Vimala (film)

Vimala is a 1960 Indian Telugu-language film produced and directed by S. M. Sriramulu Naidu under Pakshiraja Studios banner. The film stars N. T. Rama Rao and Savitri, with the latter playing the title role of Vimala. The music is composed by S. M. Subbaiah Naidu. The story is an adaptation of Karunkuyil Kunrathu Kolai by T. S. D. Sami.But it is loosely based on The English novel 'The Daughter of the Condemned' by Frank Barrett. The film's Tamil version Maragatham starring Sivaji Ganesan and Padmini produced under the same banner was released a year earlier.

Plot
During the time of British Empire, Prince Vijaya Kumar was under a tour and clutched by dacoit Ugra Simha. A plucky Vimala protects and shelters him when the two fall in love. However, Vimala's father, Anantayya, opposes it when Vijay backs. Here, Vimala seeks the cause behind it, and he spins rearward. Indeed, Anantayya is the sibling of Anathagiri's ruler, Rajeswara Prasad, and foes incriminate him under the allegation of the homicide of his brother. He breaks the bars and flees with Vimala and her mother, Rajyalakshmi, who still lives in the motherland. Following, Vimala gets into conflict with Ugra Simha, which makes father & daughter detach and reach Ananthagiri. An eccentric Appalaraya Bahadu, a puppet for sidekick Venkatappa and a Butler, rules the kingdom. Unbeknownst to Vimala, she is acquainted with her mother, Rajyalakshmi, and joins as a maid. Plus, she is surprised to view Vijay as her maternal uncle, and he is also delighted to know her identity. Now, they determined to prove Rajeswara Prasad's non-guilty. So, Vijay, in disguise, joins as a cook named Gopalam to break out the murder mystery, mingling Rajeswara Prasad & Vimala. At last, the real culprits, Appalaraya Bahadur, Venkatappa, and the Butler, are caught and found guilty of their criminal offense. Finally, the movie ends on a happy note with the reunion of the family and the marriage of Vijay & Vimala.

Cast

 * Savitri as Vimala / Lalitha Kumari
 * N. T. Rama Rao as Vijay Kumar / Gopalam
 * Gummadi as Rajeswara Prasad / Anathaiah
 * Rajanala as Ugra Simha
 * Relangi as Butler
 * Ramana Reddy as Venkatappaiah
 * K. V. S. Sarma as Appalaraya Bahadoor
 * Malladi as Chidananda Swamy
 * Vengalli as Viswam
 * M. S. Rao as C.I.D. Inspector
 * Seshagiri as Berri Shetty
 * Suryakantham as Manikyamba
 * Rushyendramani as Anjana Devi
 * Sandhya as Rajyalakshmi Devi
 * Saraswathi as Chandrika
 * Balakumari as Chamanti
 * Sujatha as Gowri

Soundtrack
Music composed by S. M. Subbaiah Naidu. Lyrics were written by Muddu Krishna.

Reception
The Indian Express wrote, "The director has made capital use of Savithri in the first half of the picture to keep the spell of glamour aglow and the last stages are prolonged by a series of comic diversions".