19th December 2004

For Telugu cinema followers born in the sixties and seventies, the name Natabhushana Shobhan Babu evokes some pleasant memories. Popularly known as Sobhan, he shares the honor for breaking the duopolistic competition that was prevailing in the field till the early seventies. His meteoric rise in the field not only provided relief to the variety starved audience but was also a boon to producers, who could not afford to work with NTR and ANR. With successive hits like Veerabhimanyu, Manushulumaarali, Kalyanamantam, Tahsildhargaari Ammaayi, this debonair acquired a huge fan base all over the state in real time. Though popular with the masses, he commanded a huge following in the ladies segment and for most of them, he was their Casanova. Despite his prolific record, the current generation of movie watchers are either completely oblivious to his achievements or remember him only as a "ladies man". The mendacity of such argument stems from the fact that he did more family oriented movies during the latter part of his career. But before he changed the course, he acted in many mass movies like Judagaadu, Mosagadu, Khaidhi Baabaayi, Manavudu Danavudu etc, which played a key role in properly assessing the box-office potential of several B and C centers. Ironically none of the "mass stars" has the kind of "mass hits" to match the range of his "mass movies". Though no longer active in the field today- Sobhan had the nous to exit from the field graciously-he is highly qualified to formally enter the Tollywood hall of fame if the industry decides to have one in place (like its Hollywood counterpart). Whether the industry honors him or not, Sobhan deserves a rich tribute at least in the most popular website in the business today and we thought today, the December 19th 2004, as an apt day as it marks the thirtieth anniversary of his biggest hit Soggaadu.

Produced by D.Ramanaidu under Suresh movies, Soggadu is the last of the 8 releases of He-Man Shobhan in the year 1975- his best year career wise. An easily identifiable subject, great music and superlative performance from the front man Sobhan made this the biggest hit of 1975. It had a direct 100 days run in 17 theaters plus two shift centers (see table) and created several new records at the box-office.

Paying points of Soggadu:

1.He-Man Sobhan Babu. Sobhan Babu, without an iota of doubt, was the main architect of this highly successful film. After delivering several super hits in the previous (four) year, Sobhan was started 1975 on a highpoint. With two super hits - Jeevana Jyothi , Jebudonga-and two hits - Devudu Chesina Pelli, Balipeetam- and one commercial success Babu (Ace Director K. Raghavenrea Rao's first directorial venture), the stage was perfectly set for Sobhan's Soggadu. With two new heroines (Jayasudha and Jayachitra), and a relatively inexperience K.Bapaiah (his third movie), the entire burden was on the He-Man's shoulders and he rose to the occasion brilliantly by delivering one of his finest performances as "Soggadu Sobhanadhri".

2. Music: Music played a prominent role in increasing the success range of this movie. Music director Mahadhevevan gave several super hit songs like "Soggaadee Chinninaayana" that the masses found it impossible to control their urge for repeated viewings.

Records:

Right from day1, Soggadu created such a sensation that even the movies released during 1976'sSankranthi found it hard to withstand its onslaught. In a manner of speaking, Soggadu was a watershed event in Telugu film history as it created several records, which were hitherto unheard of. By crossing the collections of erstwhile 100 days run movies in four to five weeks, its success became the most widely discussed topic in the industry then. Demographics mattered little to it as it fared uniformly well in all centers -A, B or C. The following is the list of records established by this musical hit.

1. Soggadu is the first color film to celebrate 100 days on title role in 3 centers in West Godavari (Eluru, Bhimavaram, Tanuku) (Previous record Dr. A.N.R's Dasarabullodu -2 centers).

2. Soggadu is the first color film to run 70 days on title role in 4 centers in West Godavari (Eluru, Bhimavaram, Tanuku, and Tadepalligudem-Ramtulasi-70 days) (Previous record Dasarabullodu -2 centers).

3. Soggadu is the first color film to run 50 days on title role in 5 centers in West Godavari. ((Eluru, Bhimavaram, Tanuku, and Tadepalligudem, and Palakollu-Gajalakshmi)

4. Soggadu is the first color film to run 84 days on title role in 4 centers in Guntur area. (Guntur, Ongole, Chirala, and Tenali-Ratna-84 days).

