Telugu cinema, also known as Tollywood, is the segment of Indian cinema dedicated to the production of motion pictures in the Telugu language, widely spoken in the states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Telugu cinema is based in Film Nagar, a neighborhood of Hyderabad, India. The nickname Tollywood is a portmanteau of the words Telugu and Hollywood. By 2021, it has emerged as the largest film industry in South Asia in terms of box-office.
Since 1909, filmmaker Raghupathi Venkaiah Naidu was involved in producing short films and travelling to different regions in Asia to promote film work. In 1921, he produced the silent film, Bhishma Pratigna. He is cited as the father of Telugu cinema.In 1933, East India Film Company has produced its first Indian film, Savitri in Telugu. The film was based on a popular stage play by Mylavaram Bala Bharathi Samajam, directed by father of the "Telugu theatre Movement" Chittajallu Pullaiah and cast stage actors Vemuri Gaggaiah and Dasari Ramathilakam as "Yama" and "Savithri" respectively. The film was shot with a budget of estimated ₹1 million (US$13,000) in Calcutta. It received an honorary diploma at the 2nd Venice International Film Festival.Pathala Bhairavi (1951) was the only South Indian film screened at the first India International Film Festival.Pathala Bhairavi (1951), Malliswari (1951), Devadasu (1953), Mayabazar (1957), Nartanasala (1963), Maro Charitra (1978), Maa Bhoomi (1979), Sankarabharanam (1980), Sagara Sangamam (1983), and Siva (1989), have been showcased among CNN-IBN's 100 Greatest Indian Films of All Time.
Top 10 most viewed Telugu video songs
1.Buttabomma
Buttabomma, from Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo, had even made cricketer David Warner dance. So one can imagine how far this song had reached out to the audience. This is certainly one of the biggest hits for music director, Thaman. The lyrics are penned by Ramajogayya Sastry and sung by Armaan Malik. The number has been beautifully shot with Allu Arjun and Pooja Hegde.
2.Ramuloo Ramulaa
Ramuloo Ramulaa; another hit song from Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo is a folk song to which Thaman added trendy music to catch the pulse of the audience. Kasarla Shyam is the lyricist; Anurag Kulkarni and Mangli are the singers of this song.
3.Vachinde
The superhot song Vachinde, from Fidaa, has attracted a lot of folk audiences as well as urban music lovers. Shakthikanth Karthick composed music to the lyrics of Suddala Ashok Teja. Madhu Priya and Ramky sang this song very energetically.
4.Rangamma Mangamma
A folk song, from the sensational movie Rangasthalam, which depicts a girl complaining about the boy she loves to her neighbours. It is written by Chandrabose with Devi Sri Prasad adding life to this song with his music. This people’s favourite was sung by M.M. Manasi.
5.Neeli Neeli Aakasam
This song, from 30 Rojullo Preminchadam Ela, released months before the movie grabbed the audience’s attention.
6.Pilla Raa
This hit love song, between the leads Karthikeya and Payal Rajput, in the movie RX 100 is composed by Chaitan Bharadwaj. Chaitanya Prasad wrote the catchy lyrics and Anurag Kulkarni is the vocalist of the song.
7. Inkem Inkem Kavali
Among the most popular songs of Vijay Deverakonda, Inkem Inkem Kavali, from Geetha Govindam, takes the seventh spot on our list. Sung beautifully by Sid Sriram, the song proved to be an instant hit and continues to woo music lovers to date.
8.Dimaak Kharaab
This mass song from iSmart Shankar, sung by Keerthana Sharma and Saketh, was composed by Mani Sharma. Kasarla Shyam gave the lyrics for the song.
9.Samajavaragamana
Sid Sriram lent his voice to Samajavaragamana; another super hit song from Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo. Thaman proved his musicianship once again with this film.
10.Jigelu Rani
Pooja Hegde danced along, with Ram Charan, for this special song in Rangasthalam. Devi Sri Prasad composed the song. Rela Kumar and Ganta Venkata Lakshmi sang it.
