Chiranjeevi at 69: Five films that showcases the Mega Actor behind the Megastar

Here are five films that showcase to the world that K Balachander’s statement about Chiranjeevi wasn’t just another filmic paean, but an honest and astute observation. 

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47 Natkal/47 Rojulu

In K Balachander’s haunting adaptation of Sivasankari’s novel of the same name, Chiranjeevi played the suave Kumar. He looked like a perfect gentleman only for his evilness to unfold as the narrative progresses. As the suited up and silver-tongued Kumar, his performance was a masterclass in how to effectively play a manipulative character that everyone would love to hate. His urban candour fit into a beautifully twisted world where men could get away with anything… almost. It was a quintessential K Balachander film, and Chiranjeevi played the quintessential bad man. Kumar was the man girls dreamed of marrying, only to wake up into a nightmare, and Chiranjeevi ensured his portrayal was distinct and memorable, even if frightening.

Chantabbai

It is not often that we see an actor be great at comedy, but one of the unwritten rules in Indian cinema is that a superstar definitely needs to be great at comedy. Look at all of Chiranjeevi’s peers in all Indian languages, and it was clear that comedy needed to be their forte even if they could dropkick at ease, and shed a tear comfortably. You make the audience laugh, and you jumped a few steps ahead on the journey to superstardom. Chantabbai is a unique film in that sense. It showcased Chiranjeevi’s ability to be a strong comic hero, and even when Pandu… James Pandu is made the butt of the jokes, he never stops exuding his stardom. It is a very thin line between being oneself in all the roles, and being a different version in all roles, and yet connect with the audience on the same level as a star. As the detective, Chiranjeevi showcased to the world that comedy wasn’t a chink in his armour, but a strong weapon, and this aspect of his oeuvre continues to be loved by the audience. 

Vijetha  

Chiranjeevi’s biggest strength in his career was undoubtedly his immense relatability with the audience. They love him. It was deeply ingrained in them that Chiranjeevi was theirs. He was part of their family. They could count on him. And such a belief doesn’t come overnight. A flash-in-the-pan star can never become the darling of the masses. That needs magic. And one of the first strokes of that magic was Vijetha. As Chinnababu, an aspiring footballer, who believed the sport to be his life, is forced to come to an all-important crossroads. On one side, it is his passion. On the other, it is his family’s honour and aspirations. Of course, we know what the protagonist in a 80s film would choose. But what made Vijetha, and eventually, Chiranjeevi come closer to the hearts of the audience was the sacrifice he was willing to make. He could have had everything, and yet he chose to support his family’s emotions. There is nothing more effective to build relatability than the tears we shed for others, and when we empathised with Chinnababu, we also brought Chiranjeevi closer to our hearts. And that is definitely a hallmark of a fine actor. 

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Swayamkrushi  

Interestingly enough, Chiranjeevi and Telugu cinema love the idea of sacrifice. It became a constant theme in many of his films, and there is no better film than K Viswanath’s Swayamkrushi to exemplify this phenomenon. A series of sacrifices by the protagonists became the highlight of the film. What sacrifice is the ultimate? Is it the sacrifice of love? Is it the sacrifice for love? Is it the sacrifice of motherhood? Is it the sacrifice of family bondings for the greater good? Is it the sacrifice of hard-earned wealth? Swayamkrushi explored all this and much more, and Chiranjeevi’s Sambayya was the embodiment of love, honour, trust, and sacrifice. The film has one of the finest performances from Chiranjeevi, who goes through a gamut of emotions, and ensured the audiences were with him through every twist and turn of the way. Of course, it is tough to choose one performance from his brilliant films with K Vishwanath, which includes Subhalekha, and Aapadbandhavudu. But let’s go with Swayamkrushi just for the series of scenes that follow the court sequence in the final act. 

Rudraveena 

The final act of becoming the ultimate relatable superstar is in voicing out for the oppressed. Every superstar worth their salt has been a rebel with a cause. Through many of his films before Rudraveena, Chiranjeevi had established the importance of questioning the world order, and fighting for the rights of the silenced. He became the brawns in this fight. He could send goons flying, break out of imposed shackles, and beat them to a pulp to restore justice. In K Balachander’s Rudraveena, he did break out of shackles, he did his best to question the system, and restore world order. But it wasn’t a fight against the external forces, but put forth the need to set one’s own home in order. It is a performance that stands the test of time, and continues to be listed as one of the finest performances in Telugu cinema. It reminds people that there was more than just flamboyance in Chiranjeevi’s forte. He knew the importance of being subtle. He knew when to take a step back. He knew how to tell reams of stories through just his eyes. He knew how to hold his own against veterans. He knew how to lipsync like it was nobody’s business.

Basically, he knew he was a Mega Actor… long before he became Mega Star Chiranjeevi.