Mahiravana (film)

Mahiravana is a 1940 Indian Telugu-language film directed by Chitrapu Narayana Rao and produced by Ghantasala Balaramayya under the banner of Kubera Films. Veteran actor Vemuri Gaggayya played Ahiravan.

Mahiravana
Directed by	Chitrapu Narayana Rao
Produced by	Ghantasala Balaramayya
Starring	Vemuri Gaggayya Kanchanamala
Cinematography	Govindrao Bhadsavle
Music by	Galipenchala Narasimha Rao
Release date	1940 (1940)
Country	India
Language	Telugu

Mairavana turned out to be big hit because of its technical values.^[1] The directorial involvement with trick photography (Govindrao Bhadsavle) and opulent sets (T. V. S. Sarma) supported by the make-up (Mangayya) have contributed greatly to its success.

Plot

The film is based on the story of Mahiravana, who ruled the lower world, Pathala. During the Ramayana, Ravana kept Sita in captivity. The war ensued with the involvement of Vanaras. Ravana's wife, Mandodari, plead to him to release Sita. She also warned him not to form an enmity with Lord Rama. Ravana refused to heed her advice and sought the help of Mahiravana to kill Lord Rama and Lakshmana. Anjaneya built a fortress using his tail to safeguard them. But Mahiravana, using his mystical powers, brought them to the Pathala Loka. The Pathala Queen, Devi Bandini, was a devotee of Lord Rama and wished to marry him. Rama killed Mahiravana with her help and promised to marry her in the future generations.

Cast

• Vemuri Gaggayya as Ahiravan
• Kanchanamala as Chandrasena
• Rami Reddy
• Rayaprolu Subrahmanyam as Ravana
• T. Ramakrishna Sastry as Lord Rama
• Y. R. Suri as Anjaneya
• G. Seshachalam as Lakshmana
• K. Subrahmanya Kumari
• Nellore Krishnaiah as Matsyavallabha

1964 film

The film was remade in 1964 by B. A. Subba Rao. It starred Kanta Rao as Rama, Relangi as Anjaneya, Sobhan Babu as Lakshmana, Dhoolipala as Mairavana and Krishna Kumari as Chandrasena. S. Rajeswara Rao gave the music.