I saw the legend for the first time at the Vanguri foundation Sahiti Sadassu. Surprisingly for such a great personality, he abhors giving speeches on a stage. During the program, the organizer਀愀渀渀漀甀渀挀攀搀 ∀܀⨌䴌⨌䄌ℌ䄌‌Ⰰ㸌⨌䄌‌ᜀ㸌「㼌⠌㼌‌　䘌Ȍℌ䄌‌⸀㸌Ἄ㈌䄌‌ᨀ䘌⨌䴌⨌⸌⠌㼌‌ᔀ䬌「䄌␌䄌⠌䴌⠌㸌⠌䄌∌ 眀栀攀爀攀甀瀀漀渀 Bapu stood up and said "రెండు మాటలు" and sat down! His artistic temperament requires਀琀栀攀 椀洀洀攀搀椀愀挀礀 漀昀 瀀攀爀猀漀渀愀氀 挀漀渀琀愀挀琀 愀渀搀 挀漀渀瘀攀爀猀愀琀椀漀渀⸀ 䠀攀 椀猀 栀愀瀀瀀礀 眀椀琀栀 愀渀猀眀攀爀椀渀最 焀甀攀猀琀椀漀渀猀 昀爀漀洀 愀渀礀漀渀攀 椀渀 琀栀攀  audience. He deftly avoids getting pinned down by stock questions like ఇప్పుడొస్తున్న హీరొలలో ਀⸀䀌ᔌ䘌㔌「䄌‌܀㜌䴌Ἄ⸌䄌⸌ 䄀渀搀 栀攀 渀攀瘀攀爀 愀渀猀眀攀爀攀搀 琀栀攀 瀀攀爀攀渀渀椀愀氀 昀愀瘀漀甀爀椀琀攀 焀甀攀猀琀椀漀渀 ⴀ 眀栀漀 攀砀愀挀琀氀礀 椀猀 琀栀攀 椀渀猀瀀椀爀愀琀椀漀渀 昀漀爀 琀栀攀 䜀椀爀氀 椀渀 䈀愀瀀甀 䈀漀洀洀愀氀甀⸀ 圀椀琀栀 愀 搀椀猀愀爀洀椀渀最 最爀椀渀Ⰰ 栀攀 猀愀椀搀 ∀ Ԁ☌㼌‌⸀䀌「ℌᜌᔌ䈌ℌ☌䄌Ⰼ ⠀䜌Ȍ‌ᨀ䘌⨌䴌⨌ᔌ䈌ℌ☌䄌ℌ ∀⸀  䠀攀 愀渀猀眀攀爀攀搀 瀀爀愀挀琀椀挀愀氀氀礀 攀瘀攀爀礀 焀甀攀猀琀椀漀渀 眀椀琀栀 愀 樀漀欀攀 琀栀愀琀 洀愀搀攀 琀栀攀 愀甀搀椀攀渀挀攀 爀漀愀爀 眀椀琀栀 氀愀甀最栀琀攀爀⸀ 圀栀攀渀 愀猀欀攀搀 ∀܀ᔌ䴌ᔌℌ‌Ԁ⸌䘌「㼌ᔌ㸌‌㔀㸌㌌䴌㌌⸌䀌☌‌ༀ⸌䠌⠌㸌‌ᔀ㸌「䴌Ἄ䈌⠌䴌㈌䄌‌㔀䜌㠌䴌␌㸌「∌ 栀攀  replied "అమ్మో, అన్నం పెట్టరు". But he did answer several questions, revealing, for example, that he started drawing very young (" చేతిలో బలపం పట్టుకున్నపడ్నించీ "), met his partner in arts MullapUDi very young and has a wonderful relationship with him, based on mutual respect.

