Maaya Rambha

Maaya Rambha
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	T. P. Sundaram
Written by	Balijepalli Lakshmikantam (story / dialogues)
Produced by	T. P. Sundaram
Starring	N. T. Rama Rao Anjali Devi
Cinematography	P. Sridhar
Edited by	G. D. Joshi
Music by	Ogirala Ramachandra Rao
Production company	N. B. Productions
Release date	22 September 1950 (1950-09-22)
Country	India
Languages	Telugu and Tamil

Maaya Rambha (transl. Magical Rambha) is a 1950 Indian bilingual mythological film, produced and directed by T. P. Sundaram under the N. B. Productions banner. It stars N. T. Rama Rao, Anjali Devi in the lead roles and music composed by Ogirala Ramachandra Rao. The film was simultaneously made in Tamil with the same title.

Plot

Narada smells food for himself in Ranbhas's endeavor to pollute the fervent penance of a Rishi and pricks her vanity, which ultimately results in the latter's expressions of her unique beauty and his challenge thereof. The opportunities that present themselves are many for Narada to insult Rambha in Lord Krishna's Birthday Durbar. When he crowns Kalavathy, the Lord Court dancer and his own disciple with the honor of a dance recital pair up with Vidhyadhara, another student of his, ignoring the claims of Kalavathy and Nalacoobara. The Lord presents a Manikyamala jointly to Kalavathy and Vjdhyadhara's claims, which the latter rejects when offered by the former.

Now Vidhyadhara and Nalacoobara remain at Dwaraka the former with his Guru and later forced by his love for Kalavathi. Kambha is hurt on both sides and she too stays there to mend her husband Kalavathy methodically reveals to Vidhyadhara her heart which has reserved for him since their very first meeting and Vidhya learning love, often they meet in the garden of Narada Ashram. On one such occasion, Nala watches their intimacy in the form of a deer and becomes restless. The more Rambha tries to control him, the more obstinate he turns. He visits Kala's house and offers his all for her love, but in vain. Then he meets Kala in the garden in the form of Vidhyadhara, for whom she is waiting and appearing as Nala to Vidhyadhara who, having been engaged in taking Bhagavath Geetha from Lord Krishna, comes there late, makes him misunderstand that he (Nala) is the one who is really loved by Kala; with this stroke, Vidhya takes leave of his Guru to be away from Dwaraka and away from all that is feminine in the world. The innocent Kala goes out alone in search of him, not knowing her crime that is absent and Uddanda, her maids' husband starts in search of her.

Nala, in his pursuit of Kalavathy, finds her in the forest and tries to molest her, diverting the path of Uddanda who approaches the spot, by creating a Yakshini when Rambha appears on the scene and Kala slips off, Narada comes there and informs Rambha of Indra's curse on her, whereby she is deprived of her divine powers, for neglecting her duty. Rambha mistakes Kala as reciprocating Nala's love and decides to do away with her life. Uddanda, for his misbehavior with a Parkaya Yogi is cursed by him to be a dove.

Kalavathy, while searching for Vidhyadhara, is caught in a storm and finally loses his eyesight. Vidhya, who by now has almost completed his visits to temples, meets Kala's innocence is spoiled by yet another treacherous act of Nalacoobra, who gains Kala's sympathy in the form of a baby and creates the motherly atmosphere about her, on seeing which, Vidyadhara confirms her infidelity and goes away without speaking to the blind one. Taking his original form out of the baby, Nala again tries to molest Kalavathy, when earthly Kalpaka defends her, lowering Nala's caste.

But the trials and tribulations of Kala who, though blind, throws off Kalpavalli's shelter and proceeds in search of Vidhya only to know her crime and die, never appears to end. Rambha, from behind the idol of Bhubaneshwari Temple instigates Kalpalika, a staunch devotee of Goddess and aspirant of Amrajyasiddi to sacrifice Kalavathy at the altar of the Goddess to gain his ends when he is out to sacrifice himself for the purpose. So Kalavathy now falls from the frying pan into the fire of merciless Kapalika's hands, who takes her to the altar under the pretext of showing her husband, and notwithstanding the appeal of the old Kapalani there, raises his sword which, while measuring its distance from Kala's neck clashes with another

Cast

• N. T. Rama Rao as Nalakubharudu
• Anjali Devi as Kalavathi
• G. Varalakshmi as Rambha
• C.S.R. as Narada Maharshi
• Kasturi Siva Rao as Udhanda
• K. Raghuramaiah as Vidyadhara
• Balijepalli Lakshmikantam as Kapalika
• Kumpatla as Thota Maali
• K. V. Srinivas as Krishna
• A. L. Narayana as Parakaaya Yogi
• Sriranjani as Adavi Pilla
• Surabhi Kamalabai as Kapalini
• Soudamini as Kalavathi's friend
• Jayalakshmi as Vasanthi
• Revathi as Yakshini

Crew

• Art: C. Ramaraju
• Choreography: Vedantam Raghavaiah, Vempati
• Stills - Camera: R. S. Nagaraja Rao
• Story - Dialogues: Balijepalli Lakshmikantam
• Lyrics:
• Playback:
• Music: Ogirala Ramachandra Rao
• Editing: G. D. Joshi
• Cinematography: P. Sridhar
• Producer - Director: T. P. Sundaram
• Banner: N. B. Productions
• Release Date: 22 September 1950