Thodi Kodallu

Thodi Kodallu is a 1957 Indian Telugu-language drama film directed and edited by Adurthi Subba Rao who co-wrote the script with D. Madhusudhana Rao and Acharya Aatreya. Madhusudhana Rao produced the film under Annapurna Pictures. It stars Akkineni Nageswara Rao and Savitri with music composed by Master Venu. The film is based on Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay's Bengali novel Nishkriti, and was simultaneously made as the Tamil film Engal Veettu Mahalakshmi (1957); both films were made simultaneously by the same banner and director, and some of the scenes and artists are the same in both versions. Thodi Kodallu won the Certificate of merit for Best Feature Film in Telugu.



Plot
The film begins with a wealthy, conjoined joint family. Advocate Kutumba Rao is his paterfamilias, an introvert & oblivious. He resides with his wife Annapurna and their progeny. Ramanaiah, his younger, looks after their farms in the village with his virago wife, Anasuya. Besides, Kutumba Rao raises his cousin Satyam, an idealist who knits benevolent Susheela, and they have a son, Babu. Annapurna & Susheela share beyond relationship. Annapurna is very fond of Babu, whom she rears above her own. Since she is ailing, Susheela takes up the family tasks and operates them disciplinarily.

After civilizing, Satyam was appointed in their rice mill, led by his venomous distant relative Vaikuntam. Soon, he resigned, being unable to tolerate fraud therein. On the eve of Dasara, they invite Ramanaiah's family when Anasuya envies Susheela's esteem. Ergo, she slowly sows vicious seeds in Annapurna, creating a rift that makes Satyam's family quit, and they walk to the village. Now, Anasuya clutches the household authority and usurps the entire wealth. Parallelly, Vaikuntam entraps Ramanaiah via his amour Navaneetam and addicts him to all vices.

Following his ideals, Satyam cultivates barren lands with Susheela, associates with all the jobless peasants, and conducts communal agriculture. Besides, Ramanaiah & Vaikuntam spoiled the total heisted by Anasuya. They also snatched the amount of a client, Tirupataiah, by forging Kutumba Rao’s signature, which is about to claim. Learning it, Satyam clears it by mortgaging Susheela’s jewelry to shield his brother’s honor and handovers the counterfeited document.

Meanwhile, Anasuya’s intrigues break out when Annapurna angers and collapses, making Anasuya reform. It is time for harvest when Ramanaiah & Vaikuntam ploy to grab it on behalf of Kutumba Rao. Satyam hinders it, and the government seizes the crop when he summons Kutumba Rao. Being incognizant of the fact, enraged Kutumba Rao heads to the village, where rebukes and about to neck out Satyam. Simultaneously, Ramanaiah & Vaikuntam covetously try to destroy the proof but are caught. At that point, Kutumba Rao comprehends the virtue of Satyam & Susheela, welcomes them back, and allocates their lands permanently to the farmers. At last, they return home when Ramanaiah’s family is to exit, and Susheela changes their intention. Finally, the movie ends happily with the family’s reunion.

Production
The film was produced by D. Madhusudhana Rao under his own banner Annapurna Pictures and was directed by Adurthi Subba Rao, who also did the editing. The story was based on Sharat Chandra Chatterjee's Bengali novel Nishkruti. Dialogues were penned by Sridhar. Cinematography was handled by P. S. Selvaraj. S. Krishna Rao was in charge of art direction while A. K. Chopra handled the choreography. The film was also made in Telugu with the title Thodi Kodallu.

Soundtrack
Music was composed by Master Venu. All the tunes for all the songs for both languages are the same.

Lyrics were penned by Acharya Aatreya, Tapi Dharma Rao, Kosaraju and Sri Sri. Playback singers are Ghantasala, Madhavapeddi Satyam, P. Susheela, Jikki and K. Rani.
 * Telugu Track List
 * Thodi Kodallu

Lyrics were penned by Udumalai Narayana Kavi, A. Maruthakasi and K. S. Gopalakrishnan. Singer is K. A. Thangavelu. Playback singers are Ghantasala, T. M. Soundararajan, Seerkazhi Govindarajan, S. C. Krishnan, P. Susheela, Jikki, T. V. Rathnam and K. Rani.
 * Tamil Track List
 * Engal Veettu Mahalakshmi

Awards

 * National Film Awards
 * 1957 - Certificate of Merit for Second Best Feature Film in Telugu