Telugu Cinema Prapamcham

Synopsis: This is the mythological drama about the beautiful Radha (T. Suryakumari) and her unflinching devotion to the god Krishna (Venkateshwara Rao) in spite of perpetual derision from her sister, Chandravali (P. Bhanumathi), and Krishna's wife, Satyabhama (Hymavathi). Krishna allays Chandravali's scorn by coming before her in the form of her spouse, Chandragopa (Addanki), and sates Radha's spiritual longing by visiting her dressed as Radha -- illustrating that spiritual love has little to do with sexual desire. Cast: Gali Venkateswara Rao (Sri Krishna), Tanguturi Suryakumari (Narada), Hymavathi (Satyabhama), Bhanumathi (Chandravali), Addanki Srirama Murthy (Chandragopa), Santha Kumari (Radha), Jaya Gouri (Rukmini), Parvathi Bai, Hiranniah (Vidushaka) Screenplay, Dialogues: Tapi Dharma Rao Lyrics: Balijepalli Lakshmikantha Kavi Music: Gali Penchala Narasimha Rao Playback: Tanguturi Suryakumari, Bhanumathi, Addanki Sri Ramamurthy, Gali Venkateswara Rao, San...

Synopsis: Srinivasa Rao (Nagaiah) works as a music teacher and loves the beautiful Bhagya Lakshmi (Malathi). Unfortunately, her parents have already arranged for her to marry the straight-laced Vishwanantha Rao (Giri). Later, when the lovelorn music teacher rejects the advances of the dissolute Kamakishi, she starts to spread vicious gossip about an alleged affair between Rao and Lakshmi, resulting in the lass getting thrown out of her house. In spite of his passionate unrequited love, the music teacher labors tirelessly to reunite his love with her husband. Cast: Chittoor Nagaiah (Srinu), Malathi (Lakshmi), Giri (Gopi), Kamala Kotnis (Kunji), MC Raghavan (Janaki Ramayya), Baby Saraswathi, Uma Maheswara Rao (Viswam), NS Krishnan, TA Madhuram, Doraswamy(Dharmanna), Tanguturi Suryakumari (Shyamala), Parvathi Bai (Rangamma), Adi Narayanayya (Kotayya) Story and Scenario: P. Pullaiah Dialogues: Samudrala Raghavacharya Lyrics: Samudrala Raghavacharya, Patnam Subrahmanya Iyer Musi...

Cast: CSR Anjaneyulu, Kannamba, Ramakrishna Sastry, Aarani Satyanarayana, Padmavathi Devi, AV Subba Rao, T. Ramaseshan Director: Kadaru Nagabhushanam Banner:  Sri Rajarajeswari Productions

Cast: YV Rao (Sri Krishna), Pushpavalli (Satyabhama), Sthanam Narasimha Rao, Addanki Sri Rama Murthy (Satrajit) Story: SG Acharya Dialogues: Sivasankara Sastry Music: Gottu Narayana Iyer Producer and Director: YV Rao Banner: Jagadish Films Release Date: 4 April

Cast:  Rajeswara Rao, Munjuluri Krishna Rao, Parabrahma Sastry, D. Lakshmaiah Chowdary, Gatak, Chalam, Ramadevi, Subburatnam, Vimala Kumari, Varalakshmi, Kumari, Gopal, Dhana Lakshmi Director: SVS Rama Rao Banner: Santha Vasundhara Films Release Date: 14 January

Cast: Vemuri Gaggaiah, M.V. Rajamma, Chadalawada Narayana Rao, G. Varalakshmi Director: Chitrapu Narayana Murthy Banner: Sobhanachala Pictures

