some of the greatest films ever made in the Indian Cinema.
From all-time classics like Mayabazar to the recent worldwide phenomenons like Baahubali, the Telugu Cinema has had its ups and downs, but one thing which has remained constant is the ability to produce top-quality films.
It was reported that the Telugu Film Industry is the largest producers of films in India, with it producing over 250+ films every year. And every once in awhile, there comes around a film, that changes everything, from technical aspects to the way the story is told, few films have helped revolutionized the industry and have played an important part in making Telugu Film Industry one of the top film Industry in the world.
And though choosing 10 movies from an industry that has delivered countless gems might seem impossible, few films were more significant than others, and have had a greater impact. We have made a list of the Best Evergreen Telugu Movies that changed the industry forever.
Best Evergreen Telugu Movies
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Devadasu
Easily one of the most famous love stories in the country. Devadasu is a romance film releasing in 1953, based on Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay’s novel, Devdas.
The film tells the tragic tale of Devadasu and Parvati, who are separated due to unfortunate consequences. This causes a downward spiral in the life of Devdas, who is not able to cope with the failure, and turns into a drunkard.
The film does justice to the source material, and perfectly depicts the fall of Devadasu. The film has gone on to achieve cult status and is still one of the finest, tragic love stories you’ll ever watch.
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Mayabazaar
One of the most influential films of all time, and a film that revolutionized the Telugu Film Industry, Mayabazar is considered a landmark in both Telugu and Tamil cinema, and it deserves all the praise that it gets.
Despite the limitations of technology, the film was way ahead of its time. The film is a technical masterpiece and was made without the use of any computer graphics, which makes it even more impressive.
It was also the first Telugu film to be digitally remastered and colourised. If you are looking for an all-time classic, the Mayabazar is a must-watch.
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Aha Naa Pellanta
One of the finest Telugu films ever made, Jandhyala’s Aha Naa Pellanta solidified him as a master filmmaker. The film stars Rajendra Prasad, Rajani in the lead roles, and even marked the debut of the popular comedian Brahmanandam.
The film is a laugh riot from start to finish, the story is simple, but the way it’s carried out by the main characters is extremely entertaining and fun to watch.
Nuthan Prasad, Kota Srinivas Rao and Brahmanandam kill it in their respective roles and is still a treat to watch in 2020. Aha Naa Pellanta is truly a masterpiece and a timeless classic that you should definitely watch.
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Eega
As a director, you consistently take risks, in an attempt of trying something different. S. S. Rajamouli took this to another level when he decided to make a movie with a fly as the main protagonist. And if anyone could pull this pull, It was Rajamouli, and he did just that. Eega is one of the most unique and refreshing films ever seen in the Telugu Film Industry. The idea for the film originated in the 1990s from a conversation in which Prasad joked with Rajamouli about the idea of a fly seeking revenge against a human. The film was released to a tremendous reception, both critically and commercially, and is one of those films that you should watch for yourself to fully experience it.
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Gundamma Katha
Another all-time classic of the Telugu Film Industry, Gundamama Katha is a comedy-drama film partially inspired by William Shakespeare’s comedy The Taming of the Shrew. The film starred two of the biggest stars in the film industry at the time, N. T. Rama Rao and Akkineni Nageswara Rao in the lead roles.
The story revolves around a rich widow named Gundamma and her two children and a stepdaughter who she mistreats, two brothers decide to teach her a lesson. Releasing in 1962, Gundamama Katha is regarded as one of the greatest Telugu films ever made, and it rightly deserves the title.
The film was not only hilarious, but it took on several heavy topics such as dowry, female oppression and child abuse, rarely seen in films at the time. The film is still considered a gold standard by which all comedy films are judged.
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Shiva
Shiva marked the debut of the famous and controversial film director Ram Gopal Varma. Releasing in 1989, the film starred Akkineni Nagarjuna, Amala, and Raghuvaran in the lead roles. Shiva broke all the expectations at the time of its releases and was a surprise hit.
The film completed a 100-day run in 22 centres and a 175-day run in five centres. The film went on to win several accolades, including Filmfare award, and 3 Nandi awards.
Thanks to the film’s great action sequences and realistic portrayal of student politics, the film went on to attain cult status, and was a major turning point in the career of Akkineni Nagarjuna, establishing him as a top star.
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Geethanjali
Mani Ratnam is a great director, there’s no question about that, he has made some of the finest Telugu films ever seen, and one of them is Gitanjali, which is regarded as one the all-time great love stories.
The film stars Akkineni Nagarjuna, Girija Shettar in lead roles. Geethanjali received critical acclaim at the time of its release and was a Box Office blockbuster. It went on to win the National Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment and seven Nandi Awards.
The film had such an impact, that it was dubbed into Tamil and Malayalam, and was remade in Hindi as Yaad Rakhegi Duniya.
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Nuvvu Naaku Nachav
The great thing about Nuvvu Naaku Nachav is that you can watch it today, and it’ll have you laughing out loud like a little kid, even after 19 years since its release. The famous poem that Prakash Raj reads still is one of the funniest poems I’ve ever heard and it manages to crack me up.
Directed by K. Vijaya Bhaskar, the film stars Venkatesh and Aarthi Agarwal in the lead roles. The story revolves around Venky, and Nandini, who are good friends, but their friendships turn into love, However, Nandini is already engaged.
The film was a Box Office blockbuster at the time of its release and won several awards including 2 Nandi awards. The film is well scripted and flows by smoothly, making it one of the best comedy/family drama films.
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