Sati Anasuya (1957 film)

Sati Anasuya is a 1957 Telugu-language Hindu mythological film, based on the life of Anasuya, produced by Sundarlal Nehata under the Rajyasri Productions banner and directed by K. B. Nagabhushanam. It stars N. T. Rama Rao, Anjali Devi, and Jamuna, with music composed by Ghantasala.

This film was dubbed into Tamil under the same title and released in 1958. Udhayakumar wrote the dialogues and Ku. Sa. Krishnamoorthy penned the lyrics. T. M. Ibrahim scored music for this Tamil version.

Plot
The film begins with Sage Atri's dedicated wife Anasuya, who advocates for the worship of her husband. Sivananda, the chieftain of Chitrakuta, irks her with his insistence to worship only the lord. Meanwhile, Ganga flies to Lakshmi, Parvati, & Saraswati to remove the impurities but in vain. Accordingly, on the guidance of Narada, she proceeds to Anasuya and frees that jealous Tri Matas. Parallelly, Sivananda's son Sukhananda endears a girl named Narmada, but tragically, the spouse's death is sure in her horoscope. The grief-stricken Narmada wants to land in heaven alive when, to chagrin, Anasuya, Sivananda stalls Narmada to her, and she triumphs but holds on there. Now, Anasuya advises her to knit one whom she sees next sunrise. Here, enraged Tri Matas present ugly leprosy patient Kaushika before Narmada to avenge Anasuya. Yet, she splices him and serves him with adoration. She cannot face the music and moves for pilgrimage by placing Kaushika in a cart. Amid, Tri Matas create many hurdles, but Narmada does not yield.

Frustrated Tri Matas sends Nagaraja to bite Atri, but Anasuya turns it into a garland. After that, they send Manmadha to molest, but Anasuya recognizes and curses him to become blind. Next, famine arises in the Chitrakuta area when Sivananda denounces Anasuya. So, to relieve drought, Anasuya prays to Ganga and monsoon arises. In that rage, Sivananda sets fire to Ashram, who loses his eyesight and recoups it by bowing his head down. Narmada & Kaushika reach Badri, where Kaushika kicks a sage, Mandavya, out of hunger, who curses him to die at sunrise. Hence, furious Narmada bars the sunrise when the universe standstill. In that difficulty, Narmada takes back her word, but the blessings of Atri & Anasuya rejuvenate Kaushika as handsome. As a final attempt, Tri Matas send the divine trinity Brahma, Vishnu, & Siva to test Anasuya. Anasuya provides hospitality to those who order her to feed them naked. Nevertheless, she fulfills their wish by transforming them into babies. Discerning it, Tri Matas rushes to Anasuya and pleads with her to return her husband, and she does so. Impressed, the divine trinity gives a boon to her that 3 of them will be born as their son. Finally, the movie ends with the trinity merging and forming into three-headed Dattatreya.

Soundtrack
Music composed by Ghantasala.

Reception
Malhar of Zaminryot criticized the movie as poorly made and termed it as a "sugar coated pill". He reviewed the story and the characterization as bad. He wrote positively about the performance by the main cast.