Carrying on a legacy

Two of my greatest childhood pleasures have been indulging in the mad scramble for Chandamama, the colourful monthly magazine for children replete with fun, fantasy and folklore, and watching the mythological, family entertainer with an all-time appeal, "Maya Bazaar".

Long before the advent of computer graphics, we gazed enviously at the inimitable S.V. Ranga Rao as Ghatothkacha, hungrily eating ladoos that literally danced their way into his mouth. My heart would leap up in wonder and joy while watching those films. Since then, no fancy dress competition has been complete without the mythological character Ghatothkacha with his gadha on his shoulder and the popular refrain, ``Kalyana samayal saadham'' from "Maya Bazaar" on his lips.

The credit for all this and much more like the construction of a beautiful wedding hall, the Vijaya Sesh Mahal, the Vijaya Hospital, Prasad Colour Lab, Dotton Press, the largest studio complex, Vijaya-Vauhini and giving many hit films in Tamil and Telugu through Vijaya Productions, should go to B. Nagi Reddy, an institution and a phenomenon, who will complete 90 eventful years of his life in December.

Nagi Reddy and his brother, B. Narasimha Reddy, are the only two Dada Saheb Phalke awardees hailing from the same family.

Besides, the movie, ``Paathala Bhairavi'', made by Nagi Reddy in 1951 has completed a 50-year run this year. It has been showing in various theatres in Andhra Pradesh since its release. No mean achievement this!

It is now the tunr of Nagi Reddy's son, Vishwanath Reddy to continue in his father's footsteps. He has now taken up film and television production. His father's `never-say-die' attitude, hard work, creative genius and human approach have been the guiding factors, says Vishwanath.

His first Tamil serial, "Enga Veetu Penn" will be telecast on Jaya TV every Monday at 8.30 p.m., starting September 17. Since it is being made by a well-known production company, people will have immense expectations from the serial.

The first few episodes have been shot in a Thiruvalangaadu, a village near Tiruthani.

The story is about two families and shows how the environment at home influences children's thinking process. "It can be seen by the entire family,'' assures Vishwanath.

The artistes include Bharat Kalyanpur, Ilavarasan, Gowtham, Mohan Vaidya, Priya Mahalakshmi, Jaahnavi and Anju.

R. Raghu is the director, Prabhu has written the dialogue, lyrics are by Piraisoodan, music is by Viswa Guru and S.V. Babu has handled the camera.

THARA MOHAN RAO

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