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.
| Suvarna Sundari | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster of Telugu version | |
| Directed by | Vedantam Raghavayya |
| Written by | Malladi Ramakrishna Sastry (Telugu dialogues) Udhaya Kumar (Tamil dialogues) |
| Screenplay by | Vedantam Raghavayya |
| Story by | Vempati Sadasivabrahmam Adinarayana Rao |
| Produced by | P. Adinarayana Rao |
| Starring | Anjali Devi Akkineni Nageswara Rao Gemini Ganesan |
| Cinematography | M. A. Rahman |
| Edited by | N. S. Prakash |
| Music by | P. Adinarayana Rao |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Chamria Talkie |
Release date |
|
Running time | 208 minutes |
| Country | India |
| Languages | Telugu Tamil |
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
editOnce 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
editOrder 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
editAfter 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- "Kuhu Kuhu Bole Koyaliya" – Mohammed Rafi, Lata Mangeshkar
- "Mujhe Na Bula Chhup Chhup" – Lata Mangeshkar
- "Ram Naam Japna Paraya Maal Apna" – Mohammed Rafi
- "Girija Sang Hai Shish Pe Gang Hai" – Lata Mangeshkar
- "Tarana (Shastriya Sangeet)" – Lata Mangeshkar, Sudha Malhotra
- "Hat Hat Hat Jaa Re Natkhat Piya" – Lata Mangeshkar, Sudha Malhotra
- "Lakshmim Sheer Samudra Raj" – Ghantasala
- "Chanda Se Pyare Ankhiyo Ke Taare Soja Re Maiya Ke Raaj Dular" – Manna Dey, Lata Mangeshkar
- "Mausam Suhana Dil Hainz" – Lata Mangeshkar
- "Sar Pe Matki Ankhiya Bhatki" – Asha Bhosle
- "Shambho Sun Lo Meri Pukar" – Lata Mangeshkar
- "Lelo Ji Lelo Gudiya" – Lata Mangeshkar
- "Maa Maa Karta Phire Laadla" – Mohammed Rafi
- "Mai Hu Pari Rasiya Ras Ki Bhari" – Lata Mangeshkar
Reception
editThe renowned director-writer duo, Bapu–Ramana, 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- ^ "Anjali Pictures' Golden Hit Suvarna Sundari". Cinegoer. 10 May 2007. Archived from the original on 27 January 2013. Retrieved 27 September 2022.
- ^ காந்தன் (16 June 1957). "மணாளனே மங்கையின் பாக்கியம்" (PDF). Kalki (in Tamil). pp. 54–55. Retrieved 23 September 2024 – via Internet Archive.
- ^ "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.
- ^ Sri (9 May 2007). "Suvarna Sundari (1957) completes 50 years". Telugucinema.com. Archived from the original on 14 February 2012. Retrieved 27 September 2022.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Tanmayi, Bhawana (17 June 2017). "Anarkali: The musical love story". Telangana Today. Archived from the original on 28 December 2018. Retrieved 27 September 2022.
- ^ Narasimhan, M. L. (28 August 2014). "Anarkali (1955)". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 29 March 2017. Retrieved 27 September 2022.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.