Kondaveeti Donga (1990) – Telugu
Chiranjeevi’s Kondaveeti Donga is the closest Robin Hood film we’ve ever gotten in Telugu. In this Kodandarami Reddy directorial, a young Raja, an orphan who was raised by good-hearted tribal villagers, returns from the city to become an IAS officer. Raja hopes to take up an administrative position and develop his village, Konda Veedu, but his hopes vanish after witnessing the harsh reality. When he realises that he cannot bring change through the system, which is already compromised and controlled by the bad guys, he decides to go rogue. In one scene, he is told by his elated guardian that he has cracked the IAS examination but an angry and dejected Raja tears the letter, having decided to become an outlaw and adopt the identity of Kondaveeti Donga. He rides a horse, dressed in black, and wears a cool hat. After many cool chases, action sequences, and robberies, Raja helps his villagers and rides his horse into the sunset in the film’s final shot. Classic Robin Hood.