As Clock is ticking towards the release of Manmadhudu, we present you an analysis on Nagarjuna.

No one predicted with Vikram that Nagarjuna would become such a star as he is today. A hero who had tough time in dialogue delivery 10 years ago now stands out as one of the top four actors in the telugu film industry. An actor with a very mild physique now turns out to be the charmer of the Tollywood. Looking at his latest pictures one feels he is really "Manmadhudu". It will not be an exaggeration to say that no other hero in the tollywood had the kind of lady following that Nagarjuna had.




1992 - Comeback of Nagarjuna and change of his image.
After a string of flops, Nagarjuna got a push in the form of Killer directed by Faazil. It went for a decent run. Music is by Ilayaraja. The songs became a big hit too. “PriyaPriyathama” stands out as the best even today in the list of romantic songs.
Even after so many flops, he still was the heartthrob of many. When Mukul S Anand is directing KhudhaGawa, he was looking for a dynamic personality to play opposite Sridevi. Sridevi recommended Nagarjuna’s name and he was roped in. He played a secondary role. This shows his professionalism. He has no reservations of any kind to play that role.

In June of 1992, he got married to actress Amala after divorcing his first wife. Nagarjuna is one of the heroes who maintain his personal and professional life separate. He never cared on how his personal front would affect his professional career.
Antham: A masterpiece directed by RamGopalVarma released in September of 92. The movie failed to click at the Box office, because of its anticlimax. This is one of the roles, where no one can fit in like Nagarjuna. This is a very violent but heart touching movie. R D Burman provided music. Urmila debuted into Telugu through this movie.

After a confusing change in his carrer, what happened towards the end of 1992 changed his career forever. October of 1992 witnessed the release of President Gari Pellam, a total commercial movie directed by A. KodandaRamiReddy. Meena acted as heroine. At the point, Meena was leading the heroine wagon with hits like Rajeswari Kalyanam, Allari Pilla etc. She already got a good place with all lady audience. President Gari Pellam went to become a very big hit though it got an initial bad talk.

1993: A hero image
Rakshana, directed by another new comer Uppalapati NarayanaRao. The movie is about honest and dynamic police officers. Music is provided by Keeravani. Both audio and the movie did very well.
Vaarasudu is a remake of Phool aur Khantee directed by E V V. Krishna played the role of Nagarjuna’s father. Clashes took place between Krishna and Nagarjuna fans because of a few scenes in the movie. This movie is also declared a hit at the box office.
Allari Alludu another mass movie directed by A kodanda Rami Reddy. This time, added highlight to the movie is Vanisree doing the role of Nagarjuna’s mother-in-law. In this movie he supposedly did a horse-riding stunt by himself. This movie ultimately went on to become a very good hit.

By 92, Nagarjuna was successful in establising himself as a mass hero also.

1994 : Year of experimentation
This year is an experimental year for Nagarjuna. After tasting success in 92 and 93, Nagarjuna did Govinda Govinda in the direction of RamGopalVarma. Censor board had to cut lot of scenes involving Lord Venkateswara as the board felt that the scenes might offend the sentiments of devotees. Director RamGopalVarma got irritated with this as he felt there is nothing of such kind. He even took an oath that he will never another Telugu movie. Good music by RajKoti, presence of Sridevi, direction by RamGopal Varma - nothing could save the movie from being a disaster.
EVV and Nagarjuna came out with Hello Brother, loosely based on Jackie Chan’s Twin Brothers. This movie had all the right elements. Raj-Koti provided the best with “Priya Raagale” and “Kanne Petta Roi”. Comedy by Kota and Mallikarjuna Rao clicked very well. The same type of comedy was used by EVV in his earlier movie with Naga Babu, “Shri 420”. That movie did not click well. Hence this comedy track remained not known to most of the audience.
Nagarjuna did a full-length comedy role for the first time. And its his first movie doing a double role. The movie created sensations at the box office.
Balancing the comedy is a very serious film, Criminal. Directed by Mahesh Bhatt,, this is loosely based on Harrison Ford’s Fugutive. This movie stands as one of the outstanding movies and performances of Nagarjuna. It did not click at the box office.

1995 - Turns Producer
S.V.KrishnaReddy was riding high on the success. He started a trend of casting a hero for a special song in the movie with Yamaleela. He wanted to create the same wonders with a special Nagarjuna song in Gatothkachudu. The song created news when Amala went on to the sets and filed a complaint against the makers of the film for mistreating a panther in the song.
Gharana Bullodu released in the April of 1995. A total mass movie but failed to create the magic at the box office. This is directed and produced by veteran director K. RaghavendraRao.

Nagarjuna turned producer with the film Sisindri. Sisindri is a flick from Baby’s day out. The movie was made with Akhil, son of Nagarjuna who was less than a year old at that time. Nagarjuna also played a guest role in the movie romancing Tabu. This year turned Nagarjuna as a producer (Great India Entertainments) with Sisindri.

Coming up A hero and an actor. Stay Tuned.
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