| Gulebakavali Katha | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | N. T. Rama Rao |
| Produced by | N. Trivikrama Rao |
| Starring | N. T. Rama Rao Jamuna Nagarathna |
| Cinematography | Ravikant Nagaich |
| Edited by | S. P. S. Veerappa G. Siva Murthy |
| Music by | Joseph Vijaya Krishna Murthy |
Production company | National Art Theaters |
Release date |
|
Running time | 170 minutes |
| Country | India |
| Language | Telugu |
Gulebakavali Katha (transl. The story of Gulebakavali) is a 1962 Indian Telugu-language fantasy swashbuckler film directed by N. T. Rama Rao. The film was produced by N. Trivikrama Rao on National Art Theatres banner. It is based on the folk tale Gulebakavali from the folk tale collection Arabian Nights. Rama Rao also stars alongside Jamuna and Nagarathna. The film focuses on a man's quest to search for the Gulebakavali flower, which he needs to cure the king's blindness. It was released on 5 January 1962, and became a commercial success.
Plot
Once upon a time, when Pataliputra was ruled by Chandrasena. He has two wives, Gunavati & Rupavati. The King is engrossed in love with the second, and they contain 3 sons. Vakraketu, a vicious sibling of Rupavati, always ploys to usurp the throne, for which he molds his nephews as creampuff. The childless Gunavati penances conceive acquiring a boon from Siva, who blesses a baby boy, Vijaya. So, green-eyed Vakraketu colludes with astrologers who predict that the King losses his vision viewing of the prince. Therefore, he ostracizes the newborn despite imploring Gunavati, but Vakraketu edicts to slay him. However, he is shielded by the Lord and reared by a shepherd couple.
Years roll by, and Vijaya becomes a gallant—Chandrasena heads for hunting when Vakraketu ruses to blind him via gradual venom. The following day, he became sightless when Vijaya charged as he accidentally encountered him. Vijaya finds something fishy and covetously enters the fort. At which, he is conscious of his birth & curse. Overhearing that the solitary means to recoup his father is to gain the "Gulebakavali flower," which blossoms on the full moon day in the "Devaloka." Thus, Vijaya declares to remove his taint and walks through with the acquaintance and grace of his mother. Even the 3 callow princes also proceed for it.
In a village, a trickster dice player, Yuktimati, bets the men to win for splicing her if not enslaving them. Initially, she imprisons 3 princes when Vijaya gazes at her deception. In disguise, he triumphs, knits Yuktimati, and frees his brothers. Whereat, the 3 unfledged are aware of Vijaya. Following, they mortify an ascetic who swear word them into the stones. Vijaya sets on an adventurous journey and lands "Devaloka" with the benefit of the Lord. Accordingly, he falls & wedlock Mahendra's daughter Bakavali as per the Gandharva. Vijaya silently skips with the flower from the pool, which explodes due to impure. Hence, enraged Mahendra seizes Bakavali since she is the cause of the piece.
Vijaya arrives on Earth and revives his elders', but they slyly snatch the flower by backstabbing him. By the time they are at home, Vakraketu has treacherously captured the kingdom and locked up all. Meanwhile, rover Vijaya removes the curse of an angel who returns him to "Devaloka," where he learns about terrible things that happened. Ergo, Vijaya re-flourishes the pond with his fortitude by offering his eyes. Then, Mahendra bowed down and restored his vision. At last, Vijaya reaches the Earth with his wives, ceases Vakraketu, and retrieves his father's vision. Finally, the movie ends happily with Vijaya's crowing ceremony.
Cast
Credits adapted from The Hindu:[1]
- N. T. Rama Rao as Vijay
- Jamuna as Yuktimati
- Nagarathna as Bakavali
- Peketi Sivaram as one of Rupavathi's sons
- Mukkamala as Chandrasena
- Rajanala Kaleswara Rao as Vakraketu
- Lanka Satyam as the goatherd
- Mikkilineni as Mahendra
- K. V. S. Sharma as Dushtabudhi
- Padmanabham as one of Rupavathi's sons
- Balakrishna as Ati Telivi
- Rushyendramani as Gunavathi
- Hemalatha as the goatherd's wife
- Surabhi Balasarswathi as Adikaasa
- Chhaya Devi as Rupavathi
Production
Gulebakavali Katha is the second Telugu film to be based on the folk tale Gulebakavali from the Arabian folk tale collection One Thousand and One Nights, following a 1938 film titled Gulebakavali. It was produced by N. Trivikrama Rao under National Art Theaters, and directed by N. T. Rama Rao. This was Rama Rao's second directorial venture after Sita Rama Kalyanam (1961); however, as with that film, he did not bill himself as director in the opening credits. The writer of the original story was not credited; instead, Trivikrama Rao was credited under "kathasekarana" (collecting the story). In addition to directing, Rama Rao starred as the male lead Vijay. He cast two female leads: Jamuna as the trickster dice player Yuktimati; and actress G. Varalakshmi's niece Nagarathna as princess Bakavali, this being her acting debut. Nagarathna had only two dialogues, one of which was "Nanna". Ravikant Nagaich was hired as cinematographer, K. Narasimha Rao for art direction,[1] and S. P. S. Veerappa and G. Siva Murthy for editing.[2]
Soundtrack
Music composers Joseph and Vijaya Krishna Murthy made their debut with this film,[1] as did lyricist C. Narayana Reddy.[3] The film's most popular songs were "Nannu Dhochukonduvate", "Kalala Alalapai", "Unnadi Chebuta" and "Madana Sundara Naa Doraa".[1]
| No. | Title | Singer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Unnadhi Chepputha Vintara" | S. Janaki, Vasantha | 3:24 |
| 2. | "Amba Jagadamaba" | P. Leela | 3:08 |
| 3. | "Kaaligajje Kadalakamunde" | S. Janaki | 4:22 |
| 4. | "Anuraga Payonidhi" | Ghantasala | 0:58 |
| 5. | "Salamalekum Sahebugaru" | Ghantasala, S. Janaki | 3:01 |
| 6. | "Nannu Dhochukunduvate Vannela Dorasani" | Ghantasala, P. Susheela | 3:22 |
| 7. | "Kalala Alalapai Telenu Manasu Malle Poovai" | Ghantasala, S. Janaki | 4:35 |
| 8. | "Ontarinai Poyanu Ika Intiki Yemani Ponu" | Ghantasala | 3:35 |
| 9. | "Madana Sundara Naa Dora" | P. Susheela | 3:19 |
| 10. | "Vinnava Tatvam Guruda" | Pithapuram Nageswara Rao | 1:51 |
| 11. | "Matha Jaganmatha" | Ghantasala | 2:12 |
Release and reception
Gulebakavali Katha was released on 5 January 1962. The film was commercially successful, and contributed to Rama Rao's streak of successful films.[1]
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 Narasimham, M. L. (18 August 2016). "Blast from the past: Gulebakavali Katha (1962)". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 21 December 2016. Retrieved 29 December 2018.
- ↑ "Gulebakavali Katha". Indiancine.ma. Retrieved 29 December 2018.
- ↑ Nadadhur, Srivathsan (13 June 2017). "C Narayana Reddy: He owned the literary throne". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 30 December 2018. Retrieved 29 December 2018.