As Simhadri completes 23 years, we revisit how this iconic film cemented Jr. NTR’s superstardom in Telugu cinema. Remarkably, this record-breaking blockbuster, directed by S.S. Rajamouli, was born from a script initially passed on by Nandamuri Balakrishna, proving that one man’s reject can be another’s industry-defining triumph in Tollywood history.
Key Points
Balakrishna rejected Simhadri’s iconic story first!
Vasantha Kokila’s climax ignited Simhadri’s powerful plot!
year-old NTR shattered Tollywood’s box office records!
Simhadri: An All-Time Industry Hit, raking in crores!
NTR, Rajamouli, and Box Office History
Simhadri completes 23 years, marking a significant milestone in Telugu cinema. This film saw NTR creating an industry record with a story initially rejected by Nandamuri Balakrishna. Its narrative was famously born from the inspiration of Vasantha Kokila’s climax, among other notable highlights. The blockbuster movie ‘Simhadri’ emerged from the powerful collaboration of Young Tiger Junior NTR and ace director S.S. Rajamouli, marking their second film together after ‘Student No. 1’. Released on July 9, 2003, the film carved out a new history at the box office. Tarak, at just 19 years old, rewritten Tollywood industry records with this film, elevating his stardom to an unprecedented level.
In ‘Simhadri’, Bhumika Chawla and Ankitha starred as heroines opposite NTR, while Nazar, Mukesh Rishi, Kota Srinivasa Rao, Brahmanandam, Bhanuchander, Venu Madhav, Sharath Saxena, and others played crucial supporting roles. Vijayendra Prasad provided the story, with dialogues penned by Viswanath and M. Ratnam. M.M. Keeravani composed the music, Ravindra Babu handled cinematography, and Kotagiri Venkateswara Rao managed the editing. Doraswamy Raju and Vijay Kumar Varma produced the film under the VMC Productions banner.
Rajamouli’s father, Vijayendra Prasad, has often recounted how the climax scene of ‘Vasantha Kokila‘—where heroine Sridevi leaves hero Kamal Haasan—served as the genesis for ‘Simhadri’s’ story. He recalled an assistant commenting, “When the heroine leaves the hero, it feels like a pickaxe has been plunged into the heart.” Inspired by this remark, Vijayendra Prasad developed ‘Simhadri’ with the intriguing premise: “What if the heroine, who deeply loves the hero, is the one who plunges a pickaxe into his heart? What circumstances would lead to that?”
An Unconventional Story’s Birth
The story of ‘Simhadri’ was initially presented to Nandamuri Balakrishna, with B. Gopal slated to direct. However, the actor-director duo chose a different project. Eventually, V. Doraiswamy Raju came forward to produce a film based on Vijayendra Prasad’s story, leading to NTR taking the lead role under S.S. Rajamouli’s direction. This pivotal decision not only propelled Tarak’s mass image to new heights but also cemented Rajamouli’s status as a star director.
With ‘Simhadri’, NTR displayed his full potential in acting, dancing, fights, and dialogues, leading his name to resonate everywhere, from A centers to D centers. The film obliterated existing commercial film records, creating a box office sensation. In terms of collections and theatrical run, ‘Simhadri’ set unprecedented records across South India. It became the first film in the Telugu film industry to run for 100 days in 150 centers and further made history by completing 175 days in 52 centers. Made on a budget of Rs. 8.5 crores, the film collected a massive share of Rs. 26.5 crores worldwide, securing its place as an ‘All Time Industry Hit’. It also garnered significant collections during its re-release. Its immense popularity led to remakes in other languages: ‘Gajendra’ (2004) in Tamil, ‘Kanthirava’ (2012) in Kannada, and ‘Durddorsho’ (2005) in Bengali (Bangladesh). Simhadri’s 23rd anniversary marks a significant milestone in the careers of both NTR and Rajamouli.
Looking Ahead
“Simhadri” isn’t just a film; it’s a phenomenon. 23 years on, it stands as a monumental testament to NTR’s unparalleled star power and Rajamouli’s genius, shattering records and captivating millions. Its impact continues to inspire, reminding us that true cinematic brilliance creates a legacy that forever echoes across generations.
