Chandirani

Chandirani is a 1953 Indian swashbuckler film directed by Bhanumathi and produced by P. S. Ramakrishna Rao under the Bharani Studios banner. The film is shot simultaneously in Telugu, Tamil, and Hindi languages. It stars Bhanumathi, N. T. Rama Rao, S. V. Ranga Rao and Relangi. Bhanumathi also wrote the story while Ramakrishna Rao scripted the film. The film's music composed is C. R. Subburaman & M. S. Viswanathan.

Plot
The film begins in a kingdom with the birthday celebrations of its King Veerasimha, who intended to view it directly. So, the King proceeds to town in guise and is mesmerized by the dance of a commoner. Despite chief commander Prachanda & royal officials' refusal, he molds her as his Queen. Soon, the Queen delivers twin princesses Chandirani & Champarani when the vindictive Prachanda slays her. Whereat, the devastated King becomes insane. Exploiting it, Prachanda seizes him and schemes to assassinate the heirs. Gazing at it, the true-blue Chief Minister guards them by split and directs the maid to proceed to the forest with younger Chandi. Unfortunately, Prachanda slaughters him while fleeing with elder Champa. Before leaving his breath, the Chief Minister entrusts his son Kishore to his stanch Ram Singh, and edicts come clean at the right time. On the grounds of raising Champa, Prachanda occupies the kingdom. Years roll by, and the sisters grow up contradictorily. Chandi is spirited, whereas Champa is a callow as a royal prisoner. Besides, Prachanda creates mayhem in the kingdom when gallant Kishore takes a stab to bar it. Ram Singh cools him down by disclosing the past and assigning his duty to safeguard the royal clan by unveiling the whereabouts of the princesses. Kishore tactically gets hired as a soldier by entrapping Prachanda's idiot son, Mukunda. Firstly, he covetously meets Champa, then gets acquainted with Chandi by moving into the woods. Here, Kishore divulges the actuality to the sibling when the two fall for him. Anyhow, he endears Champa when Chandi backs. Next, Prachanda ruses to knit Champa with Mukunda. Meanwhile, Chandi intrudes into the palace, meets her sister, and they swap. From there, Chandi starts her play with the brutal and strategically contacts her father. Prachanda detects Champa's presence at Ram Singh and captures them with Kishore. At last, Chandi's onslaught on the fort with the public's aid shields them and ceases Prachanda. Finally, the movie ends with Chandi sacrificing her life, uniting Kishore & Champa.

Cast

 * Bhanumathi as Chandi / Champa (double role)
 * N. T. Rama Rao as Kishore
 * S. V. Ranga Rao as Prachandudu
 * C.S.R
 * Relangi as Mukunda (Agha in Hindi)
 * Amarnath as Maharaja Veerasimha
 * R. Nageswara Rao as Marthand
 * Hemalatha as an old woman
 * Kumari Tulasi as a peasant girl
 * Angamuthu as a maid
 * Doraswamy as Ramsingh

Soundtrack
The music was composed by C. R. Subburaman and M. S. Viswanathan.

Telugu songs
Lyrics by Samudrala Sr.

Tamil songs
Lyrics were by K. D. Santhanam. The song "Vaan Meedhile Inba Then Maari Peiyudhe" is set in the Carnatic music raga 'Pahaadi'.

Hindi songs
Lyrics by Vishwamitra Adil.

Critical reception
M. L. Narasimham of The Hindu wrote, "Though there is nothing new in the story, the novelty lies in the manner it is narrated. Chandi's sword fight and the fight sequences with the tiger, the exchange of places by the siblings, went well with the audience." The film was a profitable venture. As of 2013, Chandirani held the record of being the only film to be released in three languages on the same day (28 August 1953). Bhanumathi also became the first woman director to write and direct a film that achieved this feat.