Vijayam Explained

Vijayam
Director:Singeetam Srinivasa Rao
Screenplay:Singeetam Srinivasa Rao
Story:Singeetam Srinivasa Rao
Producer:D. Ramanaidu
Cinematography:Hari Anumolu
Music:Koti
Studio:Suresh Productions
Country:India
Language:Telugu

Vijayam is a 2003 Indian Telugu-language social problem film directed by Singeetam Srinivasa Rao and produced by D. Ramanaidu. The film stars Raja and Gajala. It was released on 9 May 2003.

Plot

Raja is a tribal man who studies in Visakhapatnam and does well in school. On the other hand, Usha is the daughter of a rich businessman. Raja falls in love with Usha, but due to some miscommunication, Usha thinks that Raja is rich akin to her family. When Usha finds out that Raja is a tribal man, she becomes heartbroken. How Raja convinces Usha forms the rest of the story.

Production

Vijayam was directed by Singeetam Srinivasa Rao (who also wrote the story and screenplay, while the dialogues were written by Satyanand) and produced by D. Ramanaidu under Suresh Productions. Cinematography was handled by Hari Anumolu, and editing by the duo Krishnareddy–Madhava.[1] Gajala was cast after Rao saw her performing in a show; she accepted the offer as Rao was the director of her favourite film Pushpaka Vimana (1987).[2]

Soundtrack

The soundtrack was composed by Koti.[3]

Release and reception

Vijayam was released on 9 May 2003. Vijayalaxmi of Rediff.com wrote, "It is embarrassing when any filmmaker picks up a bad narrative and packs his movie with lewd comedy in the name of entertainment. But when that director is a man of the stature of Singeetham Srinivasa Rao, it is even more shocking."[4] Sify wrote, "The major drawback of Vijayam is that the basic story has not been handled well and it is better that Singeetam goes back to comedies!"[5] Gudipoodi Srihari of The Hindu wrote, "Raja is at ease in most of the scenes. [Gajala] is quite cute. Muralimohan and Giribabu make their presence felt. The film is musically competent with well-scored numbers like Kusalama O Priya and Yenduko Premalo composed by Koti." Jeevi of Idlebrain.com rated the film 2.75 out of 5, calling it "Oldwine with youth label".

Controversy

The film involves a scene with AVS and Brahmanandam, which Priya Richi of The News Minute condemned for passing queerness as comedy. She lamented that this was an example of poor representation of the LGBT community in Telugu cinema.[6]

Notes and References

  1. News: Krishnamoorthy . Suresh . 27 March 2003 . Teaming up for Vijayam . . live . 20 May 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220808055916/https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-life/teaming-up-for-vijayam/article28637599.ece . 8 August 2022.
  2. Web site: 8 May 2003 . Gazala scripts her way to Vijayam . live . https://archive.today/20200519170426/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/hyderabad-times/Gazala-scripts-her-way-to-Vijayam/articleshow/45705696.cms . 19 May 2020 . 20 May 2020 . The Times of India.
  3. Web site: Vijayam . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20200715182507/https://gaana.com/album/vijayam . 15 July 2020 . 21 May 2020 . Gaana.
  4. Web site: Vijayalaxmi . 14 May 2003 . 'Vijayam' looks set for defeat . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20191210080653/https://www.rediff.com/movies/2003/may/14vijay.htm . 10 December 2019 . 21 May 2020 . Rediff.com.
  5. Web site: 14 May 2003 . Vijayam . dead . https://archive.today/20200519170426/https://www.sify.com/movies/vijayam-review-telugu-pcluIJdcdideg.html . 19 May 2020 . 21 May 2020 . Sify.
  6. Web site: Richi . Priya . 12 July 2019 . How Tollywood has demonised queerness by passing off offensive depiction as 'comedy' . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220806073358/https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/how-tollywood-has-demonised-queerness-passing-offensive-depiction-comedy-105302 . 6 August 2022 . 6 August 2022 . The News Minute.