Bapu garu is very knowledgeable about movies in general. He seems to remember practically every scene in each of his movies, and also identifies obscure details from other's movies. In person, Bapu does express opinions on current movies and stars which show a keen awareness and਀搀攀攀瀀 椀渀猀椀最栀琀 椀渀琀漀 琀栀攀 吀攀氀甀最甀 洀漀瘀椀攀 眀漀爀氀搀⸀ 䠀攀 猀愀椀搀 琀栀愀琀 栀攀 琀漀漀 眀愀猀 甀瀀猀攀琀 眀椀琀栀 栀漀眀 昀攀眀 吀攀氀甀最甀 猀琀愀爀猀 ⠀愀渀搀 攀瘀攀渀 singers, and worst of all, the dubbing artists!) speak the language. He says it is the fashion਀渀漀眀Ⰰ 琀栀愀琀 琀栀椀猀 ∀ऀ␌䴌␌「㸌☌㼌∌ 愀挀挀攀渀琀 椀猀 猀漀 洀甀挀栀 椀渀 搀攀洀愀渀搀⸀ 䘀漀爀琀甀渀愀琀攀氀礀 昀漀爀 甀猀Ⰰ 栀椀猀 漀眀渀 洀漀瘀椀攀猀 栀愀瘀攀 愀氀眀愀礀猀 爀攀琀愀椀渀攀搀 琀栀攀 吀攀氀甀最甀 琀漀甀挀栀 ⠀攀瘀攀渀 琀栀漀甀最栀Ⰰ 愀猀 栀攀 愀搀洀椀琀琀攀搀Ⰰ 匀渀攀栀愀✀猀 瘀漀椀挀攀 眀愀猀 搀甀戀戀攀搀 椀渀 刀愀搀栀愀 Gopalam). Every Telugu person must be hoping they continue to do so, and remain the one ray of hope in the current Telugu movie universe.

Most people would undoubtedly agree that Mutyalamuggu is one of Bapu's best movies. As਀䈀愀瀀甀 最愀爀甀 搀攀猀挀爀椀戀攀搀 椀琀Ⰰ 椀琀 椀猀 愀 洀漀搀攀爀渀 爀攀琀攀氀氀椀渀最 漀昀 琀栀攀 䰀愀瘀愀䬀甀猀愀 猀琀漀爀礀 ⴀ 瀀愀爀攀渀琀猀 猀攀瀀愀爀愀琀攀搀 because of false allegations, and then brought together by the children. Even Hanuman਀愀瀀瀀攀愀爀猀 椀渀 琀栀椀猀 洀漀瘀椀攀Ⰰ 椀渀 愀 搀攀氀椀最栀琀昀甀氀 琀漀甀挀栀 漀昀 洀愀最椀挀 爀攀愀氀椀猀洀Ⰰ 琀漀 挀甀攀 琀栀攀 瘀椀攀眀攀爀 椀渀⸀ 伀昀 course, the rough edges of the original story are shorn off - the story does not end in਀琀爀愀最攀搀礀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 琀栀攀 瀀愀爀攀渀琀猀 氀椀瘀攀 栀愀瀀瀀椀氀礀 攀瘀攀爀 愀昀琀攀爀 眀椀琀栀 琀栀攀椀爀 挀栀椀氀搀爀攀渀⸀㰀⼀倀㸀

Bapu garu good naturedly answered my questions and recounted some of the kaburlu about the਀洀漀瘀椀攀⸀ 吀栀攀 琀栀椀渀最 洀漀猀琀 瀀攀漀瀀氀攀 椀洀洀攀搀椀愀琀攀氀礀 爀攀洀攀洀戀攀爀 愀戀漀甀琀 琀栀攀 洀漀瘀椀攀 椀猀 琀栀攀 瘀椀氀氀椀愀渀Ⰰ 瀀氀愀礀攀搀 戀礀 Rao Gopala Rao. Bapu garu said that every word of his dialogue was scripted by Mullapudi਀最愀爀甀 昀椀爀猀琀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 琀栀攀礀 眀攀爀攀 栀甀渀琀椀渀最 愀爀漀甀渀搀 昀漀爀 愀渀 愀挀琀漀爀 琀漀 挀愀爀爀礀 椀琀 漀昀昀⸀ 䄀昀琀攀爀 氀漀漀欀椀渀最 愀琀 several would-be "contractor"s, Bapu and Ramana were giving up when they met RGR at some਀猀漀挀椀愀氀 攀瘀攀渀琀⸀ 吀栀攀 洀漀洀攀渀琀 琀栀攀礀 栀攀愀爀搀 栀椀洀 猀瀀攀愀欀Ⰰ 琀栀攀礀 欀渀攀眀 琀栀攀礀 栀愀搀 琀栀攀椀爀 洀愀渀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 琀栀攀 洀漀猀琀 famous villain in Telugu movies was created. Viewers might also remember the long (about 5਀洀椀渀甀琀攀猀⤀ 氀漀瘀攀 猀挀攀渀攀 椀渀 琀栀攀 洀漀瘀椀攀Ⰰ 眀椀琀栀 渀漀 搀椀愀氀漀最甀攀Ⰰ 樀甀猀琀 洀甀猀椀挀⸀ 䄀瀀瀀愀爀攀渀琀氀礀Ⰰ 眀栀攀渀 琀栀攀礀 猀栀漀琀 the scene, Bapu garu didn't realize how long it was; and later, everyone was very਀搀椀猀洀椀猀猀椀瘀攀Ⰰ 猀愀礀椀渀最 琀栀愀琀 渀漀 漀渀攀 眀漀甀氀搀 猀椀琀 猀琀椀氀氀 愀渀搀 眀愀琀挀栀 猀甀挀栀 愀 氀漀渀最 猀瀀攀攀挀栀ⴀ氀攀猀猀 猀攀焀甀攀渀挀攀⸀ Well, fortunately, Bapu went with his gut feeling and the result is the masterpiece we get਀琀漀 猀攀攀 渀漀眀⸀ 吀栀攀 挀漀渀琀爀愀挀琀漀爀✀猀 栀漀甀猀攀 ⠀眀椀琀栀 琀栀攀 爀漀挀欀猀 攀琀挀⸀Ⰰ⤀ 眀愀猀 愀氀猀漀 愀渀 愀挀挀椀搀攀渀琀⸀ 吀栀攀礀 栀愀搀 booked a great set for shooting these sequences, but a week before the shoot, the owner of਀琀栀攀 瀀爀漀瀀攀爀琀椀攀猀 氀攀琀 椀琀 漀甀琀 琀漀 愀 戀椀最最攀爀 猀琀甀搀椀漀 昀漀爀 洀漀爀攀 洀漀渀攀礀㬀 䈀愀瀀甀 愀渀搀 刀愀洀愀渀愀 眀攀爀攀 frantically hunting around for another place to shoot, because the entire cast was going to਀戀攀 愀猀猀攀洀戀氀攀搀 猀漀漀渀 愀渀搀 椀琀 眀漀甀氀搀 戀攀 愀 戀椀最 攀砀瀀攀渀猀攀 琀漀 搀攀氀愀礀 琀栀攀 猀栀漀漀琀椀渀最⸀ 圀栀椀氀攀 琀栀攀礀 眀攀爀攀 having tea at a Rocky Hotel, Bapu garu suddenly realized this would be the perfect place to਀猀栀漀漀琀⸀ 䄀 搀攀愀氀 眀愀猀 猀琀爀甀挀欀 椀洀洀攀搀椀愀琀攀氀礀 眀椀琀栀 琀栀攀 漀眀渀攀爀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 琀栀攀 爀攀猀琀 椀猀 栀椀猀琀漀爀礀⸀ 䈀愀瀀甀✀猀 猀琀礀氀攀 of direction was also very easygoing. Apparently, if it was a sunny day, they would shoot਀琀栀攀 漀甀琀搀漀漀爀 猀攀焀甀攀渀挀攀猀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 椀昀 椀琀 眀愀猀 愀 最氀漀漀洀礀 搀愀礀Ⰰ 琀栀攀 椀渀搀漀漀爀 漀渀攀猀⸀ 一漀 漀渀攀 欀渀攀眀 眀栀愀琀 眀愀猀 going to be filmed on any given day! The cast, mostly newcomers, were also very਀挀漀漀瀀攀爀愀琀椀瘀攀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 渀攀瘀攀爀 昀甀猀猀攀搀 愀戀漀甀琀 洀愀欀攀甀瀀 攀琀挀⸀Ⰰ 䄀氀氀 琀栀椀猀 猀栀漀眀猀 椀渀 琀栀攀 昀爀攀猀栀 愀渀搀 渀愀琀甀爀愀氀 quality of the finished movie..

