NOTE: This retrospective article on Vamsy’s “Ladies Tailor” was originally published on Telugucinema.com on 7th January, 2012. We are reproducing them from our archives with minor changes and updates.
Story
Sundaram, a lazy tailor with an unwavering belief in astrology, is told that his fate will change if he marries a woman with a mole on her right thigh. Given his profession as a ladies’ tailor, he sees this as an opportunity to identify such a woman among those familiar with him in the village. He tries to determine whether the destined woman is one of the three women close to him—Nagamani, Daya, or Neelaveni—but none of them fit the prophecy.
Meanwhile, Seenu, the local goon Venkataratnam’s assistant, closely monitors Sundaram. Seenu, awaiting his boss’s release from prison, is particularly cautious of Sundaram’s antics, which border on harassment—something Venkataratnam detests. As events unfold, Sundaram innocently falls in love with Sujatha, a newly arrived teacher. However, a shocking development occurs when Sundari, Venkataratnam’s mentally challenged sister, who shares a close bond with Sundaram, becomes pregnant.
The film follows Sundaram as he struggles to clear himself of Seenu’s suspicions and convince Sujatha to marry him. What begins as a comedy gradually transforms into a suspense thriller, all while retaining its humor.
Vamsy’s Recollections (in first person)
Archana initially auditioned for the role in ‘Sitaara,’ but Bhanupriya was selected instead. I later saw Archana in the Malayalam film ‘Yathra’ (remade in Telugu as ‘Nireekshana’), where Balu Mahendra showcased her beautifully. I felt she would be perfect for this film. Her voice was dubbed by Dubbing Janaki’s sister, Lakshmi.
I had known Deepa before casting her, and we selected her when she was slimmer. However, by the time of the shoot, she had gained some weight, but we proceeded with her as Daya nonetheless. Sandhya was recommended by a production manager due to her strong diction and her background from Guntur. She had previously acted in a film by veteran director C.S. Rao, which unfortunately never saw the light of day. Pattabhi, who played her father, was a stage artist.
Karnan, a perfume seller frequently seen around film production offices, caught my attention with his striking eyes. Though he had no prior acting experience, I cast him as Seenu. Originally, Nutan Prasad was supposed to play Tanikella Bharani’s role, but due to scheduling conflicts, Bharani took over. We had to alter the costumes originally tailored for Nutan Prasad to fit Bharani instead.
Pradeep Shakti, a colleague of cameraman Hari Anumolu, was introduced to me while working on ‘Aalaapana.’ I noticed his talent in a small Malayalam film and decided to cast him. Though ‘Aalaapana’ was a flop, I admired his acting and continued working with him in several of my films, including ‘Ladies Tailor.’
Rallapalli was initially cast as an astrologer, but Bharani transformed the role into a tribal chief (Koya Dora). We asked Rallapalli to take pictures in tribal attire with notable film personalities. His famous dialogue, “…pakkana nenu,” gained significant attention, all thanks to Bharani’s creative vision.
Most of the film was shot in and around Rajolu, Tatipaka, and Manepalli in West Godavari. Rajendra Prasad’s house was in Manepalli, while Y. Vijaya’s house was in another remote village. When the final shoot fell short in duration, we filmed additional scenes at Arunachala Studio in Madras, including sequences featuring the cameraman Dham and the protagonist’s dream of becoming a king.
In our childhood, tailors used to wear pajama-like garments made from leftover fabric scraps. We depicted this attire in the film, but today, tailors have evolved to be more fashionable than city dwellers.
Ilaiyaraaja was extremely busy at the time, and we couldn’t afford to halt the shoot while waiting for him to compose the music. Anticipating his style, I shot “Ekkada Ekkada…” with visuals that he later composed the music for. Additionally, I wanted a bit song for the protagonist’s character introduction during the titles. Ilaiyaraaja composed it and asked Nagoor Babu to sing it, though his name did not appear in the credits.
Production and Experiences
Vemuri Satyanarayana (Executive Producer):
I had previously worked with Vamsy on ‘Manchu Pallaki.’ When Ravikishore, Thammudu Satyam, and Saibaba approached him for a film, he asked me to assist with production. I also met Sirivennela Seetharama Shastry for the first time during this project, and our bond grew so strong that we later affectionately started calling each other “Alludu” and “Mamayya.”
‘Sravanthi’ Ravikishore (Producer):
Originally, we planned a film for Kamal Haasan titled ‘Soundaryalahari,’ but he advised us to gain experience with another project first. We then developed a story about a tailor’s child running away with a lantern—a rags-to-riches tale. However, during ‘Aalaapana,’ we met Tanikella Bharani, who pitched ‘Ladies Tailor.’ The film was shot in 29 days, with an additional day at Arunachala Studios to meet the minimum required length. Our inexperience led to a high budget of ₹26 lakh. Out of gratitude, we gifted Vamsy an air-conditioned Fiat car when the film celebrated its 50-day success.
The film was later dubbed into Tamil and Kannada but failed at the box office due to its strong Telugu nativity. It was also remade in Marathi as ‘Kuthe Kuthe Shodhu Me Tila’ and in Hindi as ‘Ladies Tailor,’ but neither version succeeded.
Technical Challenges & Trivia
Hari Anumolu (Cinematographer):
Before filming, we found an old crane at Gemini Studios, which was unused due to lack of an operator. Despite skepticism, we managed to repair it and transported it to Rajolu. It was incredibly efficient, taking just a second to descend from 50 feet. We used it extensively, especially for songs and the climax.
We shot in peak summer under intense heat, which made makeup melt frequently. Despite this, the cast and crew worked tirelessly. During the final four days, we shot continuously without sleep, and at one point, I dozed off momentarily as the director called “Action!” I woke up at “Cut!” and requested a retake, but both shots looked identical—an incident that still amuses my colleagues.
Tanikella Bharani:
I was introduced to Vamsy by my mentor Rallapalli as a writer. The script took two months to finalize. I was on set throughout the shoot, improvising scenes based on the actors’ mannerisms. Originally, Nutan Prasad was cast as the policeman, but I took over when he couldn’t join.
At the premiere, Vijayachander and Sirivennela praised the film, but we only realized its impact when we witnessed audience reactions in Vijayawada. This film was a breakthrough for me as a writer, bringing in numerous opportunities.
Legacy and Updates
‘Sravanthi Movies’ continues to produce successful films. Ravikishore went on establishing as great producer. Vamsy made a comeback with ‘Aunu… Valliddaru Ishtapaddaru!’ and is now sharing his experiences on Facebook, YouTube, and other social media platforms.
Mallikarjuna Rao, remembered fondly as “Battala Satti,” passed away on June 24, 2008. Meanwhile, Subhalekha Sudhakar remains active in cinema and television.
The legacy of ‘Ladies Tailor’ endures as a cult classic, blending comedy and suspense seamlessly.
