Sumangali (1940)

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 mother (Parvathibai) and they were hoping that he would marry her. When that doesn't happen, the furious father arranges to perform Parvathi's marriage with a crook (Subba Rao). Parvathi attempts suicide by self-immolation. Satyam and Saraswathi reach there. On her death bed, Parvathi asks her father to quit his orthodox ways and perform Satyam's marriage with Saraswathi. Her father assures her that he will do so, defying society if necessary. Before dying, Parvathi places 'kunkuma' on the forehead of Saraswathi, joins her hand with Satyam's and says, 'nuvvu sumangalivi'.
Cast: Chittooru Nagaiah, A.S. Giri, Kumari, Malathi, Mudigonda Lingamurthy, Seshamamba, Doraswamy, Goberu Subba Rao, Gowripathi Sastry, Parvathibai, Rajarathnam
Story and Screenplay: Ramnoth
Dialogues and Lyrics: Samudrala Raghavacharya
Music: Cittooru Nagaiah 
Playback: Nagaiah, Sabu 
Cinematography and Editing: Ramnoth
Art and Sound Recording: A. Kula Sekhar
Make up: Haribabu
Production Manager: KV Reddy
Asst. Director: Kamalakara Kameswara Rao
Producers: BN Reddy, Moola Narayana Swamy
Director: BN Reddy
Banner: Vauhini Studios
Trivia: AS Giri an MA (Literature) graduate who played the protagonist worked as a teacher and was a popular radio singer. BN Reddy chose him for his singing prowess and handsome looks. Giri later married folk music exponent Vinjamuri Anasuya Devi.
Popular Songs:
1. Premamayamee jeevanamu
2. Pasupu kunkuma
3. Paadave koyilaa paadave pulakarimpa
4. Vastaade maa baava
5. Aada brathuke madhuram