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{{Short description|1977 Indian film by K. Raghavendra Rao}}
{{for|2004 Telugu film|Adavi Ramudu (2004 film)}}
{{EngvarB|date=January 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Adavi Ramudu
| image = Adavi Ramudu 1977.jpg
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| writer = '''Story''': Satya Chitra Unit '''Screenplay''': K. Raghavendra Rao '''Dialogues''': [[Jandhyala]]
| producer = Satyanarayana Suryanarayana
| director = [[K. Raghavendra Rao]]
| starring = [[N. T. Rama Rao]] [[Jayaprada]] [[Jayasudha]]
| music = [[K. V. Mahadevan]]
| cinematography = [[A. Vincent]]
| editing = [[Kotagiri Venkateswara Rao]] Kotagiri Gopala Rao
| studio = Satya Chitra
| released = {{Film date|1977|4|28|df=y}}
| runtime = 143 mins
| country = India
| language = Telugu
}}

'''''Adavi Ramudu''''' ({{translation|Forest Ramu}}) is a 1977 Indian [[Telugu language|Telugu]]-language [[action film]] directed by [[K. Raghavendra Rao]], who also wrote the screenplay. The film stars [[N. T. Rama Rao]], [[Jaya Prada|Jayaprada]] and [[Jayasudha]], with supporting roles played by [[Nagabhushanam (actor)|Nagabhushanam]], [[Kaikala Satyanarayana|Satyanarayana]], [[Gummadi (actor)|Gummadi]] and [[Jaggayya]].<ref name="adaviramudu">{{cite web |title=Retrospect: Adavi Ramudu (1977) |url=http://www.telugucinema.com/c/publish/movieretrospect/retro_adaviramudu.php |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120102153803/http://www.telugucinema.com/c/publish/movieretrospect/retro_adaviramudu.php |archive-date=2 January 2012 |access-date=15 December 2011 |website=[[Telugucinema.com]] |page=1}}</ref> The film was edited by [[Kotagiri Venkateswara Rao]], with music composed by [[K. V. Mahadevan]] and cinematography by [[A. Vincent]].<ref name="adaviramudu" />

Released on 28 April 1977, ''Adavi Ramudu'' received positive reviews and became an ''Industry'' ''Hit'', running for 366 days in theatres. It won the [[Filmfare Award for Best Film – Telugu]] and re-established N. T. Rama Rao as a leading star in Telugu cinema.<ref name="Kartavya">{{cite news |date=15 December 2016 |title=Kartavya (1979) |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/Kartavya-1979/article16833496.ece |access-date=13 January 2021 |work=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref> The film was a major breakthrough for director K. Raghavendra Rao, helping him gain prominence in the industry. It was the highest-grossing Telugu film of the 1970s until the record was surpassed by ''[[Premabhishekam (1981 film)|Premabhisekham]]'' in 1981.<ref name="cinegoer.com">{{cite web |date=17 January 2007 |title='Adavi Ramudu' Shares At Various Centres |url=http://www.cinegoer.com/adaviramudushares.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070213032052/http://www.cinegoer.com/adaviramudushares.htm |archive-date=13 February 2007 |access-date=13 February 2007 |website=Cinegoer}}</ref>

==Plot==
Dharma Raju and his son Nagaraju run a smuggling and illegal transport racket of forest produce. Ramu opposes Raju and raises awareness among the villagers to fight against him. Padma, the daughter of the local forest officer, loves Ramu. One tribal lady Chilakamma also loves Ramu as a brother. Dharma Raju takes the help of one Jaggu to send Ramu away from the forest. The second half of the film reveals that Ramu is, in fact, a forest officer in a secret mission to investigate the case of forest affairs. The story finally leads to the arrest of all criminals.

