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Laila Majnu (1949 film)

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Laila Majnu
Theatrical poster
Directed byP. S. Ramakrishna Rao
Written bySamudrala Raghavacharya
Produced byP. S. Ramakrishna Rao & P. Bhanumathi
StarringA. Nageswara Rao
P. Bhanumathi
Mukkamala Krishna Murthy
C. S. R. Anjaneyulu
Sriranjani
Kasturi Siva Rao
Arani Satyanarayana
Music byC. R. Subburaman
Distributed byBharani Pictures
Release date
  • 1 October 1949 (1949-10-01)
CountryIndia
LanguageTelugu

Laila Majnu is a Telugu film that released on 1 October 1949 starring A. Nageswara Rao and P. Bhanumathi. It was originally produced in Telugu and was dubbed in Tamil by Bharani Pictures.[1] The film was a box office hit and is considered one of the best film adaptations of the classic Sufi legend of Laila and Majnu.[1]

Production

Laila Majnu, an ancient epic of love, is an integral part of classic Sufi literature. Hashmet Shah has told it, so has Amir Khusro. Nizami Ganjavi’s 12th century version in scintillating verse filled with allegorical flourishes has been translated into numerous languages. Mian Mohammad Bakhsh’s interpretation of the epic is held as an acclaimed treatise in Pakistan till this day. The tragic tale of Majnoon and Laila is said to have its foundations in true events that occurred in the 7th century.

Plot

Laila is the daughter of Ameer Sarvaar (played by Mukkamala Krishnamurthy), and Khais, the son of Ameer Umri (Arani Satyanarayana). Love blossoms between Laila and Khais as they grow up. Ameer Sarvaar, unable to dissuade his daughter from seeing Khais, shifts to Mecca. Khais follows her to Mecca and roams in the streets uttering her name. People take him to be a mad person (Majnu) and throw stones at him. The story takes a lot of twists and turns from here on. The King of Iraq (played by C.S. R. Anjaneyulu), who comes on a visit to Mecca, sees Laila and decides to marry her. Meanwhile, Ameer Umri pleads with his erstwhile friend Sarvaar to save his son. Sarvaar agrees to get his daughter married to Khais if it is proved that he is not mad. A test is conducted and Khais emerges successful. Just when the marriage is to be performed, Sarvaar receives a proposal from the King of Iraq that he wishes to marry Laila. Sarvaar changes his mind, and performs his daughter’s marriage with the King. Laila leaves for Iraq and Khais wanders aimlessly in the desert. The King already has a mistress Zareena (played by Jr. Sriranjani). On coming to know of Laila’s story, she tries to help her. Soon thereafter, the Prince too repents, calls Laila his sister and sends her back to Khais. The lovers are about to meet in the desert, but fate wills it otherwise and a heavy sandstorm takes its toll.

Cast

Actor Role
A. Nageswara Rao Qais
P. Bhanumathi Laila
Mukkamala Krishna Murthy Ameer Sarvar
C. S. R. Anjaneyulu Rakkin Prabhu
Sriranjani Zarina
Kasturi Siva Rao Anwar
Arani Satyanarayana Ammer Zamri
Seetharam Moulvi
Hemalatha Begum
Surabhi Balasaraswathi Zohrah
K. V. Subba Rao Kubla Khan

Crew

Soundtrack

The music was composed by C. R. Subburaman.

Telugu songs

Lyrics by Samudrala Raghavacharya.

No. Song Singers Lyrics Length (m:ss)
1 neevEnE naa chaduvu Ghantasala, P. Bhanumathi,
P. Leela & Jikki		 Samudrala Raghavacharya 03:00
2 aaha pahliyanchega P. Bhanumathi
3 viri tAvula lOna Ghantasala & P. Bhanumathi 03:08
4 chEra raavo Ghantasala & P. Bhanumathi 02:30
5 raavO naanu marachitivO Ghantasala & P. Bhanumathi 02:44
6 ninu bAsi pOvudana P. Bhanumathi 03:10
7 prEmE nEramounaa P. Bhanumathi 02:57
8 chelunigani nijamidani telupuma O jaabili Ghantasala & P. Bhanumathi 04:08
9 payanamyE priyatama Ghantasala 02:55
10 Ela pagAyE R. Balasaraswathi Devi
11 ninugani manasuna P. Leela 02:14
12 assaalaa malEkkum amta bagunnAAraa Kasthoori Siva Rao
13 manasu gadaa khudaa tOdai nilachu gadaa niratamu Ghantasala, S. Dakshinamurthy & M. Sathyam 04:30
14 aMdala chinna daana P. Leela & Jikki 02:43
15 eenaaTi mA pATa P. Leela & Jikki 02:21
16 tAneDanO P. Bhanumathi
17 Ghantasala 02:56

Tamil songs

Lyrics by S. D. Sundharam.

