Home | Movies By Year | Movies from 1991
Aditya 369
Buy Aditya 369 now from AmazonFirst, read the Wikipedia article. Then, scroll down to see what other TopShelfReviews readers thought about the movie. And once you've experienced the movie, tell everyone what you thought about it.
Wikipedia article
'Aditya 369' is a 1991 Indian Telugu-language science-fiction film written and directed by Singeetam Srinivasa Rao, and produced by Sridevi Movies. The film stars Nandamuri Balakrishna and Mohini while Amrish Puri, Tinnu Anand, and Suthivelu play supporting roles with a soundtrack composed by Ilaiyaraaja. Considered as the first Indian film based on time travel, 'Aditya 369' dealt with exploratory dystopian and apocalyptic themes.
The film opened to critical acclaim and was a big commercial success. The film received two Nandi Awards. It was dubbed into Hindi as 'Mission 369 a'nd into Tamil as 'Apoorva Sakthi 369'.
Plot
In 1991, Prof. Ramdas is a scientist who does vigorous experiments to invent the time machine at his home laboratory. Even after tremendous efforts, the machine does not seem to work. Meanwhile, Raja Verma, a high-profile thief has a peculiar hobby of burglary of antique pieces from the world's museums. His henchmen steal a 16th-century diamond, belonging to the period of the Vijayanagara empire from the Salar Jung Museum. The robbery is witnessed by Kishore, a school kid who is trapped in the museum on his school excursion. He manages to escape from the robbers and gets rescued by Krishna Kumar. However, no one believes Kishore, and the diamond is replaced by its duplicate in the museum.
Kishore gets to know that Prof. Ramdas is working on the time machine through his daughter Hema. One night, he along with other kids set it off in an attempt to go the day of the robbery. Hema and her fianc Krishna Kumar rescue them but get accidentally trapped in the machine. The time machine takes off and visits the past, to the reign of the emperor Krishnadevaraya of the Vijayanagara empire in the year 1526.
There, Krishna Kumar saves Simhanandini, a dancer in the royal court of Krishnadevaraya from an attempted raid, and she introduces them to the Emperor. Krishna Kumar surprises Krishnadevaraya by reciting the poem of his court's poet Tenali Ramakrishna before it's even written and explains to him that they have come from the future. Though Krishnadevaraya finds it hard to believe, he nevertheless offers them hospitality. A police constable who also happens to be trapped in the machine joins them. Later one night, they catch sight of the stolen diamond which is then in the possession of Krishnadevaraya. The emperor tells that when moonlight on the night of Karthika Punnami falls on the diamond, it radiates seven colors of the rainbow. Fascinated by it, they stay back to witness the event. It is also prophesied that the diamond would be stolen twice, once in the emperor's reign and again after 500 years.
Later, Simhanandini who lusts on Krishna Kumar accuses him of cheating her. However, Krishna Kumar is deemed innocent after a trial. To seek revenge, Simhanandini conspires with Senadhipathi to frame Krishna Kumar in the diamond robbery. Upon witnessing the diamond in Krishna Kumar's hand in a tussle with Senadhipathi, Krishnadevaraya sentences him to death. Though on the day of the execution, Krishnadevaraya believes Krishna Kumar's innocence saves him. This is later confirmed to him by Ramakrishna who witnesses the diamond being robbed by Senadhipathi. Krishna Kumar, Hema, and the constable escape and board the time machine which sets off again.
The machine takes them to the year 2504, a dystopian world destroyed by radiation after the end of the Third World War. Scientists of that era who already know about their arrival, receive them. In this era, the entire city is built underground and is powered by Krishnadevaraya's diamond. During their stay, they also watch the news from the year 1991. It reports that the diamond is retrieved from Raja Verma with the efforts of Krishna Kumar but he is killed in the process. The malfunctioning time machine is now repaired and when the environment begins to negatively affect them, they leave. The time machine brings them back to the present.
