Ammalakkalu
1953 Indian film
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Ammalakkalu (transl. Mothers and Sisters) is a 1953 Indian Telugu-language drama film that was produced by Lena Chettiar on Krishna Pictures banner and directed by D. Yoganand. The film stars N. T. Rama Rao, Padmini and Lalitha, with music composed by C. R. Subburaman. It was simultaneously shot in Tamil as Marumagal (transl. Daughter-in-law).[2] The Tamil version was released on 14 April 1953.[3]
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(Telugu)
A. S. A. Sami
(Tamil)
| Ammalakkalu | |
|---|---|
Release poster in Telugu | |
| Directed by | D. Yoganand |
| Screenplay by | Vempati Sadasivabrahmam (Telugu) A. S. A. Sami (Tamil) |
| Story by | Vempati Sadasivabrahmam |
| Produced by | Lena Chettiar |
| Starring | N. T. Rama Rao Padmini Lalitha |
| Cinematography | Bomman Irani |
| Edited by | V. B. Nataraja Modaliyar |
| Music by | Songs: C. R. Subburaman G. Ramanathan Score: Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy |
Production company | Krishna Pictures |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 187 minutes (Telugu)[1] 177 minutes (Tamil) |
| Country | India |
| Languages | Telugu Tamil |
Plot
This is the plot of the Telugu version.
Ramaiah (B. R. Panthulu) and Kistaiah (D. Balasubramanyam) are close friends and farmers. Ramaiah's family consists of his wife, Sugunamma (Rushyendramani), and two sons, Sundar (Amarnath) and Kumar (N. T. Rama Rao), and a daughter, Rupa (Surabhi Balasaraswathi), who are struggling for their daily needs. Under the guidance of Kistaiah, Ramaiah starts a small contract business in the town, for which Kishtaiah organizes the amount by mortgaging his wife's jewelry. Ramaiah settles in the town, pays the debt, and also promises to couple up Kishtaiah's daughter Usha (Padmini) with his son Kumar.
Meanwhile, Ramaiah's sons move to town for education. Ammalakkalu heckles Usha, which offends Kistaiah, so he too joins Usha in the same school. Years roll by, Kumar and Usha grow up together, and they love each other. Ramaiah arranges his elder son Sundar's marriage to a shrewish woman named Shanta (Lalitha).
During the time of the wedding of Kumar and Usha, Ammalakkalu provokes Sugunamma, and she insults Kistaiah's wife when a rift arises between families. Kistaiah becomes furious, leaves the venue, and breaks up the marriage of Usha and Kumar. So, Usha and Kumar proceed with a registered marriage, while soft-hearted Ramaiah welcomes the couple into his home. But Sugunamma and Shanta are very cold towards Usha. Kumar goes abroad for higher studies, and Usha faces a lot of difficulties in her in-laws' house.
The rest of the story involves how Usha resolves these problems and reunites the family.[4]
Cast
- N. T. Rama Rao as Kumar[4]
- Padmini as Usha[4]
- Lalitha as Shanta
- Surabhi Balasaraswathi as Rupa
- Telugu version
- Relangi as Riyo
- Amarnath as Sundar
- Dr. Sivaramakrishnaiah as Achchaiah
- B. R. Panthulu as Ramaiah
- D. Balasubramaniam as Kishtaiah
- Suryakantham as Seshamma
- Rushyendramani as Sugunamma
- Surabhi Kamalabai as Parvathi
- Tamil version
- S. V. Sahasranamam as Durai
- T. R. Ramachandran as Suri
- B. R. Panthulu as Ramasamy
- D. Balasubramaniam as Krishnaswamy
- V. K. Ramasamy as Subedhar
- Kallapart Natarajan
- "Master" Sudhakar as young Kumar
- C. T. Rajakantham as Gunalakshmi
- K. S. Angamuthu as Nallamma
- M. Saroja as Thara
- M. Lakshmiprabha as Doctor Kasturi
- S. D. Subbulakshmi as Rajamma
- Indra Acharya as Doctor Kamala
- K. S. Adhilakshmi as wife of Subedhar
- V. Suryakantham as Thangamma
- Baby Saraswathi young Usha
- Dance
Soundtrack
The music was composed by C. R. Subburaman with background music to be completed later by Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy and party after the untimely death of C. R. Subburaman. T. K. Ramamoorthy acted as his assistant in several films and was asked by the producer to complete the music for the film. Tunes for both languages are the same.
However, there was one song in the film, "Undaloi Undaloi"/"Aanukkoru Penn Pillai," that was composed by G. Ramanathan.
- Telugu soundtrack[5]
| Song | Singers | Length |
|---|---|---|
| "Penugonu Manasula" | A. M. Rajah & P. A. Periyanayaki | 03:27 |
| "Kannemaavi Thotalona" | Jikki & A. P. Komala | 02:45 |
| "Kannemaavi Thotalona" | A. M. Rajah & P. A. Periyanayaki | 03:56 |
| "Nee Kosam" | Pithapuram Nageswara Rao & M. L. Vasanthakumari | 03:51 |
| "Oo Neeve Naa Prema" | A. M. Rajah & P. A. Periyanayaki | 02:27 |
| "Undaloi Undaloi" | P. A. Periyanayaki & A. P. Komala | 11:10 |
| "Maaradavela Maaramu" | A. M. Rajah & P. A. Periyanayaki | 03:48 |
| "Rupaa Rupante" | Pithapuram Nageswara Rao & A. P. Komala | 02:18 |
| "Lallaa Lallaa" | Pithapuram Nageswara Rao & R. Balasaraswathi Devi | 03:01 |
| "Jhan Jhan Jhan" | A. P. Komala | 00:26 |
- Tamil soundtrack
| Song | Singers | Lyrics | Length (m:ss) |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Kanavilum Nanavilum Inai Piriyaadha" | A. M. Rajah & P. A. Periyanayaki | Udumalai Narayana Kavi | 03:31 |
| "Chinna Chinna Veedu Katti" | Jikki & A. P. Komala | 03:50 | |
| "Chinna Chinna Veedu Katti" | A. M. Rajah & P. A. Periyanayaki | 03:18 | |
| "Nianikkira Maaadhiri Ellaam" | T. R. Ramachandran & M. L. Vasanthakumari | 03:51 | |
| "Oo Neethaan En Sondham" | A. M. Rajah & P. A. Periyanayaki | 03:01 | |
| "Aanukkoru Penn Pillai" | P. A. Periyanayaki, A. P. Komala & A. G. Rathnamala | 12:15 | |
| "Pesaadha Maounam Aamo" | A. M. Rajah & P. A. Periyanayaki | 04:23 | |
| "Romaani Maambazham Roobamthaan" | T. R. Ramachandran & A. P. Komala | 02:15 | |
| "Laali Suba Laali" | C. R. Subburaman & P. A. Periyanayaki | 03:05 | |
| "Jal Jal Jal Kingkini Aada" | A. P. Komala | K. D. Santhanam |
Reception
Reviewing Ammalakkalu, a critic from Zamin Ryot wrote that the story is not smooth, and turns into an unprofitable whorehouse with seams.[6] The film fared well at the box office in both languages, but Ammalakkalu was more successful.[7] In Ammalakkalu, the duet song sung by Relangi became popular in Telugu districts of the then-Madras State.[7] Ammalakkalu became popular through theatrical re-runs.[4]
