No one can deny the fact that it's only a friend with whom we can share anything that can not be shared with parents, siblings or the relatives. A true friend doesn't care whether his counterpart is rich or poor, mighty or a weakling. Really, it's very fortunate to have at least one such friend in a lifetime.
Very few people are blessed to be of that kind and one such pair of friends is Bapu and Ramana. So great is their friendship that, they can be called 'body and soul' of one another. Not only they kept each other's company in low and high times, but also strengthened the bond by becoming relatives.
Mullapudi Venkataramana started writing short stories from the age of 14. Bapu and Ramana knew each other from the days they were studying fourth class in P.S. High School, Chennai.
In fact, Bapu's original name is Satthiraju Laxminarayana and was born at Narasapuram in West Godawari district. He did his Law graduation from Madras University in 1955. Since he was an accomplished painter and cartoonist by then, he got a job in 'Andhrapatrika' magazine.
Ramana entered film industry much before Bapu did. In 1962 he worked as writer for "Raktha Sambandham" movie. It's a wonder that, Ramana who is well known for his humor writing was equally successful in writing for a brother-sister sentiment film! Later he wrote story and dialogues for movies like Moogamanasulu, dagudumuthalu, Preminchi Chudu, Kanne Manasulu, Navaratri, Poola Rangadu, Prana Mithrulu etc.,.
With the confidence Ramana had on Bapu's abilities, Ramana proposed to make films together. And that led to the making of "Sakshi" movie in 1967. The movie didn't fare well at the box office, but Bapu and Ramana gained good name.
"Bangaru Pichuka" was the next movie and that too met with the same fate. Later with Akkineni Nageswara Rao playing dual roles, a movie "Buddhimanthudu" was made. This movie was well received by the audience and remains a classic even today. With this movie Bapu and Ramana became a household name in Andhra Pradesh and were able make Inti Gouravam, Balaraju Kadha like movies later.
Bapu and Ramana relied very much on each other's capabilities that they didn't hesitate in making "Sampurna Ramayanam" with Shobhan Babu as Lord Rama. It was certainly an adventure on part of the duo to cast Shobhan Babu in this film bypassing late N T Ramarao. But their collective intuition paid off and the movie registered a record break success.
Later in 1975, with "Muthyala Muggu" they were able to set a new trend in dialogue writing and its presentation. Actor Rao Gopala Rao and his dialogues in the film became so popular that thousands of its soundtrack cassettes were sold. The other successes of Bapu-Ramana combination - Bhakta Kannappa, Mana Vuri Pandavulu, Andala Ramudu, Sri Ramanjaneya Yuddham, Radha Kalyanam, Mantrigari Viyyankudu,
Pelli Pusthakam, Mr. Pellam, Srinadha Kavi Sarvabhoumudu, Seetha Kalyanam... the list is endless - much like their friendship. Teluguone congratulates the perennial bond of friendship between Bapu and Ramana and terms them as "The Body & Soul".
It’s very sad that one of the two ‘Millennium Friends’- Mullapudi Venkata Ramana died due to cardiac arrest today (24-02-2011) in Chennai. It’s an irreparable loss not only for Bapu, but also for the innumerable fans of Budugu, Radha, Gopalam, Contractor, Apparao, Tutthi like characters created by Ramana.
Venkata Ramana's death is surely one of the biggest setbacks for the Telugu cinema industry. Teluguone extends its heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family and Bapu. May his soul rest in peace.