Vagdanam

Vagdanam is a 1961 Indian Telugu-language drama film, written and directed by Acharya Aatreya. The film stars Akkineni Nageswara Rao and Krishna Kumari, with music composed by Pendyala. It is based on the novel Datta, written by Saratchandra Chatterjee. The film was a box office failure.

Plot
The film begins with 3 childhood besties: Vishwanatham, a Zamindar, Ranganatham, and Diwan Jagannatham. The villagers ostracize Jagannatham as he is knitted and casteless. However, Vishwanatham befriends him, provides financial support for his son Suryam's education, and wants to wedlock his daughter Vijaya with him. It begrudges deceitful Ranganatham as he aspires to espouse Vijaya with his son Chandram haughty. Suddenly, Jagannatham dies, making Vishwanatham also pass away, leaving Vijaya's responsibility to Ranganatham. Meanwhile, Suryam completes his medicine, establishes a hospital in their village, and serves the penniless. Being unbeknownst, Suryam & Vijaya are acquainted and silently love. Then, Ranganatham clutches Vijaya in prison by utilizing a power of attorney. At the same time, a Harikatha Bhagavathar Ramadasu lands with his wife Balamani and son Padmanabham. Here, Ramadasu's niece Radha accompanies Suryam as a nurse and is Vijaya's friend, too. Parallelly, a love track runs between Padmanabham & Radha. Currently, Ramadasu wishes to construct a Rama Mandir, which Vijaya approves. Exploiting it, Ranganatham ruses and creates rifts between Suryam & Vijaya by auctioning his hospital for debt taken by Jagannatham. At present, Suryam strives to construct a camp and continues his service. Vijaya repents for it but is helpless. Moreover, Ranganatham slanders the relationship between Suryam & Radha, which Vijaya also believes. During that plight, Ramadasu makes a play when Vijaya learns her father's real intention and the conspiracy of Ranganatham. Finally, the movie ends on a happy note with the marriages of turtle doves.

Cast

 * Akkineni Nageswara Rao as Suryam
 * Krishna Kumari as Vijaya
 * Gummadi as Ranganatham
 * Chalam as Chandram
 * V. Nagayya as Zamindar Vishwanatham
 * Relangi as Ramadasu
 * Padmanabham as Padmanabham
 * Suryakantham as Balamani
 * Girija as Radha
 * Surabhi Kamalabai as Bujjamma

Soundtrack
Music composed by Pendyala. "Sri Nagaja Tanayam", penned by Sri Sri, is considered one of the first songs describing Seeta Kalyanam in Harikatha format.