Suvarna Sundari

Suvarna Sundari
Theatrical release poster of Telugu version
Directed byVedantam Raghavayya
Written byMalladi Ramakrishna Sastry (Telugu dialogues)
Udhaya Kumar (Tamil dialogues)
Screenplay byVedantam Raghavayya
Story byVempati Sadasivabrahmam
Adinarayana Rao
Produced byP. Adinarayana Rao
StarringAnjali Devi
Akkineni Nageswara Rao
Gemini Ganesan
CinematographyM. A. Rahman
Edited byN. S. Prakash
Music byP. Adinarayana Rao
Production
company
Distributed byChamria Talkie
Release date
  • 10 May 1957 (1957-05-10)
Running time
208 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguagesTelugu
Tamil

Suvarna Sundari (transl. Golden beauty) is a 1957 Indian Telugu-language swashbuckler film directed by Vedantam Raghavayya.[1] It stars Anjali Devi and Akkineni Nageswara Rao with music composed by P. Adinarayana Rao. The film was produced by Adinarayana Rao under the Anjali Pictures banner. Gemini Ganesan played the male lead in the simultaneously shot Tamil version.

The film was simultaneously shot in Tamil as Manaalane Mangaiyin Baakkiyam (transl. Husband is a woman's fortune).[2][3] Lata Mangeshkar suggested that Suvarna Sundari be remade in Hindi instead of dubbing the film. It was then made in Hindi with the same title as the Telugu version. Nageswara Rao and Anjali Devi did their roles in the Hindi version as well; it was the only Hindi film in Nageswara Rao's film career.

The shooting of the film was held at Venus Studios, Madras and the outdoor shooting was held at Shimsha falls, Mysore. The film was released through Chamria Talkie Distributors, headed by Sundar Lal Nahata, and it set a record at the box office by celebrating 50 days in 48 centres and completed 100 days in 18 centres.[4][5][6]

Plot

[edit]

Once upon a time, there was a kingdom called Malwa. Prince Jayanth (Jayanthan in Tamil) is about to leave after civilizing. Just before, Rajaguru's daughter Sarala denounces him for her refusal as he molested her. So, King Chandra Bhanu penalizes the death penalty when Jayanth absconds. On the way, he is acquainted with three sly thieves, Kailasam, Ullasam and Chadastam (Vaigundam and Aghasam in Tamil), who confront Jayanth to resolve the mystery behind Siva’s temple. Therein, Jayanth relieves Gandharva’s curse and bestows him with 3 marvel gifts. A Jug can supply any food, a Mat that can travel anywhere, and a Wand that punishes irrespective of his strength. Meanwhile, the 3 crafty backstab Jayanth, steal, share them, and split.

Fortuitously, a glorious angel named Suvarna Sundari descends and inadvertently collides with him, leading to their entanglement, union, and the conception of Sundari. Hereupon, enraged Indra curses her to be human, dismisses her from Jayanth's mind, and molds him as a statue if he lays a finger on her. Right now, Jayanth quits, and Sundari falls on earth and gives birth to a baby boy, but destiny makes them cleft. Years roll by, and Jayanth, as a wanderer, regains 3 objects, ceasing the trickeries. In between, the mishap turns him into a woman in the day & a male at night, and it relieves only after showering with nectar. Following, he signs in a kingdom as Jayanthi affiliates with Princess Prathima Devi. Eventually, Sundari, in men's guise, follows the same destiny, and she is accredited as its Chief Minister. Simultaneously, their son Siva Kumara is raised by a cowherd; after his death, he sets foot into a temple, where Siva & Parvati rear him.

One night, Prathima encounters Jayanth and loves him. Spotting it, grievous Sundari renounces. Later, Jayanth comes across a demon through it and detaches his curse when, unfortunately, he touches Sundari. Nevertheless, retrieving the past, Jayanth mutates into a statue. At that moment, Siva Kumara checks them into the temple where Siva affirms the boy as their own, and to disengage Jayanth, the boy should pick up the Golden Lotus from heaven. After making an audacious journey, the boy secures his father. At last, they return when Jayanth is proven not guilty. Just as Prathima arrives with her father, he hands her to Jayanth & Sundari. Finally, the movie ends happily.

