Gunasundari Katha (1949)

Synopsis: King Ugrasena of Dhara Nagaram has 3 daughters-Rupasundari, Hemasundari and Gunasundari. Rupa and Hema are married to their cousins, Haramati and Kalamati respectively. Guna comments one day in a discussion that the husband is the most important entity for a girl. Her angered father, the King, then marries Guna off to a blind, limp, mute and deaf pauper, Daivadeenam.When it is discovered that Daivadeenam is in fact a prince under a curse, Guna and Daiva are banished from the Kingdom. They live far away in a small hut, when news that the King is fatally ill reaches them. Only a precious gem, the Mahendra Mani, can save him. So the three sons-in-law set out to find the gem and Daiva finds it. Haramati and Kalamati steal it from him and the King is cured. Another curse hits Daivadeenam, who now turns into a bear. Pleased with Gunasundari's devotion, Lord Shiva and Parvati bless Daivadeenam and he becomes normal once again. The King, understanding the truth finally, makes Daiva the King.
Cast: Jr. Sriranjani (Gunasundari), Kasturi Siva Rao (Daivadeenam), Vallabhajosyula Sivaram, Govindarajula Subba Rao (Ugrasena), Santha Kumari (Rupa Sundari), Relangi (Kalamati), Malathi (Hema Sundari), G. Subba Rao (Haramathi), Pamarthi Venkateswara Rao, Jandhyala Gaurinatha Sastry, TG Kamala Devi, Hemalathamma Rao, Kallakuri Sadasiva Rao, Kanakam, Baby Vijaya Nirmala (child Gunasuundari), Junior Lakshmi Rajyam, Sita
Dialogues and Lyrics: Pingali Nagendra Rao
Screen-play: Kamalakara Kameswara Rao
Music: Ogirala Ramachandra Rao
Playback: P. Leela, Santha Kumari, Malathi, V. Sivaram, TG Kamala Devi
Cinematography: Marcus Bartley
Editor: MS Mani
Director: KV Reddy
Banner: Vauhini Studios
Release Date: 29 December
Trivia: This was based on Shakespeare's play 'Kinglier'.
Vijaya Nirmala played the role of child Gunasundari.
This was first Telugu film for P. Leela as a singer.
This was first film for Ogirala Ramachandra Rao as a music director independently.
This was first Telugu hit for a comedy hero (Kasturi Siva Rao).
This was debut movie for Jr. Sriranjani as a heroine.
Popular Songs:
1. Oho chaarusheelaa le javaraalaa
2. Eevanilo koyilanai, koyila paade