Megastar Chiranjeevi, the demigod of Telugu filmdom, has turned 60. On this occasion, we take a closer look at some of the best characters he has essayed and why they remain special even after so many years.
Sooryam from Khaidi
As the son of a local farmer in this 1983 flick, Chiranjeevi’s portrayal of Sooryam, a young man who gets wrongly convicted for the death of his sister, earned him his first blockbuster, and the film went on to rake in over INR 15 Million, a rare feat then. One of the highlights of the film was Sooryam’s escape from prison and his subsequent transformation, a la Sylvester Stallone from First Blood.
Raju from Gharana Mogudu
In K. Raghavendra Rao-directed 1992 film Gharana Mogudu, Chiranjeevi played a do-gooder, who saves his co-workers from their headstrong and self-obsessed factory owner, played by Nagma. Scenes between Chiranjeevi and Nagma are still spoken about whenever the movie is revisited and it’s impossible to not groove to the chart-buster song, Bangaru Kodi Petta.
Indrasena Reddy/Shankar Narayana from Indra
Considered one of the biggest hits of Chiranjeevi’s career, Indra showed the versatility of the actor in performance, dialogue delivery and dance. Set against the feuding lands of Rayalaseema, this story of faction fights and bloodshed, openly criticised the political system and hinted at Chiranjeevi’s entry into politics. Although featuring a tried-and-tested format of story, the film worked solely because of Chiranjeevi’s flawless acting.
Professor Tagore from Tagore
In his sincere portrayal of a common man’s fight against corruption, Chiranjeevi excelled as an actor in Tagore. Touted as one of his most restrained performances ever the film is etched in the audience’s memory even after a decade since its release. Reason being its powerful story. Chiranjeevi’s monologue in the climax happens to be one of the best moments of the film. The success of the film and the character cemented his image as the man of the masses.
Shankar Prasad from Shankar Dada MBBS
A faithful remake of Munnabhai MBBS, this 2004 film brought to the fore the comic side of the megastar to perfection. It’s a film that’s largely fun and serious only at some places. Chiranjeevi as the funny don, learning the ropes of medical education, was a treat to watch then and even now. And his chemistry with his cronies is one of the reasons why the humor in the film worked out so beautifully.
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