Kanyasulkam (film)

Kanyasulkam is a 1955 Indian Telugu-language philosophical film directed by P. Pullaiah and produced by D. L. Narayana for his production company Vinodha Pictures. The film stars N. T. Rama Rao, Savitri and Sowcar Janaki, with soundtrack and score by Ghantasala. N. Prakash and R. Hanumantha Rao served as the cinematographer and editor respectively. This film marked the screen debut of actress, Urvashi Sharada who made a cameo appearance for a three-minute song sequence as a child artist; she made her acting debut six years later with the Telugu film, Iddaru Mitrulu (1961) opposite Akkineni Nageswara Rao & E. V. Saroja in the leading roles. Written by Vempati Sadasivabrahmam, Kanyasulkam is based on a play of the same name by Gurajada Apparao, and is set during the Pre-Independence era in the Vizianagaram area of the Madras Presidency of British India. The film focuses on a group of Brahmin men and their attempts to earn easy money by conning the women around them, including a young widow and a nine-year-old bride. Principal photography was conducted in sets erected at Narasu, Revathi and Venus Cine Studios in Kodambakkam, Madras (now Chennai). The post-production activities were completed at Vijaya Laboratory Film Centre Pvt. Ltd. in Madras. Kanyasulkam was released theatrically on 26 August 1955 and opened to negative reviews from both the critics and the audience, who criticized the changes made to the play while adapting it to film. During its later re-release in 1983, 1986 and 1993 limited across Andhra Pradesh, Kanyasulkam completed a 100-day run every time, making it the only Indian film to do so.

Plot
During the Pre-Independence era in the Vizianagaram area of the Madras Presidency of British India. Gireesham, an educated impostor and a well-wisher of the widows, amours a sound soul nautch girl Madhuravani. He lies at the expense of Putakoollamma, who runs a mess with the slightest intention of knitting her. Parallelly, Ramappantulu of Ramachandrapuram is an honorable-seeking, devious person who commits malpractice. He ruses by encouraging Lubdhavadhanulu, a 60-year-old tycoon, for remarriage to profit from it. At Krishnapuram, an inflamed acquisitive Brahmin Agnihotravadhanulu resides with his wife Venkamma, two daughters, Buchamma & Subbi, and a son, Venkatesam, who is civilizing at Vizianagaram. He had already widowed his elder Buchamma for his greed. Today, he fixes 6-year-old infant Subbi's alliance with Lubdhavadhanulu via Ramappantulu. Venkatesam is molded into a spoiled brat by Girisam's acquaintance.

Madhuravani cuts the cords with Girisam and walks on with Ramappantulu. Cognized by his dark shade, Putakoollamma also expels him. Hence, Girisam steps into Krishnapuram with Venkatesam on behalf of homeschooling. At this, Agnihotravadhanulu reveals Subbi's nuptial when Girisam states himself as Lubdhavadhanulu's cousin and divulges the bridegroom's age. Knowing it, Venkamma implores her husband to bar it, which he deaf ears. So, she accepts suicide, which Girisam shields, yet Agnihotravadhanulu doesn't yield. Whereat, Venkamma's sibling, Karrataka Sastry, vows to end this injustice and proceeds with his henchman Mahesham. Being a stage artist, Madhuravani is his disciple who plans a play by purporting Mahesham as a girl. Karrataka Sastry lures Ramappantulu with high bribery. Thus, he slyly schemes to spoil Agnihotravadhanulu's match and arranges a wedding with Mahesham in the guise.

Simultaneously, with his wits, Girisam wins the faith of all in Agnihotravadhanulu's house. Slowly, he entices Buchamma and ploys to splice her. Meanwhile, Lubdhavadhanulu's bridal arrangements are in progress, and Agnihotravadhanulu is also marching for his matrimony. Exploiting it, Girisam elopes Buchamma on behalf of foiling her sister's espousal. During the ceremony, Madhuravani tactically turns Ramappantulu away from the wedding hall. The same night, Mahesham absconds when a rift arises between Lubdhavadhanulu & Ramappantulu. At the same time, Agnihotravadhanulu reaches assaults on Lubdhavadhanulu by the exaggeration of Ramappantulu. Getting knowledge of Girisam's deed, he files a case accompanying Ramappantulu. Consequently, Ramappantulu spreads a rumor of Lady Mahesham's murder by Lubdhavadhanulu, and the Police seize him. Ergo, Lubdhavadhanulu takes refuge in Soujanya Rao, a renowned advocate & social reformer at Visakhapatnam.

