| Lava Kusa | |
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&sq=&lang=&file=File:Lava_Kusa.JPG) Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | |
| Screenplay by |
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| Dialogues by |
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| Based on | Ramayana |
| Produced by | A. Sankara Reddy |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | P. L. Rai |
| Edited by | A. Sanjeevi |
| Music by | Ghantasala |
Production company | Lalita Sivajyoti Films |
Release date |
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Running time | 208 minutes |
| Country | India |
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| Box office | ₹3 crore |
Lava Kusa (also spelled as Lava Kusha) is a 1963 Indian Hindu mythological film directed by C. Pullayya and C. S. Rao. Produced by Lalita Sivajyothi Films, the film is a remake of the 1934 production of the same name, which was also directed by C. Pullayya. The story is based on the Uttara Kanda of the Ramayana, focusing on Lava and Kusa, the twin sons of Rama and Sita. The cast includes N. T. Rama Rao as Rama, Anjali Devi as Sita, with Chittoor Nagayya, Kantha Rao, Sobhan Babu, S. Varalakshmi, and Kaikala Satyanarayana in supporting roles. The soundtrack features 27 songs, with the musical score primarily composed by Ghantasala.
Production of the film began in 1958 but was stopped due to financial constraints. When it restarted, Pullayya's health was deteriorating, so his son C. S. Rao took over. Lava Kusa is notable for being the first full-length colour film in Telugu cinema.[1] The film was shot simultaneously in Telugu and Tamil, with minor differences in the cast. It was released on 29 March 1963 in Telugu and on 19 April 1963 in Tamil. Lava Kusa was a major commercial success, running for 75 weeks and grossing over ₹1 crore. The Telugu version won the National Film Award for Best Telugu Feature Film. The film was also dubbed in Kannada and later in Hindi in 1974. In 2011, it was rebooted as Sri Rama Rajyam.