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{{Short description|1934 Telugu film by C. Pullayya}}
{{EngvarB|date = January 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2014}}{{Infobox film
| name = Lava Kusa
| director = [[C. Pullayya]]
| screenplay = Vallabhajosyula Ramana Murthy
{{Infobox | decat = yes | child = yes
| label1= Dialogues by
| data1 = {{Ubl |[[Balijepalli Lakshmikantha Kavi]]}}
}}
| producer = Motilal Chamaria
| starring = Parupalli Subbaravu<br/>[[Sriranjani Sr.]]<br/>Master Bhimaraju<br/>Master Malleswara Rao<br/>Parupalli Satyanarayana
| music = Prabhala Satyanarayana
| studio = [[East India Film Company]]
| released = {{Film date|1934|12|22|df=y}}
| runtime = 165 minutes
| country = India
| language = Telugu
}}
'''''Lava Kusa''''' is a 1934 [[Telugu language|Telugu]]-language [[Hindu mythological film]] directed by [[C. Pullayya]] and produced by Motilal Chamaria under the [[East India Film Company]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Lava Kusa (1934) |url=https://indiancine.ma/BLH/info |access-date=2024-10-19 |website=Indiancine.ma}}</ref> The film is based on the play ''Lava Kusa'', written by K. Subrahmanya Sastry, and marks an important milestone in early [[Telugu cinema]]. It was one of the first Telugu films to feature recorded songs, following the trend set by ''[[Sati Savitri (C. Pullayya film)|Sati Savitri]]'' (1933). All the songs in ''Lava Kusa'' were well received, contributing to its success.<ref name="Kanudu Kanudu Ramayanagatha">{{cite web |last1=Harikrishna |first1=Mamidi |title=కనుడు … కనుడు రామాయణగాథ |url=http://navatarangam.com/2011/09/filmy-ramayanam/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150315074944/http://navatarangam.com/2011/09/filmy-ramayanam/ |archive-date=15 March 2015 |accessdate=27 January 2015 |website=Navatarangam |publisher= |language=te}}</ref>

The film narrates the [[Ramayana]] story of [[Sita]], who, after retiring to the forest, gives birth to twin sons, [[Lava (Ramayana)|Lava]] and [[Kusha (Ramayana)|Kusa]]. Unaware that [[Rama]] is their father, the twins later confront him. The film was a major hit and ran in some theatres for over a year. It marked the acting debut of singer [[Sriranjani Sr.|Sriranjani]]. It was also one of the first Telugu films to have a wide release in rural areas of [[Andhra Pradesh]].<ref name=":0" />

C. Pullayya, in collaboration with his son [[C. S. Rao]], remade ''[[Lava Kusa (1963 film)|Lava Kusa]]'' in 1963, featuring [[N. T. Rama Rao]] and [[Anjali Devi]] in the lead roles.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Narasimham |first=M. L. |date=13 January 2017 |title=Blast from the Past with Lava Kusa |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/art/LAVA-KUSA-1963/article17035779.ece |access-date=19 October 2024 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2011-11-18 |title=Reliving the magic of 'Lava Kusa' |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/reliving-the-magic-of-lava-kusa/article2638709.ece |access-date=2024-10-19 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-03-29 |title=Lava Kusa: తెలుగునాట వెలుగుతూనే ఉన్న 'లవకుశ'! |url=https://ntvtelugu.com/movie-news/all-time-telugu-classic-lavakusa-completes-60-years-340416.html |access-date=2024-10-19 |website=NTV Telugu |language=te-IN}}</ref>

== Cast ==
{{cast listing|
* Parupalli Subbarao as [[Rama]]
* [[Sriranjani Sr.|Sriranjani Senior]] as [[Sita]]
* Master Bhimaraju as [[Lava (Ramayana)|Lavudu]]
* Master Malleswara Rao as [[Kusha (Ramayana)|Kusudu]]
* Parupalli Satyanarayana as [[Valmiki]]
* Eemani Venkataramayya as [[Lakshmana]]
* K. Nagamani as [[Bharata (Ramayana)|Bharata]]
* Chari as [[Shatrughna|Satrughna]]
* Madduri Buchanna Sastri as [[Vasishtha|Vasishta]]
* Dr. H. V. Venkatachalam as Rajakudu
* P. V. Ramana Rao as Erigadu
* Ramadevi as Dharitri
* Padmabala
* Bhushanashastri
}}

