Donga Ramudu (1955 film)
| Donga Ramudu | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | K. V. Reddy |
| Written by | D. V. Narasa Raju (dialogues) |
| Screenplay by | K. V. Reddy |
| Story by | K. V. Reddy D. V. Narasa Raju D. Madhusudhana Rao |
| Produced by | D. Madhusudhana Rao |
| Starring | Akkineni Nageswara Rao Savitri Jamuna |
| Cinematography | Adi M. Irani |
| Edited by | M. S. Mani |
| Music by | Pendyala Nageshwara Rao |
Production company | |
Release date |
|
Running time | 197 minutes |
| Country | India |
| Language | Telugu |
Donga Ramudu (English: Ramudu, the Thief) is a 1955 Telugu language drama film, produced by D. Madhusudhana Rao under the Annapurna Pictures banner and directed by K. V. Reddy. It stars Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Savitri, Jamuna in the lead roles and music composed by Pendyala Nageswara Rao. The film was archived in the curriculum of the Film and Television Institute of India.[1] The film is the debut venture of Annapurna Pictures in the film industry, who gave memorable hits with Akkineni Nageswara Rao. It was dubbed as the Tamil movie Thiruttu Raman (1956).[2] Later remade in Hindi as Man-Mauji (1962) and again in Tamil as Vasanthi (1988).
Plot
A young boy Ramudu frequently gets into trouble with his mischievous behavior. He dotes upon his sister Lakshmi. One day when his destitute mother Subbamma (Hemalatha) is ailing and needs expensive medications, he steals the medicine and lands at a reformatory. After the death of Subbamma, Lakshmi is sent to an orphanage. Years later, a grown up Ramudu (Akkineni Nageswara Rao) is released and goes in search of his sister. He rescues a child, the son of a rich miser Veerabhadraiah (Relangi) from a local thug Babulu (R. Nageswara Rao) and gets the job of a servant in his house. Here, Ramudu gets acquainted with a vegetable vendor Seeta (Savitri) and they fall in love. After some time, he learns the whereabouts of Lakshmi (Jamuna). He pretends to be a wealthy businessman and promises to pay her college fees. To raise the amount, he tries to rob Veerabhadraiah but is caught and sentenced. Lakshmi is ashamed of her brother and leaves the orphanage. She falls into the clutches of Babulu but Seeta rescues her. Lakshmi is hospitalized where she meets a benevolent doctor Mohan (Jaggayya) who helps the poor. Lakshmi finds shelter in his house. Impressed by her good nature, Mohan decides to marry her. After serving his sentence, Ramudu meets Seeta who is angry with him but forgives him after he explains his predicament. By chance, Ramudu is hired as a driver at Mohan's house where he encounters Lakshmi. He is very pleased with her marriage and warns her not to let anyone know that he is her brother. Fearing that his past might jeopardize her happiness, he decides to leave. Ramudu is charged for a theft at Mohan's home. As a result, he is insulted and kicked out. Lakshmi remains silent due to the promise. Veerabhadraiah is displeased about Mohan's marriage to Lakshmi as he had wished to get his own daughter married to Mohan. When he recognizes Lakshmi as Ramudu's sister, he decides to reveal her identity. Learning of his plan, Ramudu threatens him and silently attends his sister's wedding. Taking advantage of the situation, Babulu robs and murders Veerabhadraiah. Ramudu is indicted in the crime. Lakshmi comes forward to tell the truth that Ramudu is her brother and was present at the wedding during the time of the murder. Meanwhile, Seeta brings forward evidence that Babulu is the real murderer.The movie ends on a happy note with the marriage of Ramudu and Seeta.
Cast
- Akkineni Nageswara Rao as Ramudu
- Savitri as Seeta
- Jamuna as Lakshmi
- Jaggayya as Dr. Mohan
- Relangi as Bhadraiah
- Suryakantham
- R. Nageswara Rao as Babulu
- Allu Ramalingaiah
- Vangara as School teacher
- Mikkilineni
- Dr. Sivaramakrishnaiah
- Hemalatha as Subbamma
- Vinnakota Ramanna Panthulu
- Padmanabham as Driver
- Chalam
- Balakrishna as Cook
Crew
- Art: S. Krishna Rao
- Choreography: Pasumarthi
- Fights: Raghavulu
- Dialogues: D. V. Narasa Raju
- Lyrics: Samudrala Sr (Telugu) / Kanaga Surabhi & Kannadasan (Tamil)
- Playback: Ghantasala, P. Susheela, Jikki
- Music: Pendyala Nageshwara Rao
- Story: K. V. Reddy, D. Madhusudhana Rao, D. V. Narasa Raju
- Editing: M. S. Mani
- Cinematography: Adi M. Irani
- Producer: D. Madhusudhana Rao
- Screenplay - Director: K. V. Reddy
- Banner: Annapurna Pictures
- Release Date: 1 October 1955
Soundtrack
| Donga Ramudu | |
|---|---|
| Film score by | |
| Released | 1955 |
| Genre | Soundtrack |
| Length | 28:43 |
| Producer | Pendyala Nageshwara Rao |
Music was composed by Pendyala Nageshwara Rao. Lyrics were written by Samudrala Sr. All songs are blockbusters. Music released on Audio Company.