5. Soggadu is the first color film to celebrate 100 days on title role in 3 centers in North Andhra (Vizag, Vijayanagaram, Anakapalli) (Previous record Dasarabullodu -2 centers)

6. Soggadu is the first color film to run 66 days on title role in 4 centers in North Andhra (Vizag, Vijayanagaram, Anakapalli, and Srikakulam)

7 Soggadu's 7 center 110-day run was a record (on title role) up to Gangleader (except for Dr. NTR). Record prior to Soggadu was Dasara bullodu-3 centers.

8. Soggadu is the first film to celebrate 100 days on title role in Anakapalli.

9. Soggadu is the first social film to celebrate 100 days in Anakapalli and second hundred days film in the town (first one being Dr. NTR's Lavakusa).

10. Soggadu is the first film to celebrate 100 days on title role in Chittoor.

11. Soggadu is the first social film to celebrate 100 days in Chittoor.

12. Soggadu is the first social film that ran for 50 days in 12 centers in the ceded area. [1. Kurnool 2. Tirupathi. 3. Chittoor. 4. Anantapur-Raghuveer (84 days) 5. Cuddapah-Rahat. 6. Nandyal-khaleel. 7. Adoni-Mehboobiya-58 days. 8. Hindupur-Lakshmi 9. Guntakal-Crown 10. Madanapalli-Jyothi. 11. Proddatur-Rounakh 12. Hospet-lakshmi]

13. Soggadu is the first film on title role, which ran for 50 days in 7 centers in the Nizam [1. Hyderabad 2. Warangal. 3. Secunderabad-Chitrani. 4. Khammam-Sunder. 5. Nizamabad-Ramesh. 6. Karimnagar-Balakrishna. 7. Mahaboobnagar-Ashok]

14. Soggadu is the first social film that ran for 50 days in 7 centers in the Nizam area. [For details, please see the above record].

15. Soggadu is the only 100 days film in the year 1975 in the following centers.[1. Anakapalli. 2. Ongole. 3. Chirala. 4. Chittoor]

16. In the year 1975, as Soggadu celebrated 100 days in 19 centers, no other leading hero had a 100 days film in at least half the number of centers of what Soggadu had(s).

17. Soggadu is the first color film to celebrate 100 days in Kurnool-victory.

18. Soggadu is the first color film to run 120 days directly in Kurnool.

19. Soggadu is the first film on title role to run 120 days in Kurnool.

20. Soggadu is the first color film on title role to celebrate 100 days in Chirala.

21. Soggadu is the first social film to run 75 days in Mandapeta (Surya Picture Palace)

22. Soggadu is the first film on title role to run 75 days in Mandapeta (Surya Picture Palace)

23. Soggadu is the first film to run 38 days in Penugonda (East Godavari District)

24. Soggadu is the first social color film to have minimum respectable run in as many as 75 centers in A.P.(Ceded-18, Nizam-14; Guntur-10; East-10; Uttarandhra-8; West 7, Krishna-5, Nellore-3]

25. Soggadu remained a record up to Yuvasamrat's Manmadhudu by having the maximum number of direct 100 days for a movie releasing in the month of December.

26. Soggadu is the first social film to complete its 100 days in Kurnool town. It held this record till the release of Chiru's Yamudiki Mogudu.

26. Soggadu is the first 100 days film in the following theaters.

1. Nellore-Radha (The first 100 days film for any other hero is Victory Venkatesh's Raja in 1999; a record which was broken only in the 25th year of its release).

2. Anakapalli-Satyanarayana (The first 100 days film for any other hero is Power star Pawan Kalyan's Suswagatham in 1999; A record which was broken only in the 24th year of its release).

3. Ongole-Ratnamahal (The first 100 days film for any other hero is Mega star's Gharana mogudu in 1992; a record for 17 years; But remember, when Soggadu was released, this theater was on the outskirts of the town but by the time of Gharana Mogudu, it has become one of the prime properties of the town).

