Underplayed Gems

Aditya 369 (1991)

Aditya 369 poster
Directed by
Singeetam Srinivasa Rao
Genre
science fiction film, historical film
Country
India
Runtime
2h 21m
Rated
U
Rating
7.4 of 10 from 23 voters
Elsewhere
IMDb
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How it feels

A scientist invents a time machine that sends people to the 16th century Vijayanagara empire and a post-apocalyptic future. A hero and his companion travel through these periods and face challenges from different eras.

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What happens

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 Amrish Puri, Tinnu Anand, Suthi Velu, Master Tarun, Chandra Mohan, and Silk Smitha in supporting roles. The music for the film was composed by Ilayaraja, and the dialogues were written by Jandhyala. Produced by S. Anitha Krishna under the Sridevi Movies banner, it was presented by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam. Aditya 369 received critical acclaim and won two state Nandi Awards. Aditya 369 is the first time-travel film in Indian cinema and is regarded as an influential work in Indian science fiction. The film blends elements of history and science fiction, with a storyline centered around a time machine, which transports passengers to different time periods, including 1526 CE and a post-apocalyptic future in 2504 CE. It explores themes such as technology, democracy, and warfare. The film was inspired by H. G. Wells' novella The Time Machine (1895), which director Singeetam Srinivasa Rao read in college. The historical segments are set during the reign of Vijayanagara emperor Sri Krishnadevaraya (r. 1509–1529), while the futuristic elements were researched by the director at the American Library in Madras. The film was made on a budget of approximately ₹1.60 crore and took about 110 days to shoot. Three cinematographers worked on the film, each handling different time periods. P. C. Sreeram shot the present-day scenes but had to leave due to health issues. Kabir Lal filmed the futuristic scenes, and V. S. R. Swamy took over the historical ones. The film was also dubbed in Hindi as Mission 369 and Tamil as Apoorva Sakthi 369. (from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA)

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