Illarikam

Illarikam is a 1959 Indian Telugu-language comedy drama film directed by T. Prakash Rao. It stars Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Jamuna and music composed by T. Chalapathi Rao. It was produced by A. V. Subba Rao under the Prasad Art Pictures banner. The film had a Silver Jubilee run and was recorded as a Blockbuster at the box office.

Illarikam literally means a bridegroom going to the bride's family and living permanently with them (matrilocality); as against the custom of the bride going into the groom's family (patrilocality). This custom is observed in some rich families where the bride is the only child to their parents.

Illarikam was remade in four languages. L. V. Prasad produced the Hindi version titled Sasural (1961), which T. Prakash Rao directed. A. V. Subbarao himself remade it in Kannada as Mane Aliya (1964), in Malayalam as Kalithozhan (1966) and in Tamil as Maadi Veettu Mappilai (1967). All these versions were box office hits.

Plot
The film begins with a college fancy dress competition, in which two students, Venu & Radha, compete, and Venu wins. Venu is a penniless orphan. His stingy maternal uncle Dharmaiah raised him with his sibling Kanakadurga, who was declared dead. Radha is the daughter of a Zamindar, and he is looking for a worthy match to marry her. Nevertheless, his vain wife, Sundaramma, wishes for a wealthy alliance on matrilocality (Illarikam). Exploiting it, their sly manager, Govindaiah, ruses to knit his vagabond son, Seshagiri, currently in Madras. Parallelly, as a glimpse, Dharmaiah detaches daughter Seeta, & son-in-law Brahmanandam for the dowry. So, Brahmanandam appears as per Venu's advice to matrilocality and mocks his father-in-law.

Meanwhile, Venu & Radha crush, which Zamindar accepts, sensing his righteousness despite Sundaramma's denial. Govindaiah approaches Seshagiri and spots that he has spliced a girl, not anyone else, Durga. She has absconded from an unwilling spouse, whom Seshagiri secured with fraudulent intent. Today, he forwards with his father to execute their plot. Until Venu & Radha's nuptial accomplishes, it envies them, but wait for a shot. Venu sets foot in his in-law's house, and the newly wedded spends jollity. Yet, he must face the music, so Zamindar authorizes him. Apart from this, a drama company supports devastated Durga, and she joins their troop. At a time, Brahmanandam & Seeta visit Zamindar's residence. Then Govindaiah cabals by stealing a necklace and wittily sells it to Dharmaiah. The knaves try to set a rift here, but Radha stands by her husband.

Once, the pair proceeds to a drama where Venu perturbs screening Durga. Soon after, he asks Radha to leave and goes to his sister. Though Venu rebukes Durga, he consoles hearing her pitiably. Witnessing it, Radha misconstrues and suspects their familiarity. Together, Venu aims to strengthen Durga's life and cast around Seshagiri with his photograph. Besides, Zamindar took a deadly hit in an accident and decided to formulate a testimonial. At this, Govindaiah & Sundaramma sway Radha, who asserts her father entrusts totality to her, and he does it under coercion. From there, they scorn & mortify Venu and dethrone his powers. Plus, Radha accuses Dharmaiah's family of crooks watching the stolen necklace at them. Being conscious of all, Zamindar covertly rewrites the will in behave of Venu and passes away.

Now, Govindaiah & Seshagiri subterfuge to snatch the wealth and harm Radha. Thus, Venu, in disguise, secures it and impedes the heels. He also compels Govindaiah to accept Durga, who ushers her in. During this, everyone bit about the New Testament and is mindful that Venu is the man under the veil. So, Govindaiah & Seshagiri wiles to backstab him. However, Durga notifies Venu when he says to handle it. Following this, he sends her to Radha with Dharmaiah. Whereat, Radha dies out of remorse, getting knowledge of the truth and witnessing Venu has bestowed her wealth back. Likewise, Brahmanandam breaks Govindaiah's theft scheme. Radha rushes to guard Venu, but blackguards seize her. At last, Venu ceases & reforms Govindaiah & Seshagiri. Finally, the movie ends happily with the family's reunion.

Cast

 * Akkineni Nageswara Rao as Venu
 * Jamuna as Radha
 * Gummadi as Zamindar
 * Relangi as Brahmanandam
 * Ramana Reddy as Dharmayya
 * C.S.R. as Govindayya
 * R. Nageswara Rao as Sadanandam/Seshagiri
 * Allu Ramalingaiah as Panakalu
 * Peketi Sivaram
 * Hemalatha as Sundaramma
 * Girija as Kanakadurga
 * T. G. Kamala Devi as Zamindar's sister
 * Bala as Savithri
 * Surabhi Kamalabai
 * Boddapati

Production
After releasing the dubbed version of the Tamil film Uthamaputhiran in Telugu, A. V. Subbarao announced his next project Illarikam, with Nageswara Rao, based on the story of Vemapti Sadasivabrahmam. Jamuna was selected to pair with ANR. The pair had earlier collaborated in Nirupedalu (1954). Nageswara Rao suggested to remove the song "Niluvave Vaalu Kanuladaana" as he felt the audience may not like the teasing song, as by then the heroine had realised the truth, but the producer and the director felt otherwise. After its release, seeing the audience response to that song, Nageswara Rao conceded that he was wrong. T. Rama Rao started his career as an assistant director with Illarikam.

Music
Music was composed by T. Chalapathi Rao.

Remakes
Illarikam was remade in four languages. L. V. Prasad produced the Hindi version titled Sasural (1961), which T. Prakash Rao directed. A. V. Subbarao himself remade it in Kannada as Mane Aliya (1964), in Malayalam as Kalithozhan (1966) and in Tamil as Maadi Veettu Mappilai (1967). All these versions were box office hits.