‘Maya Bazar’ in a vibrant avatar

Come Saturday, the all-time great movie in Telugu Maya Bazar is set to hit the silver screens in colour format and more than anybody else, legendary actor Akkineni Nageswara Rao, who played the role of Abhimanyu in the movie, is curious to watch it again.

“With humour, action and drama in equal quotients, it’s already a colourful movie and this colour format adds new variety to the movie. It’s a ‘maya kalakandam’,” says Mr. Rao. Released on March 27, 1957 in black-and-white format, the film has a huge star cast, including N.T. Rama Rao, S.V. Ranga Rao and Savitri. “It is tough to point out the hero of the film. Apart from the story, I would say it was Savitri,” he explains.
Favourite song

On his favourite song in the movie, Mr. Rao says each song in the movie is exceptional. “But ‘Nivena nanu pilachinadi’ is the one I enjoy more and it would be interesting to watch it in colour format,” he says.

Apart from being associated with the movie as an actor, Mr. Rao has some interesting aspects to share with people.

“Actually, the movie release was postponed by over three months. On the sets of the film , I met with an accident and was hospitalised. Action scenes between me and S.V. Ranga Rao in Maya Bazar were yet to be filmed and were shot only after I was discharged,” he recalls.

This apart, there is one more interesting issue. “Unlike other producers who get worried over the delay, Mr. Chakrapani used to visit me in the hospital daily and taught me playing cards,” he laughs.

When asked to recommend one of his movies to be transformed into colour format, he replies saying “In fact, there were plans to transform Devdas into a colour movie but I suggested Mooga Manasulu. More than Devdas, which has deep melodrama, Mooga Manasulu with river Godavari in the background, would be a visual treat to watch it in colour format.”

Mr.Rao still feels the role he enacted in Baatasari film as his best and describes Adurti Subba Rao, L.V. Prasad and K.V. Reddy as the best directors he had worked with.