Aditya 369

Aditya 369
Theatrical release poster
Directed bySingeetam Srinivasa Rao
Written bySingeetam Srinivasa Rao
Dialogue by
Produced byS. Anitha Krishna
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam (presenter)
StarringNandamuri Balakrishna
Mohini
CinematographyV. S. R. Swamy
Kabir Lal
Edited byGautam Raju
Music byIlaiyaraaja
Production
company
Release date
  • 18 July 1991 (1991-07-18)
Running time
141 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageTelugu
Budget₹1.52 crore[1]

Aditya 369 is a 1991 Indian Telugu-language science fiction film written and directed by Singeetam Srinivasa Rao. The film stars Nandamuri Balakrishna and Mohini with supporting roles played by Amrish Puri, Tinnu Anand, and Suthivelu. The music was composed by Ilaiyaraaja, and the dialogues were written by Jandhyala. Produced by S. Anitha Krishna under the Sridevi Movies banner and presented by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, the film was a commercial success. It also received critical acclaim earning two state Nandi Awards.[2]

The plot centers on a time machine named 'Aditya 369' invented by Professor Ramdas. The machine attracts various characters, including a burglar aiming to steal a priceless diamond. The protagonist and his companions travel through centuries, encountering historical figures and exploring futuristic worlds, while also dealing with the challenges posed by the stolen diamond.

Aditya 369 is considered a landmark film in the science fiction genre in Indian cinema.[7] It is the first time travel film ever made in Indian cinema.[5][6] The film explored dystopian and post-apocalyptic themes in a satirical manner. Director Singeetam Srinivasa Rao drew inspiration from H. G. Wells' novella The Time Machine (1895), which he read during his college years. For the historical era, he chose the reign of Vijayanagara emperor Sri Krishnadevaraya (r. 1509–1529), conducting research at the American Library in Madras to depict the futuristic elements.[8]

The film was produced on a budget of ₹1.52 crore, with principal photography spanning approximately 110 days. Three cinematographers—P. C. Sreeram, V. S. R. Swamy, and Kabir Lal—contributed to capturing the film's different time periods. Aditya 369 was later dubbed into Hindi as Mission 369 and Tamil as Apoorva Sakthi 369.[9]

  1. ^ "పాతికేళ్ల 'ఆదిత్య 369'". Andhra Jyothi (in Telugu). 18 July 2016. Archived from the original on 18 January 2017. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference hi was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference :1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Ethamukkala, Hemachandra (25 March 2022). "From Nandamuri Balakrishna's 'Aditya 369' To 'Ismart Shankar' – Here's A Look At The Most Popular Science-Fiction South Indian Films!". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 22 September 2022. Retrieved 22 September 2022. It was Singeetham Srinivas Rao's 'Aditya 369' that first tasted a huge success in Tollywood and it remains one of the all-time classics till today!
  5. ^ a b Goyal, Samarth (30 December 2021). "Best Indian Movies Dealing With Dystopia and Post Apocalypse". Outlook. Archived from the original on 22 September 2022. Retrieved 22 September 2022. The 1991 Telugu-language film is vastly considered the first Indian film ever based on the concept of time travel.
  6. ^ a b Nyayapati, Neeshita. "Balakrishna's famous sci-fi 'Aditya 369' turns 27 today". The Times of India. ISSN 0971-8257. Archived from the original on 17 September 2019. Retrieved 19 March 2023. 'Aditya 369' was considered to be the first time travel film made not just in the Telugu film industry, but also in India.
  7. ^ [3][4][5][6]
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference :8 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ Kuldova, Tereza; Varghese, Mathew A. (9 March 2017). Urban Utopias: Excess and Expulsion in Neoliberal South Asia. Springer. ISBN 978-3-319-47623-0. Archived from the original on 17 May 2024. Retrieved 22 March 2021.