4. Kakinada-Anand A/c (The first 100 days film for any other hero is Rebel star's Bobbili Brahmanna in 1984) (The present Anand has only half the seating capacity of what the old theater had).

COLLECTION RECORDS

NOTE: The following figures appear in lakhs. The intrinsic worth of these figures can be determined by adjusting them with the current market conditions,

1. Soggadu is the first film in Telugu film industry to collect Rs. 4,00,000 in Hyderabad within 5 weeks.

2. Soggadu is the first film in Telugu film industry to collect Rs 1,75,000 in Anakapalli.(The first film to cross the collections of Soggadu is Dr. NTR's Vetagadu (In fact, a new theater (Jagannath) was needed to break this record)

3. Soggadu is the first film in Telugu film industry to collect 2 lakhs in Machilipatnam.

4. Soggadu is the first film in Telugu film industry to collect 150000 in Ongole.

5. Soggadu is the first film in Telugu film industry to collect Rs. 300000 in 7 centers (single theater) (Hyderabad, Vijayawada, Nellore, Vishakapatnam, Guntur, Rajahmundry, and Kakinada)

6. Soggadu is the first film in Telugu film industry to collect Rs. 200000 in 14 centers (single theater) (Hyderabad, Vijayawada, Nellore, Vishakapatnam, Guntur, Rajahmundry, Kakinada, Kurnool, Tirupathi, Warangal, Tenali, Machilipatnam, Eluru, Bhimavaram, and Vijayanagaram).

7. Soggadu is the first film in Telugu film industry to collect Rs. 300000 in Kakinada.

8. Soggadu is the first film in Telugu film industry to collect Rs. 300000 in Rajahmundry.

9. Soggadu is the first film in Telugu film industry to collect Rs. 300000 in Nellore.

10. Soggadu is the first film in Telugu film industry to collect Rs. 100000 in 30 centers (Hyderabad, Vijayawada, Nellore, Vishakapatnam, Guntur, Rajahmundry, Kakinada, Kurnool, Tirupathi, Warangal, Tenali, Machilipatnam, Eluru, Bhimavaram, Vijayanagaram, Secunderabad, Khammam, Nizamabad, Chittoor, Anantapur, Cuddapah, Bellary, Chirala, Ongole, Gudiwada, Tadepalligudem, Tanuku, Amalapuram, Srikakulam, Anakapalli)

11. Soggadu is the first film in Telugu film industry to collect Rs. 104000 in Chittoor (within five weeks) crossing the 100 days collections of "Ulagam Chutru Vaaliban" an MGR-starrer was a record prior to Soggadu.

DOUBLE THEATER RECORDS

Soggadu is the first film to be shown in two theaters in Miryalaguda (Lakshmi&Srinivasa).

SHOWS RECORDS

Soggadu is the first film to be exhibited 7 shows on the first day in some main centers.

HOUSE FULL RECORDS

1. Soggadu is the first film in Telugu film industry to run with house fulls for more than 50 days (all shows for 57 days)(Vijayawada-Alankar).

2. Soggadu is the first film in Telugu film industry which ran with house fulls for 35 days in five centers ( Vijayawada-57 days, Vizag-39 days, Guntur-Saraswathi-39 days, Rajahmundry-Swamy-35 days, Tirupathi-V.V. Mahal 35 days)

FILMFARE AWARD:

As an icing on the cake, Sobhan received the Filmfare award for the Best actor of the year 1976 for his "nayanadakara navarasbharitha sahaja natana" as an innocent but a self-respecting villager. This was another feather in the He man's cap and proved that he belonged to the rare breed of stars, who could adopt his style to satisfy mass, class and critics simultaneously. This was the third straight Filmfare award for He-Man (1974-Khaidi Babayi, 1975-JeevanaJyothi, and 1976-Soggadu). This hatrick is a record for Telugu film industry and Shobhan is only the second actor after the thespian Dilip Kumar to receive three consecutive Filmfare trophies.

This extensive article is written by Mr. Vijaya Bhaskar.
Special thanks to Hanuman/Jamadagni

You can reach author at [email protected]