Thodi Kodallu
| Thodi Kodallu | |
|---|---|
Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Adurthi Subba Rao |
| Screenplay by | Adurthi Subba Rao D. Madhusudhana Rao Acharya Aatreya[a] |
| Based on | Nishkruti by Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay |
| Produced by | D. Madhusudhana Rao |
| Starring | Akkineni Nageswara Rao Savitri |
| Cinematography | P. S. Selvaraj |
| Edited by | Adurthi Subba Rao |
| Music by | Master Venu |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Navayuga Films |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 182 minutes |
| Country | India |
| Languages | Telugu Tamil |
Thodi Kodallu (transl. Sisters-in-law) is a 1957 Indian Telugu-language drama film directed and edited by Adurthi Subba Rao, who co-wrote the script with D. Madhusudhana Rao and Acharya Aatreya. Madhusudhana Rao produced the film for Annapurna Pictures. It stars Akkineni Nageswara Rao and Savitri, with music composed by Master Venu. The film is based on Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay's Bengali novel Nishkriti and was simultaneously made in the Tamil language as Engal Veettu Mahalakshmi (1957). Both films were made by the same banner and director, and share some of the cast and scenes. Thodi Kodallu won the Certificate of Merit for Best Feature Film in Telugu.[2]
Plot
The film depicts a wealthy joint family. Kutumba Rao, an advocate, is the patriarch; he is an introvert and often oblivious to domestic matters. He lives with his wife Annapurna and their children. His younger brother Ramanaiah manages their village farms with his domineering wife, Anasuya. Kutumba Rao also raises his cousin Satyam, an idealist who marries the benevolent Susheela; they have a son, Babu. Annapurna is very fond of Babu, whom she raises as her own. As Annapurna is ailing, Susheela assumes the household responsibilities and manages them with discipline.
Satyam is appointed manager of the family's rice mill, which is led by a malicious distant relative, Vaikuntam. Satyam soon resigns, unable to tolerate the fraud committed there. Ramanaiah's family is invited for the Dasara festival. Anasuya becomes envious of the respect Susheela receives and creates discord in Annapurna's mind, forcing Satyam's family to move to the village. Anasuya takes control of the household and usurps its wealth. Meanwhile, Vaikuntam traps Ramanaiah using his mistress, Navaneetam, and encourages his vices.
Satyam and Susheela, guided by their ideals, transform barren land into communal farmland with the help of unemployed farmers. Anasuya plans for Ramanaiah and Vaikuntam to ruin the land. They also misappropriate funds belonging to a client, Tirupataiah, by forging Kutumba Rao's signature. Satyam resolves the issue by mortgaging Susheela's jewelry to protect his brother's honour and retrieves the forged document.
Meanwhile, Anasuya's schemes are exposed, causing Annapurna to collapse in anger; this incident prompts Anasuya to reform. During the harvest, Ramanaiah and Vaikuntam plot to seize the crop in Kutumba Rao's name. Satyam prevents this, leading the government to seize the crop. Unaware of the truth, an enraged Kutumba Rao arrives in the village and attempts to expel Satyam. Ramanaiah and Vaikuntam try to destroy the evidence of their forgery but are caught. Kutumba Rao realizes Satyam and Susheela's virtue. He welcomes them back and permanently allocates their lands to the farmers. Ramanaiah's family is about to leave, but Susheela convinces them to stay. The film ends with the family's reunion.
Cast
Telugu cast
- Akkineni Nageswara Rao as Satyam
- Savitri as Susheela
- S. V. Ranga Rao as Kutumba Rao
- Relangi as Ramanaiah
- Jaggayya as Vaikuntham
- Chadalavada as Tirupataiah
- Allu Ramalingaiah as Ayomayam
- P. Kannamba as Annapurna
- Suryakantam as Anasuya
- Rajasulochana as Navaneetam
- Parvati as Kamala
- Kameswaramma
- Master Kundu
- Master Sharat Babu as Babu
- Rood, the dog
Tamil cast
- Savithri as Susheela
- A. Nageswara Rao as Gopu
- Kannamba as Annapoorna
- S. V. Ranga Rao as Lawyer Ganapathi
- M. S. Sundari Bai as Anusooya
- K. A. Thangavelu as Subbu
- P. Rajasulochana as Sanjala
- M. N. Nambiar as Vaikuntam
- Ezhumalai as Thirupathi
- Root, the dog
- Sarathbabu
- Sampath
- Angamuthu
- Santhanam
- Master Kunthu
- Seshagiri Rao
- Subba Rao
- Master Krishnamoorthi
- Ramakrishnan
- Parvathi as Kamala
- Dance
- E. V. Saroja
- A. K. Chopra
- Nataraja Dance School Girls
Production
After the success of Donga Ramudu, producer D. Madhusudhana Rao wanted to continue his success by collaborating again with Nageswara Rao and wanted K. V. Reddy to direct the film. Reddy was busy with prior commitments and suggested Adurthi Subba Rao; however, Nageswara Rao claimed that he had suggested Subba Rao as the director.[3]
An avid fan of literature, Madhusudhana Rao bought the rights to the Bengali novel Nishkriti by Sharat Chandra Chattopadhyay. He wrote the screenplay along with Acharya Athreya and Subba Rao, retaining the major characters and situations from the original novel but making changes to suit local sensibilities, such as changing the character of the second brother from a lawyer to a caretaker of farmland. The film was simultaneously made in Tamil as Enga Veettu Mahalakshmi with the same lead actors and a slightly different supporting cast, with Thangavelu and Nambiar replacing Relangi and Jaggayya.[2] Athreya and Sridhar wrote the dialogues for the Telugu and Tamil versions, respectively. Most of the filming took place at Janapastram, a village near Gudur.[2][3]
Soundtrack
The music was composed by Master Venu.
