Recently, Telugu cinema (also known as Tollywood) is finding a new wave of shoe-string budget independent cinema in the space dominated by mythological, fantasy, melodrama and star-driven commercial movies like Eega, Srimanthudu, Gautamiputra Satakarni,1 – Nenokkadine, and Baahubaali that has put Telugu cinema on the world map.
Movies like C/o Kancharapalem, Fidaa, Pelli Choopulu, Minugurulu are finding the appreciative foothold in Tollywood, and the latest movie by debut film-maker Raj Rachakonda “Mallesham” looks like another winner.
C/O Kancharapalem featured in our list of The 15 Best Indian Films of 2018
Mallesham is an inspiring true story based on Padma Shri winner Chintakindi Mallesham. A Class VI dropout from Aler village in Telangana, Mallesham constantly tried to make a mechanical machine for a painfully manual process called ‘asu’ in weaving the silk yarn for exquisite Pochampally Ikat sari. He struggled for seven years observing machines in rice mills and workshops in his village to create the machine.
Priyadarshi Pullikonda, popular for his appearance in Pelli Choopulu, is playing the titular character of Mallesham. As seen in the trailer, Mallesham takes it upon himself to find a solution when he sees his mother in perpetual agony due to constant weaving of silk yarn on to a large frame. His stubbornness turns into an obsession that puts his family in debt.
Having worked on comedy-drama ‘Tendlya (2018)’, director of photography Balu Sandilyas seems to have used natural light to add the extra dimension of realism to the biographical movie. Rest of the element to ground the movie in realism is very well taken care of by the production design team. Debutant Anusha Nagalla plays the role of Mallesham’s wife while Ananya is essaying the role of an ailing mother than pushed Mallesham to create the Asu machine. Mallesham looks like a clear winner from the trailer.
Mallesham Trailer
Official Synopsis – The life of Padma Shri winner Chintakindi Mallesham, who invented the Asu machine that processes yarn for sarees mechanically, is being recreated in this biopic.
Cast – Priyadarshi, Anusha Nagalla, Jhansi
Director– Raj Rachakonda
Writers– Peddinti Ashok Kumar, Raj Rachakonda
Language – Telugu
Running Time –
Release Date – 21st June 2019
Links – IMDb
