Credits
Banner: Suresh Productions
Cast: Venkatesh, Soundarya, Bhanupriya, Jayaprakash Reddy, Brahmanandham, Ali, AVS, Tanikella Bharani, LB Sriram, Ramaprabha, Ahuthi Prasad, Hema, Atul Kulkarni, Surya, MS Narayana, Ravibabu, Satya Prakash, Raja Ravindra, Banerjee, Jhansi, Narsingh Yadav, Kolla Ashok Kumar, Nirmala, Meena Kumari,
Music: Vandemataram Srinivas
Cinematography: K Ravindra Babu
Editing: K Madhav& Marthand K Venkatesh
Art Direction: Ashok Kumar
Choreography: Raju Sundaram, Lawrence, DKS Babu, Suchitra, and Harish Pai
Fights: Vijay (6)
Screenplay - Dialogues: Parachuri brothers
Producer: Suresh Babu
Original Story - Direction: N Shankar
Release Date: October 7th, 2000
Interesting Facts:
- After the success of Sri Ramulayya, Suresh babu called N Shankar to direct Raja but he said he’s already committed to directing Mohan Babu. Then he gave him an offer and said to prepare a movie with a good social message with a powerful story that suits Venkatesh. After finishing Yamajathuku, Shankar was actually sitting with Ushakiran Movies, Ramoji Rao production house, and then remembered Venkatesh asked for a story and narrated the line to Venkatesh. Once he heard the dual roles, Venkatesh gave green signal.
- He took 4 months to work on the story and took some problems happening in society at the time as inspiration and blended it into a commercial entertainer. Venaktesh and Suresh babu both gave green signal. This was coming after all time classic Kalisundam Raa so expectations were very high since it became industry hit. After Ganesh this was the first out and out mass movie Venkatesh was doing
- They registered the title Rudrama Naidu in Film Chamber then casting started and Bhanupriya and the classic combination Soundarya were selected as the heroines
- Jayapraksh Reddy, Atul Kulkarni, Brahmanandham, LB Sriram huge star cast and almost close to 60 people were cast
- April 22nd, 2000 they announced the movie N Shankar Venkatesh movie combo and then May 15th, 2000 first schedule started in Europe: London, France and Italy. Filmed 3 songs here and 30% of the movie was completed.
- Ramanaidu Studios, Annapurna Studios, Saradhi Studios majority was filmed, then rest was filmed in Ananthapuram and Rajahmundry. They also filmed the iconic scene at Yaganti in Kurnool. It is a Shiva temple.
- Since Venkatesh had raa title sentiment, they changed the title to Jayam Manadera from Rudrama Naidu
- Total budget 5 crores and movie has huge hype so any news became a hot topic. September 15th, 200 audio was released and became a huge hit. In one week, it sold 4 lakh cassettes which was an all time record
- October 7th, 2000 movie released and 1st half full comedy, Venkatesh Soundarya scenes and entertainment, then 2nd half flashback with sister sentiment scenes and Venkatesh death scene people loved
- B C Centers loved it and then A centers due to vebky stardom and following also said ok to the movie.
- Vandemataram Srinivas BGM and Songs was biggest asset to the movie and elevated the movie to the next level.
- Considered one of Venky’s best performances as Mahadeva Naidu for sure, Soundaraya and Bhanupriya were added assets. Atul Kulkanri and Jhansi both got breakthrough with this movie
- Box office performance, first week more than 3 crores share - all time record, Nizam 1 crore 23 lakhs share first week share all time record, Kushi would later go on to break the record, 4 week share was 7 crores, it was on track to pass Kalisundam Raa and become industry hit and biggest hit in Venky career, but from day 50 collections and centers started to drop
- Ran for 50 days in 103 centers, first movie to run for 50 days in more than 100 centers, 100 days in 33 centers and collected 12.5 crores share ended up as super hit at the box office. 5 out of the top 10 grossers at that point in TFi history were all Venkatesh movies.