Cast

[edit]

Order is based on Telugu credits.

Male cast Female cast
Cast (Telugu) Cast (Tamil) Role (Telugu) Role (Tamil) Cast (Telugu) Cast (Tamil) Role (Telugu) Role (Tamil)
Akkineni Nageswara Rao Gemini Ganesan Jayanth Jayanthan Anjali Devi Suvarna Sundari Sundari
Relangi T. S. Durairaj Kailasam Rajasulochana Jayanthi
C.S.R. S. V. Subbaiah Maharaju King Deva Rayar Girija Prathima Devi
Ramana Reddy A. Karunanidhi Vaigundam Ullasam E. V. Saroja Goddess Parvathi
Gummadi Tata (Goat keeper) K. Suryakala Sarala
Balakrishna Chadastham Aghasam S. Mohana Dollmaker
Tupakula Raja Reddy K. Balaji Lord Indra Kanchana (credited as Vasundhara) Naaga Kanyaa Naga Kanni
Peketi Sivaram Sattampillai Venkatraman Vasanthan Vasanthudu
Lakshmaiah Chowdary Rakshasa / Ratchasan (transl. demon)
Vempati Sathyam Lord Shiva
Master Babji Siva Kumarudu Siva Kumaran

Telugu version

[edit]
  • K. V. S. Sharma as Rajaguru

Production

[edit]

After Paradesi (1953), the inaugural production of Anjali Pictures was an average success at the box office, its producers – husband and wife P. Adinarayana Rao and Anjali Devi – considered making their sophomore production based on folklore. The 1953 Hindi film Anarkali was a success and caught their attention, prompting them to adapt the same story in Telugu with the same title, while putting their folklore film plans on hold; it would eventually be revived as Suvarna Sundari.[7][8]

Soundtrack

[edit]
Telugu version

Music composed by P. Adinarayana Rao. In an interview to The Indian Express in 1987, he said for a song in the Tamil version, he "adapted a rare composition of the famous Tanjore quartet" which prompted their sons to file a copyright violation, later Adinarayana Rao was bailed out by his friend.[9]

Song Title Lyrics Singers length
"Piluvakuraa Alugakuraa" Samudrala Sr. P. Susheela 3:22
"Bangaaru Vannela" Samudrala Sr. P. Leela 4:32
"Ammaa! Ammaa!" Samudrala Jr. Ghantasala 2:42
"Bommaalammaa" Samudrala Sr. P. Susheela 3:58
"Eraa Manatoti" Kosaraju Pithapuram 2:51
"Haayi Haayigaa Aamani Saage" Samudrala Sr. Ghantasala, Jikki 6:14
"Jagadeeswaraa" Samudrala Raghavacharya Sr. P. Susheela / Jikki (two versions) 4:29
"Lakshmeem Ksheerasamuri" (Slokam) Samudrala Jr. Ghantasala 0:58
"Naa Chitti Papa" Samudrala Sr. P. Susheela, M. S. Ramarao 4:19
"Kommanura" Kosaraju P. Leela 3:18
"Nee Needalona Nilichenuraa" Samudrala Sr. P. Susheela 2:56
"Sambho, Naa Mora Vinavaa!" Samudrala Sr. P. Susheela 4:10
"Tadheem Nanana Thom Tillana" Kosaraju P. Leela, Komala 2:40
Tamil version
Song Singers Lyrics Length (m:ss)
"Thesulaavudhe Then Malaraale" Ghantasala & P. Suseela Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass 05:28
"Azhaikkaadhe Ninaikkaadhe" P. Suseela 03:42
"Mogamadaa Thaalaadha Modamadaa" M. S. Rama Rao & P. Leela 03:33
"Jegadheeswaraa" P. Suseela 05:58
"Mannaadhi Mannarum Kannaale" P. Leela 04:16
"Neeye En Vaazhvin Nidhiyaagume" P. Suseela 04:03
"Kanee Nee Vaadaa Kaniye Nee" M. S. Rama Rao & P. Suseela 04:30
"Munivor Manadhil Oliyaai" Ghantasala 00:26
"Joraana Bommai Paarungga" P. Suseela 03:26
"Evanndaa Nam Munne" S. C. Krishnan 02:48
"Utthana Thom Thom Thanaa" P. Leela & A. P. Komala 02:21
"Dheva Dhayai Puriya Vaa" P. Suseela 04:22
"Polladha Maaranum Villendhum" A. P. Komala 02:57
"Ammaa Ammaa Enum Anaiyaadha" Ghantasala 03:01

