Favourite Characters - Telugu Cinema

I've watched Telugu films all my life and I love that they're unapologetic about playing to the gallery. Doing so, they create many extremely entertaining characters. Here's a list of my favourite characters:

1. DJ Tillu from DJ Tillu and Tillu Square

Siddu Jonnalagadda (who also co-wrote the films) plays Tillu to perfection. He nails the tapori Secunderabad guy. His crazy hair and funky outfits are the least outlandish part of his personality. He's a total flirt and is somehow still innocent. I disagree with the take that he's a misogynist. He was ready to marry Lilly when he found out she was pregnant without any thought. He was willing to risk his life so that Radhika could go back and get married. Whenever he says something which sounds like he's judging the woman, like when he asks about the bodycon dress, he sounds like he genuinely doesn't know what it is. 

Absolutely hilarious character put in weird situations. Great dialogues and delivery too. I'm super excited for Tillu the third.

2. Ghatothkacha from Mayabazar

I was debating if I like Krishna or Ghatothkacha more in the movie, and then I realized that the latter caters to all age groups, whereas I understood Krishna's clever plans only after I reached a certain age. 

Also, when I say Ghatothkacha, I also mean Maaya Sasirekha. Two absolute legends, SV Ranga Rao and Savitri put on a brilliant show and create magical moments, literally too. Vivaha Bhojanambu is still used whenever food is referred to in films and also at home. And the movie came out almost 70 years ago.

When I was a kid, I used to have a plastic mace with which I used to act like I was him. The character just steals the show.

3. Athreya from Agent Sai Srinivasa Athreya/ Panduranga Rao a.k.a James Pond from Chantabbai

I'm clubbing these two together because they're both very similar characters. Both are smart detectives but are also super clumsy. They're often laughed at for their antics, but they get the job done. And both of them have a troubled past, specifically related to their mother. 

We never really know anything about Athreya's childhood. From what I interpreted, he was raised only by his mother, with a little support from his uncle.

Coming to Pond's childhood, his mother had to work menial jobs, and she passed away when he was young.

ASSA was obviously inspired by Chantabbai so yeah, there will be similarities. Both great movies.

4. Amarendra Bahubali and Sivagami from The Bahubali Series

Amarendra Bahubali is the greatest man ever. The whole coronation scene in the 2nd film is just aura.

Sivagami is a very interesting character. The books give so much more lore. She wants to destroy the Mahishmati empire. You know how in the Bahubali 2 trailer, there's a 2 second clip of her saying "Antarayuddham" (civil war). That's basically what she wants. She could've done the whole thing on purpose. And the fierce way Ramya Krishnan portrays her. Peak.

5. Relangi Mawayya from Seethamma Vakitlo Sirimalle Chettu

Relangi Mawayya is the epitome of humanity. He has achieved enlightenment. His two sons are unemployed, and yet he's not worried. He knows it'll all workout in the end. My ambition in life is to be as level headed as him. The song 'Mari Antaga' is basically what his ideology is.

Chamatalem chindhinchaala, sramapadem pandinchaala, pedhavipayi chigurinchela chirunavvulu?

6. Sivudu from Swati Muthyam

Kamal Haasan as Sivudu has these cute mannerisms like lifting his hand up as if he's about to hit the person. All those adorable stuff apart, he's just very innocent. He realized Lalitha is being judged for being a widow and marries her. He does everything he can to provide for the family. He even goes to the extent of begging. He treats his children and grandchildren with such care. I teared up in the end when he took the Tulasi pot along with him when he left the house.

7. Kill Bill Pandey from Race Gurram

He is him. He's the cop we all need. He's gonna eradicate crime with his special task force in 5 days. Diwali's gonna come early for the criminals. They call him Kill Bill Pandey for a reason.

8. Pushpa from the Pushpa franchise

One thing I'm happy about amongst all the over-commercialization of Pushpa 2 is that they didn't meddle with Pushpa as a character. He is still that coolie without a surname. He wants to make his mom's and wife's life happy and that's it. He wants to prove that he can have a bigger identity without a surname. That's why all the "Pushpa ante brand-u" stuff. I love the interval of Pushpa 2 because it's just a very Pushpa thing to do. I thought he was going to lash out at Kesava. But he just kicks Srivalli and Kesava out the car and goes back to the party and actually pisses on Shekawat. His problem isn't saying sorry, because he says sorry twice to the women beside him. His problem is Shekawat. I'll write a blog later on why I liked Pushpa 2. 

9. Alluri Seetharama Raju from Khaleja

Mahesh Babu yelling, "SEETHARAMA RAJU, TAXI DRIVER" is absolute cinema. 

10. Sita from Godavari

Sita has to be one of the best written women in Telugu Cinema. She has solid ideals and feels like a girl you'd see in your daily life. She doesn't like people that easily but it's not shown in a bad way. Great writing by Kammula too. And Kamalinee Mukherjee + Sunitha's voice is such a beautiful combination.

11. Cable Raju from Vedam

One of the best character arcs in a Telugu film. Raju's frustration combined with ambition combined with insecurity is acted so well by Allu Arjun. His reaction when he finds out how much the party costs is hilarious. The way he steals money from the old man is heartbreaking. You hate him for how low he stoops, but when he returns it and cries, it gets so emotional. Keeravani's Malli Puttani gets tears rolling down your cheek. 

I love characters who are willing to do anything to climb up the social ladder and Raju is exactly that. Eventually, he gets a conscience.

Yup. That's all for this one. There's definitely many which I missed, like Savitri from Mahanati, Arjun Prasad from Leader, Arundhati from Arundhati, Pandu from Pokiri, Madhava from Aapadbandhavudu and many more. That's for another time I guess.