Raja Verma, who kidnaps Prof. Ramdas and Kishore to get hold of the time machine locates it abandoned on a hilltop. Krishna Kumar rescues them and combats with Raja Verma in the time machine. It is destroyed in the feud and both are reported dead. But Krishna Kumar who jumps off the cliff moments before it explodes is saved and joins his family.
Cast
* Balakrishna Nandamuri as Krishnadevaraya and Krishna Kumar (Dual role)
* Mohini as Hema
* Silk Smitha as Simha Nandani
* Amrish Puri as Raja Varma
* Tinnu Anand as Prof. Ramdas
* Suthivelu as Police Constable
* Master Tarun as Kishore
* Chandra Mohan as Tenali Ramakrishna
* J. V. Somayajulu as Timmarusu
* Brahmanandam as Scientist
* Subhalekha Sudhakar as Scientist
* Raavi Kondala Rao as Scientist
* Gollapudi Maruti Rao as Curator
* Chalapathi Rao as Senadhipathi
* Tanikella Bharani as Raja Varma's henchman
* Babu Mohan as Raja Varma's henchman
* Annapoorna as Dr. Lalita
* Sri Lakshmi as Madhavi
* Baby Raasi as Kishore's friend
* Kinnera as Tirumala Devi
* Potti Prasad as Bhatudu
Production
Development
'Aditya 369' was inspired by the H. G. Wells novel 'The Time Machine', which Singeetam Srinivasa Rao read as a student. Though the film has frequently been compared to 'Back to the Future' (1985), according to Rao the similarities between the two stop "with the trouble that the protagonist faces in a different time zone".Rao briefly discussed his story about time travel with S. P. Balasubrahmanyam who immediately liked it. Balasubrahmanyam recommended Nandamuri Balakrishna's name as he felt that Balakrishna would apt be for Krishnadevaraya's role. Balasubrahmanyam's relative Sivalenka Krishna Prasad who had bulk dates of Balakrishna agreed to produce the film. Several titles including 'Kalayantram' and 'Yuga Purushudu' were considered, however, 'Aditya 369' was finalised symbolizing 'Aditya' (the Sun) and the time machine's serial number 369.
Cast and crew
The makers initially approached Vijayashanti as the lead actress but she could not sign the film due to scheduling conflicts. Later, they cast cinematographer P. C. Sreeram's relative Mohini in her place. Three cinematographer worked for the film who shot different time periods. Sreeram shot the scenes related to present-day but he opted out due to ill-health. V. S. R. Swamy and Kabir Lal performed rest of the cinematography. Jandhyala had written the dialogues for this film. While Amrish Puri played the prime antagonist, Tinnu Anand, Suthivelu, Chandra Mohan, and Silk Smita played important roles. The then child artiste, Tarun Kumar played a plot moving role.Filming
Made on a budget of 1.6 crore, principal photography of the film took about 110 days. Sets related to Krishnadevaraya's era were erected at Annapurna Studios in Hyderabad. Filming also took place at VGP Golden Beach and Vijaya Vauhini Studios in Madras. Forests scenes were shot at Talakona in Andhra Pradesh.Soundtrack
Music composed by Ilaiyaraaja. Music released on LEO Music Company. For the song "Nerajanavule", Rao wanted a tune similar to the old historical films. Jikki was chosen to sing this song, Rao recalled that S. Janaki who was in studio stayed up till the end of song's recording to help Jikki with her lines.
Release and reception
The film received positive reviews and was a commercial success. It was dubbed and released in Tamil as 'Aboorva Sakti-369' during August 1992.
In September 2020, 'The News Minute'
Future
In January 2017, Rao announced his intention to work on 'Aditya 369'
Awards
;Nandi Awards(in Telugu)
* Best Art Director - Peketi Ranga
* Best Costume Designer - A. Samba Siva Rao
See also
* Science fiction films in India
References
Buy Aditya 369 now from Amazon
<-- Return to movies from 1991