Telugu cinema audiences are gearing up for a nostalgic treat as the timeless socio-fantasy classic Jagadeka Veerudu Athiloka Sundari returns to theatres from May 9, exclusively in 4K 2D and 3D formats, on its 35th release anniversary. There is no denying that the film is etched in the history of Telugu cinema for its epic visuals, engaging storyline, and sensational music.
Directed by the legendary filmmaker K. Raghavendra Rao, Jagadeka Veerudu Athiloka Sundari stars Megastar Chiranjeevi and the eternally beautiful Sridevi in the lead roles. Esteemed Producer Ashwini Dutt bankrolled the film on his prestigious banner, Vyjayanthi Movies, without compromising on quality and grandeur. The collaboration of these legends made Jagadeka Veerudu Athiloka Sundari a landmark in the Telugu film industry.
Ahead of its re-release, Megastar Chiranjeevi, director K. Raghavendra Rao, and producer Ashwini Dutt reunited for a special interview, The Magical Reunion, where they reminisced about the beautiful memories of working on the film and shared several interesting memories and previously unknown trivia about the film. Here are the excerpts:
Q. How does it feel as the film is re-releasing after 35 years?
Raghavendra Rao: It feels like going to heaven or Indralokam once again. We all share a special bond with this movie.
Chiranjeevi: We are very excited. It’s hard to believe it has already been 35 years since its release. Every moment, whether on screen or off screen, still runs fresh in our minds. Time just flew by.
Ashwini Dutt: Tears are rolling down my eyes. I am forever thankful to Chiranjeevi garu and Raghavendra Rao garu for making this film possible.
Q. Is this your first film with Sridevi garu?
Chiranjeevi: No, we worked together in Rani Kasula Rangamma and Mosagadu before JVAS. But our chemistry worked really well in this movie. Even the audience forgot the earlier films until I reminded them. So, we can say this is the first real movie in our combination.
Q. How did JVAS come to life?
Raghavendra Rao: I was going through a series of flops before JVAS. Still, Dutt garu and Chiranjeevi garu believed in me. They sent me the story and asked me to direct it. I am forever thankful for that opportunity.
Chiranjeevi: When Dutt garu sent me the story, I liked it a lot. We both thought Raghavendra Rao should direct it. But many people advised against it because he had delivered three flops at that time. Still, we were firm. I said if Raghavendra Rao didn’t agree to direct it, we would cancel the project.
Q. All six songs in the movie were chartbusters. How were the music sittings with Ilaiyaraja garu?
Raghavendra Rao: Ilaiyaraja garu introduced a fresh sound and new style of orchestration to Telugu cinema. He is the Jagadeka Veerudu, and his music is the Athiloka Sundari.
Chiranjeevi: All the songs are unforgettable super hits. Interestingly, they were composed in just 3–4 hours. We gave a brief to Ilaiyaraja garu and Veturi garu in the morning and went to another shoot. By lunchtime, they came with a tune and lyrics. We immediately approved them. That’s how Abbani Theeyani Debba happened.
Raghavendra Rao: And we shot song was shot in just 1.5 days, in Bangalore and Ooty.
Q. We heard you shot a song with 105-degree fever and got hospitalised only after finishing it. Which song was that?
Chiranjeevi: It was Dhinakutta, the last song of the movie. The shoot was planned just days before the release. From the second day, I started getting the fever. I used to do one shot, rest for a while, then do another. We didn’t want to delay the release. After finishing the shoot, I was admitted to Vijaya Hospital. I regained consciousness only after two days.
Q. Can you tell us about the film’s technicians?
Raghavendra Rao: The 8th floor of Vijaya Vauhini Studios is the biggest in Asia. When we planned to shoot snow scenes in Kashmir, art director Chalam garu said it wasn’t needed. He built a beautiful snow set right there. Meanwhile, cameraman Vincent garu added magic by using polythene covers to look like icebergs and applied Vaseline to the lens edges for a glowing effect. We didn’t use a single VFX shot.
Chiranjeevi: There’s a scene where Sridevi flies back to her celestial world when the house erupts. Today, it would cost many crores to shoot that. But Vincent garu finished it in less than a day. Even today, that shot is unforgettable.
Q. Any unforgettable memories while working on this film?
Raghavendra Rao: One thing I can say, a film like this can never be made again. Even when a huge cyclone hit Andhra Pradesh and everything was shut, people still came to the theatres to watch this film. That shows the craze. It’s something that can’t be repeated.
Chiranjeevi: Just like Baahubali 1 created hype for Baahubali 2 with “Why did Kattappa kill Baahubali?”, Raghavendra Rao garu left a suspense with “What happened to the ring after the fish ate it?” in JVAS.
Q. Who would be the perfect fit for a sequel or remake of this movie?
Chiranjeevi: I won’t say I can do it now (laughs). I wish I could, but that sounds too ambitious. I think Ram Charan and Sridevi’s daughter Janhvi Kapoor would be perfect for a sequel or remake. I also feel Ashwini Dutt garu’s daughters should produce it, and his son-in-law Nag Ashwin should direct it, with guidance from Raghavendra Rao garu. That would be historic.
Later, many fans and audiences reminisced about their memories of watching JVAS 35 years ago. They also expressed their excitement about watching the movie once again in theatres with their kids and family members.
In a special moment, Ram Charan joined the conversation and congratulated the JVAS team for completing 35 years. He said, “This is a dream team. Legends like Ashwini Dutt garu, Raghavendra Rao garu, Ilaiyaraja garu, Vincent garu, and Paruchuri Brothers worked together. Such a legendary collaboration is rare. Maybe I became a Hanuman devotee after listening to the Jai Chiranjeeva Jagadeka Veera song in my childhood. It’s the most memorable film. It’s a magical, adventurous, romantic movie.”
Adding excitement for JVAS’ potential sequel or remake, Charan said, “We, the audience, still want to know what happened to the ring and that fish at the end of the movie. Only one person can answer – Nag Ashwin. We are not just asking, we are demanding an answer from you!”
The team concluded the conversation by hoping that kids and youngsters of this generation will experience the same magic of Jagadeka Veerudu Athiloka Sundari in theatres with their parents and families, from tomorrow (May 9).
