''Balaraju'' is a 1948 Indian Telugu-language

swashbuckler A swashbuckler is a genre of European adventure literature that focuses on a heroic protagonist stock character who is skilled in swordsmanship, acrobatics, guile and possesses chivalrous ideals. A "swashbuckler" protagonist is heroic, daring, ...

fantasy film produced and directed by

Ghantasala Balaramayya Ghantasala Balaramayya was an Indian film director, producer, and actor in Telugu cinema. His notable films include '' Sri Seetarama Jananam'' (1944), '' Balaraju'' (1948), '' Swapna Sundari'' (1950), and '' Sri Lakshmamma Katha'' (1950). Bala ...

under the Pratibha Productions banner. It stars

Akkineni Nageswara Rao Akkineni Nageswara Rao (20 September 1923 – 22 January 2014), widely known as ANR, was an Indian actor and producer, known for his works majorly in Telugu cinema. He starred in many landmark films in his seventy five-year career, and became on ...

S. Varalakshmi Saridey Varalakshmi (13 August 1925 – 22 September 2009) was an Indian actress and singer who worked in Telugu and Tamil-language films. She was popular for her roles and songs in Telugu films like ''Sri Venkateswara Mahatyam'' (1960) and '' ...

, and Anjali Devi with music jointly composed by Ghantasala,

Galipenchala Narasimha Rao Gali Penchala Narasimha Rao ( te, గాలి పెంచల నరసింహారావు) (1903–1964), also known as Gali Penchalayya, was an Indian film music composer. He was a representative of the first generation of music directors ...

and C. R. Subbaraman. The film was recorded as an ''Industry Hit'' at the box office and was the first Telugu '' Silver Jubilee'' film.

Plot

The story begins in heaven; a ''Devakanya'' Mohini and a Yaksha are in love. Indra, the ruler of Suvarloka, has an interest in Mohini. His emissary Kubera, unable to separate the lovers, curses Yaksha to be born as a human. Mohini refuses to bow to the wish of Indra, who then curses her to be born as a human and pine for her lover. The

Yaksha The yakshas ( sa, यक्ष ; pi, yakkha, i=yes) are a broad class of nature-spirits, usually benevolent, but sometimes mischievous or capricious, connected with water, fertility, trees, the forest, treasure and wilderness. They appear in ...

, now Balaraju, is brought up by a shepherd. Mohini is found in a field by Kamma Naidu, who names her Sita and brings her up. As she grows up, pressure mounts on him to perform her marriage. Fearing that the wealth he had acquired after her arrival may disappear if she leaves him, he refuses to get her married and keeps her in a solitary tower in a forest. Balaraju and his companion Yelamanda pass by that route. Attracted by the music that Balaraju plays on his flute, Sita escapes to meet him. She recognizes him, but his memory fails him due to the curse. She makes attempts to revive their love. The story takes interesting twists when the hero is turned into a snake by an angry sage. Balaraju regains his memory and realizes that he is in love with Sita. Indra once again attempts to separate the lovers. Unable to bear any further agony, Sita is all set to curse Indra when the Gods appear and Indra seeks Sita's pardon. He invites the couple to Suvarloka, but Balaraju and Mohini prefer a blissful life on the earth.

Cast

as Balaraju *

as Seeta * Anjali Devi as Mohini *

Kasturi Siva Rao Kasturi Siva Rao (6 March 1913 - 24 February 1966) was an Indian actor, comedian, playback singer, producer and director known for his works in Telugu cinema. He was one of the first star comedians of Telugu cinema.26lettersto24frames.wordpress. ...

as Yalamanda *Seetaram as Rayudu *D. S. Sadasiva Rao as Indra *G. Ramayya as Kammanaidu *G. Subba Rao as Shetty *A. L. Narayana as

Gandharva A gandharva () is a member of a class of celestial beings in Dharmic religions, such as Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism, whose males are divine performers such as musicians and singers, and the females are divine dancers. In Hinduism, they are ...

*N. Krishnayya as

Agni Agni (English: , sa, अग्नि, translit=Agni) is a Sanskrit word meaning fire and connotes the Vedic fire deity of Hinduism. He is also the guardian deity of the southeast direction and is typically found in southeast corners of Hindu ...

*G. Narayana Rao as Kubera *C. Venkateswara Rao as

*A. Aadi Seshaiah as

Lord Shiva Shiva (; sa, शिव, lit=The Auspicious One, Śiva ), also known as Mahadeva (; ɐɦaːd̪eːʋɐ, or Hara, is one of the principal deities of Hinduism. He is the Supreme Being in Shaivism, one of the major traditions within Hindu ...

*K. Ram Murthy as

Varuna Varuna (; sa, वरुण, , Malay: ''Baruna'') is a Vedic deity associated initially with the sky, later also with the seas as well as Ṛta (justice) and Satya (truth). He is found in the oldest layer of Vedic literature of Hinduism, such ...

*T. K. V. Naidu as Rushi *Lingam Subba Rao as Thief *K. K. Ayangar as Chalamayya *K. V. Subba Rao as Peda Naidu *Surabhi Balasaraswathi *Naarimani as Lakshmi *C. Rajaratnam as Lakshmamma *B. Seetabayamma as Punnamma *Anasuya *Krishnaveni

Crew

*Art: S. V. S. Rama Rao *Choreography:

Vedantam Raghavayya Vedantam Raghavayya ( te, వేదాంతం రాఘవయ్య) (8 June 1919 – 1971) was an Indian film director, dance choreographer, Kuchipudi exponent, actor, producer, and musician known for his works in Telugu cinema, Telugu thea ...

*Screenplay - Lyrics - Dialogues: Samudrala Sr. *Playback: Ghantasala,

, V. Sarala Rao, Kasturi Siva Ram *Music:

, Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao *Background Score:

C. R. Subburaman C. R. Subbaraman also known as C. S. Ram (1916–1952) was a famous South Indian film music composer and producer. He was born to Ramasamy at Chintamani village in Thirunelveli, in present-day Tamil Nadu. Music director Shankar of Shankar–Gan ...

*Story: Prayaaga (also Folklore Songs) *Editing: T. M. Lal *Cinematography: P. Sridhar *Producer - Director:

*Banner: Pratibha Films *Release Date: 26 February 1948

Soundtrack

Music composed by

, Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao. Lyrics were written by

Samudrala Sr Samudrala Raghavacharya (19 July 1902 – 16 March 1968), also known as Samudrala Sr., was an Indian screenwriter, lyricist, playback singer, director, and producer known for his works in Telugu cinema. Samudrala Senior made his screen debut in ...

Box office

* The film ran for more than 100 days in 11 centres in

Andhra Pradesh Andhra Pradesh (, abbr. AP) is a state in the south-eastern coastal region of India. It is the seventh-largest state by area covering an area of and tenth-most populous state with 49,386,799 inhabitants. It is bordered by Telangana to the ...

. * The Silver Jubilee celebrations were held at Jaihind Talkies,

Vijayawada Vijayawada, formerly known as Bezawada, is the second largest city in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh and is a part of the state's Capital Region. It is the administrative headquarters of the NTR district. Its metropolitan region comprises N ...

on 4 June 1948. *This film had a 365-day run in Vijayawada.

References

{{Reflist

External links

Balaraju film at IMDb.

BalaRaju Movie at Basthi.com
1940s Telugu-language films 1948 films Indian black-and-white films Indian fantasy films 1940s fantasy films Films scored by Gali Penchala Narasimha Rao