Draupadi Mana Samrakshanam (1936)

Synopsis: Draupadi and Arjuna meet Sri Krishna and invite him to attend their Rajasuya Yaga. Rulers of mani-fold Kingdoms arrive in their Royal splendour to the Yaga. The Mayasabha: a vision of enchantment. Merriment runs amok in endless entertainments. Proud Duryodhana is puzzled by the magnificent vision of the Mayasabha. Draupadi laughs at some of his mishaps. Duryodhana conspires to reek vengeance on Draupadi. His uncle Sakuni explains his plans of vengeance.
Vidura invited Pandavas for a short stay in the New Mansion built by Duryodhana. In that mansion, Dharmaraja is shown all the drawings of Jyutham by Sakuni and his Royal Cousins. Artfully, Dharmaraja is made to consent for a play at dice. The fateful play at dice commences. Dharmaraja sustains loss after loss. He looses his last bet, Draupadi. The Pandavas have now become slaves. Duryodhana, in spite of all the elders, orders Draupadi to be dragged into the public Court. He sends his brother Dussasana to fetch Panchali, and himself goes to his wife. Draupdi is dragged into the Court. Bhanumathi tries to dissuade her husband Duryodhana from such a course of mean action. But he pays no heed to her words and comes to the Court.
Draupadi's remonstrances to all the elders in the Court remain unheard. Duryodhana commands Dussasana to unclad Draupadi. At this Bheemasena's anger grows ablaze. But unable to wield his weapon, he only proclaims dreadful oaths, to smash the thighs of Duryodhana and to get his wife's tresses oiled with Dussasana's blood. At last Sri Krishna comes to the rescue. The sari lengthens on and on. All Dussasana's attempts became futile; he only leaves the court in shame.
Cast: Bellari Raghava (Duryodhana), Surabhi Kamalabai (Draupadi), Banda Kanaka Lingeswara Rao (Sri Krishna), K. Sivarama Krishnayya (Karna), B. Chalapathi Rao (Arjuna), S. Rangaswamy Ayyangar (Sakuni), KH Das Chowdary (Dussasana), Parupalli Subba Rao (Dharmaraja), VV Subba Rao (Bheema), M. Raja Rao (Nakula), DV Subrahmanyam (Sahadeva), Leelabai (Satya), Srihari (Rukmini), Subhadra (Jambavathi), K. Sita Devi (Mitravinda), Venkata Lakshmi (Subhadra), Padmavathi Devi (Bhanumathi),  Daita Gopalam (Vidura), Madhavapeddi Venkatramayya (Sishupala), Mantravadi Venkata Seshayya (Bheeshma), Nanda Markandeya Sharma (Drona), T. Subrahmanyam (Narada), Master Durga Prasad (Vikarna), Dr. Rama Sastry (Ashwatthama), Mantravadi Venkatramayya (Pratigami), Jonnavittula Satyanarayana (Dhrutarashtra), Ragini Devi (dancer), Gopinath (dancer)
Lyrics: Papatla Lakshmikantham, Daita Gopalam
Music: AT Ramanujulu (Harmonium), K. Gunnayya (Fidel) and P. Narayana (Tabla)
Cinematography: Sarpotodar
Audiography: Arora
Choreography: Ragini Devi (America) and Gopinath (Malabar)
Director: N. Jagannatha Swamy
Banner: Lakshmi Films
Release Dates: 24 March (Madras, Bezawada adn Tenali) and 31 March (Nellore, Elore, Guntur and Secunderabad)
Box-office: Flop
Trivia: Kamalakara Kameswara Rao, film critic at that time, praised this film against another film 'Draupadi Vastrapaharanam', which was a box-office hit. He appreciated the technical values and performances of the actors in 'Draupadi Mana Samrakshana'.
Ballari Raghava was one of the greatest Telugu drama artists. He flirted with film industry briefly. In 1936, he played Duryodhana in 'Draupadi maana samrakshana'. He also acted in 'Raitubidda' and 'Chandika'. However, he quit the film industry quickly.
This film was made in Film City Studio, Bombay.