Devata (1941 film)

Devata
Poster
Directed byB. N. Reddy
Screenplay bySamudrala Sr.
Story byK. Ramnoth
Produced byMoola Narayana Swamy
B. N. Reddy
StarringV. Nagayya
Kumari
Mudigonda Lingamurthy
C. H. Narayana Rao
Tanguturi Suryakumari
CinematographyK. Ramnoth
Music byV. Nagayya
Production
company
Release date
  • 4 July 1941 (1941-07-04)
Running time
186 minutes[1]
CountryIndia
LanguageTelugu

Devata is a 1941 Indian Telugu-language drama film directed by B. N. Reddy. The huge success of this film led to the making of more films with the same title in 1964 by B. Padmanabham and in 1982 by D. Ramanaidu.[2] The film was remade in Malayalam as Pavappettaval (1967).[3]

Plot

The film follows Venugopala Murthy "Venu" (Nagayya), who returns to his village after completing his studies in England to become a barrister. His mother Mangamma (Parvathi Bai) and sister Sita (Tanguturi Suryakumari) are overjoyed by his return. Lakshmi (Kumari), a poor servant girl living with them, wins everyone's affection, and her brother Rangadu (Aswatthama) also works in the household.

Venu’s wealthy uncle Balaramayya (Subba Rao), a prominent zamindar in Madras, wishes to marry his daughter Vimala (Bejawada Rajaratnam) to Venu. Vimala, a poetry and music enthusiast, becomes entangled with Sukumar (C.H. Narayana Rao), a manipulative man trying to gain her father's favour.

In a turn of events, Venu succumbs to desire and assaults Lakshmi, promising marriage but later abandoning her. Venu moves to Madras to practice law, where his uncle invites his mother and sister to discuss his marriage. Lakshmi, pregnant with Venu's child, also arrives in Madras, but Venu offers her money to leave. Heartbroken, Lakshmi and her brother return to their village but face societal rejection. Fearing backlash, Lakshmi leaves her home.

While Venu grapples with guilt, Vimala elopes with Sukumar. Meanwhile, Lakshmi finds refuge with a kind Haridasu (R. Satyanarayana), but local villagers accuse him of harbouring an outcast, forcing Lakshmi to leave again. She eventually ends up in a brothel run by Tripuramba (Seshamamba) in Madras. When her child falls ill, Lakshmi seeks help from Tripuramba but later attacks her in desperation to escape. Arrested by the police, Lakshmi is exonerated when Tripuramba testifies to her innocence and character.

In the end, Venu repents and accepts Lakshmi as his wife, reuniting their family. The film explores themes of societal norms, repentance, and redemption, portraying the struggles of marginalized individuals and the consequences of moral failings.

Cast

Music

There are about 14 songs in the film. The lyrics are written by Samudrala Sr. and music score is provided by V. Nagayya.[4]

  1. "Adigo Andiyala Ravali" – Bezawada Rajaratnam
  2. "Bhajane Modajanakamura" – G. Vishweswaramma and Suryakumari
  3. "Ee Vasanthamu Nityamu Kadoyi" – M. S. Rama Rao
  4. "Enno Nomulu Nochinagani" – G. Vishweswaramma
  5. "Evaru Makinka Saati" – Bezawada Rajaratnam
  6. "Jagela Verapela Travumu" – Bezawada Rajaratnam
  7. "Kroora Karmamulu Neraka Chesiti" – G. Vishweswaramma and Suryakumari
  8. "Lokamantha Lobhule Kanare" – Ashwathama
  9. "Nijamo Kado Yamuna Thatilo" – Bezawada Rajaratnam
  10. "Oogeda Uyyala" – Tanguturi Suryakumari
  11. "Rade Cheli Nammarade Cheli" – Bezawada Rajaratnam
  12. "Raitu Janamula Panduga" – Tanguturi Suryakumari group
  13. "Rave Rave Bangaru Papa" – Nagayya, Kumari, Suryakumari
  14. "Vendi Kanchalalo" – Tanguturi Suryakumari

Reception

Ananda Vikatan wrote, "Oh gods and goddesses! We wanted to portray you as heroes and heroines in our films. That's what we said when we produced talkies. No god/goddess objected to that. [T]hen we came down to Puranic characters – on to bhaktas, maharajahs, zamindars, millionaires and thence to the common man. But none had thought to make the servant maid the heroine of a film".[5] B. Vijayakumar of The Hindu wrote, "Even if the story is simple and artistic, technical brilliance can bring unusual success for a film. B. N. Reddy’s black and white classic Telugu film Devata is a best example for this."[6]

References

  1. ^ Rajadhyaksha & Willemen 1998, p. 289.
  2. ^ Narasimham, M. L. (16 October 2011). "Devata (1941)". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 21 September 2022. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
  3. ^ Vijayakumar, B. (7 June 2015). "Pavappettaval: 1967". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 18 July 2021. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
  4. ^ "Lyrical details of Devata film at Ghantasala Galamrutamu". Archived from the original on 25 September 2011. Retrieved 29 October 2011.
  5. ^ Rajadhyaksha & Willemen 1998, p. 290.
  6. ^ Sahithyam, Malayala Sangeetha (7 June 2015). "Old is Gold: Pavappettaval (1967)". Old is Gold. Retrieved 25 October 2022.

Bibliography

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