==Cast==
*[[N. T. Rama Rao]] as Ramu
*[[Jaya Prada|Jayaprada]] as Padma
*[[Jayasudha]] as Chilakamma
*[[Nagabhushanam (actor)|Nagabhushanam]] as Dharmaraju
*[[Kaikala Satyanarayana|Satyanarayana]] as Nagaraju
*[[Gummadi (actor)|Gummadi]] as Raja Shekaram
*[[Jaggayya]]
*[[Raja Babu (actor)|Raja Babu]] as Bheemanna
*[[Sreedhar Surapaneni|Sridhar]] as Jaggu
*[[Mallikarjuna Rao (actor)|Mallikarjuna Rao]]
*[[Mada Venkateswara Rao|Mada]]
*[[Pandari Bai]]
*[[Rama Prabha]]
*[[Kavitha (actress)|Kavitha]]
*Baby Rohini as Gowri
*Shivanandakumar as Venkata Reddy

==Soundtrack==
{{Infobox album
|name = Adavi Ramudu
|type = Soundtrack
|artist = [[K. V. Mahadevan]]
|released = 1977
|genre = [[Filmi]]
|length = 27:24
|producer = [[K. V. Mahadevan]]
}}

The music was composed by [[K. V. Mahadevan]]. Lyrics were written by [[Veturi]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Adavi Ramudu (1977)-Song_Booklet |url=https://indiancine.ma/documents/CJU/info |website=Indiancine.ma |access-date=8 March 2021}}</ref> The song "Aaresukoboyi" was recreated for the 2004 Telugu film also titled ''[[Adavi Ramudu (2004 film)|Adavi Ramudu]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://idlebrain.com/news/2000march20/news246.html|title=Adavi Ramudu on 29 April|website=Idlebrain|access-date=27 September 2025|date=29 March 2004}}</ref>
{|class="wikitable"
|-
!S. No!!Song title !!Singers !!length
|-
|1
|"Krushi Vunte Manushulu Rushulautaru"
|[[S. P. Balasubrahmanyam]]
|6:07
|-
|2
|"Ammathodu Abbathodu"
|S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, [[P. Susheela]], [[S. Janaki]]
|4:20
|-
|3
|"Aaresukoboyi Paaresukunnanu"
|S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, P. Susheela
|4:17
|-
|4
|"Ennallakennaallaku Ennellu"
|S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, P. Susheela, S. Janaki
|4:36
|-
|5
|"Kuku Kuku Kokilamma"
|S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, P. Susheela
|4:38
|-
|6
|"Choodara Choodara"
|S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, P. Susheela, S. Janaki
|3:29
|}

==Production==

=== Development ===
The success of [[Dr. Rajkumar|Rajkumar]]'s ''[[Gandhada Gudi]]'' (1972), which had a forest backdrop, inspired [[N. T. Rama Rao]] to pursue a similar theme for his next project.<ref name="adaviramudu" /><ref name="Kartavya" /> After the failure of [[:te:ప్రేమ_బంధం|''Prema Bandham'']] (1976), producers Nekkanti Veera Venkata Satyanarayana and Arumilli Suryanarayana of Satya Chitra banner approached Rama Rao to collaborate on ''Adavi Ramudu''. They chose [[K. Raghavendra Rao]], who had just started his directorial career and was familiar to Rama Rao from assisting [[Kamalakara Kameswara Rao]] on ''[[Pandava Vanavasam]]'' (1965). Rama Rao agreed to the project, and [[Jandhyala]] was brought in to write the script and dialogues.<ref name="adaviramudu" />

=== Casting ===
[[Jayasudha]], who had worked with Raghavendra Rao on ''Raja'' (1976), was cast in a significant role, while [[Jaya Prada|Jayaprada]], a rising star following the success of ''[[Siri Siri Muvva]]'' (1976), was chosen as the heroine. Sridhar was selected for another important role opposite Jayasudha. Jayasudha was unaware of playing a secondary role until the last minute, but since she had already agreed to do the film, she just went ahead keeping faith in Raghavendra Rao. Despite receiving positive feedback for her performance, she received letters from fans advising her to avoid second-lead roles in future films.<ref name="adaviramudu" />

Although Rama Rao had committed to ''Adavi Ramudu'', he was also filming ''[[Daana Veera Soora Karna]]'' (1977) simultaneously and assured the producers that he would provide bulk dates after completing the latter project. The team proceeded with filming, confident in their cast and crew.<ref name="adaviramudu" />

