Donga Ramudu

Tamil songs

Lyrics were by Kanaga Surabhi & Kannadasan. All the tunes for all the songs and singers for both languages are the same.

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).