Synopsis: This religious drama about the life of saint poet Bammera Potananmatya (also called Bhakta Pontana), who was a farmer until the god Rama came down from the heavens and told him to translate the holy text Bhagvata Gita from Sanskrit into Telugu. Soon after completing his life's work, Potananmatya is told to dedicate his work to his king. When he balks at the sovereign's inveigling attempts to claim credit for the work, the king sends out the troops. Hanuman -- the trickster monkey god -- saves Potananmatya and his family from the royal onslaught. As the troops mobilize to destroy the author's house, the king's palace gets magically trashed instead. Cast: Chittooru Nagaiah (Pothana), Dr. VR Sharma (Singa Bhupala), Mudigonda Lingamurthy (Ajameela), Hemalatha Devi (Narasamamba), Naalam Vanaja (Lakshmi), Tanguturi Suryakumari (Saraswathi), Bezawada Rajarathnam, Vallabhajosyula Sivaram (Mallanna), Jandhyla Gowrinatha Sastry (Srinatha), K. Malathi (Sarada), Sa...

Synopsis: The King prays for progeny and is blessed with children, the youngest of who is named Bala Nagamma. She is married off to Karyavardi Raju but is kidnapped by Mayala Marathi who turns her into a dog and whisks her off to his cave. Once there, he tries to take advantage of her, but she keeps him away quoting some Holy Rites and Pujas that she is involved in. Fearful, she is a prisoner in the cave for 14 years, where the Fakir's mistress, Sangu, is jealous of his obsession with Bala Nagamma. In the meantime, her son [Balavardi Raju] grows up and gets to know the truth about his mother. He seeks the Fakir out and defeats him. Cast: Kanchanamala (Bala Nagamma), Govindarajula Subba Rao, Banda Kanakalingeswara Rao (Karyavardhi), Balijepalli Lakshmikantha Kavi, T.G. Kamala Devi, Kamala Kotnis, Pushpavalli, Bellari Lalitha, Addala Narayana Rao, Lanka Satyam (Chakali Tippadu), Relangi (Talari Ramudu), Master Viswam (Balavardhi) Dialogues and Lyrics: Balijepalli Lakshmikan...

Cast: K.S. Prakasha Rao Director: R. Prakash

Synopsis: Kovalan, the rich merchant of the sea in the Chola Kingdom and Kannagi, his beautiful virtuous and devout wife lived happily till the danseuse Madhavi entered Kovalan's life. He attended the maiden dance performance of the voluptuous Madhavi in the King's court. Pleased withe her performance, the Chola king gifted her gold coins and the customary green leave garland. Madhavi's mother Chitra auctioned the garland as per tradition and Kovalan bid the highest amount thus becoming the lord of Madhavi who by then fell in love with him. Kovalan's friend Velu had an amorous eye on Madhavi and was dismayed at being forestalled in the bid. Passionately in love with Madhavi, Kovalan lost all his wealth including his wife's jewels to please her mother. Kovalan went to Madurai with his wife to sell the diamond anklet that she gave him to restart business. He met a goldsmith for this purpose. The vicious goldsmith who stole the Pandyan queen's precious anklet ...

Synopsis: Sinners bathe in the river Ganga to wash of their sins. Ganga gets polluted and suffers for their sins. Her suffering becomes acute and unbearable. A voice from heaven tells Ganga that she could get purified through the help of a devoted wife. Ganga seeks the help of Goddess Lakshmi. Goddesses Lakshmi, Parvathi and Saraswathi try to purify Ganga but in vain. Narada suggests to Ganga Devi to pray to Anasuya, the most reputed in Bhooloka as a devoted wife. Goddesses Lakshmi, Parvathi and Saraswathi begin to feel envious of Anasuya and decide to test her virtue. Some people go to the Ashram of Athri for water. Anasuya goes out to fetch water for them. Ganga Devi appears before Anasuya, feels purified and relieved of her suffering and gives water to Anasuya. Anasuya gets the water to the Ashram of Athri and serves it to the guests. Bhringi, a guest at the Ashram, gets infuriated, creats a devil but gets humiliated. Anasuya attends on Athri while he sleeps.Bhringi puts a ...

