Rajamouli’s RRR starring Junior NTR and Ram Charan created waves in the film industry with its phenomenal success. Fans celebrated as the movie broke several records making it one of the highest-grossing films globally, following Baahubali 2. However, despite their triumphs, both Baahubali 2 and RRR couldn’t touch a unique record set by another Telugu film more than four decades ago.
The film is Mundadugu, a multistarrer released almost 41 years ago featuring two legendary actors Krishna and Shobhan Babu in lead roles. Directed by K. Bapaiah and produced by Dr. D. Rama Naidu under the banner of Suresh Productions this film also starred Sridevi and Jayaprada as the heroines.
Mundadugu was a groundbreaking success upon its release. It became the first multistarrer film to complete 50 days in every theater where it was screened, and it celebrated its silver jubilee by running for 175 days. The combination of Krishna and Shobhan Babu, both of whom were at the peak of their popularity, created a massive buzz, driving audiences to the theaters in droves.
The film’s success wasn’t just limited to Telugu audiences. It was remade in Hindi as Maksad, featuring Rajesh Khanna and Jitendra in the lead roles, with Sridevi and Jayaprada reprising their roles. The Hindi version, directed by K. Bapayya, also achieved significant success.
Over the years, many multistarrer films have tried to replicate the success of Mundadugu, but none have managed to complete 50 days in every theater they were released in. While films today are released in numerous theaters, Mundadugu’s record of celebrating its half-centenary in all theaters remains unmatched, solidifying its place in Telugu cinema history.