=== Filming ===
[[File:Jungle_trek,_Wild_planet_resort,_Mudumalai_10.jpg|thumb|Majority of the film was shot in [[Mudumalai National Park|Madumalai forest]].]]The majority of the film was shot in the dense [[Mudumalai National Park|Madumalai forest]], except for the opening scene, which was filmed in a [[Chennai|Madras]] studio on 9 January 1977. ''Adavi Ramudu'' was the first film for which Rama Rao had given dates for more than a month (35 days) outside Madras. It also marked Rama Rao's first colour film shot in [[CinemaScope|Cinemascope]], using a special lens imported from [[Japan]]. Cinematographer [[A. Vincent]], who had previously worked with Rama Rao on [[Sonta Ooru|''Sontha Vooru'']] (1956), returned to collaborate on this film after a long break.<ref name=":0">{{cite web |title=Retrospect: Adavi Ramudu (1977) |url=http://www.telugucinema.com/c/publish/movieretrospect/retro_adaviramudu_2.php |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121130042038/http://www.telugucinema.com/c/publish/movieretrospect/retro_adaviramudu_2.php |archive-date=30 November 2012 |access-date=25 June 2012 |website=[[Telugucinema.com]] |page=2}}</ref>

Due to the remote location, the production team faced logistical challenges. With only three government guesthouses available, they built new accommodations for the 300-member cast and crew, working for 50 days to set up temporary facilities. Supplies had to be transported daily from [[Mysore]], 250 km away.<ref name=":0" />

Jayasudha recalled two accidents during filming. In one instance, both she and Jayaprada were thrown from elephants during a scene when the animals were startled by noise from junior artists. They escaped with minor injuries. In another incident, during a chase sequence, a horse cart axle broke, resulting in injuries for both actresses, requiring them to rest for a few days.<ref name=":0" />

==Release==
The film was released on 28 April 1977 to positive reviews.<ref name=":1">{{cite web |date=28 April 2005 |title=Adavi Ramudu: 29 years passed but the magic still remains |url=http://www.idlebrain.com/dejavu/adaviramudu.html |website=Idlebrain.com}}</ref>

== Reception ==
''Adavi Ramudu'' was a significant box office success, setting multiple records upon its release. It became the first film to collect more than ₹80 [[lakh]] in its first 50 days and the first to reach ₹1 [[crore]] within 67 days (10 weeks).<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Sri |date=27 November 2008 |title=Retrospect: Adavi Ramudu (1977) |url=http://www.telugucinema.com/c/publish/movieretrospect/retro_adaviramudu_3.php |access-date=2024-09-08 |website=[[Telugucinema.com]] |page=3 |archive-date=3 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111003004119/http://www.telugucinema.com/c/publish/movieretrospect/retro_adaviramudu_3.php |url-status=bot: unknown }}</ref>

The film completed a 100-day run in 32 centers, a 175-day run in 16 centers, and a 200-day run in 8 centers. It ran for 302 days at Apsara Theatre in Vijayawada and achieved a full-year (365-day) run in four centers, including Hyderabad, Vizag, Tirupati, and Vijayawada.<ref name="cinegoer.com" /> ''Adavi Ramudu'' was the first Indian film to run for a full year in four centres within a single state, breaking the previous record held by ''[[Sholay]]'' (1975), which ran for a year in three centers in Maharashtra.<ref name=":2" />

As of 2008, it still held the record for the longest run in [[Secunderabad]], with 161 days of continuous screenings.<ref name=":1" />

== Legacy ==
The film re-brought N. T. Rama Rao into the league of top heroes of the Telugu Film Industry. The success of the film made K. Raghavendra Rao an established director in Telugu Cinema. The title of the film was used for a [[Adavi Ramudu (2004 film)|2004 film]].

==Awards==
* [[Filmfare Award for Best Film - Telugu]] - N. V. V. Satyanarayana (1977)
* [[Nandi Award for Best Cinematographer]] - [[A. Vincent]] (1977)<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://ipr.ap.nic.in/New_Links/Film.pdf|title=నంది అవార్డు విజేతల పరంపర (1964–2008)|trans-title=A series of Nandi Award Winners (1964–2008)|publisher=[[Andhra Pradesh (magazine)|Information & Public Relations of Andhra Pradesh]]|access-date=21 August 2020}}(in [[Telugu language|Telugu]])</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{IMDb title|0257362}}

{{Filmfare Best Telugu Film}}
{{Jandhyala}}
{{K. Raghavendra Rao}}

[[Category:1977 films]]
[[Category:1977 action films]]
[[Category:Films directed by K. Raghavendra Rao]]
[[Category:Films scored by K. V. Mahadevan]]
[[Category:Films set in forests]]
[[Category:1977 Telugu-language films]]
[[Category:1977 Indian films]]

Adavi Ramudu 1977 film - Revision history

Priya.Miahram at 20:21, 3 March 2026