Telugu Cinema Prapamcham

Synopsis: Prakash, a revenue inspector lived happily with his wife Kamala, sister Kantham and son Kittu till his neighbour Venkaiah's young second wife Anasuya brings dishormony in his marital life. She has a step daughter Bobjee who tries to scuttle the plot. Prakash has a wealthy friend, the popular singer Kamaraju. Anasuya has a crush on Kamaraju but he spurns her advances and a humiliated Anasuya plots revenge with the help of Mangapathi, a local rowdy. They spread rumours about the amorous relationship between Kamala and Kamaraju. Hurt by these rumours, Kamala attempts suicide but is saved. Kamaraju with Rathnam finds out that the handwriting on the love letter supposedly written by him and Anasuya's are similar. The truth comes out. Cast: KS Prakasa Rao (Prakash), Kalyanam Raghuramaiah (Kamaraju), Lakshmirajyam (Kamala), Rao Balasaraswathi Devi (Kantham), Aveti Poornima, S. Varalakshmi (Bobjee), Balamani (Rathnam), MC Raghavan (Venkaiah), Maddali Krishna Murthy, Sesha...

Synopsis: Purushottam (YV Rao) embezzles money from a firm of brokers owned by Padmanabham in order to get his son Mohan Rao married to Hemalatha, daughter of the millionaire Vishalakshamma (B Rajaratnam). The now impoverished Padmanabham partially gets his own revenge when his daughter Sushila (Lalitha Devi) becomes a film star Vishwa Mohini. The film producer Pashupati, brother of Vishalakshamma, introduces her. The star Vishwa Mohini falls in love with Mohan Rao and her father agrees to their marriage provided Mohan can find a job. He pretends to have done so and the two get married. Hemalatha offers money to Vishwa Mohini to go away and free Mohan, which, in an emotional scene, she refuses to do. Cast: Y.V. Rao, Chittooru Nagaiah, Lalitha Devi, Bejawada Rajarathnam, Rangaswamy, Kakinada Rajaratnam, Dorai Swamy, Gangaratnam, Sampurna, Surya Narayana Story: Y.V. Rao Dialogues and Lyrics: Balijepalli Lakshmikantha Kavi Music: Ogirala Ramachandra Rao Director: Y.V. Rao Ba...

Synopsis: A triangular love story, it strongly condemns child marriages and supports widow marriages. The three central characters are Satyam (AS Giri), a progressive young man, his classmate Saraswathi (Kumari), the city bred with whom he falls in love, his cousin in the village the compassionate Parvathi (Malathi) whose world revolves around him. Saraswathi's father (Lingamurthy) had migrated to the city when she was a child. He keeps it a secret from her that she was married when she was six and soon became a widow. He reveals this to Panthulu (Nagaiah) when he broaches the topic of her marriage with Satyam. It was only after her father's death that Saraswathi who leaves to her native place, Kapileswarapuram with her aunt (Rajarathnam) that she learns about her past. A crestfallen Saraswathi loses hope that Satyam will marry her. Heart broken Parvathi comes to know that Satyam has promise do marry Saraswathi. Satyam was brought up by Parvathi's father (Doraswamy) and mot...

Cast: Dr. Subba Rao , Perraju Kutumba Rao, Chalam, Indira Music: Bhimavarapu Narasimha Rao Director: Bhimavarapu Narasimha Rao Banner: Navyakala Films Release Date: 5 Dec, 1940

Cast: Bhanumathi, Relangi Venkatramaiah, Pushpavalli Director: Chittajallu Pullaiah

Synopsis: Ravana keeps Sita captive and Mandodari pleads with him to release her and also warns him not to have enmity with Lord Rama. Ravana rebukes Mandodari and seeks the help of Pathala Lankeswara Mahi Ravana to kill Rama and Lakshmana. Anjaneya builds a fortress using his tail to safe guard Rama and Lakshmana. But Mairavana with his mystical powers brings them to Pathalaloka. The Naga princess Chandrasena, a staunch devotee of Lord Rama was held captive by Mairavana who wishes to marry her. With her help Rama kills Mairavana. Cast: Vemuri Gaggaiah (Mahi Ravana), Kanchanamala (Chandrasena), Rami Reddy, Rayaprolu Subrahmanyam (Ravana), Yandamuri Raju (Mandodari), T. Ramakrishna Sastry (Srirama), YR Suri (Anjaneya), G. Seshachalam (Lakshmana), K. Subrahmanya Kumari, Jaya Gowri (Sita), Nellori Krishnayya (Matsya Vallabha) Music: Galipenchala Narasimha Rao Cinematography: Govind Rao Bhadsavle Sets (Art): TVS Sharma Makeup: Mangaiah Producer: Ghantasala Balaramai...

Cast: Ch. Narayana Rao, C. Krishnaveni Producer: Mirjapuram Raja Director: Dronamraju China Kameswara Rao Notes: This was the debut film for Ch.Narayana Rao. The film was a successful and he became one of the most glamourous heroes at that time.

