Yamagola
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''Yamagola'' ( Havoc in
Hell In religion and folklore, hell is a location in the afterlife in which evil souls are subjected to punitive suffering, most often through torture, as eternal punishment after death. Religions with a linear divine history often depict hell ...
or The Great Havoc) is a 1977 Indian
Telugu Telugu may refer to: * Telugu language, a major Dravidian language of India *Telugu people, an ethno-linguistic group of India * Telugu script, used to write the Telugu language ** Telugu (Unicode block), a block of Telugu characters in Unicode S ...
-language
fantasy comedy Fantasy comedy or comic fantasy is a subgenre of fantasy that is primarily humorous in intent and tone. Typically set in imaginary worlds, fantasy comedy often involves puns on and parodies of other works of fantasy. Literature The subgenre rose ...
film directed by T. Rama Rao who co-wrote the film with
D. V. Narasa Raju D.V. Narasaraju or Datla Venkata Narasaraju (Telugu language, Telugu: డి.వి.నరసరాజు) (15 July 1920 – 28 August 2006) was a writer and director of South India films and playwright. He wrote stories such as Gundamma Katha, ...
. It stars
N. T. Rama Rao Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao (28 May 1923 – 18 January 1996), often referred to by his initials NTR, was an Indian actor, filmmaker and politician who served as List of Chief Ministers of Andhra Pradesh, Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh fo ...
and
Jaya Prada Jaya Prada Nahata (born Lalitha Rani; 3 April 1962) is an Indian actress and politician. She is hailed as one of the most iconic and influential actresses in both Telugu and Hindi film industries in late '70s, '80s and early '90s. Jayaprada i ...
, with music composed by Chakravarthy. The film was produced by S. Venkataratnam who also worked as the cinematographer. ''Yamagola'' released on 21 October 1977 and received positive reviews. The dialogues penned by D. V. Narasaraju were perceived as a satire on contemporary politics, especially the
Emergency An emergency is an urgent, unexpected, and usually dangerous situation that poses an immediate risk to health, life, property, or environment and requires immediate action. Most emergencies require urgent intervention to prevent a worsening ...
and are considered as one of the highlights of the film along with the performances of the cast and the music. It was remade in
Hindi Hindi (Devanāgarī: or , ), or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi (Devanagari: ), is an Indo-Aryan language spoken chiefly in the Hindi Belt region encompassing parts of northern, central, eastern, and western India. Hindi has been de ...
as ''
Lok Parlok ''Lok Parlok'' () is a 1979 Indian Hindi-language fantasy comedy film, produced by S. Venkataratnam under the Sree Pallavi Productions banner and directed by T. Rama Rao. The film stars Jeetendra and Jaya Prada, with music composed by Laxmikan ...
'' (1979) and in
Tamil Tamil may refer to: * Tamils, an ethnic group native to India and some other parts of Asia **Sri Lankan Tamils, Tamil people native to Sri Lanka also called ilankai tamils **Tamil Malaysians, Tamil people native to Malaysia * Tamil language, nativ ...
as ''
Yamanukku Yaman ''Yamanukku Yaman'' () is a 1980 Indian Tamil-language fantasy comedy film directed by D. Yoganand. Starring Sivaji Ganesan and Sripriya, it is a remake of the 1977 Telugu film ''Yamagola''. The film was released on 16 May 1980, and became a b ...
'' (1980), while also inspiring the 2007 Telugu film ''
Yamadonga ''Yamadonga'' ( Big Thief ''or'' Thief of Yama) is a 2007 Indian Telugu-language fantasy action comedy film directed by S.S. Rajamouli who co-wrote the film with V. Vijayendra Prasad. It stars N. T. Rama Rao Jr., Mohan Babu, Priyamani, and M ...
''.


