Sarathi Studios

{{Infobox company | name = Sri Sarathi Studios | logo = | image = Sarathi studios, Ameerpet.jpg | image_caption = Entrance to Sarathi Studios | type = Private | industry = Entertainment | foundation = 1956<ref name=":3" /> | founder = Yarlagadda Sivarama Prasad | location_city = Ameerpet, Hyderabad | location_country = India | key_people = MSRV Prasad (chairman)<br/>Murali Krishna Raju (COO)<ref name=":3" /> | products = | owner = Sri Sarathi Studios Pvt Ltd | homepage = }} '''Sri Sarathi Studios''' is a film studio facility located in Ameerpet, Hyderabad, India. Established in 1956, it was the first film studio facility in Hyderabad and was built by Yarlagadda Sivarama Prasad, the Raja of Challapalli.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|last=Nanisetti|first=Serish|date=2018-04-02|title=A house for Maharaja Kishen Pershad in Hyderabad|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/society/history-and-culture/a-house-for-maharaja-kishen-pershad-in-hyderabad/article23413947.ece|access-date=2021-06-19|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> The first film shot in the studio was ''Maa Inti Mahalakshmi'' (1959), which also holds the distinction of being the first Telugu film entirely shot in Hyderabad.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |title=Telugu cinema Biography: 1950 - 1960 |url=http://www.totaltollywood.com/articles/history/index.php?id=4 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091122111013/http://www.totaltollywood.com/articles/history/index.php?id=4 |archive-date=22 November 2009 |access-date=8 April 2010 |website=TotalTollywood}}</ref>

In addition to its studio facilities, Sarathi also operated a film production division named Sarathi Films, founded in 1937. The division produced several notable films, including ''Mala Pilla'' (1938), ''Raithu Bidda'' (1939), ''Mayalokam'' (1945), ''Rojulu Marayi'' (1955), ''Kalasi Vunte Kaladu Sukham'' (1961), ''Aatmiyulu'' (1969), ''Annadammula Savaal'' (1978), ''Radha Kalyanam'' (1981), ''Moodu Mullu'' (1983).

== Sarathi Studios ==

=== Founding === Before Sarathi studios, Telugu cinema was based out of Madras (now Chennai) and most Telugu films were made in Madras. Hyderabad was known for Hindi film releases. ''Rojulu Marayi'' (1955) was released in Hyderabad and it ran for 100 days.<ref name=":0" /> At an event celebrating the film's success, the then Revenue Minister of Andhra Pradesh K. V. Ranga Reddy asked Telugu filmmakers to shift to Hyderabad from Madras.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":8">{{Citation |title=Saradhi Studios AV {{!}} Saradhi Studios Relaunch {{!}} TFPC |date=12 March 2016 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kr7RHMA5j9c |access-date=2022-09-11 |language=en}}</ref>

In March 1956, Raja of Challapalli, Yarlagadda Sivarama Prasad, the producer of ''Rojulu Marayi'' heeded to Ranga Reddy's call and acquired 11.5 acres of land with a building in Hyderabad.<ref name=":8" /><ref name=":9" /> The building was originally built in 1936 for Kishen Pershad, then prime minister of Hyderabad State. It was designed by architect Mohammad Fayazuddin. Fayazuddin later went on to design the State Bank of Hyderabad, Ravindra Bharathi and several other iconic public buildings.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2">{{Cite news |last=Narasimham |first=M. L. |date=2019-04-02 |title=Rhythm of rural mileu: Kalasi Vunte Kaladu Sukham |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/kalasi-vunte-kaladu-sukham/article26711379.ece |access-date=2021-06-19 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

Sivarama Prasad had also provided other facilities required for film shoots and established ''Sri Sarathi Studios'' as the first film studio complex in Hyderabad.<ref name=":4">{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0xFbIBhYS8gC&q=Sarathi |title=Yojana - Volume 39 |date=1995 |publisher=Publications Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting |pages=123 |language=en}}</ref> The art deco building designed by Fayazuddin in 1936 is now at the heart of the studio complex. Sivarama Prasad's brother Yarlagadda Rama Krishna Prasad acted as the managing director and chairman of the Studio. He took the technical inputs of famous cinematographer and technician CVVR Prasad in constructing Saradhi Studios.<ref name=":9" /> In 1959, the first film made at the studio ''Maa Inti Mahalakshmi'' released in theatres.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":5">{{Cite web |last=Dundoo |first=Sangeetha Devi |date=2017-04-25 |title=History of cinema through 24 frames |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/as-serpentine-queues-return-this-week-for-baahubali-the-conclusion-heres-how-photographer-prashant-manchikanti-captured-the-frenzy-of-baahubali-the-beginning/article18204927.ece |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112031439/https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/as-serpentine-queues-return-this-week-for-baahubali-the-conclusion-heres-how-photographer-prashant-manchikanti-captured-the-frenzy-of-baahubali-the-beginning/article18204927.ece |archive-date=2020-11-12 |access-date= |website=The Hindu}}</ref> It was also the first Telugu film to be completely filmed in Hyderabad.<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":6" />

=== Change in management === In 1966, the management of the studio was passed over to Katragadda Srinivasa Rao, the head of Navayuga Films.<ref>{{Citation |title=అమీర్ పేటలోని సారథి స్టూడియో మాదే..! GV Narayana About Saradhi Studios History & His Movies Entry |date=13 May 2019 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bo9hqUdl2ic |language=en |access-date=2022-09-11}}</ref> He managed the studio for over 40 years.<ref name=":7" />

