''Kathanayika Molla'' is a 1970 Indian

Telugu Telugu may refer to: * Telugu language, a major Dravidian language of India *Telugu people, an ethno-linguistic group of India * Telugu script, used to write the Telugu language ** Telugu (Unicode block), a block of Telugu characters in Unicode S ...

-language film directed by comedian

Padmanabham Padmanabham mandal is one of the 46 mandals in Visakhapatnam District in India. It is under the administration of Visakhapatnam revenue division and the headquarters is located at Padmanabham. The Mandal is bounded by Bheemunipatnam, Anandapur ...

. It is based on the life of the poet Molla, played by

Vanisree Vanisri (born Rathna Kumari) is an Indian actress known for her works predominantly in Telugu, Tamil, and Kannada films. In a film career spanning 40 years, she has received three Filmfare Awards South, the Nandi Awards and the Tamil Nadu Stat ...

. It features the songs ''Jagame Ramamayam'' and ''Manishini Brahmayya Mattito Chesenaya'' and received the

Nandi Award for Best Feature Film This is the list of winners of the Nandi Award for Best Feature Films since 1964. Best Feature Film - Gold Second Best Feature Film - Silver Third Best Feature Film - Bronze References See also * Cinema of Andhra Pradesh {{DEFAULTSORT:Na ...

. Songs were written by Dasharathi Krishnamacharya.

Plot

The story is based on life of the poet Molla, who translated the

Ramayana The ''Rāmāyana'' (; sa, रामायणम्, ) is a Sanskrit literature, Sanskrit Indian epic poetry, epic composed over a period of nearly a millennium, with scholars' estimates for the earliest stage of the text ranging from the 8th ...

from Sanskrit into Telugu.

Credits

Cast

as Molla * Harinath as Lord Vishnu *

B. Padmanabham Basavaraju Venkata Padmanabha Rao (20 August 1931 – 20 February 2010), known Mononymous person, mononymously as Padmanabham, was an Indian actor, comedian, producer, and director who predominantly worked in Telugu cinema and Telugu theatre. H ...

as Tenali Ramakrishna * Tyagaraaju *

Sobhan Babu Sobhan Babu (born Uppu Sobhana Chalapathi Rao; 14 January 1937 – 20 March 2008) was an Indian actor known for his works in Telugu cinema.Bangaru Panjaram in Venditera Paatalu, Krishnasastri Sahityam, third volume, Vishalandhra Publishing House ...

* Gummadi as Kesana * Nagabhushanam *

Allu Ramalingaiah Allu Ramalingaiah (1 October 1922 – 31 July 2004) was an Indian character actor, comedian, and producer known for his works in Telugu cinema. In 1990, He was honoured with the Padma Shri for his contribution to Indian cinema. In 1998, he r ...

as Avadhani * Mikkilineni * Jyothi Laxmi as Vidhusheemani * Geethanjali as Ranganayaki *

Kaikala Satyanarayana Kaikala Satyanarayana (25 July 1935 – 23 December 2022) was an Indian actor, producer, director, and politician who predominantly worked in Telugu cinema. He appeared in over 750 films and served as the Member of Parliament in the 11th Lok S ...

as Sri Krishna Devaraya (King)

Crew

* Director:

* Producer: B. Purushottam * Production Company: Rekha and Murali Productions * Original Music:

S. P. Kodandapani Sripathi Panditharadhyula Kodandapani ( 5 April 1974) was an Indian music composer and playback singer in Telugu cinema. He composed music for more than 100 films. He made his debut as an playback singer in the 1955 film ''Santhanam''. Later, ...

* Playback singers: Ghantasala,

S. P. Balasubrahmanyam Sripathi Panditaradhyula Balasubrahmanyam (4 June 1946 – 25 September 2020), also referred to as SPB or SP Balu or Balu, was an Indian playback singer, television presenter, actor, music composer, dubbing artist, and film producer. He is wi ...

and

P. Susheela Pulapaka Susheela (born 13 November 1935), popularly known as P. Susheela, is an Indian playback singer associated with the South Indian cinema primarily from Andhra Pradesh for over six decades. She is one of the greatest and best-known playba ...

Songs

* "Doravo Evaravo Naa Korake Digina Devaravo" (Lyrics:

Devulapalli Krishnasastri Devulapalli Krishnasastri (1 November 1897 – 24 February 1980) was a Telugu poet, playwright and translator known for his works in Telugu literature and Telugu cinema. He is known as ''Andhra Shelley''. In 1976, Krishnasastri was honoured wit ...

; Singers:

and Ghantasala * "Jagame Ramamayam Manase Aganita Taraka Namamayam" (Singer: P. Susheela) * "Manishini Brahmayya Mattito Chesenaya" (Singer: S. P. Balasubrahmanyam) * "Naane Cheluve Kannadiki" (Singer:

L. R. Eswari Lourde-Mary Rajeswari, better known as L. R. Eswari, is an Indian playback singer who has sung several songs in Tamil language, Tamil, Telugu language, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Hindi language, Hindi, Tulu language, Tulu, and English. She wa ...

) * "Lanka Dahanam" (Singers: Ghantasala and party) * "Vinduva Veenula Vinduga Govindu Nandallu Parinayamaina Gaadha" (Lyrics: Devulapalli Krishnasastri)

Awards

* Nandi Award for Best Feature Film - Gold - B. Purushottam(in

)

References

External links

Kathanayika Molla at IMDb.

Kathanayika Molla Film
At Basthi.com 1970 films Indian biographical films 1970s Telugu-language films 1970s biographical films Films set in the Vijayanagara Empire {{1970s-Telugu-film-stub