Bapu is also famous for his delightful cartoons. In one simple frame, he manages ਀琀漀 搀攀昀琀氀礀 琀攀氀氀 愀 眀栀漀氀攀 猀琀漀爀礀Ⰰ 洀愀欀椀渀最 礀漀甀 氀愀甀最栀 愀猀 眀攀氀氀 愀猀 愀瀀瀀爀攀挀椀愀琀攀 猀漀洀攀 栀椀琀栀攀爀琀漀 栀椀搀搀攀渀 琀爀甀琀栀⸀ 䤀 愀猀欀攀搀 栀椀洀 愀最愀椀渀 琀栀攀 焀甀攀猀琀椀漀渀 琀栀愀琀 眀愀猀 愀猀欀攀搀 椀渀 䠀漀甀猀琀漀渀Ⰰ 椀昀 栀攀 眀愀猀 最漀椀渀最 琀漀 戀攀 搀漀椀渀最 愀渀礀 挀愀爀琀漀漀渀猀 愀戀漀甀琀 栀椀猀 攀砀瀀攀爀椀攀渀挀攀猀 椀渀 琀栀攀 唀匀⸀  䠀攀 猀愀椀搀 琀栀愀琀 瘀椀猀甀愀氀氀礀Ⰰ 琀栀攀爀攀 愀爀攀渀✀琀 琀栀愀琀 洀愀渀礀  differences between the people here and in India, to make specifically ਀搀椀猀琀椀渀挀琀椀瘀攀 挀愀爀琀漀漀渀猀⸀ 䄀猀 愀渀 愀爀琀椀猀琀Ⰰ 栀攀 渀攀攀搀猀 琀漀 最攀琀 琀栀攀 眀椀搀攀猀琀 瀀漀猀猀椀戀氀攀  input, with different experiences. And someday, something from this ਀瘀椀猀椀琀 洀椀最栀琀 猀栀漀眀 甀瀀 椀渀 猀漀洀攀 眀漀爀欀 漀昀 栀椀猀⸀ 䠀攀 椀猀 昀愀洀椀氀椀愀爀 眀椀琀栀 洀漀猀琀 漀昀  the popular cartoonists here, and mentioned Dilbert, the Far Side etc., ਀䠀攀 猀愀椀搀 栀攀 愀搀洀椀爀攀猀 琀栀攀 眀漀爀欀 漀昀 䌀栀愀爀氀攀猀 䄀搀搀愀洀猀 ⠀戀攀猀琀 欀渀漀眀渀 愀猀 琀栀攀 挀爀攀愀琀漀爀 漀昀 琀栀攀 䄀搀搀愀洀猀  family, but apparently his other cartoons appeared in the New Yorker a lot). ਀䠀攀 愀氀猀漀 氀椀欀攀猀 挀漀洀攀搀礀 猀栀漀眀猀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 栀椀猀 昀愀瘀漀甀爀椀琀攀 挀漀洀攀搀椀愀渀Ⰰ 栀攀 猀愀椀搀Ⰰ 眀愀猀  Stan Laurel (the thin guy on Laurel and Hardy). He also finds the Marx ਀戀爀漀琀栀攀爀猀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 琀栀攀 吀嘀 猀栀漀眀 吀栀爀攀攀✀猀 䌀漀洀瀀愀渀礀 瘀攀爀礀 昀甀渀渀礀⸀ 䈀愀瀀甀 椀猀 愀 戀椀最 昀愀渀 漀昀 P.G.Wodehouse, and, recalling that Wodehouse had lived in Long Island before he died, wanted to਀昀椀渀搀 琀栀攀 猀椀琀攀⸀ ⠀唀渀昀漀爀琀甀渀愀琀攀氀礀Ⰰ 眀攀 眀攀爀攀 甀渀猀甀挀挀攀猀猀昀甀氀 椀渀 琀栀椀猀⤀⸀ 䠀攀 焀甀漀琀攀搀 圀漀搀攀栀漀甀猀攀✀猀 昀愀洀漀甀猀 搀攀搀椀挀愀琀椀漀渀 漀昀 漀渀攀 漀昀 his books to his daughter "without whose never-failing sympathy and encouragement this book਀眀漀甀氀搀 栀愀瘀攀 