Yamajathakudu is a 1999 Indian Telugu-language fantasy comedy film, produced by Mohan Babu under his Sree Lakshmi Prasanna Pictures banner and directed by N. Shankar. It stars Mohan Babu, Rajendra Prasad, and Sakshi Shivanand with music by Vandemataram Srinivas. Despite releasing to positive reviews, the film was a box office failure.

Yamajathakudu
Directed byN. Shankar
Screenplay byN. Shankar
Story byParuchuri Brothers
Produced byMohan Babu
Dialogue byParuchuri Brothers
StarringMohan Babu
Rajendra Prasad
Sakshi Shivanand
CinematographyA. Vincent
Ajayan Vincent
Edited byGautham Raju
Music byVandemataram Srinivas
Production
company
Release date
  • 5 March 1999 (1999-03-05)
Running time
146 mins
CountryIndia
LanguageTelugu

Plot

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The film begins with a materialistic advocate, Sivaji, who falsifies the judiciary, succeeding in the phony cases for money. He is a tomcat, too, and dotes on his niece, Chintu. Once, he takes up a case of rape & murder convict Srinath, son of MP Narsingh. Sivaji wangles and incriminates the driver, Babji, therein. After a while, Sivaji becomes acquainted with & genuinely loves a charming girl named Sirisha when he reforms and quits his past life. During their engagement, Sirisha's housekeeper, Ramulamma, none other than Babji's mother, curses Sivaji. Thus, he pledges to acquit Babji as non-guilty and new trials. Whereat, malicious Narsingh & Srinath slaughter Sivaji, and he sets foot in hell. It is time for the latest Yama crowning ceremony. Consequently, Sivaji's wit arises in agony when he finds his lifespan is 11 days longer. So, Yama retrieves him with an agent, Puthana, to conceal.

Following this, Sivaji is on the verge of triumphing when the heels hit back. In the combat, Chintu loses her eyesight. Then Ramulamma bestows her own by self-sacrifice. Meanwhile, the wedding arrangements of Sivaji & Sirisha are in progress at Tirumala. Hereupon, Shivaji opts to bar it because of his short lifespan. So, he makes a play with his ex-girlfriend Swarna when Putana also aids him in developing loath in Sirisha. Yama notices it and lands on the earth when he inadvertently unveils Sirisha's horoscope, which shows her spouse has longevity. Accordingly, Sivaji rushes towards Tirumala, and Yama chases him. However, he steps into Tirumala, though blackguards block his way by ceasing them. At last, Shivaji ties the knot, Mangalasturam, to Sirisha before Yama's whip, Yama Pasam, locks him. Finally, the movie ends happily, with Venkateswara and Yama blessing the newly wedded couple.

Cast

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Production

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This film marks the second collaboration between Mohan Babu and Sakshi Sivanand after Collector Garu (1997).[2] A set of Yamalokam costing 40 lakh rupees was built at Annapurna Studios for the film around fifteen days by more than 150 artists.[3] Rajendra Prasad plays a junior version of Yama and Chalapathi Rao plays his father.[4] Three days into the film's shoot, Sakshi Shivanand complained that Mohan Babu had tried to visit her hotel room and try to rape her. Mohan Babu got angry and put his hand on her. After she threatened to complain to the police, Nagarjuna intervened and the shoot was completed.[5] An action scene was canned at Mahabaleshwar with Mohan Babu doing the stunts himself although N. Shankar advised him to use a dupe.[6]

Soundtrack

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Yamajathakudu
Soundtrack album by
Released1999
Recorded1999
GenreFeature film soundtrack
Length29:16
LanguageTelugu
LabelSupreme Music
ProducerVandemataram Srinivas
Vandemataram Srinivas chronology
'Swayamvaram'
(1999)
Yamajathakudu
(1999)
'Swapnalokam'
(1999)

The music was composed by Vandemataram Srinivas and was released on Supreme Audio Company.[7][8]