Hindi Version

[edit]
  1. "Kuhu Kuhu Bole Koyaliya" – Mohammed Rafi, Lata Mangeshkar
  2. "Mujhe Na Bula Chhup Chhup" – Lata Mangeshkar
  3. "Ram Naam Japna Paraya Maal Apna" – Mohammed Rafi
  4. "Girija Sang Hai Shish Pe Gang Hai" – Lata Mangeshkar
  5. "Tarana (Shastriya Sangeet)" – Lata Mangeshkar, Sudha Malhotra
  6. "Hat Hat Hat Jaa Re Natkhat Piya" – Lata Mangeshkar, Sudha Malhotra
  7. "Lakshmim Sheer Samudra Raj" – Ghantasala
  8. "Chanda Se Pyare Ankhiyo Ke Taare Soja Re Maiya Ke Raaj Dular" – Manna Dey, Lata Mangeshkar
  9. "Mausam Suhana Dil Hainz" – Lata Mangeshkar
  10. "Sar Pe Matki Ankhiya Bhatki" – Asha Bhosle
  11. "Shambho Sun Lo Meri Pukar" – Lata Mangeshkar
  12. "Lelo Ji Lelo Gudiya" – Lata Mangeshkar
  13. "Maa Maa Karta Phire Laadla" – Mohammed Rafi
  14. "Mai Hu Pari Rasiya Ras Ki Bhari" – Lata Mangeshkar

Reception

[edit]

The renowned director-writer duo, BapuRamana, lauded the film in their review, describing it as a "box office sutrala peddabalasiksha," essentially calling it an encyclopedia of box-office principles.[10]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Anjali Pictures' Golden Hit Suvarna Sundari". Cinegoer. 10 May 2007. Archived from the original on 27 January 2013. Retrieved 27 September 2022.
  2. ^ காந்தன் (16 June 1957). "மணாளனே மங்கையின் பாக்கியம்" (PDF). Kalki (in Tamil). pp. 54–55. Retrieved 23 September 2024 – via Internet Archive.
  3. ^ "1957 – மணாளனே மங்கையின் பாக்கியம் – அஞ்சலி பிக். சுவர்ண சுந்தரி-தெலுங்கு". Lakshman Sruthi (in Tamil). Archived from the original on 11 November 2017. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
  4. ^ Sri (9 May 2007). "Suvarna Sundari (1957) completes 50 years". Telugucinema.com. Archived from the original on 14 February 2012. Retrieved 27 September 2022.
  5. ^ Rajadhyaksha, Ashish; Willemen, Paul (1998) [1994]. Encyclopaedia of Indian Cinema. British Film Institute and Oxford University Press. pp. 352–353. ISBN 0-19-563579-5.
  6. ^ Mani, Charulatha (23 December 2011). "A Raga's Journey — Heart-rending Hamsanandi". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 1 July 2021. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
  7. ^ Tanmayi, Bhawana (17 June 2017). "Anarkali: The musical love story". Telangana Today. Archived from the original on 28 December 2018. Retrieved 27 September 2022.
  8. ^ Narasimhan, M. L. (28 August 2014). "Anarkali (1955)". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 29 March 2017. Retrieved 27 September 2022.
  9. ^ Venkataramana, V. (10 April 1987). "The Standard of music in Telugu films has gone down". The Indian Express. p. 14. Archived from the original on 20 July 2024. Retrieved 20 July 2024 – via Google News Archive.
  10. ^ Raghavendra, MK (8 July 2017). "Mayabazar to Andhra state: Why the 1950s were the golden age for Telugu cinema". DailyO. Archived from the original on 21 August 2024. Retrieved 20 August 2024.
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