Understanding the status quo, Madhuravani guards all wise with her intellect, which makes Ramappantulu flee from the scene and go to Soujanya Rao. Eventually, Girisam lands therein and heads for Soujanya Rao's endorsement of widow marriage to flaunt his selfish superiority. Here, he traps him, posing as bighearted when Madhuravani arrives and exposes his true colors. However, Soujanya Rao abhors Madhuravani as a prostitute, but he calms, considering that she will divulge the actuality. He performs wedlock of Girisam & Buchamma on her advice and reforms Agnihotravadhanulu. Madhuravani sets up a stage show on that eve when Lubdhavadhanulu detects Lady Mahesham. At last, Lubdhavadhanulu concedes the mistake, shares his ownership with Mahesham, and asks to merge him with Subbi. Finally, the movie ends happily with Soujanya Rao praising Madhuravani and bestowing Bhagavad Gita for her righteousness.

Cast

 * N. T. Rama Rao as Gireesham
 * Savitri as Madhuravani
 * Sowcar Janaki as Buchamma
 * C. S. R. Anjaneyulu as Ramappa Pantulu
 * Govindarajula Subba Rao as Lubdhavadhanlu
 * Gummadi as Sowjanya Rao
 * Vinnakota Ramanna Panthulu as Agnihotravadhanlu
 * Vangara Venkata Subbaiah as Karataka Sastri
 * Suryakantham as Meenakshi
 * Chaya Devi as Putakoollamma
 * Hemalatha as Venkamma
 * Chadalavada Kutumba Rao as Polishetty
 * Master Sudhakar as Mahesam
 * Master Kundu as Venkatesam
 * Baby Subhadra as Subbi
 * Peketi Sivaram as Police Constable (cameo appearance)
 * Sharada in a cameo appearance for the song "Bommala Pelli"

Production
During the production of Devadasu (1953), producer D. L. Narayana approached N. T. Rama Rao for playing the titular role. Rama Rao could not accept the proposal due to scheduling conflicts, and Akkineni Nageswara Rao was cast for the same. However, Narayana was adamant to make a film with Rama Rao, and chose to adapt Gurajada Apparao play Kanyasulkam. Due to the play's popularity, Narayana asked writer Vempati Sadasivabrahmam to make changes to the narrative and plot points from the play, with a view to avoid predictability.

Narayana produced the film for his production company Vinodha Pictures, and signed P. Pullaiah to direct it. R. Hanumantha Rao, who was the film's assistant director, also served as the editor. Sadasivabrahmam also worked on the screenplay and dialogue apart from adapting the play into a script. He also adapted the poem "Poornamma", which is a part of Apparao's poetry compilation Mutyala Saralu, into one of the subplots to ease the audience into the milieu. N. Prakash served as the cinematographer assisted by Jaihind Satyam and R. N. Nagaraja Rao.

Rama Rao played Gireesham, the anti-heroic protagonist of the play whose character arc was altered in the end as part of the scripting changes. Savitri was cast as Madhuravani, a prostitute and the other protagonist of the play. Narayana approached Jamuna to play Buchamma, but her father opposed this idea unwilling to see her act as a young widow on screen. Sowcar Janaki was later cast for the same. C. S. R. Anjaneyulu, Govindarajula Subba Rao, Vinnakota Ramanna Panthulu and Gummadi were cast in other supporting roles. Peketi Sivaram and Sharada made cameo appearances in the film.

Pasumarthi Krishnamurthy choreographed the dance sequences. Godagankar and Vali were signed as the art directors, and were aided by Haribabu and K. Nageswara Rao in the production design. Sets were erected at Narasu, Revathi and Venus Cine Studios in Kodambakkam, Madras (now Chennai) where majority of the principal photography was wrapped up. The post production activities were completed at Vijaya Laboratory Film Centre Pvt. Ltd. in Madras.

Music
Ghantasala composed the film's soundtrack and score. K. Ramachandran, T. S. Ranga Saamy, N. Seshadri and Suryanarayana worked on the sound design and audiography. Apart from songs with lyrics written by Devulapalli Krishnasastri, Malladi Venkata Krishna Murthy, Samudrala Sr., and Sadasivabrahmam exclusively for the film, Narayana and Pullaiah decided to use Sri Sri "Anandam Aarnavamaithe" and Basavaraju Apparao's "Nagula Chavithi" were utilised in the soundtrack. The soundtrack, marketed by HMV Records, was released on 1 January 1955.

Release and reception
Kanyasulkam was released theatrically on 26 August 1955 and opened to negative reviews from both the critics and the audience, particularly from those who admired the play. The word of mouth was influenced heavily by those who felt that the redemption of Gireesham at the end was a major undoing to Apparao's vision. In his review for the Zamin Ryot magazine dated 2 September 1955, Anantha Padmanabha Rao criticised the film's writing and the performances of Rama Rao and Janaki. However, he praised Savitri's performance calling it "commendable". The film managed to complete a 56-day run with average returns until the release of Rama Rao's Jayasimha, whose commercial success shadowed Kanyasulkam completely. Kanyasulkam was later re-released in 1983, 1986 and 1993 limitedly across Andhra Pradesh and completed a 100-day run every time, making it the only Indian film to do so.