Robbub at 19:06, 3 March 2026

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{{short description|1981 Indian Telugu film}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2022}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2022}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Erra Mallelu
| image = Erra Mallelu.jpg
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = [[Dhavala Satyam]]
| story = [[Madala Ranga Rao]]
{{Infobox | decat = yes | child = yes
| label1= Dialogue by
| data1 = M. G. Rama Rao
}}
| producer = Madala Kodanda Ramaiah
| starring = {{plainlist|
* Madala Ranga Rao
* [[Murali Mohan]]
* [[Giri Babu]]
* [[Ranganath (actor)|Ranganath]]
}}
| cinematography = G. Mohana Krishna
| editing = Naini Maheswara Rao
| music = [[K. Chakravarthy]]
| studio = Navataram Pictures
| released = {{Film date|1981|05|01|df=yes}}
| runtime = 134 minutes<ref name="indiancine.ma" />
| country = India
| language = Telugu
}}

'''''Erra Mallelu''''' ({{translation|Red Jasmines}})<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=T5VZAAAAMAAJ&q=Erra+Mallelu |title=Vidura |date=1987 |publisher=C. Sarkar |access-date=22 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220906075403/https://books.google.com/books?id=T5VZAAAAMAAJ&q=Erra+Mallelu |archive-date=6 September 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref> is a 1981 Indian [[Telugu language|Telugu]]-language [[Drama (film and television)|drama film]] directed by [[Dhavala Satyam]] from a story written by [[Madala Ranga Rao]]. The film stars Ranga Rao, [[Murali Mohan]], [[Giri Babu]] and [[Ranganath (actor)|Ranganath]]. It revolves around two men starting a revolution against their village chiefs and the owner of a factory in the neighbouring village.

''Erra Mallelu'' was released on 1 May 1981 coinciding with the [[International Workers' Day]] (May Day), and emerged successful at the box office. The film is noted to inspire several other [[Communism|communist]]-themed films in [[Telugu cinema]]. It was remade in [[Tamil language|Tamil]] as ''[[Sivappu Malli]]'' (1981).

== Plot ==
{{No plot|date=June 2022}}

== Cast ==
{{Cast listing|
* [[Madala Ranga Rao]] as Ranga
* [[Murali Mohan]] as Soori Babu
* [[Giri Babu]] as Factory owner
* [[Ranganath (actor)|Ranganath]] as Ramanna
* [[P. L. Narayana]] as Kamayya
* [[Sakshi Ranga Rao]] as Karanam
* [[P. J. Sarma]] as Ramayya
* [[Sai Chand]] as Kistanna
* [[Chalapathi Rao]]
* [[Narra Venkateswara Rao]]
* Nalluri Venkateswarlu as Master
* MP Prasad
* [[Sutti Veerabhadra Rao]] as Lawyer
* Pushpa Kumari
* Krishnaveni
* Lakshmi Chitra
* [[Sri Lakshmi (actress)|Sri Lakshmi]]
* Navata
* Siva Parvati
* K. Vijaya
* [[T. Krishna]]
* [[Madala Ravi|Master Ravi]] (cameo appearance in the song "Nampalli Station")<ref>{{Cite web |date=2003-12-02 |title=In his fathers footsteps |url=https://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/mp/2003/12/02/stories/2003120200140400.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040117223527/http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/mp/2003/12/02/stories/2003120200140400.htm |archive-date=17 January 2004 |access-date=17 February 2024 |website=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref>
}}

== Soundtrack ==
[[K. Chakravarthy]] composed the film score and original soundtrack. Lyrics are written by [[C. Narayana Reddy]], [[Kondaveeti Venkatakavi]], Adrustha Deepak, Prabhu, and Dhavala Satyam.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Erra Mallelu by Chakravarthi |url=https://gaana.com/album/erra-mallelu |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210516164540/https://gaana.com/album/erra-mallelu |archive-date=16 May 2021 |access-date=3 June 2022 |website=[[Gaana]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Erra Mallelu (1981)-Song_Booklet |url=https://indiancine.ma/documents/CSU/info |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230127153314/https://indiancine.ma/documents/CSU/info |archive-date=27 January 2023 |access-date=5 June 2022 |website=Indiancine.ma}}</ref>

Gudipoodi Srihari, in his review for ''[[Sitara (magazine)|Sitara]]'' praised compositions like "Nampally Station Kada", "May Day Idi May Day", and "Jigibigi Jigijigi."<ref name="sitara">{{Cite news |last=Srihari |first=Gudipoodi |date=17 May 1981 |title=సినిమా రివ్యూ: ఎర్ర మల్లెలు |trans-title=Cinema Review: Erra Mallelu |url=https://indiancine.ma/documents/QHR/0,0,1260,4720 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230129153914/https://indiancine.ma/documents/QHR/0,0,1260,4720 |archive-date=29 January 2023 |access-date=3 June 2022 |work=[[Sitara (magazine)|Sitara]] |language=te}}</ref>

