Balarama Krishnulu(1992)
Balarama Krishnulu is a 1992 Telugu-language drama film directed by Ravi Raja Pinisetty. The film stars Sobhan Babu, Rajasekhar, Jagapati Babu, and Ramya Krishna in lead roles. The story is set in a village where two half-brothers, Balaramaiah and Krishna Murthy, are divided by caste prejudices. Balaramaiah, the elder brother and village head, ostracizes his younger brother and sister because their mother belonged to a lower caste. The conflict escalates when Balaramaiah's daughter Pooja falls in love with Krishna Murthy's cousin Shivaji. The film explores themes of family honor, caste discrimination, and redemption. It is a remake of the Tamil film Cheran Pandiyan (1991). The movie was a commercial success and is remembered for its emotional storytelling and strong performances. It was released on November 7, 1992, and has a runtime of 139 minutes.
Quick Facts
- Streaming on
- YouTube, JioTV
- Theatrical Release
- 1 January 1992
- Director
- Ravi Raja Pinisetty
- Language
- Telugu
- Runtime
- 2h 19m
- Rating
- 4.9/10
Storyline
Two half-brothers live in the same village but are separated by caste hatred. Balaramaiah, the elder brother, refuses to accept his younger brother Krishna Murthy as family. When Balaramaiah's daughter falls in love with Krishna Murthy's cousin, the old wounds reopen. Evil relatives and a liquor contractor plot to destroy both brothers. The family must overcome pride and prejudice to reunite.
“Brothers divided by caste, united by love”
Film Details
Parental Guide
Where to Watch
Vibe & Tags
Cast & Crew
Reunion Meter
Frequent partnerships reunited for Balarama Krishnulu
Cast reunions in this film: Jagapathi Babu & Ramya Krishnan (6 films together), and Ramya Krishnan & Ravi Raja Pinisetty (4 films together).
Trivia
- The film's title 'Balarama Krishnulu' references the Hindu deities Balarama and Krishna, symbolizing the two estranged half-brothers in the story.
- This was one of the early major roles for actor Jagapati Babu, who later became a leading star in Telugu cinema.
- Director Ravi Raja Pinisetty remade the film in Tamil as 'Chinna Thambi Periya Thambi' the same year with a different cast.
- Actress Srividya, who played Vasumathi, was a celebrated multilingual actor known for her work in Malayalam and Tamil films as well.
- The film features veteran actor Sobhan Babu in one of his later career roles, highlighting the era's shift in Telugu cinema heroes.
- Composer Raj-Koti provided the music, continuing a successful collaboration with director Ravi Raja Pinisetty from earlier films.
- The plot's focus on caste discrimination and family reconciliation reflected common social themes in early 1990s Telugu dramas.