Plot

The film begins in a village where its President Satyam makes the area prosperous and confronts the barbarities of a tyrant Rudrayya. Satyam falls for a charming girl Savitri daughter of Rudrayya. Knowing it, Rudrayya intrigues and murders Satyam utilising a professional killer Ram Sastry in the traditional form. After that, Ram Sastry asks Rudrayya to wait until he completes demonic prayers. But as it's getting late Rudrayya buries the body in the backyard. Now the soldiers of hell temporally send Satyam to heaven where he creates turmoil and turbulence and encounters
Indra Indra (; Sanskrit: इन्द्र) is the king of the devas (god-like deities) and Svarga (heaven) in Hindu mythology. He is associated with the sky, lightning, weather, thunder, storms, rains, river flows, and war.  volumes/ref> I ...
. Afterward, he is moved to hell where too, he gives rise to a mayhem situation by starting a union of hell soldiers and making their revolt. Satyam opposes Yama Dharma Raja and
Chitragupta Chitragupta (Sanskrit: चित्रगुप्त, 'rich in secrets' or 'hidden picture') is a Hindu deity assigned with the task of keeping complete records of the actions of human beings and punishing or rewarding them according to their ...
which calms down through negotiations when Yama realises to reform their laws. Hence, he lands on earth with Chitragupta in human form and declares lock-out. Eventually, Satyam also restores his life with a promise to return until their arrival. By that time, Police are in search of Satyam and suspect Rudrayya. Consequently, Satyam approaches panic-stricken Rudrayya as his resemblance. As an unbeknownst Rudrayya appoints and forges him as Satyam whereby, and he starts mocking him. Parallelly, Yama and Chitragupta on Earth face several challenges and are ultimately seized by Police when Satyam acquits them. Being exhausted they decide to go back which frightens Satyam as he should also die. So, he plans with Savitri and invites them to Rudrayya's house. Accordingly, Savitri serves them with adoration and asks a boon to perform her espousal with her beau which he accepts. During the time of the wedding, Satyam is under the veil and Yama blesses the long life of the couple, therefore, Satyam escapes from death. Suddenly, Rudrayya fires on Satyam. Here as a flabbergast, Satyam wakes up and it is revealed to be his dream. Immediately Rudrayya re-attacks but Satyam ceases him. At last, it is affirmed that Ram Sastry is Satyam's friend Ramana Murthy and all is his play when Rudrayya pleads for pardon. Finally, the movie ends on a happy note with the marriage of Satyam and Savitri.


Cast

*
N. T. Rama Rao Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao (28 May 1923 – 18 January 1996), often referred to by his initials NTR, was an Indian actor, filmmaker and politician who served as List of Chief Ministers of Andhra Pradesh, Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh fo ...
as Satyam *
Jaya Prada Jaya Prada Nahata (born Lalitha Rani; 3 April 1962) is an Indian actress and politician. She is hailed as one of the most iconic and influential actresses in both Telugu and Hindi film industries in late '70s, '80s and early '90s. Jayaprada i ...
as Savithri *
Rao Gopal Rao Raavu Gopala Rao (14 January 1937 – 13 August 1994) was an Indian actor and producer known for his works in Telugu cinema and Telugu theatre. In a film career spanning more than twenty five years, Rao starred in over four hundred feature film ...
as Rudrayya *
Kaikala Satyanarayana Kaikala Satyanarayana (25 July 1935 – 23 December 2022) was an Indian actor, producer, director, and politician who predominantly worked in Telugu cinema. He appeared in over 750 films and served as the Member of Parliament in the 11th Lok S ...
as Yama Dharma Raju *
Allu Ramalingaiah Allu Ramalingaiah (1 October 1922 – 31 July 2004) was an Indian character actor, comedian, and producer known for his works in Telugu cinema. In 1990, He was honoured with the Padma Shri for his contribution to Indian cinema. In 1998, he rec ...
as Chitraguptudu *
Prabhakar Reddy Mandadi Prabhakar Reddy (1935–1997) was an Indian film character actor and doctor known for his works in Telugu cinema. He acted in over 472 films over three decades. He wrote stories for several acclaimed films, including '' Karthika Deepa ...
as Ramana Murthy/Rama Sastry *
Kanta Rao Tadepalli Lakshmi Kantha Rao (16 November 1923 – 22 March 2009) was an Indian actor and producer known for his works predominantly in Telugu cinema. Regarded as one of the finest method actors, Rao starred in more than four hundred feature ...
as
Indra Indra (; Sanskrit: इन्द्र) is the king of the devas (god-like deities) and Svarga (heaven) in Hindu mythology. He is associated with the sky, lightning, weather, thunder, storms, rains, river flows, and war.  volumes/ref> I ...
*
P. J. Sarma Pudipeddi Jogeswara Sarma was an Indian film dubbing artist, turned actor and writer, known for his works predominantly in Telugu cinema. He has worked for over 500 films as an actor and dubbing artist. He is the father of actors Sai Kumar (Ka ...
as Police Inspector *
Chalapathi Rao Chalapathi Rao (8 May 1944 – 24 December 2022) was an Indian actor and producer known for comedy and villainous roles in Telugu cinema. He acted in different roles in more than 600 films. Personal life and death Rao hailed from Baliparru, K ...
as Satyam's friend *K. V. Chalam as Peerayya *
Potti Prasad Potti Prasad (born Kavivarapu Prasada Rao) was an Indian actor who predominantly worked in Telugu cinema. He was introduced to the films by Jandhyala. His notable roles include Chantabbai and Sagara Sangamam. He made his screen debut with Appu ...
as Dentist *
Suryakantham Suryakantam or Sooryakantam (pronounced sūryakāntam) is a rāgam in Carnatic music (musical scale of South Indian classical music). It is the 17th ''melakarta'' rāgam (parent scale) in the 72 ''melakarta'' rāgam system of Carnatic music. I ...
as Seethamma *
Manju Bhargavi Manju Bhargavi (born 1955) is an actress and dancer, best known for her performance in the Telugu blockbuster film Sankarabharanam (1979) and Nayakudu Vinayakudu (1980). Early life Manju Bhargavi parents originally hailed from Andhra Pradesh ...
as
Menaka Menaka () is an Apsara (heavenly nymph) in Hindu literature. Legends Menaka was born during the churning of the ocean by the devas and asuras. She is one of the most mesmerising apsaras (celestial nymphs) in the three worlds, with quick intel ...
*Jhansi as Wife of Rudrayya *
Jayamalini Jayamalini (or Jaya Malini) is an Indian actress who has acted in more than 500 Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada and Hindi movies. Career She was introduced to Tollywood in 1975 by Vittalacharya in the movie he produced, ''Aadadani Adrustam ...
in an
item number In Indian cinema, an item number or item song is a musical number inserted into a film that may or may not have any relevance to the plot. The term is commonly used within Indian films (Malayalam, Telugu, Tamil, Hindi, Kannada, Punjabi, and Be ...
*
Nirmalamma Nirmalamma (18 July 1920 – 19 February 2009) was an Indian actress in the Telugu cinema. She has acted in more than 800 films. She was well known for her grandmother roles in several films.She won two Nandi Awards. Early life She was born in ...
as Santhamma