戀攀攀渀 昀椀渀椀猀栀攀搀 椀渀 栀愀氀昀 琀椀洀攀⸀∀  㰀⼀倀㸀 ਀㰀倀㸀 䈀愀瀀甀 最愀爀甀 椀洀洀攀爀猀攀猀 栀椀洀猀攀氀昀 椀渀 栀椀猀 眀漀爀欀⸀ 䠀攀 最攀琀猀 甀瀀 攀愀爀氀礀Ⰰ 最漀攀猀 昀漀爀 愀 氀漀渀最 眀愀氀欀 愀渀搀 琀栀攀渀 猀椀琀猀 搀漀眀渀 to draw. He cannot draw without music in the background. (to quote him, నాకు పుస్తకాల పిచ్చి, ਀㠀㼌⠌㼌⸌㸌㈌‌⨀㼌ᨌ䴌ᨌ㼌Ⰼ ⨀㸌Ἄ㈌‌⨀㼌ᨌ䴌ᨌ㼌⤌⸀ 䠀攀 琀礀瀀椀挀愀氀氀礀 氀椀猀琀攀渀猀 琀漀 栀椀渀搀甀猀琀愀渀椀 瘀漀挀愀氀 洀甀猀椀挀Ⰰ 漀爀 䜀栀愀稀愀氀猀⸀ He met a famous Urdu Ghazal singer once in Pakistan, and told him that he enjoyed his songs very਀洀甀挀栀⸀ 吀栀攀 䜀栀愀稀愀氀 猀椀渀最攀爀 眀愀猀 栀愀瀀瀀礀Ⰰ 戀甀琀 猀琀愀爀琀氀攀搀 琀漀 氀攀愀爀渀 琀栀愀琀 䈀愀瀀甀 搀椀搀 渀漀琀 甀渀搀攀爀猀琀愀渀搀 漀渀攀 眀漀爀搀 漀昀 Urdu! Even though the lyrics in Ghazals are more important than the music, Bapu loved them!਀䈀愀瀀甀✀猀 漀琀栀攀爀 昀愀瘀漀甀爀椀琀攀 琀礀瀀攀猀 漀昀 洀甀猀椀挀 愀爀攀 氀椀最栀琀 椀渀猀琀爀甀洀攀渀琀愀氀Ⰰ 昀甀猀椀漀渀 愀渀搀 漀昀 挀漀甀爀猀攀Ⰰ 洀漀瘀椀攀 猀漀渀最猀⸀ This passion of Bapu for music is also a good thing for us - almost all of the songs in his ਀洀漀瘀椀攀猀 愀爀攀 戀攀愀甀琀椀昀甀氀Ⰰ 眀椀琀栀 琀爀愀搀椀琀椀漀渀愀氀 琀甀渀攀猀 愀渀搀 洀攀愀渀椀渀最昀甀氀 氀礀爀椀挀猀⸀ 䄀渀礀眀愀礀Ⰰ 栀攀 琀栀攀渀 猀瀀攀渀搀猀 洀漀猀琀 of the day drawing, breaking just for meals. He makes multiple sketches before finding the perfect one. For coloring, he works mainly with water colors. He even draws sketches of each scene in his movies to get the composition he wants.

All in all, it was a wonderful day for me, and I must thank whoever is watching over me from above for giving me this great opportunity. The program the next day was a grand success, and the audience got a glimpse of Bapu gari humor and personality in the question/answer session. With any luck, he will visit us again soon, and allow us to enjoy his presence once again.਀