- Telugu Track List
| Song title | Lyrics | Singers | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Kaarulo Shikarukelle" | Acharya Aatreya | Ghantasala | 3:39 |
| "Shreerastu Shubhamastu" | P. Susheela | 2:53 | |
| "Town Pakkakelloddura" | Kosaraju | Ghantasala & Jikki | 4:48 |
| "Aadutu Paadutu" | Ghantasala & P. Susheela | 4:22 | |
| "Naluguru Kalisi" | Sri Sri | Ghantasala | 3:26 |
| "Kalakaalam Ee Kalata" | Tapi Dharma Rao | P. Susheela | 3:32 |
| "Ententa Dooram" | Acharya Aatreya | P. Susheela & K. Rani | 3:24 |
| "Nee Shoku Choodakunda" | Kosaraju | Madhavapeddi Satyam & Jikki | 3:05 |
| "Gaalipatam Gaalipatam" | Kosaraju | Ghantasala, P. Susheela & K. Rani | 4:04 |
| "Bhale Maavayya" | Sri Sri | Jikki | 2:45 |
- Tamil Track List[4]
| Song | Singers | Lyrics | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Kaarile Savaari Seiyyum" | Ghantasala | Udumalai Narayana Kavi | 04:00 |
| "Sendhiru Maadhum Kalai Maadhum" | T. V. Rathnam & group | 03:15 | |
| "Pattanamthaan Pogalaamadi" | Seerkazhi Govindarajan & P. Susheela | 04:30 | |
| "Aadi Paadi Velai Senjaa" | Ghantasala & P. Susheela | 02:37 | |
| "Uzhudhundu Vaazhvaare...Naattukku Poruttham" | T. M. Soundararajan & group | 05:14 | |
| "Pala Kaalam Vethanai" | P. Susheela | 02:58 | |
| "Pollaadha Payalai Serthida Maattom" | P. Susheela & K. Rani | K. S. Gopalakrishnan | 02:15 |
| "Mannai Nambi Maram Irukka" | S. C. Krishnan & Jikki | 03:27 | |
| "Kaatthaadi Kaatthaadi" | Ghantasala, P. Susheela & K. Rani | 02:59 | |
| "Pushan Sollai Kedkaame" | K. A. Thangavelu | ||
| "Vilakketri Vaikkavum Illai" | Jikki | A. Maruthakasi | 02:47 |
Awards
At the 5th National Film Awards, Thodi Kodallu won the Certificate of Merit for Second Best Feature Film in Telugu.[5]
Release
Both Thodi Kodallu and Enga Veettu Mahalakshmi became commercially successful and ran for 100 days in five centres.[2][3]
Notes
- ^ Aatreya is also credited for dialogues.
References
- ^ "Engal Veettu Mahalakshmi". The Indian Express. 1 February 1957. p. 1. Retrieved 4 January 2022 – via Google News Archive.
- ^ a b c d Narasimham, M. L. (19 February 2015). "Blast from the past: Todikodallu (1957)". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 25 August 2021. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
- ^ a b c Palakodety (24 December 2005). "Nostalgia - Thodi Kodallu". Cinegoer. Archived from the original on 10 January 2006. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
- ^ Neelamegam, G. (December 2014). Thiraikalanjiyam — Part 1 (in Tamil) (1st ed.). Chennai: Manivasagar Publishers. p. 123.
- ^ "State Awards for Films" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. 16 April 1958. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 November 2013. Retrieved 2 September 2011.