== Production ==
Prior to ''Lava Kusa'', a total of nine films were produced in various Indian languages based on the same storyline. The first adaptation was a silent film made in 1919 by [[R. Nataraja Mudaliar]]. The [[East India Film Company]] made an attempt to produce the film in Telugu in 1934. The dialogues were written by the prominent poet [[Balijepalli Lakshmikantha Kavi|Balijepalli Lakshmikantam]].<ref name="Nati 101 Chitralu">{{cite book |last1=S. V. |first1=Rama Rao |title=Nati 101 Chitralu |date=2009 |publisher=Kinnera Publications |edition=2 |location=Hyderabad |pages=9,10}}</ref>

For the role of [[Rama]], Parupalli Subbaraju was selected. [[Sriranjani Sr.]] played the role of [[Sita]]. Masters Bhimaraju and Mallikarjuna Rao were cast as [[Lava (Ramayana)|Lava]] and [[Kusha (Ramayana)|Kusa]]. B. C. H. Narasinga Rao was chosen for the role of Rajakudu. Notably, Sriranjani was already famous for playing male roles in plays.<ref name="Nati 101 Chitralu" /> The casting choice for [[Lakshmana]] was made with the consideration that the actor should resemble Parupalli Subbaraju, who played Rama, leading to the selection of Eemani Venkataramayya.<ref name="Nati 101 Chitralu2">{{cite book |last1=Pulagam |first1=Chinnarayana |title=Anati Anavallu |date=2016 |publisher=Vijaya Publications |edition=4 |location=Chennai |pages=11–16}}</ref>

''Lavakusa'' was filmed in [[Kolkata|Calcutta]]. The chariots and settings used were repurposed from [[Debaki Bose]]'s Bengali film ''[[Seeta (1934 film)|Seeta]]'' (1934).<ref name="Nati 101 Chitralu" />

== Music ==
The music for the film was composed by Prabhala Satyanarayana.<ref name="Nati 101 Chitralu" /> The lyrics for all the songs were penned by [[Balijepalli Lakshmikantha Kavi|Balijepalli Lakshmikantam]]. Some tunes used in the film were adapted from songs previously utilized in the film ''Seeta'', while other songs and verses were originally written for this film. In total, the film features 21 songs and 10 verses. The songs became widely popular and were sung as devotional hymns. The Sun Recording Company in [[Kakinada]] released the film's songs as records. According to film journalist Pulagam Chinnarayana, the practice of publishing song lyrics as books began with this film.<ref name="Nati 101 Chitralu2" />

== Release ==
[[File:Lavakusa_Advt.png|alt=Advertisement for Lavakusa published in Andhra Patrika on January 5, 1935|thumb|Advertisement for ''Lava Kusa'' in ''Andhra Patrika'' on 5 January 1935|249x249px]]

The contract method of releasing films was prevalent, where prints of the films did not return until the contract ended, leading to a gradual decline of this method. Before this, films were showcased using projectors made from wooden pieces and old machinery. The [[East India Film Company]] signed a contract with the "Chatterjee Bhupal Sound System" in Calcutta to introduce "Single Star Simplex Projectors" with this film. The methods established during this time laid the groundwork for the technological advancements that would eventually evolve into digital cinema.<ref name="Kanudu Kanudu Ramayanagatha" />

== Reception ==
The film was a major hit, running in theaters for over a year and drawing large crowds.<ref name=":0" /> At [[Vijayawada]]'s Durga Kalamandiram theatre, the atmosphere resembled a festival due to the high turnout. The film's collections surprised everyone, setting a record by earning ₹40,000, a significant achievement for early Telugu cinema.<ref name="Kanudu Kanudu Ramayanagatha" />

== See also ==

* [[Lavakusa|''Lava Kusa'']] - 1963 film

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{IMDb title|0255315}}

[[Category:1930s Telugu-language films]]
[[Category:1934 films]]
[[Category:Indian black-and-white films]]
[[Category:Films based on the Ramayana]]
[[Category:Hindu mythological films]]
[[Category:Films directed by C. Pullayya]]

Lava Kusa (1934 film) - Revision history

Timesofmillionaire at 20:15, 6 March 2026