New Delhi: Veteran Tollywood actor G. V. Narayana Rao has finally spoken about the emotional story behind Hyderabad’s iconic Sarathi Studios. He also revealed why the once-legendary property near Ameerpet Metro was sold despite its historic legacy.
In a recent interview, the actor revisited his cinematic journey and reflected on the golden era of Telugu cinema. Narayana Rao, who made his debut with Anthuleni Katha in 1976, built a steady career as a dependable supporting actor. Though he has been away from the silver screen for years, his memories of Hyderabad’s film history remain vivid.
The Sarathi Studio near Ameerpet Metro was ours once…
Speaking about the transformation of the city, he revealed that the land where the Ameerpet Metro Station now stands once belonged to Sarathi Studios. According to him, the present market value of that property runs into thousands of crores, which is a staggering jump from what it was sold for decades ago.
The roots of the studio, he explained, are deeply personal. His father was a partner in Navayuga Films, one of Andhra Pradesh’s leading film distribution companies at the time. When the Telugu film industry began shifting base from Chennai to Hyderabad, the need for proper studio infrastructure became urgent. The then Chief Minister, Marri Chenna Reddy, extended support to encourage film development in the city.
For the unversed, Sri Sarathi Studios is located in Hyderabad’s Ameerpet. It was established in 1956 and became the city’s first film studio facility. Built by Yarlagadda Sivarama Prasad, the Raja of Challapalli, it marked a turning point in Telugu cinema’s growth in Hyderabad. The first film shot there was Maa Inti Mahalakshmi (1959), also the first Telugu film entirely filmed in the city. Sarathi Films, founded in 1937, produced notable classics including Mala Pilla, Raithu Bidda, Rojulu Marayi, Aatmiyulu, and Annadammula Savaal.
Why was Sarathi Studio sold?
Narayana Rao shared that when legendary actor Akkineni Nageswara Rao relocated to Hyderabad, adequate studio facilities were not available. That gap led to the utilisation of the Sarathi banner, originally linked to Challapalli Maharaja Ramakrishna Prasad. Navayuga Films later acquired a 45 per cent stake in Sarathi Studios. In 1964, Narayana Rao’s father moved from Guntakal to Hyderabad to oversee its operations.
What began as a modest single-floor studio soon expanded into a three-floor facility and flourished during its peak years. However, time brought inevitable changes. Generational differences within the family and evolving professional interests slowly shifted priorities. By the 1980s, the family decided to sell the studio.
The actor noted that Sarathi’s story wasn’t unique. Even iconic establishments like Vauhini and AVM Studios faced similar transitions over the years. While the property fetched crores at the time of sale, its value has multiplied exponentially today.