imported>Kataariveera at 14:27, 13 June 2025

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{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2015}}
{{Use Indian English|date=November 2015}}
{{Infobox film
|name = Prema Pusthakam
|image = Prema Pusthakam.jpg
|caption = Poster
|director = {{ubl|Gollapudi Srinivas|[[Gollapudi Maruthi Rao]]}}
|producer = [[Atluri Purnachandra Rao]]
|writer = Gollapudi Srinivas
|narrator =
|starring = {{ubl|[[Ajith Kumar]]|[[Kanchan (actress)|Kanchan]]}}
|music = [[Devendran]]
|cinematography =
|editing =
|studio =
|distributor =
|released = {{film date|df=y|1993|7|16}}
|runtime =
|country = India
|language = Telugu
|budget = 
|gross = 
}}

'''''Prema Pusthakam''''' ({{translation|Book of Love}}) is a 1993 Indian [[Telugu language|Telugu]]-language [[romance film]] which was partly directed by Gollapudi Srinivas before his death on the set of the film; it was later finished by his father, [[Gollapudi Maruthi Rao]]. <ref name="B">{{cite news|title=A bid day for Thala Ajith! Check to know why!|url=http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies-cinema-news-16/thala-ajith-completes-25-years-in-the-film-industry.html#bwqw12|accessdate=2 August 2017|publisher=Behindwoods.com|date=2 August 2017|archive-date=3 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170803045443/http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies-cinema-news-16/thala-ajith-completes-25-years-in-the-film-industry.html#bwqw12|url-status=live}}</ref> It stars newcomers [[Ajith Kumar]] and [[Kanchan (actress)|Kanchan]], with [[Devendran]] was the music composer. This film is the first film that Ajith Kumar shot for and is his only [[Telugu Cinema|Telugu film]] to date. The film was temporarily put on hold after the director died.<ref>{{cite web |author=Warrier, Shobha |title=Bad back, great future |publisher=[[Rediff]] |date=6 April 1997 |url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/1999/jul/06aji.htm |access-date=8 July 2011 |archive-date=24 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181224200334/https://www.rediff.com/movies/1999/jul/06aji.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> The film won three [[Nandi Awards]].

== Plot ==
Sreekar and Charitra are college students. They are expelled from their college. They find themselves homeless and unemployed. They decide to marry. On the eve of the marriage, a rich old man tries to disrobe Charitra with the intention of raping her. Charitra prevents him from disrobing and raping her. She stabs him to death with a thick piece of glass. The next day, she marries Sreekar. Seconds after the wedding, police enter the marriage hall and arrest Charitra on charges of murdering the old man. Even after this incident, Sreekar neither hates her nor does he abandon her. The court finds Charitra guilty of murder and sentences her.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=37NN0veur2M | title=- YouTube | website=[[YouTube]] | access-date=5 June 2017 | archive-date=9 December 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201209200943/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=37NN0veur2M | url-status=live }}</ref>

== Cast ==
{{cast listing|
*[[Ajith Kumar]] as Sreekar (credited as Sreekar)
*[[Kanchan (actress)|Kanchan]] as Charitra
*Thangana
*Lakshmipriya
*Sohini
*Deepika
*Swati
*[[P. L. Narayana]] as Charitra's father
*[[Maharshi Raghava]]
*[[Tanikella Bharani]] as priest
*[[Gollapudi Maruthi Rao]]
*Balu
*[[S. K. Misro|Misro]]
*Kashi Viswanath
*[[Kallu Chidambaram]]
*Kumara Raja
*[[Vizag Prasad]]
*Rajani Srinivas
* GV Rama
*Gauri Shankar
*Vidyasagar
*[[Murali Mohan]]
*[[Giri Babu]] as Military officer
*[[Mallikarjuna Rao (actor)|Mallikarjuna Rao]] as Police officer
*[[Suthivelu]] as Police officer
*[[Sameer (Telugu actor)|Sameer]] as Sreekar's friend (uncredited)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oy2k5OXv_Bw|title=Actor Sameer revealed interesting facts about Tamil Star Hero Ajith Kumar || RTV|date=8 June 2021|via=YouTube|access-date=6 June 2023|archive-date=6 June 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230606092802/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oy2k5OXv_Bw&t=153s|url-status=live}}</ref>
}}

== Production ==
The film was written by Gollapudi Srinivas, son of noted director [[Gollapudi Maruthi Rao]], on the basis of the 1989 [[Bengali language|Bengali]] film ''[[Aamar Tumi]]''. In early 1992 and [[Ajith Kumar]] was signed on to feature in the lead role.<ref>{{Cite web |date=11 March 2019 |title=SPB reveals truth about Ajith |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/spb-reveals-truth-about-ajith/articleshow/68356439.cms |access-date=15 November 2022 |website=[[The Times of India]] |archive-date=15 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221115052720/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/spb-reveals-truth-about-ajith/articleshow/68356439.cms |url-status=live }}</ref> Shooting for the film began on 2 August 1992.<ref name="B"/> However, during the ninth day of the shoot, the debutant director died after succumbing to injuries suffered during a water accident on sets in [[Vizag]], [[Andhra Pradesh]].<ref name="The Hindu">{{Cite web |last=Ramanujam |first=Srinivasa |date=30 April 2018 |title=Nine days and a killer wave: the story behind Ajith's 'Prema Pusthakam' |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/the-tragic-tale-of-ajiths-first-film-prema-pusthakam/article23727779.ece |website=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=2 August 2019 |archive-date=2 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180902071630/https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/the-tragic-tale-of-ajiths-first-film-prema-pusthakam/article23727779.ece |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Warrier |first=Shobha |author-link=Shobha Warrier |date=6 July 1999 |title=Bad back, great future |url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/1999/jul/06aji.htm |access-date=8 July 2011 |website=[[Rediff.com]] |archive-date=24 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181224200334/https://www.rediff.com/movies/1999/jul/06aji.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> The death led to creation of the [[Gollapudi Srinivas Award]], with the director's father Gollapudi Maruthi Rao giving the award to promising debutant directors to continue his son's legacy.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About Us |url=http://www.gollapudinationalaward.com/aboutus.htm |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110711105752/http://www.gollapudinationalaward.com/aboutus.htm |archive-date=11 July 2011 |access-date=8 July 2011 |publisher=Gollapudi National Award |df=dmy}}</ref> The film was duly delayed and later completed by Srinivas's father and only released in 1993.<ref name="The Hindu" />

