The first Telugu film, Bhakta Prahlada, was released in 1931, and since then with the passing of every year the number of Telugu Movies produced increased. Old Telugu Movies are known for strong stories, and beautiful songs complemented by top class acting. Later, with the advent of technology, Telugu films turned a new leaf. There are certain Telugu movies that strike chord with the audience, and were treated as evergreen. In 1950s, Telugu films started to reach wider section of audience and by 1980s, Telugu films became part of pop cultural life style.
Numerous genres are explored over the years, and in the early days it was family films, old-school romances, and comedies ruled the roost. Then in Telugu films in 1960s started to take a new turn, and crime and action films became popular. James Bond style films, and Indian westerns became a trend in 1970s with the release of Mosagallaku Mosagadu. Biographies of various devotees, and films based on Puranas and Itihasas were always popular apart from regular social films. Telugu films in 1980s saw angry young men and revenge dramas interlaced with action elements. Fantasies and folk tales started in the early days and continue to gain new audience through to the end of 1970s.
The following is the list of Telugu old movies that are timeless classics, evergreen super hits, and best of old Tollywood.
| Movie Name | Release Date | Cast | Director |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bhakta Prahlada | 1931 | Valluru Subbaiah, Naguboina Sudheer, Surabhi Kamalabai, Duraiswami Naidu |
Chitrapu Narayana Rao |
| Mala Pilla | 25 Sep 38 | Govindarajula Subba Rao, Kanchanamala, P.Suri Babu, Venkatasubbaiah |
Gudavalli Ramabrahmam |
| Raitu Bidda | 1939 | Bellary Raghava, Gidugu Venkata , Seethapathi Rao, Bhimavarapu Narasimha Rao |
Gudavalli Ramabrahmam |
| Vandemataram | 1939 | Chittor V. Nagaiah, Kanchanamala, Mudigonda Lingamurthy |
A.K. Sekhar |
| Swarga Seema | 1945 | Chittor V. Nagaiah, Bhanumathi Ramakrishna, B. Jayamma |
A.K. Sekhar |
| Thyagayya | 1946 | Chittor V. Nagaiah, Hemalatha Devi, B. Jayamma, Lakshmirajyam |
Chittor V. Nagaiah |
| Yogi Vemana | 1947 | Chittor V. Nagaiah, Mudigonda Lingamurthy, M. V. Rajamma, Parvatibai |
Kadiri Venkata Reddy |
| Balaraju | 26 Feb 1948 | Akkineni Nageswara Rao, S. Varalakshmi, Anjali Devi |
Ghantasala Balaramaiah |
| Keelu Gurram | 19 Feb 1949 | Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Anjali Devi | Raja Saheb of Mirzapur |
| Gunasundari Katha | 1949 | Sriranjani, Kasturi Siva Rao, Relangi Venkata Ramaiah, Govindarajula Subba Rao |
Kadiri Venkata Reddy |
| Mana Desam | 24 Nov1949 | Chittor V. Nagaiah, C. H. Narayana Rao, C. Krishnaveni, N. T. Rama Rao |
L. V. Prasad |
| Shavukaru | 7 Apr 1950 | N. T. Rama Rao, Sowcar Janaki | L. V. Prasad |
| Samsaram | 29 Dec 1950 | N.T. Rama Rao, Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Lakshmirajyam |
L. V. Prasad |
| Pathala Bhairavi | 15 Mar 1951 | N. T. Rama Rao, S. V. Ranga Rao, K. Malathi | Kadiri Venkata Reddy |
| Malliswari | 20 Dec 1951 | N. T. Rama Rao, Bhanumathi Ramakrishna | Bommireddy Narasimha Reddy |
| Daasi | 26 Nov 1952 | N. T. Rama Rao, C. Lakshmi Rajyam, S. V. Ranga Rao |
C.V. Ranganatha Das |
| Palli Chesi Choodu | 19 Feb 1952 | N. T. Rama Rao, Garikapati Varalakshmi, Yandamuri Joga Rao, Savitri, S. V. Ranga Rao |