Track listing
No.TitleLyricsSinger(s)Length
1."Ding Dong Delhi Paparo"Bhuvana ChandraSukhwinder Singh, Sapna Awasthi4:47
2."Evaro Aa Sundari"ChandraboseHariharan, Sujatha4:37
3."Nee Chevulaki"Bhuvana ChandraMano, Swarnalatha4:53
4."Hey Sanga"Suddala Ashok TejaUdit Narayan,[9] Swarnalatha4:48
5."Vandhanalu Vandhanalu"Suddala Ashok TejaSukhwinder Singh4:39
6."Navvalamma Navvali"Suddala Ashok TejaK. J. Yesudas5:32
Total length:29:16

Reception

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A critic from Zamin Ryot wrote that "The film is entertaining" and added that "The director has worked hard to make all the characters entertaining".[10] A critic from Andhra Today wrote that "Lack of proper theme, impedes the director, leaving the film as a mediocre one".[11]

Box office

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The film was a box office failure, and Mohan Babu sold his house in Banjara Hills to compensate for the losses.[12]

References

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  1. ^ "Mahesh Babu Okkadu sister: 'ఒక్కడు' సినిమాలో మహేష్ బాబు చెల్లెలు ఇప్పుడెలా ఉంది.. ఏం చేస్తుంది..? [How is Mahesh Babu's sister in Okkadu now? What is she doing?]". News18 (in Telugu). 27 February 2021. Archived from the original on 6 March 2024. Retrieved 6 March 2024.
  2. ^ "దీప్తిని దువ్వుతున్న మోహన్ బాబు" (PDF). Zamin Ryot (in Telugu). 29 December 2000. Archived (PDF) from the original on 11 November 2022. Retrieved 6 March 2024.
  3. ^ "Hell on earth!". Andhra Online. Archived from the original on 9 October 1999. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
  4. ^ "జూనియర్ యమునిగా రాజేంద్ర ప్రసాద్" [Rajendra Prasad as Junior Yama] (PDF). Zamin Ryot (in Telugu). 20 November 1998. Archived (PDF) from the original on 11 November 2022. Retrieved 6 March 2024.
  5. ^ "Mohan Babu : అప్ప‌ట్లో స్టార్ హీరోయిన్ పై మోహ‌న్ బాబు అత్యాచార య‌త్నం చేశారా ? అస‌లు ఏం జ‌రిగింది ?" [Mohan Babu: Did Mohan Babu attempt to rape the star heroine at that time? What actually happened?]. India Daily Live (in Telugu). 29 July 2022. Archived from the original on 29 July 2022. Retrieved 6 March 2024.
  6. ^ "Yama Jathakudu: Schedule at Mahabaleshwar". Screen. 25 December 1998. Archived from the original on 16 May 2007. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
  7. ^ "Yamajathakudu(1999)". Cineradham. Archived from the original on 3 June 2016. Retrieved 6 March 2024.
  8. ^ "Yama Jathakudu". Wynk Music. Archived from the original on 6 March 2024. Retrieved 6 March 2024.
  9. ^ "పాటకు 30వేలు [30 thousand per song]" (PDF). Zamin Ryot (in Telugu). Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 September 2016. Retrieved 6 March 2024.
  10. ^ Gopalrao, Griddaluru (16 March 1999). "నవ్వుల రేడు యమజాతకుడు కా" [Yamajathakudu is the king of laughter] (PDF). Zamin Ryot (in Telugu). pp. 15, 17. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 September 2016. Retrieved 6 March 2024.
  11. ^ https://web.archive.org/web/20020329133025/http://www.andhratoday.com/movie/yjkudu.htm
  12. ^ Bhaskar (19 March 2023). "Mohan Babu: కష్టాల్లో ఉన్నప్పుడు ఎవరూ ఆదుకోలేదు: ఇల్లు అమ్ముకున్నాను: మోహన్ బాబు కామెంట్స్" [Mohan Babu: No one helped me when I was in trouble: I sold my house: Mohan Babu comments]. Oktelugu (in Telugu). Archived from the original on 21 March 2023. Retrieved 6 March 2024.
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