Cast: E.S. Kamala Kumari, Balijepalli Lakshmikanta Kavi, Suri Babu, Bezawada Rajarathnam, Lanka Satyam, Master Viswam Director: T.V. Neelakanthan Banner: Gemini Studios Release Date: 14 Jan, 1942

Cast: L.V. Prasad Dialogues: Vempati Sadasivabrahmam Director: H.M. Reddy

Synopsis: Radha (Bhanumati), a devadasi (south Indian form of ritualized prostitution, in which a woman is wedded to God), converts herself into a worshipper of saints. The pimp Timmayya Sastry (Kondala Rao) the villainous Brahmin Ramanujachari (Sithapaty) persecutes her. The hero Mohan (Panthulu) joins her struggle for social reform. When Ramanujachari has her framer for Mohan's murder, she is saved through divine intervention. Cast: B.R. Panthulu, Bhanumathi, Gidugu Venkata Sitapathi Rao, Mudigonda Lingamurthy, Addanki Srirama Murthy, Kondala Rao, Kutumba Sastry, K. Rajarathnam, Santha, Annapurna, Venkatagiri Music: Kopparapu Subba Rao Cinematography: M.A. Rehman Story and Direction: Harilal Raghunathji Desai Banner: Bhaskar Pictures

Cast: Parabrahma Sri, Hemalatha, Dr. Sivarama Krishnaiah Dialogues and Lyrics: Pingali Nagendra Rao Producers: N. Jagannath, Durga Nageswara Rao Director: N. Jagannath Notes: This was the first film for Pingali Nagendra Rao as a writer. After this film he went back to his job in machilipatnam, until Kamalakara Kameshwara rao invited him for 'Gunasundari Katha' (1948).

Synopsis: This tale about fabled court jester Temali Ramakrishna. The film opens with Ramakrishna (Master Raju) as a child being appalled after learning that the twice-married lecher Karanam is about to marry the nine-year-old Saubhagyam. He dresses up as the child bride, foiling the wedding and making a mockery of the groom. Years later, the adult Ramakrishna (S.P. Lakshmana Swamy) lands a job as the royal poet for the court of Krishnadeva Raya, where the scheming Brahmin soothsayer Tatacharya tries to manipulate the sovereign to his own ends. When the king's mother dies while eating a mango, he predicts that the royal mother's soul will not rest until the king gives every Brahmin a mango made of gold. Ramakrishna replies that his mother died with a longing to be seared with a hot poker, and then arranges for every Brahmin to be branded. Cast: S.P. Lakshmana Swamy, L.V. Prasad, P. Koteswara Rao, Tilakam, Puvvula Anasuya, P. Gangaratnam, T. Hanumantha Rao, Parepalli Subba Rao...

Cast: P. Suribabu Story: Kopparapu Subba Rao Director: R.S. Prakash Notes: Suribabu played the stage play 'Tara Sasankam', written by Kopparapu Subba Rao, more than 1500 times under his own direction.

Plot: Marital melodrama promoting the image of the ideal woman as a long-suffering and self sacrificing wife. Santha (Kannamba) is the exemplary but still childless -wife of Krishna Rao (CSR Anjaneyulu). When all rituals fail, she accepts her evil sister-in-law Durgabai's (Seshamamba) suggestion that her husband take a second bride, Kamala (Hemalatha). Durgabai and Kamala then combine to eject Santha from the house in spite of her sudden pregnancy. She gives birth to a son but gets separated from the child, which is raised by a local zamindar. Kamala turns out to be the real villain and sends an assassin to kill the child. Eventually the husband has a change of heart and rescues the child himself; Kamala obligingly commits suicide, thus restoring the original happy couple. Cast: C.S.R. Anjaneyulu, Kannamba, Hemalatha Devi, Seshamamba, Kalyanam Raghuramaiah Story and Dialogues: Kovvali Lakshmi Narasimha Rao Lyrics: Daita Gopalam Music: N.V. Venkatraman, N.B. Dinakar Rao Cinemat...

