1991’s Kshana Kshanam is quite possibly the finest film ever produced by the Telugu Film industry.

I know it is not often that we at ACP unabashedly descend into pop culture, but given the official bifurcation of our United Andhra Pradesh, a number of you pointed out that our films are the one thing that will unite the people of both Telugu states.

But before all you Missamma, Gangleader, and Pokiri fans get your panchas in a bunch, allow me to explain.

While we have had movies that amazed (Magadheera), movies that inspired (Alluri Sitaramayya), and movies that entertained (Maya Bazaar), Kshana Kshanam is the only one that managed to hit all the right notes in a modern yet still timeless manner.

I can of course go on to elaborate in a critical exegesis of the artistic merits of this film, but for the busy professionals amongst us, I will summarize with a pithy list of reasons that explains exactly why this movie was so great:

10. Ram Gopal Varma (back when he was good)

It’s hard to remember the last time RGV made a good movie. From Aag to Department to Phoonk, AP’s most prominent director has had a decade of ignominy (with rare exceptions like Rann, which was excellent)–a reality even more torturous for his long time fans (present company included) .

But there was a time when Ram Gopal Varma was truly  the next big thing. Even before the gangland classic  Satya turned international heads, there was 1989’s Nagarajuna hit: Siva, which made not only regional but national waves. It was so critically acclaimed that Sridevi (the then uncontested top Indian actress ) herself sought out her greatest fan to work together. The project that was specifically developed as “a love letter to her” was none other than Kshana Kshanam.

Perhaps movies along the lines of KK will provide RGV a path back to cinematic success worthy of his undeniable talent.

9. The Actors were actually Telugu

Of late, and to our eternal embarrassment, there’s been a glut of non-Telugu speaking imports, in the industry. Whether north or south, hero or heroine, in the last ten years, the Telugu industry has, in many ways, ceased to be Telugu. Here, for once, we had directors, producers, and a cast that was predominantly Telugu–and most importantly–Telugu-speaking.

Even the very Guju Paresh Rawal sidestepped dubbing to deliver dialogues himself in acchu Telugu (with hilarious results).

8. Sri Paresh Rawal

Undoubtedly one of India’s most talented artistes, Paresh gaaru is a household name who has been in numerous film hits in Hindi (such as Hera Pheri) and theater productions in his native Gujarati. But for Andhras everywhere, he will always be “Nayyar gardu” from Kshana Kshanam.

7.Classy not Crassy

While the movie was funny and even goofy at times–it exuded class. Those of us who were abroad when it was released could actually showcase this movie to non-aficionados of Telugu or even Indian films and not cringe. Indeed, it was what I like to call haute-mass cinema.  It was entertainment without cultural effacement. Romance without prurience. Fashion without faux pas, and Comedy without Crudeness.

It was a simple story that was well told, well-acted, well-choreographed, and simply well-executed. Perhaps our current crop of filmmakers can take inspiration from the originality and universality of the storyline and the brilliance of its telling . It was not for nothing that it even had a decent dubbed run in the north as Hairaan.

What’s more, the film managed to capture the emerging zeitgeist of middle-class aspiration in the Narasimha Rao reform epoch. The song “Ko Ante Koti” was a lens on the dreams of economic and social advancement and material prosperity to which the masses could suddenly aspire. And yet, in spite of this meditation on materiality, it managed to give us a vision of modernity that still had place for morality. In short, classy not crassy.

 

6.  Modernity meets Morality 

In our gutter era of Khwahish and Raaz,  prurience is what has been selling tickets and filling up seats. And yet, Kshana Kshanam managed to do what all these never could, make a morality film amidst modernity.

A career girl that has fun in her own (second shows!) independent way, but balks at immodesty. A good for nothing wastrel, who still respects a woman’s honor and protects it when necessary.

Indeed, this film managed to do what few movies in the 2Ks have managed–which is to demonstrate that a pretty girl is never more attractive than when she is righteously indignant.

