Punarjanma (1963 film)

Punarjanma is a 1963 Indian Telugu-language drama film, produced by A. V. Subba Rao and directed by K. Pratyagatma. Based on the novel Patthar Ke Honth by Gulshan Nanda, it stars Akkineni Nageswara Rao and Krishna Kumari, with music composed by T. Chalapathi Rao. The film was remade in Hindi as Khilona (1970), in Tamil as Engirundho Vandhaal and in Malayalam as Amrithavaahini.

Plot
Gopi is the son of Zamindar and is a sculptor. He creates a statue and becomes passionate about his dream girl. Unfortunately, it catches fire and burns, and Gopi mentally breaks down. Before the rift, Gopi is in love with his cousin Vasanthi. However, Vasanthi's mother, Yasoda Devi, breaks the proposal. The doctor realizes that music helps Gopi, so he advises to appoint a beautiful girl who knows dance & music as his caretaker. Thus, his father, Zamindar, brings a lovely girl, Radha, from a "Kothi" to care for Gopi. Though Radha is born into a family of courtesans, she does not follow this path and longs to live a traditional family life. Radha does her best to serve Gopi and tries to make him sane. One day, when Radha is playing with dolls, in a mock marriage Bommala Pelli with the children of Zamindar's elder son, Gopi suddenly ties his deceased mother's wedding chain, Mangalsutra, on Radha's neck. Zamindar and his mother accept the new relationship as they understand Radha's virtues. In the care of Radha, Gopi gradually regains his sanity. However, he forgets Radha and renews his love for Vasanthi. A crestfallen Radha leaves the house and resumes her life as an entertainer. Meanwhile, Gopi is confused as some vague remembrances haunt him when Vasanthi reveals the truth, and he immediately rushes for Radha. Finally, the movie ends on a happy note with the reunion of Gopi & Radha.

Cast

 * Akkineni Nageswara Rao as Gopi
 * Krishna Kumari as Radha
 * Ramana Reddy as Professor
 * Gummadi as Zamindar
 * Padmanabham as Raja Rao
 * Prabhakar Reddy as Gopi's Brother
 * Raja Babu Basava Rao
 * Chadalavada as Radha's Uncle
 * Suryakantam as Yashoda Devì
 * Hemalatha as Gopi's Grandmother
 * L. Vijayalakshmi as Dancer
 * Sandhya as Janaki
 * Vasanthi as Vasanti
 * Nirmalamma as Radha's Mother

Soundtrack
Music composed by T. Chalapathi Rao.

Reception
T. M. Ramachandran, writing for Sport and Pastime, commended the cast performances, music and art direction.