Yamagola

''Yamagola'' ( Havoc in Hell or The Great Havoc) is a 1977 Indian Telugu-language fantasy comedy film directed by T. Rama Rao who co-wrote the film with D. V. Narasa Raju. It stars N. T. Rama Rao and Jaya Prada, 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 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 as ''Lok Parlok'' (1979) and in Tamil as ''Yamanukku Yaman'' (1980), while also inspiring the 2007 Telugu film ''Yamadonga''.

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. 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 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 as Satyam
*Jaya Prada as Savithri
*Rao Gopal Rao as Rudrayya
*Kaikala Satyanarayana as Yama Dharma Raju
*Allu Ramalingaiah as Chitraguptudu
*Prabhakar Reddy as Ramana Murthy/Rama Sastry
*Kanta Rao as Indra
*P. J. Sarma as Police Inspector
*Chalapathi Rao as Satyam's friend
*K. V. Chalam as Peerayya
*Potti Prasad as Dentist
*Suryakantham as Seethamma
*Manju Bhargavi as Menaka
*Jhansi as Wife of Rudrayya
*Jayamalini in an item number
*Nirmalamma as Santhamma

Production

The film was inspired by Rama Rao's own ''Devanthakudu'' (1960), and two other films ''Death Takes a Holiday'' (1934) and ''Chase a Crooked Shadow'' (1958). ''Devanthakudu'', in turn was a remake of the 1958 Bengali film ''Jamalaye Jibanta Manush'' based on the novel of the same name by Dinabandhu Mitra. 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 and Vijayawada.

Reception

A reviewer for ''Andhra Jyothi'' 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'' 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's ''Devanthakudu''. Furthermore, he praised the dialogues penned by D. V. Narasaraju especially those on Sanjay Gandhi and the Emergency, the performances of the cast and the direction of T. Rama Rao.

Legacy

The film was remade into Hindi as ''Lok Parlok'' in 1979, with Jaya Prada reprising her role. It was also remade in Tamil as ''Yamanukku Yaman'' (1980).

''Yamagola'' also inspired the 2007 Telugu film ''Yamadonga'' directed by S. S. Rajamouli. The film which follows the basic plotline of ''Yamagola'' starred Rama Rao's grandson N. T. Rama Rao Jr.

References

External links

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{{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