Charana Daasi

Charana Daasi is a 1956 Indian Telugu-language drama film written by Vempati Sadasivabrahmam and directed by T. Prakash Rao. It stars N. T. Rama Rao, Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Anjali Devi and Savitri, with music composed by S. Rajeswara Rao. The film is based on Rabindranath Tagore's 1906 Bengali novel Noukadubi. It was simultaneously made in Tamil as Mathar Kula Manikkam (1956). Story and Dialogues were by Vempati Sadasivabrahmam

Plot
The film revolves around couples – Dr. Chandra Shekar & Parvati ahead of Venu & Lakshmi. Venu & Lakshmi are love birds, but Venu's parents compel him to knit a girl, Devaki, by his parents. Simultaneously, a nuptial of an orthodox girl, Parvati, occurs therein and is disrupted due to dowry. During that plight, Dr. Chandra Shekar splices Parvati to keep them safe. Due to the sudden espousal, the couple fails to notice. Parallelly, as it is an unwilling alliance, Venu overlooks the bride. Both parties travel on the same train, resulting in a disastrous accident when Venu's parents & wife die. Fallaciously, he interprets Parvati as his spotting in bridal dress and takes her home. Meanwhile, Shekar declares that both his friend & wife are deceased. Fortuitously, on time, Venu ascertained the actuality and hid from Parvati. Plus, he engages himself in Shekar's quest before Lakshmi misconstrues him by considering Parvati to be his wife. Moreover, Parvati is also aware that he fled with mortification and attempted suicide. Destiny secures her with her mother-in-law, Annapurna, and lands at her husband's house. Nevertheless, knowing the reality, she cannot divulge it as Shekar may suspect her. Besides, Lakshmi gets deranged, and Shekar treats her. At this, Lakshmi & Shekar are convenient, and their elders decide to merge them, which Parvati also happily approves. In time, Venu arrives and imparts the facts when Shekar wholeheartedly accepts Parvati. Both thank Venu, and Lakshmi also feels sorry. Finally, the movie ends on a happy note with the marriage of Venu & Lakshmi.

Cast

 * N. T. Rama Rao as Dr. Chandra Sekhar
 * Akkineni Nageswara Rao as Venu
 * Anjali Devi as Parvathi
 * Savitri as Lakshmi
 * S. V. Ranga Rao as Raghavaiah
 * Relangi as Mahesham
 * Ramana Reddy as Narsu & Krishna (dual role)
 * Govindarajula Subba Rao as Basavaiah
 * Chadalavada as Hanumanthu
 * Perumallu as Rangaiah
 * Kannamba as Annapurna
 * Sowcar Janaki as Saroja
 * Suryakantam as Seshamma
 * Hemalatha as Venu's mother
 * Kamala Lakshman as Vasavadatta in Svapnavasavadattam Dance Drama
 * Ragini as Dancer
 * Ambika Sukumaran as Dancer

Production
The film is based on Rabindranath Tagore's novel, Noukadubi. The director T. Prakash Rao chose to replace the boat crash sequence in the novel with a train accident in the film, inspired by a real event that took place near Ariyalur. The film was shot simultaneously in Telugu and Tamil languages, with the Tamil version titled Mathar Kula Manikkam.

Soundtrack
Music was composed by S. Rajeswara Rao.

Release
Charanadasi and Mathar Kula Manikkam, the Telugu and Tamil versions respectively, were released the same year and were box-office successes.