K.V. Reddy's 'Maya Bazaar' has been voted the 'greatest Indian film' in an online poll celebrating 100 years of Indian cinema, highlighting its significance in Indian film history. Released in 1957, the film is cherished for its cultural resonance, iconic performances, and its portrayal of Telugu customs and language, making it a timeless classic. The story, centered around the love of Sasirekha and Abhimanyu, uses relatable characters and scenarios that continue to connect with audiences today.

1. K. V. Reddy's 'Maya Bazaar' has been votedas the 'Greatest
Indian Film' in an online poll conductedby a television news
channel..

2. The poll was conductedto find out India's greatest filmtill date, on the
occasion of 100 Years of Indian Cinema and people chose 'Maya Bazaar'
over other Indian classics.

3. The filmis consideredone of the enduring classics of Indian cinema and was
christened as a landmarkachievement in Indianfilm's cinematography, art
direction and VFX with the available technologyduring that time. The following is
a reviewon the film whenit celebrated the Golden Jubilee in 2007..

4. Fifty years ago, director K.V. Reddy or for that matter, producers
Nagireddy and Chakrapani, would not have imagined what they
were unleashing when they decided to make Maya Bazaar- a
bilingual in Telugu and Tamil.
Chakrapani NagireddyK.V.Reddy

5. The finishedproduct hit the screen in 1957 to become a landmark movie
in the Telugufilmindustry.

6. It became a hit not only for the sterling performances of the star-
ensemblethat it hadright fromS.V. Ranga Rao, Savitri, NTR, ANR, and
Gummadi, but alsobecause K.V. Reddy was in full control over every
frame of it.

7. There is little else one couldexpect when all time greats like
Marcus Bartley (cinematography), Ghantasala (music),
M.L.Vasantha Kumari,

8. Leela, Suseela and Madhavapeddi (playback),

9. Gokhale (art), Pasumarthy (choreography) and Pitambaram(makeup)
got together to weave magic around an episode fromMahabharatha,
Sasirekha Parinayam.,

10. However, the greatness of Maya Bazaar, about which muchis said and
written, is not just because of these facets alone.

11. It is a tribute to Telugu culture, language and customs of
the land..

12. The film was watchedrepeatedly soon after its release because
people identifiedevery character of the filmwith someone they
knew in their immediate vicinity andthe audience still do the
same now.

13. The dialogues written by Pingali Nagendra Rao (as well the lyrics) were
the same that the people were hearing or using in theirconversations
every day - if not, those became a part of Telugulife thereafter.

14. Sasirekha, nay Ghatothkacha's Manadi Sodara Prema… became
immortalizedas much as Suryakantam's antha alamalame kada which
has become a way of life in greeting people.

15. As for songs, Aha naa pelli anta still reverberates in marriages
and Vivaaha bhojanambu is yet another must

16. An entire repertoire was added to the Telugudictionary by the film.
Take for example Talpamusedfor denoting a cot or a bed.

17. Were Telugus using Gilpam as an antonym of it till the movie's advent?
Nor did anyone tell so emphatically until Ghatothkacha that Evaru
puttinchakunte maatalela pudathayi and hence if friends are to be
called Asamadiyuluthen enemies could be termedTasamadiyulu.

18. Will anyone forget the expression veyandiraveediko veeratadu?
No exception to hai hai sodara and hai hai naayaka .

19. The story itself is woven around the love of Sasirekha-
Abhimanyu.

20. With Krishna and Balarama having difference of opinion over it,
theirwives too take sides as is inevitable in any family.

21. To introduce the theme , the director uses a magic box, (an equivalent of
a TV screen) whichdisplays whateveris dear to the viewer's heart.

22. Sasirekha naturally sees Abhimanyu and Balarama gets to see his
sishya, Duryodhana on it..

23. His wife laps up the sight of an array of jewelry and the audience
laughed heartily because they knew that someone back home was
equally attachedto the riches.

24. When Balarama curtly tells his sister, " Subhadra! Aagadalu,
aghaayityalu naaku paniki raavu", when he confronted with latter's
indignation at his decision to separate Sasirekha and Abhimanyu ,
women folk among the viewers sighed recalling their own tribulations in
the hands of such brothers.

25. Frame after frame impacts viewers with similarities. The greatness of
director lies here-

26. He successfully reduces all characters to ordinary mortals displaying all
the follies of human beings except Ghatothkacha or Krishna.

27. And then he injects into the Yadava household a Telugu atmosphere,
full withits simile, imagery, adage, sarcasmand wit.

28. The result- a feast for the eyes and soul. That is Maya
Bazaar for you.

29. Mind you, this is a story of Paandavas and Kauravas with the Yadavas
pitching in. But one never sees the Paandavas throughout the film. We
only hear of them.

30. If any NRI asks you to suggest ways to teach telugu culture just ask him
or her to introduce them to Maya Bazaar first. If they seek to know about
their uncles and aunts and cousins back home, bring in their names
,”look, this is your Balarama …”

31. Any better way of doing it?
Then onwards it's all Laahiri, laahiri, laahiri lo…