Chitram! Bhalare Vichitram!! (transl. Picture! Bravo Strange!!) a 1992 Indian Telugu-language comedy film directed by P. N. Ramachandra Rao. The film features an ensemble cast including Naresh, Rajeevi, Subhalekha Sudhakar, Tulasi, Brahmanandam, and Maharshi Raghava. The film marked the first lead role for Rajeevi.
The film follows four bachelors who disguise themselves as a family to secure a rental home, leading to comedic situations when one of them falls in love with the landlady's daughter. Chitram Bhalare Vichitram is a Telugu adaptation of Sailesh Dey's Bengali play Joymakali Boarding.
Upon release, the film received positive reviews and was successful at the box office, eventually developing a cult following. Brahmanandam later listed Chitram Bhalare Vichitram among the top 11 films of his career. Naresh won the Nandi Special Jury Award for his performance. The film was later remade into Kannada as Bombat Hendthi (1992) and Tamil as Aanazhagan (1995).
Contents
Plot
The film follows four bachelors—Raja, Sudhakar, Raghava, and Brahmanandam—who live in a rented house owned by Gorojanala Garudachalam. One night, after returning home drunk, they misbehave with Garudachalam in a drunken state. The next morning, Garudachalam evicts them from the house. Struggling to find a new place, the four bachelors face rejection from several landlords who refuse to rent to bachelors.
They eventually find a landlady who insists on renting her property only to families. In a bid to secure the rental, the four bachelors disguise themselves as a family: Sudhakar plays the father, Raghava the retarded brother, Brahmanandam the father, and Raja pretends to be the wife, "Prema." Complications arise when Raja's girlfriend, who is the landlady's daughter, becomes involved, leading to a series of comedic mishaps.
Music
Vidyasagar, a relatively newcomer at the time, composed the music for Chitram! Bhalare Vichitram!!, with notable tracks including "Seetalu Yerugani" and "Maddela Daruvei." The former, a melodious song sung by Sailaja and Chitra, was featured during Prema's Seemantam ceremony in the film. It has remained popular and is still commonly played at Seemantam functions in Hyderabad. The tune for "Seetalu Yerugani" is adapted from the Marathi song "Ga Kuneetari Yenaar Yenaar Ga" from Ashi Hi Banwa Banwi (1988), which was also shot during a Godh-barai ceremony, with the melody customised to suit Telugu and South Indian tastes.
Legacy
Comedian Brahmanadam's phrase "Nee Yenkamma" became popular with this film. Brahmanandam later listed Chitram! Bhalare Vichitram!! among the top 11 films of his career.
Accolades
Nandi Awards
Nandi Special Jury Award (actor) – Naresh (1991)