== Soundtrack ==
The songs were composed by [[Devendran]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://mio.to/album/Prema+Pusthakam+%281993%29 |title=Prema Pusthakam (1993) - Devendran |website=MusicIndiaOnline |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141018110257/http://mio.to/album/Prema+Pusthakam+%281993%29 |archive-date=2014-10-18}}</ref>
{{Track listing
| headline = Track listing
| extra_column = Singer(s)
| title1 = Anukunnadhi
| extra1 = [[S. P. Balasubrahmanyam]]
| length1 = 2:58
| title2 = Geluchuko
| extra2 = S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, [[K. S. Chithra]]
| length2 = 3:58
| title3 = Kaliki Seethammaku
| extra3 = K. S. Chithra, S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
| length3 = 3:08
| title4 = Manugade Madhuramu
| extra4 = K. S. Chithra, S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
| title5 = Modhalainadhi Mana
| lyrics5 = [[Vennelakanti]]
| extra5 = S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K. S. Chithra
| length5 = 3:13
| title6 = Moodu Nelalaega
| extra6 = S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K. S. Chithra
| length6 = 3:15
| title7 = Poornamadham
| lyrics7 = [[Veturi]]
| extra7 = K. S. Chithra, S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
| title8 = Thiyagga Puttadhae
| extra8 = S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
| title9 = Visakha Beach Lo
| lyrics9 = Veturi
| extra9 = S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K. S. Chithra
| length9 = 4:18
}}

== Release and reception ==
The film has been described by commentators as an "eminently forgettable" debut for [[Ajith Kumar]], due to the problems faced during production.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/1999/sep/15ajit.htm|website=Rediff.com|title=Pyar to hona hi tha|date=15 September 1999|accessdate=8 July 2011|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304090458/http://www.rediff.com/movies/1999/sep/15ajit.htm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>[http://ganeshyamalabittu.tripod.com/heroes/id22.html Ajith Kumar] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110904003216/http://ganeshyamalabittu.tripod.com/heroes/id22.html |date=4 September 2011 }} Retrieved 8 July 2011.</ref>

The film was reviewed by ''[[Zamin Ryot]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.zaminryot.com/pdf/1993/Jul/16-jul-1993.pdf|title=ప్రేమ పుస్తకం|language=te|trans-title=Prema Pusthakam|work=[[Zamin Ryot]]|date=16 July 1993|access-date=12 June 2024|first=Allur|last=Rahim|page=11|archive-date=12 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221112091943/http://www.zaminryot.com/pdf/1993/Jul/16-jul-1993.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> It was later dubbed and released in [[Tamil language|Tamil]] as ''Kadhal Puthagam'' in 1997.<ref>[https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/soc.culture.tamil/ibv76-CAjoA Tamil Movie News--Pudhu Edition 3] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180215234906/https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/soc.culture.tamil/ibv76-CAjoA |date=15 February 2018 }} Retrieved 8 July 2011.</ref> A reviewer of the dubbed version wrote "The screenplay could have been better as the story flow seems to be discontinuous at times. In spite of this, the director has shown some flashes of talent in some scenes, especially scenes involving Ajit and Kanchan".<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/5473/kaputhak.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20001001001959/http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/5473/kaputhak.html|archive-date=1 October 2000|title=Review of Kathal Puthakam}}</ref>

==Awards==
;[[Nandi Awards]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://ipr.ap.nic.in/New_Links/Film.pdf|title=నంది అవార్డు విజేతల పరంపర (1964–2008)|trans-title=A series of Nandi Award Winners (1964–2008)|publisher=[[Andhra Pradesh (magazine)|Information & Public Relations of Andhra Pradesh]]|access-date=21 August 2020|archive-date=23 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150223135739/http://ipr.ap.nic.in/New_Links/Film.pdf|url-status=live}}(in [[Telugu language|Telugu]])</ref>
* [[Nandi Award for Best Screenplay Writer|Best Screenplay Writer]] - [[Gollapudi Maruthi Rao]]
* [[Nandi Award for Best Costume Designer|Best Costume Designer]] - Manohar Reddy
* [[Nandi Special Jury Award|Special Jury Award]] - [[Kanchan (actress)|Kanchan]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{IMDb title|2373606}}

[[Category:1993 films]]
[[Category:1990s Telugu-language films]]
[[Category:Films shot in Visakhapatnam]]
[[Category:Indian romance films]]
[[Category:1990s romance films]]
[[Category:Films scored by Devendran]]

Prema Pusthakam - Revision history

imported>Kataariveera at 14:27, 13 June 2025