Ratnamala (1948)

Synopsis: Simhakethu, the ruler of Kancheepuram, is on the look out for a suitable bridegroom for his daughter, Rathnamala. Chandrachooda, the king of Sonapura, is blessed with a son, but with the curse, to survive, before it reaches the 16th month the child should be married to a 16-year-old girl. His minister goes on a bride hunt and reaches Kancheepuram. He shows them his own son's portrait and not that of the child prince. Rathnamala agrees to marry him. However, the minister says that, according to tradition, her marriage has to be performed with a sword. On entering the room, Rathnamala is shocked to see a child instead of the handsome youth she had seen in the portrait. The minister's son explains to her why they had to do that. She leaves the palace along with her child 'husband' and goes into a forest. Unaware of all this and finding Rathnamala missing, her father imprisons Chandrachooda, his minister and the minister's son, and then sends his men in search of his daughter. An elderly couple shelter Rathnamala in the forest.
Years pass by. The child, Chandrakanth, now seven years old, is kidnapped by a gang. Rathnamala goes in search of him. Dhoomakethu, her affectionate uncle who came in search of her locates her, and bring her back to Kancheepuram. In a fit of anger, the King, unable to get at the truth from his daughter, orders her to be hanged. The minister's son reveals the truth to prove that Rathanamala is innocent. Chandrkanth too lands there. The old couple who had sheltered Rathnamala is none other than Lord Shiva and Parvathi, with whose boon Chandrakanth turns into a young man. The King performs Rathnamala's marriage with him
Cast: Bhanumathi (Rathnamala), CSR Anjaneyulu (Dhoomakethu), Govindarajula Venkata Subba Rao (Simhakethu), Suryanarayana (Chandrakanth), Hemalatha, Aarani Satyanarayana, Sitaram, Akkineni Nageswara Rao (minister's son), Nyapati Raghava Rao (Lord Shiva), Baby Sumithra
Dialogues and Lyrics: Samudrala Raghavacharya
Music: CR Subbaraman
Playback: Bhanumathi, Ghantasala, Jamuna Rani, Baby Sarojini, CSR Anjaneyulu
Cinematography: PS Selvaraj
Art: DS Godgaonkar
Choreography: Vedantam Raghavaiah
Producer: Bhanumathi
Director: PS Ramakrishna Rao
Banner: Bharani Studios
Release Date: 2 January
Boxoffice: Super hit
Trivia: This was first movie on Bharani Studios and debut movie for Ramakrishna Rao as a director.
Though Samudrala was credited with the lyrics, it is widely believed that some of the hit numbers were actually ghost written by Malladi Ramakrishna Sastry.
Popular Songs:
1. Madanaa madanaa navamadanaa
2. Neeve piluva tagune
3. Ammaa daari teliyadaaye
4. Aagave maradalaa
5. Niluva needaleni bratuku