Gulebakavali Katha

Gulebakavali Katha is a 1962 Indian Telugu-language fantasy swashbuckler film directed by N. T. Rama Rao. The film was produced by N. Trivikrama Rao on National Art Theatres banner. It is based on the folk tale Gulebakavali from the folk tale collection Arabian Nights. Rama Rao also stars alongside Jamuna and Nagarathna. The film focuses on a man's quest to search for the Gulebakavali flower, which he needs to cure the king's blindness. It was released on 5 January 1962, and became a commercial success.

Plot
Once upon a time, a kingdom Pataliputra was ruled by King Chandrasena. He has two wives, Gunavati & Rupavati. The King is engrossed in love with the second, and they have three sons. Vakraketu, a vicious sibling of Rupavati, always ploys to usurp the throne, for which he molds his nephews. The childless Gunavati takes penance to conceive, acquiring a boon from Siva, who blesses her with a baby boy, Vijaya. So, green-eyed Vakraketu colludes with astrologers who predict that the King will lose his vision upon viewing the prince. Therefore, he ostracizes the newborn despite imploring by Gunavati, but Vakraketu edicts to slay him. However, he is shielded by the Lord and reared by a shepherd couple.

Years roll by, and Vijaya becomes a gallant youngster—Chandrasena heads for hunting when Vakraketu plots to blind him via gradual venom. The following day, he became sightless when Vijaya accidentally encountered him. Vijaya finds something fishy and covertly enters the fort, where Vijaya learns of his birth & curse. He overhears that the only means to recoup his father's sight is to gain the "Gulebakavali flower," which blossoms on the full moon day in the Devaloka. Thus, Vijaya declares that he will remove his taint and walks through with the acquaintance and grace of his mother. Even the three callow princes proceed for it.

In a village, a trickster dice player, Yuktimati, bets the men to win for splicing her if not enslaving them. Initially, she imprisons three princes when Vijaya discovers her deception. In disguise, he triumphs, knits Yuktimati, and frees his half-brothers. The three unfledged are aware of Vijaya. Following, they mortify an ascetic who swear word them into the stones. Vijaya sets on an adventurous journey and lands in Devaloka with the help of the Lord. Accordingly, he weds Mahendra's daughter Bakavali per the Gandharva. Vijaya silently leaves with the flower from the pool, which explodes due to impurity. An enraged Mahendra seizes Bakavali since she is the cause of the piece.

Vijaya arrives on Earth and revives his brothers, but they slyly snatch the flower by backstabbing him. By the time they are at home, Vakraketu has treacherously captured the kingdom and locked up everyone. Meanwhile, Vijaya removes the curse of an angel who returns him to "Devaloka," where he learns about terrible things that happened. He re-flourishes the pond with his fortitude by offering his eyes. Then, Mahendra bows down to him and restores his vision. At last, Vijaya returns to Earth with his wife, stops Vakraketu, and restores his father's vision. Finally, the movie ends happily with Vijaya's coronation.

Cast
Credits from The Hindu:
 * N. T. Rama Rao as Vijaya
 * Jamuna as Yuktimati
 * Nagarathna as Bakavali
 * Peketi Sivaram as one of Rupavathi's sons
 * Mukkamala as Chandrasena
 * Rajanala Kaleswara Rao as Vakraketu
 * Lanka Satyam as the goatherd
 * Mikkilineni as Mahendra
 * K. V. S. Sharma as Dushtabudhi
 * Padmanabham as one of Rupavathi's sons
 * Balakrishna as Ati Telivi
 * Rushyendramani as Gunavathi
 * Hemalatha as the goatherd's wife
 * Surabhi Balasarswathi as Adikaasa
 * Chhaya Devi as Rupavathi

Production
Gulebakavali Katha is the second Telugu film to be based on the folk tale Gulebakavali from the Arabian folk tale collection One Thousand and One Nights, following a 1938 film titled Gulebakavali. It was produced by N. Trivikrama Rao under National Art Theaters, and directed by N. T. Rama Rao. This was Rama Rao's second directorial venture after Sita Rama Kalyanam (1961); however, as with that film, he did not bill himself as director in the opening credits. The writer of the original story was not credited; instead, Trivikrama Rao was credited under "kathasekarana" (collecting the story). In addition to directing, Rama Rao starred as the male lead Vijaya. He cast two female leads: Jamuna as the trickster dice player Yuktimati; and actress G. Varalakshmi's niece Nagarathna as princess Bakavali, this being her acting debut. Nagarathna had only two dialogues, one of which was "Nanna". Ravikant Nagaich was hired as cinematographer, K. Narasimha Rao for art direction, and S. P. S. Veerappa and G. Siva Murthy for editing.

Soundtrack
Music composers Joseph and Vijaya Krishna Murthy made their debut with this film, as did lyricist C. Narayana Reddy. The film's most popular songs were "Nannu Dhochukonduvate", "Kalala Alalapai", "Unnadi Chebuta" and "Madana Sundara Naa Doraa". The song "Nanna Dochukovante" is based on Abheri raga.

Release and reception
Gulebakavali Katha was released on 5 January 1962. The film was commercially successful, and contributed to Rama Rao's streak of successful films.