L. V. Prasad |
| Devadasu | 26 Jun 1953 | Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Savitri, Lalitha | Vedantam Raghavaiah |
| Naa Illu | 1953 | Chittor V. Nagaiah, B. Jayamma, T. R. Rajakumari |
Chittor V. Nagaiah |
| Thodu Dongalu | 15 Apr 1954 | N.T. Rama Rao, Gummadi Venkateswara Rao, P. Hemalatha, Chalam |
D. Yoganand |
| Vipra Narayana | 10 Dec 1954 | Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Bhanumathi Ramakrishna | P. S. Ramakrishna Rao |
| Kanya Shulkam | 26 Aug 1955 | N.T. Rama Rao, Savitri, C.S.R. Anjaneyulu, Sowcar Janaki |
P. Pullaiah |
| Missamma | 12 Jan 1955 | N. T. Rama Rao, Savitri, Jamuna, S.V. Ranga Rao, Relangi Venkata Ramaiah |
L. V. Prasad |
| Ardhamgi | 26 Jan 1955 | Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Savitri | P. Pullaiah |
| Donga Ramudu | 1 Oct 1955 | Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Savitri, Jamuna, Jaggayya |
K. V. Reddy |
| Mayabazar | 27 Mar 1957 | N. T. Rama Rao, Savitri, S. V. Ranga Rao | Kadiri Venkata Reddy |
| Suvarna Sundari 1957 | 10 May 1957 | Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Anjali Devi | Vedantam Raghavaiah |
| Panduranga Mahatyam | 28 Nov 1957 | N.T. Rama Rao, Chittor V. Nagaiah, Anjali Devi, Rushyendramani, Vijaya Nirmala |
Kamalakara Kameswara Rao |
| Jaya Bheri | 9 Apr 1959 | Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Anjali Devi | P. Pullaiah |
| Sri Venkateswara Mahatyam | 9 Jan 1960 | N.T. Rama Rao, Savitri, S. Varalakshmi, P. Suri Babu, Chittor V. Nagaiah, Gummadi Venkateswara Rao |
P. Pullaiah |
| Chivaraku Migiledi | 1960 | K. Savithri, Kanta Rao, Prabhakar Reddy, Ramana Reddy, Raja Babu |
Gutha Ramineedu |
| Velugu Needalu | 5 Jan 1961 | Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Savitri | Adurthi Subba Rao |
| Jagadeka Veeruni Katha | 9 Aug 1961 | N.T. Rama Rao, B. Saroja Devi, | Kadiri Venkata Reddy |
| Seetha Rama Kalyanam | 6 Jan 1961 | N. T. Rama Rao, B. Saroja Devi, Harinath, Kanta Rao | N. T. Rama Rao |
| Mahamantri Timmarusu | 26 Jul 1962 | N.T. Rama Rao, Gummadi, S. Varalakshmi, Devika, Relangi , Venkata Ramaiah |
Kamalakara Kameshwara Rao
|
| Rakta Sambandham | 11 Jan 1962 | N.T. Rama Rao, Savitri, Devika, Kanta Rao, Ramana Reddy, Suryakantham |
V. Madhusudan Rao |
| Padandi Munduku | 26 Jan 1962 | Kongara Jaggayya, Gummadi, Jamuna, Kanta Rao, S. V. Ranga Rao, G. Varalakshmi |
V. Madhusudhana Rao |
| Bandipotu | 1963 | N.T. Rama Rao, R. Nagendra Rao, Krishna Kumari, Leelavathi, Mikkilineni Radhakrishna Murthy |
B. Vittalacharya |
| Guruvunu Minchina Sishyudu | 1963 | Kantha Rao, Mukkamala, Krishna Kumari, Rajanala |
B. Vittalacharya |
| Narthanasala | 11 Oct 1963 | N. T. Rama Rao, Savitri, S. V. Ranga Rao | Kamalakara Kameswara Rao |
| Lava Kusa | 29 Mar 1963 | N. T. Rama Rao, Anjali Devi, T. L. Kanta Rao | C. Pullaiah, C. S. Rao |
| Sri Krishnarjuna Yuddham | 9 Jan 1963 | N. T. Rama Rao, Akkineni Nageswara Rao, B. Saroja Devi |
K. V. Reddy |
| Bobbili Yuddham | 4 Dec 1963 | N.T. Rama Rao, Bhanumathi , S.V.Ranga Rao, Jamuna |
C. Seetaram |
| Aathma Balam | 9 Jan1964 | Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Kongara Jaggayya, B. Saroja Devi |
V. Madhusudhan Rao |
| Ramudu Bheemudu | 21 May 1964 | N.T. Rama Rao, Jamuna, L. Vijayalakshmi, Relangi Venkata Ramaiah,S.V.Ranga Rao |