Cast: Santha Kumari, G. Radha Krishnayya, Parupalli Subba Rao Producer and Director: Ghantasala Balaramaiah Banner: Pratibha Films

Cast: Vemuri Gaggaiah (Daksha), C. Krishnaveni (Sati), Bezawada Rajarathnam (Prasuthi), G. Varalakshmi, T.G. Kamala Devi, Dasari Sadasiva Rao (Siva), T. Ramakrishna Sastry (Narada), Dasari Lakshmaiah Chowdary, Ramana Rao (Vishnu), Samrajyam (Saraswathi), Kanchi Narasimha Rao (Prasuna), Kumpatla Subba Rao (Visuna) Story, Dialogues and Lyrics: BT Narasimhachari Music: Moti Babu Cinematography:  DB Chavan Sound Design: MB Walke Art: H. Shantharam Producer:  Mirjapuram Raja Director: Chitrapu Narayana Murthy Banner: Sobhanachala Pictures Trivia: This was the first film on Sobhanachala Pictures. Previously it was Jaya Films. A scholar and a literary personality Buggapatnam Tirumala (BT) Narasimhachari, who had only one hand, was at that time editor of the popular magazine, 'Dhanka'. He later edited the Bangalore based 'Prajamata'. Ramana Rao and Samrajyam who acted as Lord Vishnu and Saraswathi were husband and wife in real life. This film was remade by K...

Cast: Pushpavalli, C.S.R. Anjaneyulu, Ch. Narayana Rao, Sundaramma, Kasturi Siva Rao, Satyavathi, Pulipati Venkateswarlu Story and Dialogues: V. Sadasivabrahmam Music: S.A. Venkatraman Cinematographer: Mama Shinde Director: P.K. Raja Sandow Banner: Janaki Pictures

Cast: Balasaraswathi, Tanguturi Suryakumari Director: M.L. Rangaiah

Synopsis: Venugopala Murthy returns from England after completing Barat-Law. His mother Mangamma and sister Sita are overjoyed. Venu is attracted to the servant Lakshmi who stays with the family. One night Venu takes advantage of the sleeping Lakshmi and promises to marry her. Soon Venu has to leave the city. He stays with his maternal uncle Balaramaiah who had funded his education assuming that Venu would marry his daughter Vimala. Though hesitant at first, Venu agrees to marry her. Mangamma and Sita take a reluctant Lakshmi and her brother Rangadu to the city. Venu explains his predicament and offers some money to Lakshmi that she spurns. Later when her father Venkaiah arranges her marriage, pregnant Lakshmi leaves the house. Vimala elope with Sukumar. Venu confesses to his mother. The kind hearted Mangamma sends him to bring Lakshmi back. Mean while Lakshmi take refuge with Haridasu's family and delivers a child. After several hardships, Lakshmi reunites with Venu. Cast: C...

Synopsis: Five year old Radha's dying mother hands the custody of Radha to the devadasi Sridevi who promises henceforth she would lead a pure life. Sridevi teaches the child the virtues of a house wife. In the school Radha befriends Mohan and as they grow love blossoms between Radha and Mohan. Mohan takes her to the temple and pledges before the deity that she was his 'dharmapatni'. The lecherous Ananda Rao informs Mohan's father that his son was seeing the daughter of a harlot Sridevi. Mohan's father forces his son to marry Uma from a rich family. Uma traces Mohan's disinterest in her to Radha and leaves him. Leela, a victim of Ananda Rao saves Uma from Rao's trap. Ananda Rao murders Leela and implicates Mohan. Radha in order to save Mohan decides to meet Ananda Rao who assures her he had the evidence to prove Mohan's innocence. Finally truth gets out and Mohan is saved from the gallows. His parents accepts Radha. Uma realises her folly and unites w...