Overview
A magical tale of love and destiny unfolds in ancient Dwaraka, where divine intervention weaves a path for star-crossed lovers.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Mild
- witty
- warm
- whimsical
- family viewing
- classic cinema evening
What critics said
Critics broadly regard Mayabazar as a landmark of Telugu mythological cinema, praising its script, performances, music, cinematography, sets, dialogue, and inventive technical craft.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The story adapts characters and relationships from the Mahabharata, presenting Krishna, Abhimanyu, Sasirekha, Balarama, and Ghatotkacha in Telugu cinematic form.
Ghatotkacha uses magic to disrupt the obstructive marriage arrangement and help the young lovers unite, including the feast and haunted-furniture comic set pieces.
Abhimanyu and Sasirekha's love is threatened when Balarama promises her to Duryodhana's son after the Pandavas lose their kingdom.
The Vijaya Pictures production is celebrated for its sets, cinematography, technical craft, music, and enduring magical effects.
Films like Mayabazar, and why
The Ten Commandments
mythic storytelling, lavish fantasy spectacle, comic supernatural intervention, and a culturally specific epic tradition
Mughal-e-Azam
classical Indian mythological fantasy, musical storytelling, moral conflict, and heightened theatrical performances
The Thief of Bagdad
family-oriented fantasy adventure built around magic, romance, comedy, and colorful production design
Movie Details
- Director
- Kadiri Venkata Reddy
- Release Date
- 1957-03-27
- Runtime
- 181 min
- Rating
- 8.0 / 10 (31)
Cast
- N.T. Rama Rao
- S. V. Ranga Rao
- Savitri
- Akkineni Nageswara Rao
- Gummadi
- Mukkamala
- C S R Anjaneyulu
- Relangi Venkata Ramaiah
- Rushyendramani
- Nagabhushanam
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Sun Nxt, Eros Now Select Apple TV channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video
- Buy
- Amazon Video
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Mayabazar about?
- A lavish Telugu Mahabharata fantasy turns a threatened young romance into a witty, magical celebration of family, fate, and theatrical spectacle.
- What is Mayabazar like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Mayabazar as measured, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Mayabazar violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Mayabazar as mild.
- What did critics think of Mayabazar?
- Critics broadly regard Mayabazar as a landmark of Telugu mythological cinema, praising its script, performances, music, cinematography, sets, dialogue, and inventive technical craft.
- Which films are like Mayabazar?
- Films with a similar feel include The Ten Commandments, Mughal-e-Azam, and The Thief of Bagdad.
- How long is Mayabazar?
- Mayabazar runs 181 minutes.
- Where can I watch Mayabazar?
- In United States, Mayabazar streams on Sun Nxt, Eros Now Select Apple TV channel.