No. Song Singers Lyrics Length (m:ss)
1 Nee Thaane Ennaasai Ghantasala, P. Bhanumathi
P. Leela & Jikki		 S. D. Sundharam 03:00
2 Aaha Palan Vandhadhe P. Bhanumathi
3 Iga Vaazhvinil Kaadhal Mahaajothiye Maarumaa Ghantasala & P. Bhanumathi 03:08
4 Jothi Minnum Ghantasala & P. Bhanumathi 02:30
5 Vaaraayo Enai Marandhanaiyo Ghantasala & P. Bhanumathi 02:44
6 Unnai Paarkka Pogirenaa Oru Maasillatha Kaif P. Bhanumathi 03:10
7 Premaithaan Polladhaa P. Bhanumathi 02:57
8 Vaanmadhi.... Enadhu Uyir Urugum Nilai Solluvaai Nee Vaanmadhi Ghantasala & P. Bhanumathi 04:08
9 Pogudhe Uyir.... Parandhu Sellum PainkiiiyE Ghantasala 02:55
10 Veen Pazhi Thaane Prabho En Mel R. Balasaraswathi Devi
11 Oru Ooril Oru Raaja P. Leela 02:14
12
13 Maghimaiyodu Sadhaa Ezhai Thuyarai Theerkkum Kadavule Ghantasala, S. Dakshinamurthy & M. Sathyam 04:30
14 Kuliridhe Suvai Madhu P. Leela & Jikki 02:43
15 Kannaadi Kanni Neeye P. Leela & Jikki 02:21
16 P. Bhanumathi
17 Vaazhvenum.... Mudindhadhaa Un Kaadhal Ghantasala 02:56

C.R. Subburaman’s soul stirring music with ‘Preme neramouna…’ (rendered by Bhanumathi) the evergreen hit, ‘O Priyathama… Payanamaye Priyathama Nanu Marachipokuma…’ (rendered by Ghantasala) and the dance sequence featuring Lalitha and Padmini, contributed to the runaway success of Laila Majnu.

Trivia

Production

With his first film, Rathnamala, turning a box-office hit, studio owner and director Ramakrishna was on the look out for a suitable subject for Bharani’s next venture. Fascinated by the first Hindi talkie version of Laila Majnu (1945), which he had seen in Bombay, he made the choice. His production chief D.L. Narayana agreed with him. A projection of the Hindi version was arranged for his actress-wife Bhanumathi and Akkineni Nageswara Rao, whom he had thought of for the protagonist’s role. Samudrala Raghavacharya was assigned the job of writing the script and the dialogue.

The sandstorm scene especially is worth mentioning. Instead of veteran cameraman Jiten Bennerjee, who cranked for Rathnamala, Ramakrishna took B.S. Ranga as the cameraman without even knowing how efficient his work was. Ranga who bagged this assignment thanks to his brother Garudachari, a close friend of Ramakrishna, proved his worth and it was the turning point in his future life and career. Besides excellent photography, sound designing (by V. Srinivasa Raghavan under whom later day’s popular director K. Viswanath worked as an assistant), the period sets created by art directors Goadgoankar and K. Nageswara Rao.

Critical Reception

An Article published in THE HINDU wrote about this movie " While the opulent palace, garden and other sets were put up in the floor, the desert set with a pond, palm trees (to resemble date trees found in deserts) and sand dunes were created in the open space between the studio and the recording theatre and the scenes were shot there during the nights for the right effect. The result of this entire effort was reflected in audience’s appreciation of the movie."

Notes

  1. ^ a b "Laila Majnu 1962"

References

  • Randor Guy (2 January 2006). "Tribute To A Legend". The Hindu.
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