{{Tracklist
| extra_column = Singer(s)
| total_length = 10:04
| headline = ''Erra Mallelu'' (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
| title1 = Nampalli Station
| extra1 = [[S. P. Sailaja]]
| length1 = 03:14
| title2 = Oh Lag Gig
| extra2 = [[S. P. Balasubrahmanyam]]
| length2 = 03:11
| title3 = Anyayam Akramam
| extra3 = [[S. P. Balasubrahmanyam]]
| length3 = 03:12
| title4 = Bangaru Mathalli
| extra4 = S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, G. Anand, S. P. Sailaja
| length4 = 00:24
}}

== Release and reception ==
''Erra Mallelu'' released on 1 May 1981, coinciding with [[International Workers' Day]] (May Day).<ref name="indiancine.ma">{{Cite web |title=Erra Mallelu |url=https://indiancine.ma/BHLI/info |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230127152828/https://indiancine.ma/BHLI/info |archive-date=27 January 2023 |access-date=3 June 2022 |website=Indiancinema}}</ref><ref name="sakshi" /> Reviewing the film for ''[[Andhra Patrika]]'' on 6 May 1981, Venkatrao appreciated the writing and direction, in addition to the performances.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Venkatrao |date=6 May 1981 |title=చిత్ర సమీక్ష: ఎర్ర మల్లెలు |trans-title=Film review: Erra Mallelu |url=https://indiancine.ma/document/QHQ/0,0,608,1665 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230127153754/https://indiancine.ma/document/QHQ/0,0,608,1665 |archive-date=27 January 2023 |access-date=6 June 2022 |work=[[Andhra Patrika]] |language=te}}</ref> Gudipoodi Srihari of ''[[Sitara (magazine)|Sitara]]'' on 17 May 1981 praised writer-actor [[Madala Ranga Rao]] for addressing the various issues like terrorism, corruption in judicial system, worker rights etc.<ref name="sitara" /> The film was successful at the box office. Released in 23 centres, ''Erra Mallelu'' had a 50-day theatrical run in 17 centres.<ref name="sakshi">{{Cite web |last=Jayadeva |first=Rentala |date=2 May 2021 |title=Erra Mallelu: తెలుగుతెరపై అరుణోదయం.. ఎర్ర మల్లెలు |url=https://www.sakshi.com/telugu-news/movies/erra-mallelu-movie-completed-40-years-1360787 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220221122944/https://www.sakshi.com/telugu-news/movies/erra-mallelu-movie-completed-40-years-1360787 |archive-date=21 February 2022 |access-date=3 June 2022 |website=[[Sakshi (newspaper)|Sakshi]] |language=te}}</ref>

== Legacy ==
Rentala Jayadeva of [[Sakshi (newspaper)|''Sakshi'']] identified ''Erra Mallelu'' as a landmark amongst the [[Communism|communist]]-themed films in [[Telugu cinema]]. Jayadeva also stated that commercial success of ''Erra Mallelu'' inspired several films in the same vein, most notably, ''[[Erra Sainyam]]'' (1994) and ''[[Osey Ramulamma]]'' (1997).<ref name="sakshi" />

The film marked first on-screen appearance of filmmaker [[T. Krishna]]. Krishna grew full beard for the role and maintained the same look until his death. Singer [[S. P. Sailaja]] got her breakthrough with the song "Nampally Station Kada." ''Erra Mallelu'' was remade in [[Tamil language|Tamil]] language as ''[[Sivappu Malli]]'' (1981) which had a favourable reception.<ref name="sakshi" />

In April 2019, Kavel Alpaslan of the Turkish news outlet [[Gazete Duvar]], identified the song "May Day Idi May Day" in his article featuring the [[May Day]] songs from the [[Indian subcontinent]]. Alpaslan felt the "enthusiastic performance" of the two lead roles played by Madala Ranga Rao and Murali Mohan made it special.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Alpaslan |first=Kavel |date=2019-04-27 |title=Hindistan ve Pakistan'dan 1 Mayıs şarkıları |trans-title=May Day songs from India and Pakistan |url=https://www.gazeteduvar.com.tr/dunya-forum/2019/04/27/hindistan-ve-pakistandan-1-mayis-sarkilari |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220221123249/https://www.gazeteduvar.com.tr/dunya-forum/2019/04/27/hindistan-ve-pakistandan-1-mayis-sarkilari |archive-date=21 February 2022 |access-date=3 June 2022 |website=[[Gazete Duvar]] |language=tr}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

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

[[Category:1981 Indian films]]
[[Category:1981 Telugu-language films]]
[[Category:1981 drama films]]
[[Category:1981 films]]
[[Category:Films about communism]]
[[Category:Films scored by K. Chakravarthy]]
[[Category:Indian drama films]]
[[Category:Telugu films remade in other languages]]

Erra Mallelu - Revision history

Robbub at 19:06, 3 March 2026