Production

The film was inspired by Rama Rao's own ''Devanthakudu'' (1960), and two other films ''
Death Takes a Holiday ''Death Takes a Holiday'' is a 1934 American pre-Code romantic drama starring Fredric March, Evelyn Venable and Guy Standing. It is based on the 1924 Italian play ''La morte in vacanza'' by Alberto Casella (1891–1957), as adapted in English ...
'' (1934) and ''
Chase a Crooked Shadow ''Chase a Crooked Shadow'' ( ''Sleep No More'') is a 1958 British suspense film starring Richard Todd, Anne Baxter and Herbert Lom. Michael Anderson directed ''Chase a Crooked Shadow'', the first film produced by Associated Dragon Films, a bus ...
'' (1958). ''Devanthakudu'', in turn was a remake of the 1958
Bengali Bengali or Bengalee, or Bengalese may refer to: *something of, from, or related to Bengal, a large region in South Asia * Bengalis, an ethnic and linguistic group of the region * Bengali language, the language they speak ** Bengali alphabet, the w ...
film ''
Jamalaye Jibanta Manush ''Jamalaye Jibanta Manush'' () is a 1958 Indian Bengali-language romantic comedy film directed by Prafulla Chakraborty and produced by Ananta Singh, member of Chittagong armoury raid. This film, based on the novel of Dinabandhu Mitra in the sa ...
'' based on the novel of the same name by
Dinabandhu Mitra Dinabandhu Mitra (1830 – 1 November 1873) was a Bengali writer and dramatist. He is notable for his play ''Nil Darpan'' (1860). Early life Mitra was born at Chowberia village in Gopalnagar P.S., North 24 Parganas and was the son of Kalachand ...
. Principal photography began on 28 May 1977, and was completed in 27 working days.


Soundtrack

Music was composed by Chakravarthy.


Release

''Yamagola'' was released on 21 October 1977. The film celebrated a silver jubilee run at 6 centres and ran for 40 weeks in
Hyderabad Hyderabad ( ; , ) is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Telangana and the ''de jure'' capital of Andhra Pradesh. It occupies on the Deccan Plateau along the banks of the Musi River (India), Musi River, in the northern part ...
and
Vijayawada Vijayawada, formerly known as Bezawada, is the second largest city in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh and is a part of the state's Capital Region. It is the administrative headquarters of the NTR district. Its metropolitan region comprises NT ...
.