Synopsis: Indira (Kanchanamala) is happily married to Murthy (Umamaheswara Rao) till Murthy falls in love with an educated and sophisticated Leela (Lakshmi Rajyam) and brings her as his second wife. This naturally leaves Indira in pain and anguish. However she performs her duties as the devoted wife on one side and wins over her 'savathi' on the other with patience and perseverance. Leela undergoes a change of heart before fate plays with her life. Finally Indira emerges triumphant. To take the story forwared there are other characters like the romantic poet, Madhu (Saluri Rajeswara Rao), and his spouse Sarala (Rao Balasaraswathi Devi). Cast: Kanchanamala, Lakshmi Rajyam, Rao Balasaraswathi Devi, S. Varalakshmi, V. Uma Masheswara Rao, Saluri Rajeswara Rao, P. Suribabu Dialogues: Tapi Dharma Rao Lyrics: Tapi Dharma Rao, Basavaraju Appa Rao Music: Saluri Rajeswara Rao Director: Gudavalli Ramabrahmam Banner: Indira Devi Films Release Date: 27 Sept, 1940 Trivia: T...

Cast: L.V. Prasad, G. Varalakshmi Director: H.M. Reddy Banner: Madras United Artistes Corporation Notes: Garikapati Varalakshmi from Ongole, was left home to act on stage in Vijayawada when she was 11 years old. She acted along with drama artists Tungala Chalapathi Rao and Dasari Kotiratnam and became popular for her roles in plays like Sakkubai and Rangoon Rowdy. Her first movies are Barrister Parvatheesam by Producer Raghupathi Prakash and Bondam Pelli by Producer H.M. Reddy, when she was 14 years old.

Cast: Lanka Satyam, G. Varalakshmi, Kasturi Sivarao, Dr. Siva Ramakrishnaiah Story: Mokkapati Narasimha Sastry Lyrics and Music: Kopparapu Subba Rao Producer: K. Subrahmanyam Director: R. Prakash Banner: Motion Pictures Producers Combines Release Date: 7 Aug, 1940 Notes: This film was based on the hilarious Telugu novel 'Barrister Parvateesam' (1924) by Mokkapati Narasimha Sastry. The title role of Parvateesam is played by Lanka Satyam. This was second film to him. His first movie was 'Amma', directed by Niranjan Pal. He worked as assistant to Director R. Prakash. Varalakshmi got the female lead role unexpectedly. Director Prakash saw her, when she was acting in the stage play 'Sakkubai' in Rajahmundry, and called her for make-up test and given her the role of wife of Parvateesam. Then she was just 12 years old girl. She sung two songs in the film also. Kasturi Sivarao did two roles as a dentist and a rikshaw puller. 1940 was a bad year for the Telugu fi...

Synopsis: Raghu (Nagaiah), an unemployed graduate, insists on marrying a village girl Janaki (Kanchanamala) despite the opposition of his scheming mother who wants a dowry. Raghu's unemployment problems continue despite his migration towards city, leaving his wife in the clutches of her mother-in-law. When Raghu wins a lottery for Rs 5 lakhs and returns home, he finds his wife and infant son have left. Although his mother insists he marry again, Raghu goes to the city and dedicates himself to social work, including building factories in order to create employment opportunities. In this his rich female college friend, provoking gossip around their relationship, assists him. Raghu's wife, now a poor flower seller, sees her husband with his new friend and believes he has married. Eventually the misunderstanding is revolved. Cast: Chittooru Nagaiah (Raghuramayya), Kanchanamala (Janaki), Mudigonda Linga Murthy, Kalyani (Jayalakshmi), Seshamamba (Paravathamma), Doraiswamy (Venk...

Synopsis: The story was set in Nagapuram. Rami Reddy (Kosaraju) contests elections representing the peasants. The powerful Zamindar (Gidugu Sitapathi) nominates Venkayya (E. Seshaiah) as his candidate. The shavukar (Makeup chief MC Raghavan) and the village Karanam (VV Subbaiah) force Narsi Reddy (Bellari Raghava) the peasant leader to support the zamindar's candidate. Narsi Reddy refuses. The wily zamindar arranges a Kuchipudi dance (Vedantam Raghavaiah choreographed and played) and locks up those who attended the show to keep them away from casting their vote. The farmers break open the door and Rami Reddy wins the election. While the zamindar suffers humiliation, his trusted servant Khasa Subbanna (Bhimavarapu Narasimha Rao) creates havoc in Nagapuram. The Shavukar and the Karanam withe the help of the Tahsildar (Nellore Nagaraja Rao) confiscate Narsi Reddy's property. Aghast at the floods that made them penniless, the Shavukar and Karanam repent for th...

