Rechukka

Rechukka
Theatrical release poster
Directed by P. Pullaiah
Produced by Ghantasala Krishnamurthy
Written by Malladi Ramakrishna Sastry (dialogues)
Screenplay by P. Pullaiah
Story by Ghantasala Balaramaiah
Starring N. T. Rama Rao
Anjali Devi
Devika
Music by Ashwathama
Cinematography P. L. Roy
Edited by G. D. Joshi
Production
company
Pratibha Productions
Release date
  • 25 March 1955 (1955-03-25)
Running time
 145 mins
Country India
Language Telugu
Budget Rs. 3-4 lakhs

Rechukka (English: Night Star) is a 1954 Telugu swashbuckling film, produced by Ghantasala Krishna Murthy under the Pratibha Productions banner and directed by P. Pullaiah. It stars N. T. Rama Rao, Anjali Devi and Devika in the lead roles, with music composed by Aswatthama. The story was inspired by The Prince Who Was a Thief (1951), starring Tony Curtis.[1]

The film was remade in Tamil and titled Naattiya Thara.[2] The Tamil version was released in 1955.[3] Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass wrote the dialogues and lyrics for the Tamil version, while G. Ramanathan scored the music.[4] It was also a commercial hit. Aroordas, who was a successful screenplay writer later, started his career as an assistant to Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass in 1955 and assisted in writing the dialogues for this film.[5] He has said that he named his first child as Arokyamary and also gave a pet name, Thara Devi in remembrance of the film Nattiya Thara.[6]. Rechukka

Plot

Maharaja Devarayalu (Mukkamala) celebrates his son Kumararayulu’s birthday on a grand scale. After celebrations, he offers a diamond necklace to Goddess Devi, but it falls down; Devarayalu is worried about this inauspicious event. Mahamantri (Sadasiva Rao) expresses his desire of offering his daughter as King Devarayalu's daughter-in-law. But Devarayalu rejects it, insulted, Mahamantri keeps quiet for that time and conspires with Nagulu (Y. V. Raju) to bide his time and grab the kingdom. Once, Devarayalu was going with Kumararayalu to the temple; they catch hold of the King, but Veeranna (Nagabhushanam) aide of the King, takes away the prince. To distract the chasers' attention, he hides the prince behind a tree and runs in a different direction. Mahamantri arrests Devarayalu. Kumarayalu is bitten by a snake, which is noticed by Jogulu (Gaadepalli) who takes the kid to his hamlet and rescues him. Jogulu recognizes the prince, but hides the secret and raises him. Veerana, failing to find Kumararayalu goes back home tells his wife and daughter Nana that he is going to save the Devarayalu; he enters Mahamantri's bedroom in the night and gets arrested. Meanwhile, Mahamantri takes over the kingdom and is under the belief that Kumararayalu is dead.

After sixteen years, Veeranna’s daughter Nana (Anjali Devi), becomes a street dancer. Kumararayalu grows under the name of the Kannayya (N. T. Rama Rao). In the jail, Veeranna dies and asks Devarayalu to escape. So, he hides in a bag kept for Veeranna and escapes. Even though soldiers notice the escape of the king, they kept quiet for fear of punishment. Having escaped, Devarayalu takes shelter at Nana’s house. On the occasion of the birthday of Mahamantri’s daughter Lalitha Devi (Devika), Nana entertains her with dance and hides behind the statue of the goddess when Mahamantri enters. Mahamantri gives the diamond necklace of Maharani to his daughter, but Nana steals it. Kannayya and his friend Annayya (Peketi Siva Rao) go to the fort and say that they will bring the necklace back. Kannayya finds the necklace and hands it over it to Nagulu’s son Chandraiah (Joga Rao), but Nana again snatches the necklace. Kannayya finds out Nana’s house, gets back the necklace and gives it to the princess. Princess Lalitha Devi gives a gift bag with a love letter to Kannayya. Nana gets that bag and feels that Kannayya wrote that letter to her. After knowing the fact, Kannayya goes to Lalitha Devi and says it's not good for her to love him. During the same time, he was captured by a soldier. Meanwhile, Nagulu comes to know that King Devarayalu is alive and threatened Kannayya about him. Nana listens to this and recognizes the person staying in her house as the King. On the King's advice, Nana steals the royal assent Rajamudra from the fort and releases Kannayya. Kanayya hands over the royal assent to the king and he recognizes him as his son. Kannayya again leaves for the fort to save Nana, but both were arrested. At the same time, the king Devarayalu goes to the tribal village and take the people to capital. In the fort, Kannayya plays a trick, attacks the soldiers and Mahamantri. Mahamantri, on the verge of death, kills Nagulu and before dying, hands over his daughter's responsibility to the King Devarayalu. Finally, the movie ends on a happy note with the marriage of Kannayya and Nana.

