Nagamma is an Indian Telugu-language fantasy television series that originally aired on Gemini TV from 2002 to 2006. Directed by A. R. Ramesh and written by C. Jerrold,[1] the series ran for over 200 episodes and was broadcast weekly on Sunday nights.[2] It was produced by Akash Khurana and Harish Thawani under Nimbus Communications.[3]
The series centers around Nagamma, a mythical serpent goddess, and explores the influence of her supernatural powers on the Rayudu family.[4] It blends elements of mythology, horror, and social drama. Key actors in the series included J. V. Somayajulu, S. V. Sreenivas, Neeraja, Usha, and Baby Gayathri.[2]
Nagamma consistently ranked among the top three weekly serials on Gemini TV, achieving good viewership during its original broadcast.[5][6] The title song of the series, "Punnamilona Vennela Vana," composed by Dhina and sung by K. S. Chithra, became popular among viewers.[7] Due to its success, the series was remade in Kannada and aired on Udaya TV. Plans were also made to remake Nagamma in other languages.[3]
Premise
The storyline centers on a mythical serpent goddess, Nagamma, and her influence on the Rayudu family in the village of Nageswaram. During the time of Rayudu's great-grandfather, the family, tasked with safeguarding the sacred Nagamani, misused it in collaboration with the British. This act of betrayal led to Nagamma cursing the family, causing members born with a distinctive "Naga macha" (a type of mole) to die periodically.
The curse continues to affect the family, with Rayudu's granddaughter Nandini being born with the same mark. To protect her, the family sends her away from the village at a young age. As Nandini grows up, she returns to Nageswaram, marries Ravi, and the couple has a child named Pavitra. The story unfolds as Nandini navigates her family's legacy, the curse, and her connection to Nagamma.
Veteran actor J. V. Somayajulu, known for his role in Sankarabharanam (1980), appeared in a significant role in the series.[2][8] Following Somayajulu's death in April 2004, his character was also written off the show, with the storyline incorporating his character's demise. Post-production was done at Venus Telestudio.[1]
Music
The title song, "Punnamilona Vennela Vana Chaluvudanala Challani Thalli Nagamma," composed by Dhina, written by D. Narayana Varma, and sung by K. S. Chithra was a notable feature of the series.[7][9] Its melody and lyrics complemented the show's theme and added to its identity.[2]
Release
Nagamma premiered on Gemini TV on 28 April 2002 and initially aired every Sunday from 9:00 to 10:00 PM. Starting in February 2005, the series shifted to a weekend schedule, airing on Saturdays and Sundays from 7:30 to 8:30 PM. In 2006, the show transitioned to a half-hour format, broadcast on Saturdays and Sundays from 7:00 to 7:30 PM. The final three episodes were aired at 10:00 PM on Sunday nights.[10]
Reception
Nagamma was one of the top-rated weekly serials on Gemini TV in 2004, consistently ranking among the top three shows throughout its run.[5][3] The series maintained strong viewership, continuing to attract high ratings well into 2005.[11][6]
The show garnered attention for its use of visual effects and its blend of mythology, horror, and social drama. Its striking depictions of large serpents and the eerie atmosphere contributed significantly to its popularity.[4][8] Baby Gayathri, who portrayed Bala Nagamma, was praised for her performance, particularly in scenes where she was shown seated on a serpent, a visual enhanced by makeup and special effects .[8]
Legacy
The success of Nagamma in Telugu led to a Kannada remake, which aired on Udaya TV and ranked among the top three shows on the channel as of July 2004.[5][3] There were also plans to remake the series in Tamil for Sun TV and Malayalam for Surya TV.[3]
The series contributed to the popularity of supernatural and fantasy themes in Telugu television, alongside other programs like Rahasyam, Anveshitha, Aloukika, and Manoyagnam.[2] Its Sunday night airings attracted a broad family audience and helped increase the prominence of the horror and fantasy genres in the region.[4]
Nagamma played a role in the career development of Baby Gayathri, whose portrayal of Bala Nagamma was widely noted. She later made her film debut in the 2007 Telugu film Notebook and continued her acting career in Telugu cinema.[12] Similarly, Neeraja and S. V. Sreenivas gained recognition through their roles in the series.[8]
^ abcde"Nimbus to add more sponsored shows to its kitty". Indiantelevision.com. 18 June 2004. Retrieved 1 December 2024. The success of Nagamma in Telugu prompted Nimbus to remake the show in Kannada for Udaya TV. The show, on air for over 12 weeks now, has also made it to the top three shows on the channel, says Khurana. The production house now plans to remake the programme in Tamil and Malayalam to be aired on the Tamil language Sun TV and Malayalam language Surya TV.
^ abc"'We are now focused on growing other businesses' : Akash Khurana - Nimbus Communications MD and CEO". Indiantelevision.com. 3 July 2004. Retrieved 1 December 2024. More recently, Nagamma, a socio-mythological currently in its 3rd year has been among the Top 3 shows on Gemini TV. It was launced on a sunday night slot, which was traditonally considered to be a low viewing and unpopular slot. And the success of Nagamma in Telugu, prompted us to remake the same programme in Kannada, which has now been on air for more than 12 weeks and continues to be among the Top 3 shows on Udaya TV.
^ ab"At Apsara Awards Nimbus beats Balaji, UTV". afaqs!. 21 January 2006. Retrieved 1 December 2024. In more recent times, Nimbus has seen highly popular shows like Kareena Kareena (Zee), Apne Paraye (Doordarshan), Nagamma (Gemini) etc.
^"Audio launch - Notebook". Idlebrain.com. 23 December 2006. Retrieved 1 December 2024. Gayatri who did the role of Bala Devatha in Nagamma TV serial is being introduced as heroine.
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