{{use Indian English|date=August 2021}} {{use dmy dates|date=August 2021}} {{Infobox film | name = Mandaladeesudu | image = | alt = | caption = | native_name = <!-- {{Infobox name module|language|title}} or {{Infobox name module|title}} --> | director = M. Prabhakar Reddy | writer = | screenplay = | story = | based_on = <!-- {{Based on|title of the original work|creator of the original work|additional creator(s), if necessary}} --> | producer = Dr. DVN Raju | starring = {{Unbulleted list|Kota Srinivasa Rao|Bhanumathi|Jamuna|Gummadi}} | narrator = | cinematography = | editing = | music = Raj–Koti | studio = <!-- or: | production_companies = --> | distributor = <!-- or: | distributors = --> | released = {{Film date|df=yes|1987|2|26|ref1=}} | runtime = | country = India | language = Telugu | budget = | gross = }}
'''''Mandaladeesudu''''' ({{langx|te-Latn|Maṇḍalādhīśuḍu||Sub-district head}}) is a 1987 Indian Telugu-language satirical film directed by M. Prabhakar Reddy and starring Kota Srinivasa Rao in the main role. The film was based on the then chief minister of Andhra Pradesh N. T. Rama Rao, causing the film's production to be controversial and both negatively and positively impacting Rao's career.
==Plot== The famous actor Bhima Rao (a parody of N. T. Rama Rao) shifts to politics, using theatrics, making impossible promises and cutting backroom deals to try to win the election.
==Cast== * Kota Srinivasa Rao as Bhima Rao * P. Bhanumathi * Jamuna * Gummadi
==Production== ''Mandaladeesudu'' was made by Krishna during a low point in his relationship with Rama Rao. Already major rivals in the film industry, their animosity increased after Rama Rao entered politics with the formation of the Telugu Desam Party and eventually became the chief minister of pre-bifurication Andhra Pradesh in 1983, with Krishna entering the Congress Party in response. During this period, Krishna made three films criticizing Rama Rao, with ''Mandaladeesudu'' being one of them.<ref>{{cite web|first=BVS|last=Prakash|date=2 December 2008|access-date=2021-08-23|title=The politics rivalry|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/the-politics-rivalry/articleshow/3779606.cms|website=The Times of India}}</ref> Initially, no one "dared" to play Rama Rao, especially leading actors, and even when Kota Srinivasa Rao, considered a "character actor", was cast for the part, he was fearful of the potential backlash.<ref>{{cite web|first1=Sashidhar|last1=Adivi|access-date=2021-08-23|title=An unwilling lot|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/entertainment/tollywood/050718/an-unwilling-lot.html|date=5 July 2018|website=Deccan Chronicle}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|access-date=2021-08-24|title=From 'Mahanati' to 'Yatra': Telugu filmmakers speak on the biopic craze in Tollywood|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/mahanati-yatra-telugu-filmmakers-speak-biopic-craze-tollywood-86984|date=21 August 2018|website=The News Minute}}</ref>
==Reception== According to Rao, he was blacklisted by some directors and producers in the industry that supported NTR after the film's release, and was also involved in an incident where he was confronted and beaten by a mob of Telugu Desam Party supporters at a train station.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bhaghyalakshmi |first=Challa |title= జీవితమే ఓ ప్రతిఘటన (కోట శ్రీనివాసరావు ఇంటర్వ్యూ) |language=te |trans-title=A life of resistance: Kota Srinivasa Rao Interview |pages=[https://lit.andhrajyothy.com/cinema%20cinema/kota-srinivasarao-interview-29130/page/27 27]-[https://lit.andhrajyothy.com/cinema%20cinema/kota-srinivasarao-interview-29130/page/29 29] |work=Andhra Jyothi}}</ref> Posani Krishna Murali has stated that NTR himself actually approved of Rao's performance and went on to say that the character was indistinguishable from him.<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ca3iQO_AHQ |title=Posani on NTR's reaction when films like Mandaladeesudu, Gandipeta Rahasyam were made & Chandrababu |date=March 18, 2019 |work=IndiaGlitz}}</ref> Rao also stated in a 2021 interview that NTR appreciated his performance, but that his son and fellow actor Balakrishna spat in his face when he encountered him during another film shooting in Rajahmundry sometime during the 1990s.<ref>{{cite web|access-date=2021-08-23|title=Nandamuri Balakrishna Spit in My Face: Senior Tollywood Actor|url=https://english.sakshi.com/news/tollywood/nandamuri-balakrishna-spit-my-face-senior-tollywood-actor-141550|date=23 August 2021|website=Sakshi Post}}</ref> Later on, Jandhyala decided to cast Rao as the miser character Lakshmipathy in the film ''Aha Naa-Pellanta!'' based on his acting in ''Mandaladeesudu'' despite the initial objections of producer D. Ramanaidu, with both the film and the character becoming a huge success.<ref>{{cite web|access-date=2021-08-23|title=లక్ష్మీపతి పాత్రకు తొలుత అనుకున్నదెవరినో తెలుసా?|trans-title=|language=te|url=https://www.eenadu.net/telugu-news/movies/aha-naa-pellanta-director-jandhyala-wants-to-give-lakshmipathi-role-to-rao-gopala-rao/0208/120151295|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220823023244/https://www.eenadu.net/telugu-news/movies/aha-naa-pellanta-director-jandhyala-wants-to-give-lakshmipathi-role-to-rao-gopala-rao/0208/120151295|url-status=dead|archive-date=23 August 2022|website=Eenadu}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{IMDb title|tt8761286}} * {{Cite web|url=https://indiancine.ma/ABYU|title=Mandaladeeshudu (1987)|website=Indiancine.ma|access-date=2021-08-23}}
Category:Cultural depictions of N. T. Rama Rao Category:1987 comedy films Category:Indian satirical films Category:1987 Indian films Category:1987 Telugu-language films