5. Brahmanandam

True, he was only in it for all of 2 minutes. True, they were not his all time funniest scenes. But only Brahmanandam could manage to steal a scene from Sridevi herself. Verily, these brief moments from Brahmanandam demonstrate the true potential of Telugu comedy, not through cheap humor or mindless gags, but through subtleties of language and cheekiness of attitude and skill in delivery. In short the ancient wit of the land ofTenali Ramakrishna in present day context.

Only one man could so expertly manage to forge irritability, arrogance, buffoonery, and delusions of grandeur into a single personality. It is precisely why he is called not merely “Anandam” but “Brahm-Anandam”.

4. Comedy

While Brahmanandam even in that brief scene managed to show why he is Telugu film’s (and I would argue Indian film’s) unrivaled King of Comedy, he was not the sole source of humor in this movie.

Venkatesh, Sridevi, Paresh Rawal, even the bit characters, all managed to produce a singularly excellent work product. Even the music (in the timeless balcony scene) was expertly executed for maximum effect.

If anyone ever asks you if there was a funnier Telugu movie than this, the only acceptable answer is “Teleed, saar“.

3. Venkatesh as the Modern Telugu Hero

Chiranjeevi will always be the uncontested MEGASTAR of Telugu cinema, and Nag will always be our “Tall, Dark, and Handsome” export to the North that broke a hundred thousand hearts, but Venkatesh gave us a truly modern, yet archetypal Telugu hero for the post-Liberalization era in united Andhra.

Tough when he has to be. Respectful cause he wants to be. Clever when he needs to be. And Romantic when he likes to be, “Chandu gaaru” managed to cover the nava rasa of what it takes to sweep a woman off her feet.

Venky managed to do it all in this role, effortlessly switching from wheeler-dealer and badass to sentimental singer and easy-going goofball. After all, how else could a petty thief like Chandu manage to win the heart of a modern, middle class career girl like Satya (sans the requisite bio-data)?

2. Songs

From foot-tapping dance numbers

 

 

 

…and humorous dream sequences

To sweet, uniquely Telugu Lullaby-Serenades (jholas)

…and reverie-rock Romantic romps

The songs in this movie are truly timeless. Above of all, because one of them actually featured a song sung by none other than the Queen Bee of the Late 80s/Early 90s herself:

 

This in turn leads us to the number one reason Kshana Kshanam is the greatest Telugu movie of all time:

1. SRIDEVI!!!

Yes, most people (even she )refer to her as Tamil (her mother is Telugu). Yes, she married Boney Kapoor (much to RGV’s and every Red-blooded Andhra man’s eternal disappointment). Yes, she hasn’t done a proper Telugu movie in decades. But few people can deny she was the greatest actress in the Telugu and Indian film industries.

From dancing to comedy to dramatic gravitas to that quintessentially Indian feminine allure, Sridevi in her prime was–and still is– the complete actress. What’s more, her character “Satya” is every pukka Andhra boy’s dream:

Alternatingly beautiful and simple, vibrant and whimsical, daring and demure,  modern and traditional–who could contend with such a radiant spectrum of charm? She would win mastery of our hearts over and over again in dance sequences, comedy scenes, with scintillating smiles or a simple glance. She proved convincingly that the true strength of a woman is not measured in decibel levels, but in inner strength and the independent will to do the right thing, laying even the greatest man prostrate before her.

In an interesting piece of gupshup, RGV himself admitted years later that the movie itself was conceived as a tribute, even love letter, to the Maharani of Movies…and it certainly showed. Perhaps that was why the film was such a critical and commercial success–unlike most Telugu phillims today, it truly was a work of the heart.

In any event, whether it was Mr. India, Chandni, or JVAS (Jagadeka Veerudu Atiloka Sundari), not a few  of Devi Sri’s greatest hits in Telugu and Hindi were given fitting homages in song by the movie. She remains, to this day, the epitome of Indian Cinematic Royalty, with Big B as her only peer. It is not for nothing that this Telugu ammayi was dubbed “Lady Amitabh”.

And there you have it, dear Reader. The Top 10 reasons why this 90s hit and multiple Nandi and Filmfare award winner will remain the greatest Telugu movie of all time. To read more about this classic, here is a well crafted 3 part series on the movie (*Spoilers in link*). Enjoy.

 

Now please excuse me, as I must now play it on my TV for the Thousandth time…