Tenali Ramakrishna (film)

Tenali Ramakrishna
Theatrical release poster
Directed by B. S. Ranga
Produced by B. S. Ranga
Written by Samudrala Sr (dialogues)
Story by Ch. Venkataramaiah
Based on Tenali Ramakrishna (drama)
Starring N. T. Rama Rao
Akkineni Nageswara Rao
Bhanumathi Ramakrishna
Jamuna
Music by Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy
Cinematography B. S. Ranga
Edited by P. G. Mohan
Production
company
Vikram Productions
Release date
  • 12 January 1956 (1956-01-12)
Running time
 169 mins
Country India
Language Telugu

Tenali Ramakrishna is a 1956 Telugu, historical, biographical film, based on the life of Tenali Rama Krishna, famous jester poet of the 15th century, produced and directed by B. S. Ranga under the Vikram Productions banner. It stars N. T. Rama Rao, Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Bhanumathi Ramakrishna and Jamuna in the lead roles, with music composed by Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy. The film was adapted from the stage play based on Tenali Ramakrishna, written by Ch. Venkataramaiah. The film was remade as the Tamil movie Tenali Raman (1956), where Sivaji Ganesan played the title role; both the movies are made simultaneously by same banner and director and some of the scenes and artists are same in both versions. Both versions were commercially successful. Tenali Ramakrishna was remade in Kannada as Hasyaratna Ramakrishna by Ranga; however, that version was a commercial failure. The Telugu version has garnered the All India Certificate of Merit for Best Feature Film.

Plot

The Deccan Sultans of Berar, Ahmednagar, Bidar, Bijapur and Golconda who were the splinters from the erstwhile Bahmani Sultans now unite with the common purpose of the defeat of Krishnadeva Raya and the conquest of the prosperous Vijayanagaram. They send their stooge Kanakaraj to assassinate Krishnadeva Raya, but Kanakaraj fails in his mission and is put to death.

They then planned on the courtesan Krishnasani. She enters Vijayanagaram, and with her acclaimed dancing skills, manages to elicit the notice of the King, a great connoisseur of arts and beauty. She then plays her cards cleverly and besotted by her intelligent repartees and smoldering sensuousness, the susceptible King is soon a puppet in her hands.

Orders are given that anyone who enters their private chamber would be beheaded and the King spends with time with Krishnasani for months. Reports reach the ministers that the Sultans are planning to take advantage of the King’s inaccessibility and launch a combined attack on Vijayanagaram. Worried at the state of affairs, Tenali Ramakrishna braves the prohibitory order and enters Krishnasani’s abode dressed as a woman, but all his appeals to the King seem to fall on deaf ears.

Meanwhile, Queen Tirumalamba falls seriously sick and the King finally comes out of his daze. Once the King is at his wife’s bedside, Tenali Ramakrishna manages to gain entry into Krishnasani’s house again, this time under the guise of an omniscient saint who assures her that he would bring the King back to her. He catches her red-handed with her gang of spies, and signals to the hidden soldiers to surround her. Realized that the game is up, Krishnasani prefers a dignified death. Shocked to see her stab herself, Timmarusu remonstrates with her that she has acted in haste, for the King would have certainly forgiven her.

Cast

Crew

Soundtrack

Tenali Ramakrishna
Film score by Viswanathan-Ramamoorthy
Released 1956
Genre Soundtrack
Producer Viswanathan-Ramamoorthy

Music composed by Viswanathan-Ramamoorthy. Lyrics were written by Samudrala Sr. Music released on Audio Company.

S. No.Song TitleSingerslength
1 "Jagamula Dayanele Janani" P. Leela 2:04
2 "Neevega Raja Neevega" Bhanumathi Ramakrishna 2:26
3 "Chandana Charchita" P. Susheela 3:36
4 "Chesedhi Emito Cheseyi" Ghantasala 3:28
5 "Gandu Pilli" Ghantasala, Chittor V. Nagaiah 2:30
6 "Ichchakalu Naaku Neeku" P. Leela 3:20
7 "Jhan Jhan Kankanamulu" R. Balasaraswathi Devi 3:32
8 "Kannulu Ninde Kannela" Bhanumathi Ramakrishna 3:15
9 "Teerani Naa Korikale" Bhanumathi Ramakrishna 2:40
10 "Taruna Sashanka" Ghantasala, A. P. Komala 3:23
11 "Aakatayi Pilla" Ramakoti 1:27

Production

Tenali Ramakrishna was made as a bilingual film; it was shot simultaneously in Telugu and Tamil (the latter titled Tenali Raman). The film which was based on Tenali Raman was based on a stage play written by Kannada writer Ch. Venkataramaiah. B. S. Ranga who produced and directed this film was also recruited as the cinematographer and the film was edited by P. G. Mohan. The music was composed by Viswanathan and Ramamoorthy.

N. T. Rama Rao and Akkineni Nagewsara Rao portrayed the characters of Krishnadevaraya and Tenali Raman respectively. Jamuna and Bhanumathi were the lead actresses. Mukkamala, Chittoor Nagaiah and Surabhi are seen in supporting roles in the Telugu version while Sivaji Ganesan and M. N. Nambiar replaced Nageswara Rao and Mukkamala respectively in the Tamil version. Bhanumathi signed this film only for Ranga who earlier worked as a cameraman for her production company.[1] Tenali Raman was the second Tamil film based on Tenali Rama, after a 1938 film.[2]

Awards

Other

References

  1. ↑ "Tenali Ramakrishna (1956)". The Hindu. 14 November 2014. Archived from the original on 30 September 2016. Retrieved 11 January 2016.
  2. ↑ http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/Vadivelu-gets-60s-style-return-tune/2013/05/21/article1598604.ece
  3. ↑ "4th National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. p. 4. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 September 2016. Retrieved 2 September 2011.

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