Kula Gotralu

Kula Gotralu is a 1962 Indian Telugu-language drama film written and directed by K. Pratyagatma. It stars Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Krishna Kumari and music composed by S. Rajeswara Rao. Acharya Aatreya wrote the dialogues for the film. It was produced by A. V. Subba Rao under the Prasad Art Pictures banner.

The film won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu certificate of merit in 1963. Noted actor Krishna played a sidekick role in the movie before becoming an established actor.

Plot
The film begins in a village where Zamindar Bhushayya holds high esteem and adheres to caste and clan. He lives with his wife, Shantamma, two daughters, Jagadamba and Leela, and a son, Ravi. Since Jagadamba is the progeny of the first, she always resents them, and her Sadanandam, a loaf, also stays with them. Ravi is moving to the city for higher studies, where he falls for a medic, Saroja. Just as he learns that Saroja's mother, Kanthamma, is betrayed by an impostor, Chalapati, for which they are delisted by society. Nevertheless, Ravi rides out courageously and marries Saroja without Bhushayya's acceptance, so he ostracizes him. After that, Ravi becomes a Police Officer, and the wheel of fortune makes him land in his hometown. Now, he resides as a neighbor of their family friend, Ramanayya. As follows, Bhushayya fixes a prosperous alliance for Leela, which has been called off by perceiving Ravi's marriage. During that plight, to keep himself safe, Bhushayya couples up Leela with Ramanayya's elder brother's son, Joga Rao. Exploiting it, Jagadamba and Sadanandam create the rift between Ravi and Bhushayya. Meanwhile, Santamma becomes terminally ill and requests Bhushayya to call Ravi when Sadanandam deceives by claiming refusal of Ravi, which leads to her death. Angered, Bhushayya bans Ravi from the funeral. Time passes, and Saroja gives birth to a baby boy when the love blossoms in Bhushayya and secretly visits to bless the child. Knowing it, Jagadamba and Sadanandam connive by enrolling with Chalapathi, a burglar currently. Unfortunately, he double-crosses Sadanandam and plans a robbery. Sensing it, Ravi rushes along with Saroja, and in the combat, Saroja knocks out her father to protect her in-laws when Bhushayya understands the virtue of Saroja. Eventually, Jagadamba and Sadanandam also realize their mistake. Finally, the movie ends on a happy note with the family's reunion.

Cast

 * Akkineni Nageswara Rao as Ravi
 * Krishna Kumari as Saroja
 * Gummadi as Bhushayya
 * Relangi as Sadanandam
 * Ramana Reddy as Ramanayya
 * Padmanabham as J. J. Rao / Jasthi Joga Rao
 * Allu Ramalingaiah as Peeramma
 * Raja Babu as Ravi's friend
 * Mikkilineni as Chalapati
 * Krishna as Bridegroom in marriage
 * Suryakantam as Jagadamba
 * G. Varalakshmi as Kanthamma
 * Girija as Leela
 * Sandhya as Anasuya
 * Nirmalamma as Santhamma

Music
Music was composed by S. Rajeswara Rao.

Production
It is the first film to be shot at Visakhapatnam.

Awards

 * National Film Awards
 * 1962: Certificate of Merit for the Second Best Feature Film in Telugu