Tapi Chanakya |
| Gudi Gantalu | 14 Jan 1964 | N.T. Rama Rao, Krishna Kumari, Relangi Venkata Ramaiah, Kongara Jaggaiah |
V. Madhusudhan Rao |
| Antastulu | 27 May 1965 | Akkineni Nageswara Rao , Bhanumathi Ramakrishna, Krishna Kumari |
V. Madhusudhan Rao |
| Sumangali | 1 Jan 1965 | Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Savitri | Adurthi Subba Rao |
| Thene Manasulu | 31 Mar 1965 | Varanasi Ram Mohan Rao, Krishna, Sukanya, B. Padmanabham |
Adurthi Subba Rao |
| Srikrishna Pandaveeyam | 13 Jan 1966 | N. T. Rama Rao, Udaykumar, K. R. Vijaya, Chittor V. Nagaiah, Gummadi Venkateswara Rao, Shobhan Babu |
N. T. Rama Rao |
| Ave Kallu | 14 Dec 1967 | Krishna, Kanchana, Rajanala, Padmanabham, Ramana Reddy , Gummadi |
A. C. Tirulokchandar |
| Goodhachari 116 | 11 Aug 1966 | Krishna, Jayalalitha, Rajanala, Mukkamala | M. Mallikharjuna Rao |
| Kanchukota | 1967 | Taraka Rama Rao Nandamuri, Vanisri, Savitri | Rao C.S.R. |
| Sakshi | 1967 | Krishna, Vijaya Nirmala, Sakshi Ranga Rao, Rajababu, Vijayalalitha, Chalapathi Rao |
Bapu |
| Ave Kallu | 14 Dec 1967 | Krishna, Kanchana, Rajanala, Padmanabham | A. C. Trilok Chandar |
| Sudigundalu | 1968 | Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Vijayachander, Ram Mohan, Pushpavalli, Sakshi Ranga Rao |
Adurthi Subba Rao |
| Ramu | 4 May 1968 | N. T. Rama Rao, Jamuna | A. C. Tirulokchandar |
| Buddhimanthudu | 20 Sep 1969 | Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Vijaya Nirmala, Sobhan Babu, Krishnam Raju |
Bapu |
| Saptaswaralu | 1969 | Tadepalli Lakshmi Kanta Rao, Rajasree, Rajanala | Vedantam Raghavaiah |
| Ekaveera | 1969 | N.T. Rama Rao, K. R. Vijaya, Kantha Rao, Jamuna | C. S. Rao |
| Manushulu Marali | 1969 | Shoban Babu, Sharada, Kanchana, Gummadi Venkateswara Rao |
V. Madhusudhan Rao |
| Maro Prapancham | 10 Apr 1970 | Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Savitri, Jamuna | Adurthi Subba Rao |
| Sambarala Rambabu | 1970 | Chalam, Allu Ramalingaiah, Sharada | G.V.R. Sheshgiri Rao |
| Sampoorna Ramayanam | 1971 | Shobhan Babu, Chandrakala, Gummadi, Chittor V. Nagaiah, Kaikala Satyanarayana, S.V.Ranga Rao |
Bapu |
| Mosagallaku Mosagadu | 1971 | Ghattamaneni Krishna, Vijaya Nirmala, Nagabhushanam, Gummadi, Kaikala Satyanarayana |
K. S. R. Das |
| Mohemmad Bin Tughlak | 1972 | Nagabhushanam, Ramaprabha, Chaya Devi, Sandhya Rani, Leela Rani, Raja Babu, Krishnam Raju |
BV Prasad |
| Thatha Manavadu | 23 Mar 1972 | S. V. Ranga Rao, Potti Veeraiah, Anjali Devi, Kaikala Satyanarayana, Raja Babu |
Dasari Narayana Rao |
| Neramu Siksha | 18 Jul 1973 | Ghattamaneni Krishna, Bharathi Vishnuvardhan, M. Balaiah |
K. Viswanath |
| Andala Ramudu | 12 Sep 1973 | Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Latha | Bapu |
| Ganga Manga | 1 Jan 1973 | Vanisri, Krishna, Sobhan Babu | Tapi Chanakya |
| Krishnaveni | 1974 | Krishnam Raju, Vanisri | V. Madhusudhan Rao |
| Alluri Seeta Ramaraju | 1 May 1974 | Ghattamaneni Krishna, Vijaya Nirmala | V. Ramachandra Rao |
| Muthyala Muggu | 1975 | Sreedhar, Sangeeta, Rao Gopal Rao | Bapu |
| Bhakta Kannappa | 1976 | Krishnam Raju, Vanisree, M. Balaiah, Rao Gopal Rao, Allu Ramalingaiah |
Bapu |
| Siri Siri Muvva | 1976 | Jayapradha, Chandra Mohan, Satyanarayana Kaikala |
K. Viswanath |
| Adavi Ramudu | 28 Apr 1977 | N. T. Rama Rao, Jayaprada, Jayasudha |
