Balaraju

Balaraju is a 1948 Indian Telugu-language swashbuckler fantasy film produced and directed by Ghantasala Balaramayya under the Pratibha Productions banner. It stars Akkineni Nageswara Rao, S. Varalakshmi, and Anjali Devi with music jointly composed by Ghantasala, Galipenchala Narasimha Rao and C. R. Subbaraman. The film was recorded as an Industry Hit at the box office and was the first Telugu Silver Jubilee film.

Plot
The film begins at Devaloka, where two turtle doves, Yaksha & Mohini, blossom their love. Being conscious of it Indra angers them since he lusts on Mohini. So, he assigns his emissary Kubera, who curses Yaksha to be born as a human with no idea of love. Plus, he drags Mohini to Indra's court, where she accuses him. Accordingly, she is too unfortunate to emerge on earth and pine for her lover. Currently, Yaksha gets to be Balaraju. Mohini is unearthed on a field by a peasant, Kammanaidu, who rears as Sita, and her arrival molds him wealthy. Now it is time for her martial, but Kammanaidu fears that he could lose the totality with her. So, he cages her in one pillar on the outskirts.

Once, Balaraju trespasses from there. Listening to his flute, Sita was enthralled when love blossomed in her and rushed towards him. Balaraju is tense and gets away as ignorant of love. He makes rounds all over the forest, but Sita shadows him as "White on Rice." At one point, tired & hungry Balaraju has a meal from a Shetty and absconds by mortgaging Sita instead of it. Anyhow, Sita skips from him and chases Balaraju again, who frequently attempts to quit her but in vain. Slowly, a transformation occurs in Balaraju and starts endearing Sita. One night, while they are sleeping, bandits abduct Sita. The following day, agitated Balaraju moves on her quest, pleading her whereabouts from a sage, and he is cursed to be a snake due to his revolt for lack of response.

Meanwhile, Sita tactically flees from the burglars and is conscious of Balaraju's pathetic state. Thus, she pledges to recoup him, which she triumphs with a pilgrimage. On the way back, they halt, and Balaraju walks to the grocery, where he encounters Shetty, who charges him as a thief. Tragically, Balaraju dies in that clash. Plus, Shetty ruses by giving a call to Sita on behalf of Balaraju and tries to molest her, but she escapes. En route, she collapses, spotting Balaraju's corpse when Shetty incriminates the two. Ergo, Sita takes a test of fire to prove her innocence. Then, Ashvins appears and boons her with a garland, stating that upon its touch with best wishes, the dead soul awakes and, if discarded alive, is destined to die, and she retrieves Balaraju.

Indra envies it and lifts Sita in the guise of a tribe but vanishes out of her swear word. Now, he fakes being Sita and approaches Balaraju by the time the original lands, which throws Balaraju into dichotomy. Here, a peril, Sita disposes of the garland since quite upset, which falls on Balaraju, and he again passes away. All at once, Sita is infuriated and imprecates Indra when all the deities arrive. Siva brings Balaraju to life, and Indra is also relieved. At last, Indra seeks them to recur to heaven, which they deny as the two flies yearn to fly in this earth of the fruit of love. Finally, the movie ends happily with the couple's union.

Cast

 * Akkineni Nageswara Rao as Balaraju
 * S. Varalakshmi as Seeta
 * Anjali Devi as Mohini
 * Kasturi Siva Rao as Yalamanda
 * Seetaram as Rayudu
 * D. S. Sadasiva Rao as Indra
 * G. Ramayya as Kammanaidu
 * G. Subba Rao as Shetty
 * A. L. Narayana as Gandharva
 * N. Krishnayya as Agni
 * G. Narayana Rao as Kubera
 * C. Venkateswara Rao as Yaksha
 * A. Aadi Seshaiah as Lord Shiva
 * K. Ram Murthy as Varuna
 * T. K. V. Naidu as Rushi
 * Lingam Subba Rao as Thief
 * K. K. Ayangar as Chalamayya
 * K. V. Subba Rao as Peda Naidu
 * Surabhi Balasaraswathi
 * Naarimani as Lakshmi
 * C. Rajaratnam as Lakshmamma
 * B. Seetabayamma as Punnamma
 * Anasuya
 * Krishnaveni

Crew

 * Art: S. V. S. Rama Rao
 * Choreography: Vedantam Raghavayya
 * Screenplay - Lyrics - Dialogues: Samudrala Sr.
 * Playback: Ghantasala, S. Varalakshmi, V. Sarala Rao, Kasturi Siva Ram
 * Music: Galipenchala Narasimha Rao, Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao
 * Background Score: C. R. Subburaman
 * Story: Prayaaga (also Folklore Songs)
 * Editing: T. M. Lal
 * Cinematography: P. Sridhar
 * Producer - Director: Ghantasala Balaramayya
 * Banner: Pratibha Films
 * Release Date: 26 February 1948

Soundtrack
Music composed by Galipenchala Narasimha Rao, Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao. Lyrics were written by Samudrala Sr.

Box office

 * The film ran for more than 100 days in 11 centres in Andhra Pradesh.
 * The Silver Jubilee celebrations were held at Jaihind Talkies, Vijayawada on 4 June 1948.
 * This film had a 365-day run in Vijayawada.