Annapurna Studios Marks Fifty Years Film Legacy

Fifty years ago, getting to the land that would become Annapurna Studios was no easy task. Jubilee Hills was just empty land, with rocks, shrubs, and snakes. There were no roads, no houses, nothing to hint that it would one day be a hub of Telugu cinema. But actor Akkineni Nageswara Rao Garu saw potential here, a place for films to grow in their own city.

On August 13, 1975, ANR Garu laid the foundation stone for Annapurna Studios. He wanted Telugu cinema to have a home in Hyderabad. The studio’s first production, Kalyani (1979) directed by Dasari Narayana Rao, marked the beginning of many memorable films like Manmadhudu, Mass, and Super. Next year, they plan to release Dacoit: A Love Story and Lenin, continuing the legacy.

The studio was officially opened on January 14, 1976, by President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed. Over time, Annapurna Studios added shooting floors, outdoor sets, and post-production facilities. They also started Annapurna College of Film and Media, teaching everything from acting to editing and sound design, giving young talent a chance to learn filmmaking in one place.

Today, Annapurna Studios is 50 years old and still going strong. The barren land of the 1970s has turned into a busy creative space. What ANR Garu imagined has become reality, a respected studio that shaped Telugu cinema and continues to inspire filmmakers and artists in Hyderabad and beyond.