Chiranjeevi’s cowboy drama ‘Kodama Simham’ gears up for a grand theatrical re-release

Chiranjeevi fans are ready to revisit a true classic as his 1990 cowboy-action entertainer ‘Kodama Simham’ is officially set to return to theaters on November 21. The announcement was made on Friday, 7th November, and immediately sparked excitement among Telugu audiences who remember the film for its bold Western-inspired visual style and powerful performances.

Considered one of the most unique films in Chiranjeevi’s long career, ‘Kodama Simham’ blended Indian storytelling with the Hollywood-style cowboy adventure at a time when such experiments were rare in mainstream cinema.

The cowboy hero and the story that made it iconic

In ‘Kodama Simham’, Chiranjeevi plays Bharath, a Robin Hood type protagonist who takes on social evils such as gambling, corruption and prostitution. Marketed as an "Indian Cowboy" movie tailored for the mainstream Telugu audience, 'Kodama Simham' was a massive production for its time.

It was produced by Kaikala Nageswara Rao on a budget of Rs 4 crore, a huge amount in 1990. In the film, Chiranjeevi played Bharath, a Robin Hood-styled protagonist on a mission to eradicate societal evils like gambling and prostitution.

His journey eventually leads him on a path of self-discovery as he decides to track down his biological parents. Adding to its large scale, it was also reportedly the first South Indian movie to be shot in Hollywood.

A strong supporting cast and the film’s lasting influence

Besides Chiranjeevi’s, ‘Kodama Simham’ also featured Radha and Sonam as the female leads. Mohan Babu also delivered a memorable performance as the antagonist, earning appreciation for adding intensity and weight to the story. The film's chartbusting music, which played a key role in its success, was composed by the duo Raj-Koti.The film became a commercial success and left a strong impact on later filmmakers. Its influence extended for years, with filmmaker SS Rajamouli notably using the film as an inspiration for a major sequence in his 2009 blockbuster 'Magadheera'.

To reach wider audiences, ‘Kodama Simham’ was dubbed in multiple languages. It was one of the first Telugu films to be dubbed in English, under the title 'Hunters of the Indian Treasure', and was also released in Hindi as 'Main Hoon Khiladiyon Ka Khiladi'.The film will hit theatres on November 21, restored with 4K resolution and enhanced 5.1 digital surround sound, promising a refreshed cinematic experience. Its theatrical comeback celebrates one of Telugu cinema’s most adventurous and culturally significant films.