Shiva

I get nostalgic when I recollect standing amidst the crowd during the shooting of "Shiva" (Telugu version). The very director marked his entry into Indian Cinema with this outing. College life integrates with college politics, then an untrodden terrain and an underlying love story (then a must-have ingredient in any movie) makes up a product called "Shiva".

Nag:: Fresh from the success of "Gitanjali" he was awesome in the role of "Shiva". Communicated more with this intense eyes than dialogues.

Amala:: Good chemistry and I think they were dating during the making of this movie.

Raghuvaran:: Showcased "Pacino meets De Niro" rolled into one in the garb of Bhavani. Left a tremendous impact.

Kota:: Did a fantastic job as the politician. In Hindi it was essayed by Paresh Rawal, equally well.

Then not a rebellion RGV incorporated a few songs into the storyline composed by maestro Illayaraja.

Needless to say the first time director became the talk of the town. Prominent was signature style now, the long-drawn shots, hand-held camera and intense background music which elevated visual experience. Of course, the violence was raw and gritty. The ending is grim (and slightly amended in the Hindi version).

Shiva was released in 1989 in Telugu and 1990 in Hindi. Even now if you were to watch it you can still feel the impact as it did way back then.

We can't deny that RGV is one of those directors who took part in changing the typical Bollywood zone. Don't know about now, but RGV was one of the Best directors in his earliest times. So, today Recommending his first directorial feature, Shiva.

Nagarjuna was so calm and cool in this film. And Raghuvaran was fully villainous. It's one of the earliest good action drama film.

After watching the film you'll realise many films have taken inspiration from this film. Though the film is bit lengthy, you'll not get bored at any point because of the tight screenplay.

In my opinion this is one of the best action entertainer still now.

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Shiva is definitely one of the top class action entertainer of its time. For the beginners it was the first time audience saw the use of bike chain as a potential weapon, henceforth followed by goons both in real life and films as well. Shiva gave an absolutely new dimension to action films in India with its fluid packed stunts (something which were unheard of at that time). Such was its intensity that the movie ran jam packed for many months not only in Telugu, but also Tamil and Hindi as well. The film still has cult status down south even today as it saw the rise of one of the Superstars of South film industry in Akkineni Nagarjuna.

Shiva was a RGV cult classic when it initially came out. Shot in real locations and diverging from the normal Bollywood plotlines, it was a completely different experience in 1990 and left. A mark on you and the change the industry for ever.

However in 2024, with the advent of OTT and excellent plotlines, watching this was an underwhelming experience even after skipping all the songs.

Yes songs. Just like a typical Bollywood potboiler completely tacky and out of place. Nagarjuna's acting leaves much to be desired, though Amala is beautiful and fantastic. Overall the political - student-union nexus is brilliantly explored and Shivas quest for revenge and dominance is well thought out. I would have given it 9 stars in 1990, but this move does not stand the test of time.

It's hard to rate an industry classic honestly and accurately, especially one as hallowed as Siva. Watching in 2019, some plot holes (i.e. how does he get married and acquire power so quickly) and technical mishaps (i.e. many scenes where extras are out of character or poorly shot) tend to weigh on the viewing experience a little heavier than in 1989.

With all that said, Siva is still an absolute must watch. Its obvious directorial innovations, Nagarjuna's and Raghuvaran's acting, and the realistic elements of the storyline continue to dazzle 30 years later. What frankly surprised me is how outstandingly gripping the movie is; I didn't expect to be on the edge of my seat for so long. I cannot imagine what the experience must have been like in the theaters.

It's clear why the film retains an iconic status in the pantheon of Telugu cinema. Highly recommend for all viewers.