Cast: S. Santhanam, P.U. Chinnappa, Kali N. Rathnam, C.S.D. Singh, K.K. Perumal, T.V. Kumudini, A.K. Rajyalakshmi Story: Dwijendralal Roy Music: Kopparapu Subba Rao Cinematography: E.R. Cooper Director: H.M. Reddy

Cast: Kalyanam Raghuramaiah Director: Kochcharlakota Ranga Rao Notes: Kalyanam Raghuramaiah was born in Suddapalli, Guntur District in 1901. He debut on stage at the age of 8 as Raghurama in 'Bhakta Ramadasu'. He acted in over 100 films.

Synopsis: Lawyer Jagannatha Rao Panthulu (Balijepalli Lakshmikantham), fearing that Sarada Act (which prohibits child marriage) may come into force, gets his six-year-old daughter Lalitha (Kanchanamala) married to an elderly person, who dies and she becomes a child widow. Rao is against any social reforms and wields considerable influence in the area. He hosts a Swamiji, Kaliyugananda. People throng to his house to have the Swamiji's darshan. Sundar Rao (YV Rao), an unemployed graduate, stays with his sister Kamala (Bezawada Rajarathnam) in the opposite house. Kamala and Lalitha become friends. Soon love blossoms between Lalitha and Sundar Rao, who decides to marry her. Jagannatha Rao's nephew Venkata Rao (Kocharlakota Sathyanarayana) and Kamala are also in love. One day, when Kamala comes to his house, Jagannatha Rao attempts to molest her. Sundar Rao thrashes Jagannatha Rao and goes to jail. A rumour spreads that Lalitha is pregnant. She goes to Sundar Rao and tries to co...

Cast: C.S.R. Anjaneyulu, K. Pitchaiah, Kanchi Narasimha Rao, Tanguturi Suryakumari, Lalitha Devi, Sampurna, Seshu, Chitti, Sita, Yashoda, Rajakumari, Anjamma, Ramudu, Saluri Rajeswara Rao, BV Anjanenyulu, Yalam Gangayya, JV Subba Rao, Sampoorna Story: Chitrapu Hanumantha Rao Dialogues: Varanasi Seetarama Sastry, Ch. Hanumantha Rao Lyrics: Varanasi Seetharama Sastry Music: Saluri Rajeswara Rao Cinematography: DT Tilang Director: Chitrapu Narasimha Rao Banner:  Sri Sarada Rayalaseema Films Release Date: 2 July Duration: 190 minutes Trivia: This was the first film to Saluri Rajeswara Rao as a music director. He was just 17 years old at that time.

Cast: C.S.R. Anjaneyulu, P. Santha Kumari, Rajeswari Devi, Buchchanna Sastry, T. Venkateswarlu, Sanjeeva Kumari, Nagamani, Nagamma Dialogues: Duvvuri Ramireddy Music: B. Kumaraswamy, Akula Narasimha Rao Cinematography: K.V. Machwe Director: P. Pullaiah Banner: Famous Films Trivia: This movie also named as SRI VENKATESWARA MAHATYAM.

Cast: Lakshmirajyam Director: Niranjan Pal Notes: Niranjan Pal was the son of Indian nationalist Bipin Chandra Pal. In his teens he was attracted to the young extremist movement in Calcutta, and in an altercation with a British officer, beat him up and stole his gun. With an arrest warrant out on him, he escaped to London, where he was lived with nationalists Veer Savarkar and Madanlal Dhingra (later executed for assassinating a British officer). He studied script-writing in London, and was eventually discovered by Franz Osten and Himansu Rai, with whom he went set up Bombay Talkies, one of India's first and most important film studios. His autobiography "Aye Jibon" won the President's National Award in India in 2001.

Cast:  CSR Anjaneyulu, Surabhi Kamalabai, Surabhi Balasaraswathi Playback: CSR Anjaneyulu Director: B. Narayana Rao Banner: Star Combines Notes: B. Narayana Rao's original name was Balakrishnan Narayana Nair. He was from Tellicherry.

Cast: Vadrevu Kamaraju (Satyanarayana Swamy), Hymavathi, Devarakonda Ramamurthy, Kadiyam Mallayachary, Lakshmi Narasamma, Yanamandra Ramakrishnaiah, Relangi, Mukkala Koteswara Rao Writer: Muddu Krishna Lyrics: Kallakuri Hanumantha Rao Music: Nimmagadda Paradesi, B. Kumaraswamy Cinematography: Govind Rao Bhadasavle Editor: G.D. Joshi Art: B.D. Kotwal Director: Chittajallu Pullaiah Banner: Andhra Talkies Release Date: 12 Jan, 1938 Notes: This was the first film made in 'vaduka bhasha' in Telugu. It was released in theatres along with 'Kasula Peru', documentary on Annavaram Satyanarayana Swamy Temple and 'Chal Mohana Ranga', a folk dance. Kallakuri Hanumantha Rao, Sundaramma, Srihari and Tulasi were the actors in 'Kasula Peru' while Pushpavalli and Vali Subba Rao were performed in 'Chal Mohana Ranga'.