K. Raghavendra Rao |
| Maro Charitra | 2 May 1978 | Kamal Haasan, Saritha, Madhavi, Sarath Babu |
K. Balachander |
| Siva Ranjani | 1978 | Jayasudha, Mohan Babu, Allu Ramalingaiah, Nirmalamma |
Dasari Narayana Rao |
| Mana Voori Pandavulu | 9 Nov 1978 | Krishnam Raju, Chiranjeevi, Rao Gopal Rao |
Bapu |
| Karunamayudu | 21 Dec 1978 | Vijayachander, Kongara Jaggaiah | A. Bhimsingh |
| Shankarabharanam | 15 Jan 1980 | J.V. Somayajulu, Manju Bhargavi, Chandra Mohan |
K. Viswanath |
| Maa Bhoomi | 1980 | Sai Chand, Rami Reddy | Goutam Ghose |
| Saptapadi | 26 Jun 1981 | J.V. Somayajulu, Allu Rama Lingaiah, Sabita Bhamidipati |
K. Vishwanath |
| Sardar Papa Rayudu | 30 Oct 1980 | N. T. Rama Rao, Sridevi, Sharada | Dasari Narayana Rao |
| Bobbili Puli | 9 Jul 1982 | N. T. Rama Rao, Sridevi | Dasari Narayana Rao |
| Eenadu | 17 Dec 1982 | Krishna Ghattamaneni, Raogopalrao | P. Sambasiva Rao |
| Meghasandesam | 24 Sep 1982 | Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Jayaprada, Jayasudha |
Dasari Narayana Rao |
| Khaidi | 28 Oct 1983 | Chiranjeevi, Madhavi, Sumalatha, Rao Gopal Rao |
A. Kodandarami Reddy |
| Sagara Sangamam | 3 Jun 1983 | Kamal Haasan, Jaya Prada | K. Viswanath |
| Ananda Bhairavi | 1983 | Girish Karnad, Kanchana, Harish | Jandhyala |
| Mangamma Gari Manavadu | 3 Sep 1984 | Nandamuri Balakrishna, Bhanumathi Ramakrishna, Suhasini |
Kodi Ramakrishna |
| Bobbili Brahmanna | 1984 | Krishnam Raju, Sharada, Jayasudha | K. Raghavendra Rao |
| Sitaara | 1984 | Bhanupriya, Suman, Subhalekha Sudhakar | Vamshi |
| Mayuri | 1985 | Sudha Chandran, Subhakar, P. L. Narayana, Nirmalamma |
Singeetam Srinivasa Rao |
| Pratighatana | 1 Jan 1985 | Vijayshanti, Chandra Mohan, Kota Srinivasa Rao, Sai Kumar, P. L. Narayana |
T. Krishna |
| Simhasanam | 21 Mar 1986 | Krishna, Jayaprada, Radha mandakini | Krishna |
| Aha Naa Pellanta | 27 Nov 1987 | Rajendra Prasad, Rajani, Kota Srinivasa Rao, Brahmanandam |
Jandhyala |
| Chantabbai | 22 Aug 1986 | Chiranjeevi, Suhasini Mani Ratnam, Kongara Jaggayya |
Jandhyala |
| Sirivennela | 20 May 1986 | Sarvadaman Banerjee, Suhasini Moon Moon Sen | K. Viswanath |
| Swati Mutyam | 27 Mar 1986 | Kamal Haasan, Raadhika Sarathkumar | K. Viswanath |
| Rudra Veena | 4 Mar 1988 | Chiranjeevi, Gemini Ganesan, Shobana | K. Balachander |
| Yamudiki Mogudu | 29 Apr 1988 | Chiranjeevi, Vijayashanti, Radha, Kaikala Satyanarayana, Kota Srinivasa Rao |
Ravi Raja Pinisetty |
| Swarna Kamalam | 15 Jul 1988 | Venkatesh, Bhanupriya, Sharon Lowen | K. Viswanath |
| Daasi | 1988 | Archana, Bhoopal Reddy, Rupa | B. Narsing Rao |
| Bamma Maata Bangaru Baata | 9 Mar 1989 | Bhanumathi, Rajendra Prasad, Gautami, Nuthan Prasad | Rajasekhar |
| Gitanjali | 10 May 1989 | Akkineni Nagarjuna, Girija Shettar | Mani Ratnam |
| Shiva | 5 May 1989 | Akkineni Nagarjuna, Amala, Raghuvaran | Ram Gopal Varma |
| Kondaveeti Donga | 9 Mar 1990 | Chiranjeevi, Vijayashanthi, Radha | A. Kodandarami Reddy |
| Nari nari Naduma Murari | 25 April 1990 | Balakrishna, Shobana, Nirosha | A. Kodandarami Reddy |
| Jagadeka Veerudu Athiloka Sundari | 9 May 1990 | Sridevi, Chiranjeevi | K. Raghavendra Rao |
| Alludugaru | 14 July 1990 | Mohan Babu, Shobana, Ramya Krishnan, Chandra Mohan | K. Raghavendra Rao |
| Karthavyam | 1990 | Vijayashanthi, Vinod Kumar, Nirmalamma | Mohan Gandhi |