Lava Kusa (1934) Review – Rating, Verdict & Box Office | Tollybo
Last updated: 25 Mar 2026
Lava Kusa (1934) Review
Lava Kusa (1934) (Telugu musical, drama) — directed by Chittajalu Pullayya. Featuring Parupalli Subbarao, Sriranjani, Master Bhimarao. This is the Ramayana story of Seeta (Sriranjani) who retires to the forest and gives birth to twin boys, Lava (Bhimarao) and Kusa (M. Rao). They later take on the might of Rama (Subba Rao) unaware that he is their father. Our Rating: 4/5. Verdict: INDUSTRY HIT. Released: 22 Dec 1934. Runtime: 2h 45m.
Lava Kusa(1934)
Telugu · Musical, Drama
2h 45m · 22 Dec 1934
Writer: Ramanamurthy
Ratings
Our Rating
4
📖 Story
Based on the Uttara Kanda of the Ramayana, the story follows Sita's exile to the forest, where she takes refuge in Valmiki's ashram and gives birth to twins, Lava and Kusa. The boys grow up to be valiant warriors and eventually challenge Lord Rama's authority by capturing the Ashwamedha horse, leading to a confrontation between father and sons.
Chittajalu Pullayya: Delivered a dignified performance as Lord Rama, bringing his stage experience to the early talkie era.
Chittajalu Pullayya: Portrayed the role of Sita with great emotional depth, particularly in the scenes involving her exile.
Chittajalu Pullayya: Played Lava with the necessary innocence and bravery required for the character.
Chittajalu Pullayya: Complemented the duo as Kusa, showcasing impressive dialogue delivery for a child artist of that era.
💪 Strengths & Weaknesses
Strengths
- ✓Faithful adaptation of the Ramayana
- ✓Pioneering use of sound and music in early Telugu cinema
- ✓Strong performances by stage-trained actors
- ✓Cultural significance as one of the earliest Telugu mythological hits
Weaknesses
- ✕Technical limitations inherent to the 1930s
- ✕Slow pacing compared to modern standards
- ✕Static camera movements
🎬 Direction & Writing
Chittajalu Pullayya, a pioneer of Telugu cinema, demonstrated great vision in adapting a complex mythological epic with the limited technology of 1934. His focus on musical narrative set a template for future mythological films.
- - Early sound recording technology
- - Traditional set designs reflecting ashram and palace life
- - Integration of numerous poems and songs (Padyalu)
📰 Ratings Sources
No rating sources available.
Our Rating
💰 Box Office Collection
No collection data available yet.
🏛️ Centers & 🏅 Awards
No centers data available.
| Award | Category | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Historical Recognition | Pioneer Film | Recognized as a foundational work in the Telugu mythological film genre. |
🏆 Records & Box Office
- - The film was a massive commercial success during its time, running for several weeks in major towns across the Madras Presidency.
😊 Sentiment Breakdown & 🧠 Critics
| Type | Value |
|---|---|
| Positive | 95% |
| Neutral | 5% |
| Negative | 0% |
Critics
Historically acclaimed as a landmark in Telugu cinema. While modern numeric ratings from the requested sources are unavailable for this 1934 release, film historians regard it as the first major commercial success in the mythological genre for the industry.
Final Box-Office Result
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
When did Lava Kusa release in theatres?▾
Lava Kusa released on 22 December 1934 (1934).
Is Lava Kusa a hit or flop?▾
Lava Kusa is declared a INDUSTRY HIT at the box office.
Where to watch Lava Kusa online? OTT release date?▾
Lava Kusa is available on N/A. OTT date will be updated soon.
Who directed Lava Kusa?▾
Lava Kusa directed by Chittajalu Pullayya.
Who are the main cast members of Lava Kusa?▾
Lava Kusa stars Parupalli Subbarao, Sriranjani, Master Bhimarao, Master Malleswara Rao.
What is the Tollybo rating for Lava Kusa?▾
Tollybo rates Lava Kusa 4/5. Verdict: INDUSTRY HIT.
What is the genre and runtime of Lava Kusa?▾
Lava Kusa — Genre: Musical, Drama, Runtime: 165 minutes, Language: Telugu.