Prema Pusthakam

Prema Pusthakam
Poster
Directed by
Written byGollapudi Srinivas
Produced byAtluri Purnachandra Rao
Starring
Music byDevendran
Release date
  • 16 July 1993 (1993-07-16)
CountryIndia
LanguageTelugu

Prema Pusthakam (transl. Book of Love) is a 1993 Indian Telugu-language romance film which was partly directed by Gollapudi Srinivas before his death on the set of the film; it was later finished by his father, Gollapudi Maruthi Rao.[1] It stars newcomers Ajith Kumar and Kanchan, with Devendran was the music composer. This film is the first film that Ajith Kumar shot for and is his only Telugu film to date. The film was temporarily put on hold after the director died.[2] The film won three Nandi Awards.

Plot

Sreekar and Charitra are college students. They are expelled from their college. They find themselves homeless and unemployed. They decide to marry. On the eve of the marriage, a rich old man tries to disrobe Charitra with the intention of raping her. Charitra prevents him from disrobing and raping her. She stabs him to death with a thick piece of glass. The next day, she marries Sreekar. Seconds after the wedding, police enter the marriage hall and arrest Charitra on charges of murdering the old man. Even after this incident, Sreekar neither hates her nor does he abandon her. The court finds Charitra guilty of murder and sentences her.[3]

Cast

Production

The film was written by Gollapudi Srinivas, son of noted director Gollapudi Maruthi Rao, in early 1992 and Ajith Kumar was signed on to feature in the lead role.[5] Shooting for the film began on 2 August 1992.[1] However, during the ninth day of the shoot, the debutant director died after succumbing to injuries suffered during a water accident on sets in Vizag, Andhra Pradesh.[6][7] The death led to creation of the Gollapudi Srinivas Award, with the director's father Gollapudi Maruthi Rao giving the award to promising debutant directors to continue his son's legacy.[8] The film was duly delayed and later completed by Srinivas's father and only released in 1993.[6]

Soundtrack

The songs were composed by Devendran.[9]

Track listing
No.TitleLyricsSinger(s)Length
1."Anukunnadhi" S. P. Balasubrahmanyam2:58
2."Geluchuko" S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K. S. Chithra3:58
3."Kaliki Seethammaku" K. S. Chithra, S. P. Balasubrahmanyam3:08
4."Manugade Madhuramu" K. S. Chithra, S. P. Balasubrahmanyam 
5."Modhalainadhi Mana"VennelakantiS. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K. S. Chithra3:13
6."Moodu Nelalaega" S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K. S. Chithra3:15
7."Poornamadham"VeturiK. S. Chithra, S. P. Balasubrahmanyam 
8."Thiyagga Puttadhae" S. P. Balasubrahmanyam 
9."Visakha Beach Lo"VeturiS. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K. S. Chithra4:18

Release and reception

The film has been described by commentators as an "eminently forgettable" debut for Ajith Kumar, due to the problems faced during production.[10][11]

The film was reviewed by Zamin Ryot.[12] It was later dubbed and released in Tamil as Kadhal Puthagam in 1997.[13] A reviewer of the dubbed version wrote "The screenplay could have been better as the story flow seems to be discontinuous at times. In spite of this, the director has shown some flashes of talent in some scenes, especially scenes involving Ajit and Kanchan".[14]

Awards

Nandi Awards[15]

References

  1. ^ a b "A bid day for Thala Ajith! Check to know why!". Behindwoods.com. 2 August 2017. Archived from the original on 3 August 2017. Retrieved 2 August 2017.
  2. ^ Warrier, Shobha (6 April 1997). "Bad back, great future". Rediff. Archived from the original on 24 December 2018. Retrieved 8 July 2011.
  3. ^ "- YouTube". YouTube. Archived from the original on 9 December 2020. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
  4. ^ "Actor Sameer revealed interesting facts about Tamil Star Hero Ajith Kumar || RTV". 8 June 2021. Archived from the original on 6 June 2023. Retrieved 6 June 2023 – via YouTube.
  5. ^ "SPB reveals truth about Ajith". The Times of India. 11 March 2019. Archived from the original on 15 November 2022. Retrieved 15 November 2022.
  6. ^ a b Ramanujam, Srinivasa (30 April 2018). "Nine days and a killer wave: the story behind Ajith's 'Prema Pusthakam'". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 2 September 2018. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
  7. ^ Warrier, Shobha (6 July 1999). "Bad back, great future". Rediff.com. Archived from the original on 24 December 2018. Retrieved 8 July 2011.
  8. ^ "About Us". Gollapudi National Award. Archived from the original on 11 July 2011. Retrieved 8 July 2011.
  9. ^ "Prema Pusthakam (1993) - Devendran". MusicIndiaOnline. Archived from the original on 18 October 2014.
  10. ^ "Pyar to hona hi tha". Rediff.com. 15 September 1999. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 8 July 2011.
  11. ^ Ajith Kumar Archived 4 September 2011 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 8 July 2011.
  12. ^ Rahim, Allur (16 July 1993). "ప్రేమ పుస్తకం" [Prema Pusthakam] (PDF). Zamin Ryot (in Telugu). p. 11. Archived (PDF) from the original on 12 November 2022. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
  13. ^ Tamil Movie News--Pudhu Edition 3 Archived 15 February 2018 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 8 July 2011.
  14. ^ "Review of Kathal Puthakam". Archived from the original on 1 October 2000.
  15. ^ "నంది అవార్డు విజేతల పరంపర (1964–2008)" [A series of Nandi Award Winners (1964–2008)] (PDF). Information & Public Relations of Andhra Pradesh. Archived (PDF) from the original on 23 February 2015. Retrieved 21 August 2020.(in Telugu)