Cast

Crew

Soundtrack

Music composed by Aswatthama. Lyrics by Malladi Ramakrishna Sastry. Music released by Audio Company.

S. No.Song TitleSingerslength
1 "Aa Manasemo Aa Sogasemo" Jikki 3:07
2 "Aaye Sambarame" P. Leela 3:42
3 "Ayyo Bangaru Saami" P. Leela 4:12
4 "Bhale Bhala Paavurama" Ghantasala 3:12
5 "Ekkadidi Ee Andam" Jikki 3:13
6 "Etu Choosina" P. Leela 4:04
7 "Neesari Nevanamma" P. Leela 3:37
8 "Ontarontariga Poyedana" Ghantasala 2:33

Production

The Rechukka film is an outcome of Ghantasala Balaramaiah, Telugu film producer of Pratibha Pictures and General Manager and Production Executive of the company Thopalli Venkata Sundara Shivarama Sastry (better known as Pratibha Sastry). Sastry has seen the English film entitled The Prince Who Was a Thief in Mount Road. Balaramaiah prepared a story to suit the local audience. The story was given to Malladi Ramakrishna Sastry, who wrote the screenplay, dialogues and lyrics for the film.

The shooting was started with N. T. Rama Rao, Anjali Devi and supporting staff and Ashwathamma as Music director. After shooting three reels including two songs, Ghantasala Balaramaiah died suddenly due to Heart attack on 29 October 1953. Ghantasala Krishna Murthy, the elder son of Balaramaiah has taken the charge of Pratibha pictures. Nageshwara Rao wished to be a part of the film after the demise of his mentor Balaramaiah. He made a cameo appearance. The film is completed with the financial involvement of Sunderlal Nahata and director P. Pullaiah.[2]

Most of the film was shot at Revathi Studios at Madras. Prakash Studios was used for few important scenes. The forest scenes are pictured at Jamal Gardens (Now Vijaya Gardens).

For the role of Lalitha Devi, they wanted to take a new actress. They have chosen Prameela, the grand daughter of Raghupathi Venkaiah to portray the character besides N. T. Rama Rao. She changed her name as Devika and became a big star in later years.

Box-office

The film was a commercial hit and ran for more than 100 days in three centres in Andhra Pradesh. Centenary celebrations are organized at Vijayawada.

References

  1. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20160131175717/http://ntr.telugudesam.org/paperslides/ntr-rechukka.html
  2. 1 2 M. L. Narasimhan (18 April 2014). "RECHUKKA (1954)". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 28 May 2015. Retrieved 7 January 2017.
  3. ↑ Film News Anandan (23 October 2004). Sadhanaigal Padaitha Thamizh Thiraipada Varalaru [History of Landmark Tamil Films] (in Tamil). Chennai: Sivakami Publishers.
  4. ↑ Naattiya Thara song book. Chandrasekaran Press, 3 Perumal Mudali Road, Madras-14.
  5. ↑ "Kavinjar Thanjai Ramaiyah Das – Tamil Cinema Poets". Archived from the original on 6 January 2016. Retrieved 7 January 2016.
  6. ↑ "எம்.ஜி.ஆருடன் முதல் சந்திப்பு- ஆரூர் தாஸ்" [First meeting with M. G. R. - Aroor Das]. Archived from the original on 7 January 2016. Retrieved 7 January 2016.
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