Satya Harishchandra (1965 Telugu film)

Satya Harishchandra is a 1965 Indian Telugu-language Hindu mythological film, based on the life of Harishchandra, produced and directed by K. V. Reddy under the Vijaya Productions banner. It stars N. T. Rama Rao and S. Varalakshmi, with music composed by Pendyala Nageswara Rao.

The film released on 22 April 1965 and was not successful at the box-office. K. V. Reddy produced the film simultaneously in Kannada with the same title, starring Dr Rajkumar.

Plot
The film is about the life of one of the six most extraordinary sovereigns, Harishchandra, the ruler of Ayodhya belonging to Suryavansha who established the heavenly earth and carried out hundreds of Rajasuya, whose path is the truth. Once, after completing the ritual, Harishchandra attains a sacred gem that molds his country prosperous. However, Siva, in the guise of a saint, seeks to grant it, and Harishchandra gifts the gem. Hereupon, the lord announces that he is now his debtor, who will repay in time.

Meanwhile, in the Indra court, Vishvamitra confronted Vasishta, who said that a man with aim & determination is more potent than the deities. Visvamitra opts for Harishchandra to divert his path. Firstly, he wishes for a vast amount, which he bestows without hesitation when Visvamitra instructs him to hold it as his assets. Then, he generates beasts that suffer the public. Hence, Harishchandra sets foot in the forest. Visvamitra phantoms two beauties, Matanga Kanyalu, to lure him, threatening to knit them or quit the kingdom. Harishchandra relinquishes all when Visvamitra claims his dues within a month and accompanies his sidekick, Nakshatraka.

Ergo, Harishchandra proceeds to Kaasi. Visvamitra brings him trouble at every level, which he overcomes with willpower. At Kaasi, Harishchandra spots the selling of people as enslaved. Due to lack of time, on the advice of his wife Chandramati, he auctions her with his son Lohitha when Siva, in the form of Kaala Kaushika, shops them. Next, he peddles himself to the graveyard's King Veerabahu for travel expenses, Nakshatraka, and works as a guard at the burial ground. Tragically, Lohitha dies due to a snakebite while Chandramati is performing his funeral; Harishchandra bars her for the fee, unbeknownst to actuality. Whereat, he indicates her wedding chain when she discerns him as her husband as it is invisible to others. Harishchandra does not yield even in such pathetic situations, so Chandramati rushes for the amount.

Following this, Visvamitra illuminates that Chandramati has abducted and slain Kaasiraju's son. The King dictates capital punishment to her and entrusts Harishchandra to execute it. Still, he stands on his path. Suddenly, Visvamitra, Vasishta & Siva appear, proclaiming the entirety of spreading his eminence to the universe. Plus, his residence is a shrine, not a cemetery, and the person he served is Yama. At last, Visvamitra accepts his defeat before him, retrieving his son, wife & kingdom. Moreover, he acknowledges half of his penance power. May he reign as emperor in all splendor for a thousand years. Later, he shines on Indra's half-throne for 14 "Manvantara." Finally, the movie ends happily with Siva blessing Harishchandra.

Cast

 * N. T. Rama Rao as Harishchandra
 * S. Varalakshmi as Chandramathi
 * V. Nagayya as Maharshi Vasishta
 * Mukkamala as Brahmarshi Viswamitra
 * Rajanala as Veerabahudu
 * Relangi as Kalakousikudu
 * Ramana Reddy as Nakshatrakudu
 * Mikkilineni as Indra
 * Prabhakar Reddy as Lord Siva
 * Chadalavada as Auctioneer
 * Raja Babu as Kalakousikudu's disciple
 * Balakrishna as Kalakousikudu's disciple
 * Nalla Ramamurthy as Kalakousikudu's disciple
 * Ramakoti as Kalakousikudu's disciple
 * A. V. Subbarao Jr. as Satyakeerthi
 * Girija as Kalahakanthi
 * L. Vijayalakshmi as Menaka
 * Vanisri as Matangi
 * Rajasree as Matanga Kanya
 * Meena Kumari as Matanga Kanya
 * Mohana as Queen of Kasi
 * Sabita Devi as Goddess Parvathi
 * Master Babu as Lohitasyudu

Production
After the success of Sri Krishnarjuna Yuddhamu (1963) based on popular mythological play Gayopakhyanam, K. V. Reddy planned a film based on another mythological play Satya Harishchandra for Vijaya Productions. The songs and poems written by Balijepalli Lakshmikantha Kavi for his magnum opus play Satya Harischandriyamu in 1924 were already popular with the audience. However, due to copyright issues, K. V. Reddy could not use those poems. Pingali wrote new poems and songs for the film. K. V. Reddy also produced the film for Vijaya Productions. The film titled Satya Harishchandra starred N. T. Rama Rao in the title role and S. Varalakshmi as Chandramathi. The film released on 22 April 1965 and was a failure at the box-office. Audience accustomed to the old poems of Lakshmikantha Kavi were disappointed with the new ones and this was attributed as one of the reasons for the failure of the film.

Music
Music was composed by Pendyala Nageswara Rao. Lyrics were written by Pingali Nagendra Rao. Music released by EMI Columbia Audio Company.