Honestly, there is nothing like the pure, chaotic energy of a Telugu family gathering or a reunion with old college friends where someone suggests a game of dumb charades. It starts off all fun and games with easy ones like Pushpa or RRR. But then? Then that one friend—you know the one—decides to drop a title so obscure or so long that the room just goes silent. Suddenly, you're trying to act out a 15-syllable mythological epic while your teammates are shouting "Kitchen?" or "Lion?" at you. It is a specific kind of hilarious torture.
Telugu cinema has this incredible, sometimes bizarre, history of naming movies. We have titles that are basically entire sentences. We have titles that sound like hardware store manuals. If you want to actually win your next game, or just make sure the other team loses their minds trying to guess, you've got to dig into the archives. Forget the blockbusters. We’re talking about the "What were they thinking?" titles.
The Long-Ass Titles That Feel Like Tongue Twisters
You know those titles that just keep going? They are the ultimate weapon in dumb charades. By the time you've finished gesturing the first three words, your time is halfway up.
Take Srimadvirat Veerabrahmendra Swami Charitra. Just say that out loud. It’s a mouthfull. Now imagine trying to act it out without speaking. You're basically doing a full-length interpretive dance. Most people will get "Swami" if you do the folded hands thing, but "Srimadvirat"? Good luck with that.
Another absolute gem is Maa Aavida Meeda Ottu Mee Aavida Chala Manchidi. Translated, it's something like "I swear on my wife, your wife is very good." It’s a 2001 comedy, and while the movie is actually pretty funny, the title is a nightmare for charades. How do you gesture "I swear on my wife" versus "your wife" without looking like you're having a very public domestic dispute? It’s tough.
Then there’s the classic Pellaniki Premalekha Priyuraliki Subhalekha. That's a lot of "P" sounds and a lot of very specific meanings. A love letter to the wife and a wedding invitation to the lover? Try explaining that with your hands while your uncle is yelling "Letter! Paper! Postman!"
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- Sahasra Siraschedha Apoorva Chintamani (This one is just mean)
- Aadavaari Maatalaku Ardhaale Verule (A bit easier because it's a hit, but still long)
- English Pellam East Godavari Mogudu (The contrast here is your only hope)
Why These Weirdly Specific Titles Exist
It’s kinda fascinating why Tollywood goes for these. Back in the day, especially in the 70s and 80s, the title was the entire marketing budget. You didn't have Instagram teasers. You had a poster and a title that told the whole story.
Take Athanu Hardware Aame Software. It sounds like a tech support manual, right? But it tells you exactly what the movie is about—a clash of personalities or professions. In a game, though? Good luck acting out "Hardware." Are you a hammer? A computer? A screwdriver? Your team is going to be guessing "Civil Engineer" for ten minutes while you're dying inside.
Then you have the ones that are just... strange. Julakataka. What even is that? It sounds like a magic spell. Or Keechurallu. These short, punchy, but completely obscure words are often harder than the long ones because there’s no context. You can't break "Julakataka" into smaller parts. You’re just stuck waving your arms around like a bird.
The "Old is Gold" Strategy
If you're playing against Gen Z, the oldies are your best friend. They might know Baahubali, but they probably haven't heard of Gulebakavali Katha.
Mythological and folklore films have these incredibly formal, Sanskrit-heavy titles that no one uses in daily life anymore. Dakshayagnam or Bhookailas are perfect examples. They are short, but if the guesser doesn't know the story of Daksha's sacrifice or Ravana's attempt to move Mount Kailash, you are basically playing a game of "Guess the Random Syllables."
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Honestly, sometimes the best strategy is to pick something that sounds like a common phrase but isn't. Vaddhu Bava Thappu (No brother-in-law, it's wrong) is a classic charades choice. It’s conversational, which makes people think it’s a modern movie, but it's actually an old title that catches people off guard.
Modern Tricky Titles You Shouldn't Ignore
It’s not just the old movies. Some recent titles are surprisingly hard because they are quirky or use "trendy" language that's hard to mime.
Think about Maththu Vadalara. It’s a great movie, but "Maththu" (intoxication/drowsiness) is a hard vibe to act out without someone guessing "drunk" or "sleepy" and getting stuck there. Or Brochevarevarura. It’s a beautiful, poetic title, but try acting out "Who is the one who will protect us?" under pressure. You’ll end up looking like you’re praying for the timer to stop.
Jyo Achyutananda is another clever one. It’s a blend of three names (Jyothsna, Achyuth, and Anand). Unless the guesser knows the movie, they will never get the "Jyo" part. They’ll just think you’re saying "Joy" or "Yo."
Pro Tips for Winning (Or Just Not Embarrassing Yourself)
If you get stuck with a hard one, don't panic. There’s a bit of a system to this.
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First, always indicate how many words there are. It’s the universal law of charades. If it’s Maa Aavida Meeda Ottu Mee Aavida Chala Manchidi, that’s eight words. Hold up eight fingers. Watch the color drain from your teammates' faces. It’s part of the fun.
Break it down by syllables if the words are too long. For Srimadvirat, maybe act out "Sri" (wealth/Lakshmi) first.
Most importantly, know your audience. If you're playing with your grandparents, don't give them DJ Tillu. They’ll just look at you like you’ve lost your mind. Give them Samsaram Oka Chadarangam. They’ll get it in two seconds. If you’re with a younger crowd, hit them with Burripalem Bullodu and watch them struggle.
A Few More "Killers" for Your Next Game:
- Vichitra Daampatyam (Strange Married Life)
- Apoorva Sahodarulu (Rare Brothers)
- Kanya Sulkam (The Bride Price - classic, but hard for kids)
- Patnam Vachina Pathivrathalu (Chaste Women Who Came to the City)
- RamaChari Veedo Pedha Gudachari (Ramachari, He Is a Big Spy)
Basically, the more descriptive the title, the harder it is to act out without being literal. And being literal in dumb charades usually leads to the funniest misunderstandings.
To really up your game, start keeping a note on your phone. Every time you see a weird movie poster on a wall in Hyderabad or scroll past a random old film on ETV, write it down. You'll eventually have a "blacklist" of movies that are practically impossible to guess.
Next time you’re in the middle of a heated match and it’s your turn to give a movie to the "know-it-all" of the group, hand them Kunkamma Kaatuka Pampamma Bhaatuka. Just sit back, grab some chai, and enjoy the show. They won't get it, but everyone will definitely have something to talk about for the rest of the night.
If you want to keep the streak going, your next step is to look up the filmography of directors like EVV Satyanarayana or Jandhyala. They were the kings of long, hilarious titles that are absolute gold for this game.