Maya Bazaar - 50 years young

Exactly 50 years ago, Maya Bazaar directed by KV Reddy was released. It remains like an encyclopaedia for the Telugu films. Even though the film industry then was not technical advanced like today, the director made it a technical marvel. Especially, the scenes - the magical tricks in Maya Bazaar performed by Chinnamaya, the taking away of Sasirekha along with the cot by Ghatotkacha, the fighting scenes between Ghatotkacha and Abhimanyu, the change of Ghatotkacha as Sasirekha and vice-versa, the way the fire balls attack the chariot of Abhimanya and Subhadra - were shot with excellent technical expertise just with the help of a movie camera by Marcus Bartley under the guidance of KV Reddy which enthral the audiences even now. Though several films are coming with the use of graphics, even now, Maya Bazar continues to remain a classic and even enjoyable for the people of all generations.

Speaking on the occasion, Akkineni Nageswara Rao, recalled his experiences and said, 'KV Reddy did a wonderful job. But for me and Gummadi, all the artistes who worked in the film are not alive. However, the film continues to cheer even the present generation youth. That film paved the way for many artistes to play as several mythological characters. For the first time, NT Rama Rao earned a good name in the role of Lord Krishna and he portrayed the same character in about 17 films and became a heartthrob of Telugu audiences.' The film is so great that one can't specify who is the hero.Each character has its own identity and the director KV Reddy has made the subject in itself a hero.