Bala Nagamma (1942 film)
| Bala Nagamma | |
|---|---|
 Poster | |
| Directed by | Chittajallu Pullayya |
| Produced by | S. S. Vasan |
| Written by | Balijepalli Lakshmikanta Kavi |
| Starring |
Kanchanamala Govindarajula Subba Rao Banda Kanakalingeswara Rao Balijepalli Lakshmikanta Kavi T.G.Kamala Devi Kamala Kotnis Pushpavalli Bellary Lalitha Relangi Venkata Ramaiah |
| Music by |
M.D.Partha Sarathi Saluri Rajeshwara Rao |
| Cinematography |
SAilen Bose B.S.Ranga |
| Edited by |
Chandran N.K.Gopal |
Production company | |
Release date | 1942 |
Running time | 220 minutes |
| Country | India |
| Language | Telugu |
Bala Nagamma or is a 1942 Telugu-language film directed by Chittajallu Pullayya and produced by S. S. Vasan. The story Bala Nagamma was one of the most popular Burrakathas. It was one of the early successful films made by Gemini Studios in Telugu and was not remade in Tamil. Gemini Studios made an adaptation of this film in Hindi starring Madhubala, called Bahut Din Huwe.[1]
The plot
The story is about Bala Nagamma, a young princess. The King prays for progeny and is blessed with children, the youngest of them is named Bala Nagamma (Kanchanamala). She is married off to Karyavardi Raju (Banda). She is kidnapped by Mayala Marathi (Govindarajula Subbarao), who turns her into a dog and takes her to his cave. Once there, he tries to take advantage of her. She keeps him away by quoting some Holy Rites and Pujas that she is involved in. She is a prisoner in the cave for fourteen years, during which time the Fakir's mistress, Sangu (Pushpavalli), becomes jealous of his obsession with Bala Nagamma. In the meantime, her son Balavardi Raju grows up and discovers the truth about his mother. He seeks the Fakir out and defeats him.
Cast
| Actor/Actress | Character |
|---|---|
| Kanchanamala | Nagamma |
| Govindarajula Subba Rao | Mayala Marathi |
| Balijepalli Lakshmikantham | Navabhoja Raju |
| Karyavardhi Raju | |
| Master Viswam | Balavardhi Raju |
| Pushpavalli | Sangu |
| Addala Narayana Rao | Nagendra |
| Bellary Lalitha | Bhoolaxmi |
| Lanka Satyam | Chakali Thippadu |
| Relangi Venkataramaiah | Kotwal Ramasingu |
Soundtrack
There are three songs in the film.[2]
- "Naa Sogase Kani Marude Dasudu Kada" – Pushpavalli
- "Nanna Memu Delhi Potham"
- "Sri Jaya Jaya Gowri Ramana" – Bellary Lalitha
Features
- Gemini Pictures later remade this movie in Hindi with Madhubala in the lead role and Savitri as Sangu. The movie was titled Bahut Din Hue. This was Savithri's first Hindi movie.
- The movie was a trendsetting folk-based successful venture and ran for more than 25 weeks in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
- The story has been adopted for another movie as Bala Nagamma in 1959, starring N. T. Rama Rao, Anjali Devi and S. V. Ranga Rao. It was also a big success.
Reception
According to film historian Randor Guy, Bala Nagamma netted a profit of ₹4 million (US$56,000).[3]
References
- ↑ Guy, Randor (23 May 2003). "With a finger on people's pulse". The Hindu. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
- ↑ Lyrical details of Bala Nagamma at Ghantasala Galamrutamu.
- ↑ Randor Guy (December 2008). "... And thus he made Chandralekha sixty years ago". Madras Musings. XVIII. Archived from the original on 24 May 2013. Retrieved 2 July 2013.