Latest revision as of 10:42, 14 July 2023

Lava Kusa (Telugu/ 1963) was the first full-length Colour film in Telugu N. T. Rama Rao (Sri Rama, centre) is framed between Master Nagaraju (Lava) and Master Subrahmanyam (Kusa)

Raja Malaya Simha (1959/Tamil and Telugu)
The censor certificate of the film says that it was ‘partly coloured’

Bandipotu (1963/ Telugu)

Amarashilpi Jakkanna (1964/ Telugu)

Tene Manasulu (1965/Telugu)

Veera Abhimanyu (1965/Tamil and Telugu)

Tahsindar Gari Ammayi (1974/Telugu)

Eenadu (1982) Telugu

[edit] The pioneers

First ‘entirely in colour’ film: Lavakusa (1963/ GevaColor).

Bandipotu (1963) was Telugu cinema's first film to have some sequences in Eastmancolor

Amarashilpi Jakkanna (1964/ Telugu) was Telugu Cinema's first full length colour film shot in Eastmancolor. The economics of using expensive Eastmancolor made sense because the 161-minute epic was simultaneously made in Telugu as well as Kannada. The film was directed by Ranga B.S. and Jakkanna was played by Akkineni Nageshwara Rao. Saroja Devi B. acted as his love interest.

Eenadu (1982) is supposed to be the first Eastmancolor film in Telugu. Maybe it was the first Eastmancolor film in Telugu alone (without a simultaneous version in another Indian language)

[edit] Milestones

First colour film: Lava Kusha (Geva Color) (1963)

First Eastmancolor film: Bandipotu (Partly coloured) (1963)

First full length Eastmancolor film: Amara Shilpi Jakkanna (1964)

First ‘social’ film in colour: Tene Manasulu (Eastmancolor) (1965)

Last film in Geva Color Tahsindhar Gari Ammayi (1974)

Then where does this leave Eenadu (1982/ Telugu)? Nowhere. ( Eenadu is claimed on the internet to be the first Telugu film in Eastmancolor)

[edit] The early years

[edit] From ‘Partly in Colour’ to Entire Film in Colour

Allavuddin Adbhuta Deepam (1957/ Telugu ) Partly in colour. Arguably the first Telugu film with any colour scenes at all.

Appu Chesi Pappu Koodu (1958/ Telugu) Partly in colour

Deiva Balam (1959/ Telugu) The second half and some other sequences were in Gevacolor.

Runanubandham (1960/ Telugu) Partly in Gevacolor

Lava Kusa (1963/ Telugu) This was the first full length Telugu film to be shot in colour, i.e. Gevacolor.

[edit] Gevacolor

[edit] Partly in Gevacolor

A 1962 Telugu film, Aaradhana was partly in colour. The song "Oho oho Mavayya" was shot in Gevacolor.

[edit] Eastmancolor

[edit] Partly in Eastmancolor

(The rest of the following films was in black and white)

Bandipotu (1963)

Veera Abhimanyu (1965)

Gudachari 116 (1967)

Poola Rangadu (1967)

Manasu Mangalyam (1969)

Bandipotu Dongalu (1969)

Mooga Nomu (1969)

Dharma Daata (1970)

Amayakural (1971)

Sri Krishna Vijayam (1971)

Ammma Kosam (1970)

Sisindri Chittibabu (1971)

Pavitra Hrudhayalu (1971)

[edit] Entire film in Eastmancolor

Ave Kallu (1967)

Bhakta Prahlada (1967)

Rahasyam (1967)

Vasantha Sena (1967)

Kalyana Mandapam (1971)

Prem Nagar (1971)

Sampoorna Raamaayanam (1971)

Sri Krishna Satya (1971)

Manchi Rojulu Vachayi (1972)

Andala Ramudu (1973)

Bhakta Tukaram (1974)

Krishnaveni (1974)

[edit] Authorship

Sajeeth Naveen Lourdes

created this page by sending photographs and facts as messages to the Facebook community, Indpaedia.com.

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[edit] See also

Colour films in South Asia

Colour films in India

Colour films in Hindi-Urdu

Colour films in Tamil

Colour films in Telugu

CinemaScope films in Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka I.e. the first part of this article

70mm films in India/ South Asia

Cinerama theatres in India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka

3D films in South Asia

IMAX in India