‘Mana Cinema - First Reel’ author Rentala Jayadeva wants to make film history readable

Rentala Jayadeva discusses his Telugu book, Mana Cinema – First Reel, challenging film literature myths and honouring industry pioneers.

While in New Delhi for a literary event, author and media professional Rentala Jayadeva handed a copy of his Telugu book Mana Cinema – First Reel, published by Hyderabad-based EMESCO books, to a writer-friend known for his scepticism towards film literature. This friend believed most books on cinema garnered attention for the wrong reasons. A few days later, after reading the book, he admitted he was pleasantly surprised by its depth and passion.

“I am glad the book made him reassess his view of film literature,” shares Jayadeva, a Nandi Award winner (2011) for film criticism. This year has been eventful for him — the book received rave reviews, and he was conferred the Ugadi Puraskaaram by the Andhra Pradesh government for his contributions to journalism and literature.

Mana Cinema – First Reel, while busting long-standing myths about the Tamil and Telugu talkie eras, also prompted the Telugu Film Chamber of Commerce to declare February 6 as ‘Telugu Cinema Foundation Day’, marking the release of the first full-length Telugu talkie Bhakta Prahlada in 1932.

The book charts the visual medium’s evolution over a century, from silent films to sound, detailing it with trivia. It challenges misinformation and urges readers not to accept ‘facts’ blindly.

It is also a heartfelt call to recognise the pivotal role Telugu-speaking personalities — such as LV Prasad, HM Reddy, Paidi Jayaraj, and YV Rao — played in shaping Indian cinema.

Edited excerpts from a conversation:

How was the seed for the book sown?