Reception

A reviewer for ''
Andhra Jyothi ''Andhra Jyothi'' () is the third largest circulated Telugu language daily newspaper of India sold mostly in the states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. It was founded by K. L. N. Prasad, an Industrialist on 1 July 1960. It is also one of the ...
'' praised D. V. Narasaraju's dialogues, performances of the cast and called it, "a colourful film which would entertain all kinds of audiences." Another reviewer for ''
Andhra Patrika Andhra Patrika was the weekly newspaper of the nationalist movement in the Telugu speaking region founded by Kasinadhuni Nageswara Rao in 1908. It later transformed into a daily newspaper before it closed down in 1991. It helped to shape both mo ...
'' wrote, "''Yamagola'' is a satirical film on the current societal conditions told in a light-hearted manner." The reviewer noted the satirical dialogues of Narasaraju as the major highlight of the film and commended the performances of the cast and the music. Kompella Viswam of ''Sitara'' magazine noted the similarities between ''Yamagola'' and
C. Pullayya Chittajallu Pullayya (Telugu language, Telugu: చిత్తజల్లు పుల్లయ్య; 1898 – 6 October 1967) was an Indian film director and screenwriter. He is one of the earliest film personalities in Telugu cinema being ...
's ''Devanthakudu''. Furthermore, he praised the dialogues penned by D. V. Narasaraju especially those on
Sanjay Gandhi Sanjay Gandhi (14 December 1946 23 June 1980) was an Indian politician and the younger son of Indira Gandhi and Feroze Gandhi. He was a member of parliament, Lok Sabha and the Nehru–Gandhi family. During his lifetime, he was widely expected ...
and the
Emergency An emergency is an urgent, unexpected, and usually dangerous situation that poses an immediate risk to health, life, property, or environment and requires immediate action. Most emergencies require urgent intervention to prevent a worsening ...
, the performances of the cast and the direction of T. Rama Rao.


Legacy

The film was remade into
Hindi Hindi (Devanāgarī: or , ), or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi (Devanagari: ), is an Indo-Aryan language spoken chiefly in the Hindi Belt region encompassing parts of northern, central, eastern, and western India. Hindi has been de ...
as ''
Lok Parlok ''Lok Parlok'' () is a 1979 Indian Hindi-language fantasy comedy film, produced by S. Venkataratnam under the Sree Pallavi Productions banner and directed by T. Rama Rao. The film stars Jeetendra and Jaya Prada, with music composed by Laxmikan ...
'' in 1979, with Jaya Prada reprising her role. It was also remade in
Tamil Tamil may refer to: * Tamils, an ethnic group native to India and some other parts of Asia **Sri Lankan Tamils, Tamil people native to Sri Lanka also called ilankai tamils **Tamil Malaysians, Tamil people native to Malaysia * Tamil language, nativ ...
as ''
Yamanukku Yaman ''Yamanukku Yaman'' () is a 1980 Indian Tamil-language fantasy comedy film directed by D. Yoganand. Starring Sivaji Ganesan and Sripriya, it is a remake of the 1977 Telugu film ''Yamagola''. The film was released on 16 May 1980, and became a b ...
'' (1980). ''Yamagola'' also inspired the 2007 Telugu film ''
Yamadonga ''Yamadonga'' ( Big Thief ''or'' Thief of Yama) is a 2007 Indian Telugu-language fantasy action comedy film directed by S.S. Rajamouli who co-wrote the film with V. Vijayendra Prasad. It stars N. T. Rama Rao Jr., Mohan Babu, Priyamani, and M ...
'' directed by
S. S. Rajamouli Koduri Srisaila Sri Rajamouli ( ; born 10 October 1973) is an Indian film director and screenwriter who primarily works in Telugu cinema. He is the highest paid director in India, and is known for his action, fantasy, and epic genre films. T ...
. The film which follows the basic plotline of ''Yamagola'' starred Rama Rao's grandson
N. T. Rama Rao Jr. Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao Jr. (born 20 May 1983), also known as Jr. N.T.R. or Tarak, is an Indian actor who primarily works in Telugu cinema. One of the highest paid Telugu film actors, Rama Rao Jr. has won several accolades, including two Fil ...


References


External links

* {{T. Rama Rao 1970s fantasy comedy films 1970s Telugu-language films 1977 comedy films 1977 films Films directed by T. Rama Rao Films scored by K. Chakravarthy Indian fantasy comedy films Indian religious comedy films Telugu films remade in other languages Yama in popular culture