| S. No. | Song Title | Singers | length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Chigurakulalo Chilakamma" | Ghantasala, Jikki | 3:04 |
| 2 | "Bhale Tatha Mana Bapuji" | P. Suseela | 2:50 |
| 3 | "Raroyi Maa Intiki" | Jikki | 2:43 |
| 4 | "Cherasala Palainava" | Ghantasala | 3:22 |
| 5 | "Levoyi Chinnavada" | Jikki | 3:37 |
| 6 | "Telisindaa Babu" | P. Susheela | 2:58 |
| 7 | "Anda Chandala Sogasari Vaadu" | Jikki | 3:14 |
| 8 | "Anuragamu Virisena" | P. Susheela | 2:54 |
| 9 | "Balagopala" | P. Susheela | 4:01 |
Tamil songs
Lyrics were by Kanaga Surabhi & Kannadasan. All the tunes for all the songs and singers for both languages are the same.
| No. | Song | Singers | Lyrics | Length (m:ss) |
| 1 | "Oo Siruchaalaiyil Or Kuyilamma" | Ghantasala & Jikki | Kannadasan | 3:04 |
| 2 | "Bale Saadhu Engal Baabuji" | P. Suseela | Kanaga Surabhi | 2:50 |
| 3 | "Vaarungal Vaarungalen Maamo" | Jikki | Kannadasan | 2:43 |
| 4 | "Oor Sirikka Per Edutthaayaa" | Ghantasala | Kanaga Surabhi | 3:22 |
| 5 | "Engaadhe Chinna Maamaa Nee" | Jikki | Kanaga Surabhi | 3:37 |
| 6 | "Thrinjukko Baabu Ippove Thrinjukko Baabu" | P. Suseela | Kannadasan | 2:58 |
| 7 | "Kannil Kandaalum Sugam Tharum Veeran" | Jikki | Kannadasan | 3:14 |
| 8 | "Endhan Kaadhalum Malaraadhaa Solvaai Raajaa" | P. Suseela | Kannadasan | 2:54 |
| 9 | "Balagopala" | P. Suseela | Jayadeva | 4:01 |
Production
Development
By the turn of the 1950s, Akkineni Nageswara Rao was a sought-after star. His friend-philosopher-guide and mentor from his stage days, D. Madhusudana Rao felt it was the right time to launch his own production house. Thus was born Annapurna Pictures (P) Ltd, named after D. Madhusudana Rao's stepmother. Besides Madhusudana Rao and ANR, Katragadda Srinivasa Rao, Koratala Prakasa Rao and T.V.A. Subba Rao were its partners. "Bharani" P. S. Ramakrishna Rao, who gave memorable hits with ANR, was approached to direct their debut venture. Though he accepted the offer, for some reason he backed out. P. Pullaiah, who introduced ANR in films too was busy with the Tamil version of Ardhangi and other commitments. ANR had a wish to work with K. V. Reddy and when they met him, K. V. Reddy obliged on the condition that they have to wait till he completed Peddamanushulu. The wait was worth its moolah as Donga Ramudu established Annapurna Pictures as a top banner.
D. V. Narasaraju, the writer of Peddamanushulu was chosen to pen the story and dialogues. Since he was directing ANR for the first time, K. V. thought it should be different from the actor's earlier movies. He suggested that he pen a story on a brother-sister sentiment with the brother going to any extent, even committing a murder for the sake of his sister. Madhusudana Rao recollected a short story, Loving Brothers that he had read in an anthology of American short stories. In the story, the elder brother commits robberies to educate his younger brother. Taking that point replacing the younger brother with a sister, Narasaraju, Madhusudana Rao and K. V. Reddy wrote the story of Donga Ramudu.[3]
Casting
Narasaraju created such catchwords as "gas" for telling a lie which is popular. R. Nageswara Rao's famous dialogue, "Babulu Gaadi Debba Ante Golconda Abbaanali", became popular too. The schoolmaster Vangara's usage of "Jambukarandhrapura Agraharam" for his village name, "Nakkabokkalapadu" is one such. Adi M. Irani cranked the camera.
The acting honors were equally shared by ANR, Jamuna, Savitri, Relangi and R. Nageswara Rao. Jaggaiah came up with a dignified portrayal as did Suryakantham as Relangi's wife. K.V. Reddi relied on experienced actors for other characters - Vinnakota Ramannapanthulu (as the elder brother of Jaggaiah), Allu Ramalingaiah, (the orphanage manager), Maddali Krishnamurthy (Police Inspector), Commuri Padmavathi Devi, (Jaggaiah's mother) and Bezawada Kanthamma (Relangi's mother).
Pendyala Nageswara Rao largely contributed to the film's success with his melodious score and the Lyrics were by Samudrala Raghavacharya. The evergreen hits include "Chigurakulalo Chilakamma" (Ghantasala & Jikki), "Ravoyi Maa Intiki" (Jikki), "Telisinda Babu Ipudu Thelisinda" and "Bhale Tata Mana Bapuji" (both rendered by P. Susheela).
References
- ^ Sashidhar AS, TNN 13 Aug 2012, 04.15PM IST (13 August 2012). "Donga Ramudu was included in FTII – Times Of India" (Press release). Articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com. Retrieved 27 August 2012.
{{cite press release}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Film News Anandan (23 October 2004). Sadhanaigal Padaitha Thamizh Thiraipada Varalaru [History of Landmark Tamil Films] (in Tamil). Chennai: Sivakami Publishers. Archived from the original on 26 August 2017.
- ^ http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/cinema-columns/donga-ramudu-1955/article6169986.ece