''Mana Desam'' () is a 1949 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
drama film
In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. Drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular super-g ...
directed by
L. V. Prasad
Akkineni Laxmi Vara Prasada Rao (17 January 1907 – 22 June 1994), known professionally as L. V. Prasad, was an Indian film director, producer, actor, and businessman. He was one of the pioneers of Indian cinema and is the recipient of the Dad ...
. It was produced by Raja Saheb of Mirzapur under the
Sobhanachala Pictures banner, and presented by
Krishnaveni. It stars
V. Nagayya
V. Nagayya (born Vuppaladadiyam Nagayya Sarma; 28 March 1904 – 30 December 1978) also known as Chittoor Nagayya was an Indian actor, singer, music composer, and director known for his works in Telugu cinema, Tamil cinema, and Telugu theatre. ...
,
C. H. Narayana Rao
C. H. Narayana Rao was an Indian actor and producer known for his works in Telugu cinema and Telugu theatre. He starred in more than fifty films in a variety of roles. His notable works include classics such as ''Chenchu Lakshmi'' (1943), ''Mugg ...
and Krishnaveni, with music composed by
Ghantasala. The film is the debut of actor
N. T. Rama Rao
Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao (28 May 1923 – 18 January 1996), often referred to by his initials NTR, was an Indian actor, filmmaker and politician who served as List of Chief Ministers of Andhra Pradesh, Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh fo ...
in the film industry. It is based on the
Bengali
Bengali or Bengalee, or Bengalese may refer to:
*something of, from, or related to Bengal, a large region in South Asia
* Bengalis, an ethnic and linguistic group of the region
* Bengali language, the language they speak
** Bengali alphabet, the w ...
novel ''Vipradas'' by
Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay
Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay, alternatively spelt as Sarat Chandra Chatterjee ( bn, শরৎচন্দ্র চট্টোপাধ্যায়; 15 September 1876 or ৩১ শে ভাদ্র ১২৮৩ বঙ্গাব্দ ...
, and is set against the backdrop of the
Indian independence movement
The Indian independence movement was a series of historic events with the ultimate aim of ending British Raj, British rule in India. It lasted from 1857 to 1947.
The first nationalistic revolutionary movement for Indian independence emerged ...
.
Plot
The story is set in 1942. Ramnath is a respectable rich man living in a village with his wife Janaki, son Nehru, brother Madhu and a doting step-mother Yasodha, who does not like Madhu's active participation in the freedom struggle, fearing that he may be jailed. Janaki's uncle, a lawyer, visits them with his city-bred daughter Sobha. She takes a liking for Madhu but is against his political leanings.
Ramnath shifts his family to Madras. Madhu is arrested for participating in the movement against British rule. A changed Sobha too jumps into the freedom struggle. Unable to trace her, the police take Ramnath into custody. An enraged Yasodha too joins the movement and goes to jail. But both are soon released. Madhu, on parole, comes home and Janaki treats him like her son. By then she is critically ill. Once the parole is over, the police come to pick him up. On seeing them, Janaki dies of shock. The police drag a deranged Madhu. After serving the sentence, Madhu, still in a mentally deranged condition, is released. Yasodha blames Ramnath for her son's plight. A dejected Ramnath leaves the house with his son. But, worried about his brother, he returns home and saves him from a fall. Dramatically, Madhu regains normality. India gets independence and the family participates in the celebrations.
Cast
*
V. Nagayya
V. Nagayya (born Vuppaladadiyam Nagayya Sarma; 28 March 1904 – 30 December 1978) also known as Chittoor Nagayya was an Indian actor, singer, music composer, and director known for his works in Telugu cinema, Tamil cinema, and Telugu theatre. ...
as Ramnath
*
C. H. Narayana Rao
C. H. Narayana Rao was an Indian actor and producer known for his works in Telugu cinema and Telugu theatre. He starred in more than fifty films in a variety of roles. His notable works include classics such as ''Chenchu Lakshmi'' (1943), ''Mugg ...
as Madhu
*
Krishnaveni as Sobha
*
N. T. Rama Rao
Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao (28 May 1923 – 18 January 1996), often referred to by his initials NTR, was an Indian actor, filmmaker and politician who served as List of Chief Ministers of Andhra Pradesh, Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh fo ...
as British Inspector
*
Relangi as Constable No: 144
*
Vangara as Nandayya
*Ramanatha Sastry as Barrat Law
*Surabhi Bala Saraswati as Shobha's friend
*Kanchan as Janaki
*Hemalatha as Yasodha
*Lakshmikantham as Narsi
*Master Vijay Shankar as Nehru
Soundtrack
The film's soundtrack is composed by
Ghantasala.
* "Jaya Janani" – patriotic song, singers are Ghantasala and C. Krishnaveni
* "Emito Ee Sambhandam Enduko Ee Anubhandam" – duet, singers are
M. S. Ramarao and C. Krishnaveni
* "Chalo Chalo Raja" – Singers are M. S. Ramarao and C. Krishnaveni
* "Ninnu Nenu Maruvalenura Police Yenkatsami" – rural style song, singer is Jikki Krishnaveni
* "Atta leni Kodalu Uttamuralu" – folklore song. singer is C. Kirshnaveni
* "Vedalipo Tella Dora Vedalipo" – patriotic group song..Ghantasala and C. Krishnaveni & Group.
* "Nirvedamela Kanneridela" – Gandian song by Nagayya
* "O Bharata Yuvaka" – patriotic group song..Ghantasala & Group.
* "Kallo Ninnu CHoosinane Pilla Vallu Jallumannade" – duet, singers are Ghantasala and C. Krishnaveni
* "Vaishnava Janato" – Traditional Bhajan.. Ghantasala.
References
External links
*
{{L. V. Prasad
1949 films
Indian drama films
Films based on Indian novels
Films scored by Ghantasala (musician)
1940s Telugu-language films
Films based on works by Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay
Films set in the Indian independence movement
Films directed by L. V. Prasad
1949 drama films
Indian black-and-white films