''Adavi Simhalu'' ( ''Forest Lions'') is a 1983

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 action film, produced by C. Ashwini Dutt under the

Vyjayanthi Movies Vyjayanthi Movies is an Indian film production company established in 1974 by C. Aswani Dutt. It is one of the biggest film production houses in Telugu cinema. Vyjayanthi Movies is especially known for its big-budget productions with top movi ...

banner and directed by

K. Raghavendra Rao Kovelamudi Raghavendra Rao (born 23 May 1942) is an Indian film director, screenwriter, and producer known for his works predominantly in Telugu cinema besides having directed a few Hindi films. He has garnered four state Nandi Awards and five ...

. The film stars

Krishna Krishna (; sa, कृष्ण ) is a major deity in Hinduism. He is worshipped as the eighth avatar of Vishnu and also as the Supreme god in his own right. He is the god of protection, compassion, tenderness, and love; and is on ...

Krishnam Raju Uppalapati Venkata Krishnam Raju (20 January 1940 – 11 September 2022) was an Indian actor and politician. He was known for his works in Telugu cinema and was widely known as "''Rebel Star''" for his rebellious acting style. He was also th ...

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 ...

Sridevi Shree Amma Yanger Ayyappan (13 August 1963 – 24 February 2018), professionally credited with her stage name Sridevi, was an Indian actress who worked in Telugu, Tamil, Hindi, Malayalam, and Kannada language films. Cited as the "First Femal ...

and music composed by Chakravarthy. The film was simultaneously made in

Hindi Hindi (Devanāgarī: or , ), or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi (Devanagari: ), is an Indo-Aryan languages, Indo-Aryan language spoken chiefly in the Hindi Belt region encompassing parts of North India, northern, Central India, centr ...

as '' Jaani Dost'' with

Dharmendra Dharam Singh Deol (born 8 December 1935), also known mononymously as Dharmendra, is an Indian actor, producer and politician who is known for his work in Hindi films. Known as the first " He-Man" of Bollywood, Dharmendra has worked in over 301 ...

Jeetendra Ravi Kapoor ( ; born 7 April 1942), known mononymously by his screen name Jeetendra, is an Indian actor who is known for his work in Hindi cinema. He also serves as the chairman of the Balaji Telefilms and Balaji Motion Pictures. Early li ...

, Sridevi and

Parveen Babi Parveen Babi (4 April 1954 – 20 January 2005) was an Indian actress and model. Recognized for her roles in Hindi films throughout the 1970s and early 1980s, Babi was known for her "glamorous" acting style, and was one of the highest-paid ...

in pivotal roles. Both movies were made simultaneously by the same banner and director, some of the scenes and artists are replicated in both versions.

Plot

The film begins with Raja Narendra Varma, the owner of the Raj Nagar estate, and his wife, Annapurnamma (Krishna Kumari). The couple have a son and wants a daughter. At that juncture, his brother-in-law, Kondala Rao / Cobra (Rao Gopal Rao), a hoodlum, intrigues to eliminate not just Dharma Raj but his heir Krishna, too, and distorts as an accident. Fortunately, Krishna escapes, acquainted with an orphan Raju and they befriend. At this time, Raju decides to spend time with Krishna, sacrificing his studies in the process. Years roll by, Raju (Krishnam Raju) becomes a truck driver, and Krishna (Krishna) becomes a mobster. Once Raju saves a girl Lalitha (Jayaprada), sister of Krishna, without the knowledge. Meanwhile, Krishna is associated with Cobra's younger brother Hari (Satyanarayana), who is always disguised. Currently, Raju and Lalitha fall in love, and Veeru falls for the lionhearted Rekha (Sridevi). Meanwhile, Raju learns Krishna's true identity, and discord arises, but this subsides when Krishna is unveiled as an undercover cop. Then, he seizes many gangsters, but Hari escapes. Thereafter, Cobra ploys indict Raju in crime and then seeks to kill Lalitha. Henceforth, Cobra and Hari abscond to a forest where they continue with their misdeeds. Knowing it, Raju breaks the bars. Rekha accompanies him as well because she suspects Hari deceived her mother. Being conscious of it, Cobra attempts to destroy them, but they escape. Moreover, Krishna unearths his birth secret and realizes Lalitha as his sister. Here Cobra subterfuges to establish Krishna and Raju as rivals. Therein, a battle erupts when they fathom the truth. At last, they destroy Cobra and his gang. Finally, the movie ends happily with the marriages of Krishna and Rekha and Raju and Lalitha.

Cast

as Krishna *

as Raju *

as Lalita *

as Rekha *

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 fil ...

as Cobra Kondala Rao * Satyanarayana as Hari *

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 re ...

Prasad Babu Prasad Babu is an Indian actor who acts in predominantly Telugu films and also TV serials. Filmography * '' Punadhirallu'' * ''Anthuleni Katha'' * '' Mana Voori Pandavulu'' (1978) * ''I Love You'' (1979) * '' Aarani Mantalu'' (1980) * '' Bob ...

as Naagu *

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, P ...

as Dada *

Narra Venkateswara Rao Narra Venkateswara Rao was an Indian actor known for his works in Telugu cinema. He hailed from Agraharam village (Ramachandrapuram) in Zarugumalli Mandal, Prakasam district of Andhra Pradesh, India. Career He acted in over 500 films spanning ...

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 ...

* Malladi as Priest *

Mada Mada ( sa, मद) is a term used in both Hindu theology and mythology. It is one of the Arishadvargas. It refers to one of the six enemy of the mind or a vice according to the Hindu scriptures. It is the Hindu equivalent of Pride from the seven ...

* Krishna Kumari as Annapurnamma *

Mucherla Aruna Mucherla Aruna is an Indian actress who worked in Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam and Kannada films, mainly during the 1980s. Early life and career Mucherla Aruna was born in Kothagudem of Telangana into a family that belongs to Arjunudupalem, n ...

Silk Smitha Vijayalakshmi Vadlapati (2 December 1960 – 23 September 1996), better known by her stage name Silk Smitha, was an Indian actress and dancer who worked predominantly in Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada and Hindi films. Smitha was part of se ...

Soundtrack

References

External links

{{K. Raghavendra Rao 1983 films 1980s Telugu-language films Indian action drama films 1980s action drama films Films directed by K. Raghavendra Rao Films scored by K. Chakravarthy Films set in forests Telugu films remade in other languages 1983 drama films