Writer Arudra’s association with the popular Jagapathi Pictures banner had resulted from his long-standing friendship with the banner’s co-producer, Parvathaneni Rangarao. Arudra had known Rangarao, a sound engineer with Gemini Studios, since 1948. So, when Rangarao joined V B Rajendra Prasad to form the production house, Arudra was the natural choice to pen the dialogues and lyrics for their maiden film, Annapurna (1960). With the songs from the movie turning out a hit, the producer duo, with an ear for good music, decided to have songs with more melody in their next production, Aradhana (1962). Arudra was the automatic choice as one of the lyricists.
There is a joyful situation in Aradhana , in which the comedy pair, Relangi and Girija, sing a duet. Instead of filming it at a regular picnic or tourist location, it was decided to picturise it in a zoo. Then a century old, the Madras Zoo, situated near the Central Railway Station was found not congenial as it lacked the visual beauty due to the constant smoke being emitted by the coal engines. (The Madras Zoo was subsequently shifted to the Vandalur reserve forest on the suburbs of Chennai). Therefore, it was decided to shoot the song at the Mysore Zoo. It was not difficult for Arudra to pen the lyric sitting in the comfort of his home. But then a question arose. What would happen if the animals he mentions in his song are not found at the zoo? Hence, the unit, comprising the lyricist, music composer Saluru Rajeswara Rao, director V Madhusudana Rao and co-producer Rangarao left for Mysore and spent a day at the zoo.
Arudra noted down in an order the animals at the Mysore Zoo and their dwellings there while Madhusudana Rao observed the places where he could shoot the song. The unit then left for the nearby Brindavan Gardens and took note of the bushes and the animal forms carved out of the trees. After returning to Madras, based on his notes, Arudra came out with a plan to write the lyric. In those days, villagers from Andhra, who came to Madras, had two ‘must visit’ places in the city — the zoo, which was known to them as the bathikina college , and the museum, the chachhina college .
The situation
Girija, a village belle, in all innocence, puts some queries to Relangi and he replies in jest. Arudra has recalled in an earlier interview: “The given situation was such that the question which should be first-- whether the lyric should follow the tune or the tune should follow the lyric--- did not arise. So, the music director, the director, the producer and I---we all sat together and created, step by step, the structure for the lyric and the tune.” Thus was born the song -- Ohoho maamayya…
SHE: Ohoho maamayya Idemayyaa / Bale bale baagaa vundayyaa/ Intini vidichi shikaru kodithe yentho hayi kaladayyaa…
HE: Ohoho ammayee idi collegee/ bale bale bathikina collegee/ Maatalu raani mrugaalu konni manishiki paatham cheputaayi…
Even in this comedy duet, Arudra did not leave his mark of satire on society.
SHE: Pululu chiruthalu simhaalannee velupala thirigina pramaadame/ O maamayyaa… O maamayyaa
HE: Kondaru gharaana manushulakannaa krooram kaavee janthuvuloo/ O ammaayee… ammaayeee/ Krouryam perigina manishini, mrugaanni katakataalalo pedathaaru.
The song progresses further, taking the audience into the sprawling world of animal kingdom inside the Mysore Zoo, reverberating with the enthralling voice of Ghantasala and P Susheela, which ends on a satirical note,
SHE: Raajulu yekke ambaari pai andaru yekkuta thappu kadaa
HE: Rojulu maaray Rajulu poyi prajale prabhuvulu eenadu aha/ Manushulapaina sawarikanna yenugu sawari nayam kadaa…
Memorable outing Lyricist Arudra, singers Janaki, Ghantasala, Relangi and Girija in sequences from ‘Aradhana’ by arrangement
The scene
Langaru China Lingaiah (played by Ramana Reddy) tells his nephew Yoganandam (Relangi) that he would give his daughter Lakshmi (Girija) in marriage only to a London-returned man. When Dr. Muralikrishna (A Nageswara Rao) loses his job at the hospital he is working, Lingaiah offers to sponsor his higher studies in London after an understanding with Dr. Muralikrishna’s father Gopalaiah (Nagaiah) that on return from London Muralikrishna should marry Lakshmi. However, Yoganandam tricks Lingaiah and courts Lakshmi. In one such act, they hoodwink Lingaiah, go on a joy trip and sing the duet.
Though all the songs in the movie Aradhana were a hit, Arudra had a special liking for this song as a lot of effort had gone into the making of Oho maamayya … And to this day the song has remained popular.