The studio is now being managed by MSRV Prasad who took it over in 2006.<ref name=":7">{{Cite web |date=2016-03-12 |title=Saradhi Studios gets a new look |url=https://www.thehansindia.com/posts/index/Hans/2016-03-12/Saradhi-Studios-gets-a-new-look/212973 |access-date=2022-08-17 |website=The Hans India |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> At the time of its purchase in 1956, the area was 11.5 acres; it has shrunk to about six acres by 2018.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Reddy |first=U. Sudhakar |date=2016-10-13 |title=Hyderabad: Part of Sarathi studios to make way for new mall |url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/in-other-news/131016/hyderabad-part-of-sarathi-studios-to-make-way-for-new-mall.html |access-date=2022-08-13 |website=Deccan Chronicle |language=en}}</ref> It serves as a location for television shows, serials, post-production work, dubbing and other aspects of filmmaking. The studio was modernised with a new animation studio, digital intermediate lab, editing suits, and digital marketing division. The renovated Sarathi Studios was inaugurated in March 2016 with attendance from veteran filmmakers Dasari Narayana Rao, K. Viswanath, and K. Raghavendra Rao.<ref name=":7" />

It was reported in October 2016 that a part of the Sarathi Studios will give way to a commercial mall, multiplex and hotel spread over 97,442 square metres built up area. Murali Krishna Raju, the COO of the studio said that while the original building with floors for indoor shooting will be intact, the outdoor area will be converted into a thematic mall.<ref name=":3" />

=== Films shot at Sarathi Studios === *''Maa Inti Mahalakshmi'' (1959) * ''Murali Krishna'' (1964) * ''Preminchi Choodu'' (1965) * ''Navarathri'' (1966) * ''Bangaru Gajulu'' (1968) * ''Pelli Choopulu'' (1982) * ''Gabbar Singh'' (2012)<ref name=":3" /> * ''Janatha Garage'' (2016)<ref name=":3" /> *''Yatra'' (2019) * ''Guntur Kaaram'' (2024)

== Sarathi Films == {{Infobox company | name = Sarathi Films | logo = | native_name = | type = Private | industry = Entertainment | foundation = 1937 | founder = Yarlagadda Sivarama Prasad<br>Yarlagadda Rama Krishna Prasad<br>Gudavalli Ramabrahmam | fate = | location_city = | location_country = India | area_served = | key_people = | products = Films | services = Film production | parent = | subsid = | homepage = }}Sarathi Films was a film production company set up by Raja of Challapalli, Yarlagadda Sivarama Prasad in partnership with his brother Yarlagadda Rama Krishna Prasad and Gudavalli Ramabrahmam in 1937.<ref name=":8" /><ref name=":9" /> Rama Krishna Prasad acted as the managing director for Sarathi Films.<ref name=":9">{{Cite web |title=Telugu Cinema Celebrity Bio Data - Yarlagadda Rama Krishna Prasad |url=http://www.idlebrain.com/celeb/bio-data/bio-prasad.html |access-date=2022-08-19 |website=Idlebrain.com}}</ref> It produced many notable films like ''Mala Pilla'' (1938), ''Raithu Bidda'' (1939), ''Mayalokam'' (1945), ''Rojulu Marayi'' (1955), ''Kalasi Vunte Kaladu Sukham'' (1961), ''Aatmiyulu'' (1969), ''Annadammula Savaal'' (1978), ''Radha Kalyanam'' (1981), ''Moodu Mullu'' (1983).<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" /><ref name=":8" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last=Damodaran |first=Harish |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GG58DwAAQBAJ |title=India's New Capitalists: Caste, Business, and Industry in a Modern Nation |date=2018-11-25 |publisher=Hachette India |isbn=978-93-5195-280-0 |pages=111 |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":9" />

Sarathi Films produced the debut directorial ventures of noted directors L. V. Prasad and Tapi Chanakya. Waheeda Rehman and singer Master Venu were introduced to Telugu cinema by Sarathi Films.<ref name=":9" /> Rama Krishna Prasad produced many films on Navayuga banner in association with Katragadda Srinivasa Rao.<ref name=":9" />

=== Films produced by Sarathi Films === * ''Mala Pilla'' (1938)<ref name=":0" /> * ''Raithu Bidda'' (1939)<ref name=":0" /> * ''Panthulamma'' (1943) * ''Mayalokam'' (1945)<ref name=":1" /> * ''Gruhapravesam'' (1946)<ref name=":9" /> * ''Antha Manavalle'' (1954)<ref name=":9" /> * ''Rojulu Marayi'' (1955)<ref name=":2" /> * ''Peddarikalu'' (1957)<ref name=":9" /> * ''Bhagya Devatha'' (1959)<ref name=":9" /> * ''Kunkuma Rekha'' (1960)<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":9" /> * ''Kalasi Vunte Kaladu Sukham'' (1961)<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":9" /> * ''Aatma Bandhuvu'' (1962)<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":9" /> * ''Aatmiyulu'' (1969)<ref name=":8" /> * ''Iddaru Asadhyule'' (1979)<ref name=":8" /> * ''Annadammula Savaal'' (1978)<ref name=":8" /> * ''Seethe Ramudaithe'' (1980)<ref name=":8" /> * ''Radha Kalyanam'' (1981)<ref name=":8" /> * ''Moodu Mullu'' (1983)<ref name=":8" /> * ''Jailu Pakshi'' (1986)<ref name=":8" />

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * [https://www.imdb.com/company/co0058630/ Saradhi Studios at IMDb.]

Category:Indian film studios Category:Film production companies based in Hyderabad, India Category:Year of establishment missing