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The
Vijaya Banner did not come into existence in a flash. It evolved
from it's sister concern vahini Studios. If we compare Vahini to
'pure Pochampalli Silk' then Vijaya can be termed as 'Synthetic
Chiffon Silk'. Vijaya's first film was 'Showkar'.
To be told in Kodavaganti Kutumba Rao words, 'Showkar' is the first
Telugu film that touches the social revolutionary and progressive
subject. Earlier to that, films have come based on feudalism, widow
marriages and untouchability. But this film has taken the theme
of differentiating the riches and rags more close to the heart of
viewers. There is no melodrama in this film and the words are very
straight.
Vijaya has experimented this film with new comers. Sankaramanchi
Janaki (she is known as Showkar Janaki now) and NT Rama Rao (He
donned the role of Hero for the first time) did play the main leads.
They have shown the professionalism of veterans in acting. Unfortunately,
this film bombed at Box-office. Kodavatiganti Kutumba Rao says,
"At that time people were used to Melodrama stuff. Since 'Showkar'
is a progressive film dealt in a natural way viewers could not grasp
and digest this film. If people encouraged 'Showkar', Chakrapani
would have given us more good films to us.
With the box-office debacle of 'Showkar' Vijaya banner realized
that it's going lose money if it targets the educated and thinking
people with this their films. They came to conclusion that a film
must entertain a common man. That's the reason why they have chosen
'Pathala Bhairavi' for their next venture.
Though LV Prasad is entrusted with the responsibility of directing
'Showkar', one can see the traces of Chakrapaani in that film. Chakrapaani
is a wealthy man and is from a rich family ans it's amazing to see
him do such a noble film in his first try at film production.
This film has real life characters. That is two farmers, a merchant,
a teacher, a rowdy and a dobhi. There is practicality in
this film. Ultimately what matters in the Industry is the viewers
acceptance of the film which NagiReddy and Chakrapani failed to
deliver with this film.
This film starts with a Sibi Chakravarthy Harikatha 'Srilu Chelange
Bharata Bhoomini Paalinchina Bhoopaalakulu'. As the Harikatha is
watched by all the villagemen, our Showkar Chengaiah avoids it by
staying home. Govindarajula Subbarao garu donned the role of Showkar.
The real story starts with the Janaki creating tension between Showkar
Chengaiah and his neighbor Ramaiah.
Vijaya Banner gives special importance to music. Ghatasala Venkateswara
Rao took the responsibility of providing music to this film. He
inducted Telugu nativity into his music by adding sounds of village.
In a song when hero asks his lover 'Palakaraadate Chilakaa?'
then heroine replies 'Samukhamulo Rayabaramendukate'. Try
imagine replacing these Telugu words with equalant words in Kannada
and Tamil. One cannot get them. Since these words are pure Telugu
and irreplaceable.
After a few years Nagi Reddy remade 'Showkar' in Tamil. VijayaNirmala
has done the Tamil role of Telugu Janaki (That's why Nirmala added
Vijaya before her name, as she acted in Vijaya Banner). In Tamil
they could not replicate the music from Telugu 'Showkar' just because
Ghantasa Venkateswara Rao made them Telugized with adroitness.
NagiReddy used tell about the Tamil Version of Showkar, 'Engavittu
Pen' like this ... 'MR Radha(father of popular actress Radhika)
was considered for the role of Govindarajula Subbarao's role. When
the construction of studio was going on NagiReddy and MR Radha used
to go for morning walk, but not together. They used to glance at
eachother, but never cared to say 'Hi'. They do not have formal
introduction to each other. When Nagi Reddy went to narrate the
story to MR Radha, he told Nagireddy 'I thought you are a Mastri'.
That is the simplicity Nagireddy has.
MR Radha is considered as an aggressive man in Tamil film Industry.
But he used to be a submissive guy when he attends the sets of Nagireddy.
He seems to have given a suggestion to Reddy that people will not
accept these sorts of films as they expect action oriented films.
May this thought has paved way for more action films in the years
that followed.
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