''Pedda Manushulu'' ( or ) is a 1954 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 Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance: a play, opera, mime, ballet, etc., performed in a theatre, or on radio or television.Elam (1980, 98). Considered as a genre of poetry in general, the dramatic mode has been ...

film produced and directed by

K. V. Reddy Kadiri Venkata Reddy (1 July 1912 – 15 September 1972) was an Indian film director, screenwriter, and producer who primarily worked in Telugu cinema. He is considered as one of the greatest directors in the history of Telugu cinema. He d ...

. It stars Jandhyala Gaurinatha Sastry,

Mudigonda Lingamurthy Mudigonda Lingamurthy, shortly Lingamurthy ( Telugu: ముదిగొండ లింగమూర్తి) (10 October 1908 – 24 January 1980), was an Indian film character actor known for his works in Telugu cinema and theater. Life ...

, Relangi, Vangara, Sriranjani Jr. in prominent roles. The film portrays corruption among so called respectable persons of the society. It was loosely based on ''

The Pillars of Society ''The Pillars of Society'' (or "Pillars of the Community"; original Norwegian title: ''Samfundets støtter'') is an 1877 play written by Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen. Ibsen had great trouble with the writing of this play. The ending i ...

,'' a 1877 play by famous

Norwegian Norwegian, Norwayan, or Norsk may refer to: *Something of, from, or related to Norway, a country in northwestern Europe * Norwegians, both a nation and an ethnic group native to Norway * Demographics of Norway *The Norwegian language, including ...

playwright A playwright or dramatist is a person who writes plays. Etymology The word "play" is from Middle English pleye, from Old English plæġ, pleġa, plæġa ("play, exercise; sport, game; drama, applause"). The word "wright" is an archaic English ...

Henrik Ibsen Henrik Johan Ibsen (; ; 20 March 1828 – 23 May 1906) was a Norwegian playwright and theatre director. As one of the founders of modernism in theatre, Ibsen is often referred to as "the father of realism" and one of the most influential playw ...

. ''Pedda Manushulu'' was commercially successful. It was the first Telugu film to win the

National Film Award The National Film Awards is the most prominent film award ceremony in India. Established in 1954, it has been administered, along with the International Film Festival of India and the Indian Panorama, by the Indian government's Directora ...

. The film proved K. V. Reddy's capability in directing not only fantasy and mythological films, but also social dramas. The film became a trendsetter for many later films with a similar theme. It showed that those who are considered ''Pedda Manushulu'' by the society are corrupt. After the film's release, the term ''Pedda Manushulu'' had negative connotations in Telugu culture for a long time.

Cast

* Jandhyala Gaurinatha Sastry as Dharma Rao *

as Ramadasu * Relangi as 'Tikka' Sankarayya * Vangara as Siddhanti * Chadalavada as Avataram * A. V. Subbarao as Nagoji * Ramachandra Kasyapa as Prabhakar * Sriranjani Jr. as Padma * C. Hemalatha as Seetamma * Seshamamba as Ganga Bai * Rama Rao Venkata Vajjhala

Production

Development

After the success of ''

Pathala Bhairavi ''Pathala Bhairavi'' () is a 1951 Indian fantasy film directed by K. V. Reddy who co-wrote the film with Pingali and Kamalakara Kameswara Rao. Shot simultaneously in Telugu and Tamil languages, the film was produced by Nagi Reddi and Chakrap ...

'',

Nagi Reddi Bommireddy Nagi Reddi (2 December 1912 – 25 February 2004) was an Indian film producer and director mainly in Telugu cinema. He set up Vijaya Vauhini Studios in Chennai, which was then Asia's biggest film studio. As his elder brother (who was ...

asked

to make another fantasy film for

Vijaya Productions Vijaya Vauhini Studios was one of the premier motion picture movie studios in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. It is the combination of Vijaya Productions and Vauhini Studios. B. Nagi Reddy (Bommireddy Nagi Reddy) was the founder of Vijaya Produ ...

. But, after directing two

historical History (derived ) is the systematic study and the documentation of the human activity. The time period of event before the invention of writing systems is considered prehistory. "History" is an umbrella term comprising past events as well ...

films ('' Bhakta Pothana,

Yogi Vemana Vemana, popularly known as Yogi Vemana, was an Indian philosopher and poet in the Telugu language. His poems are known for their use of simple language and native idioms. They discuss the subjects of yoga, wisdom and morality. Early life and ...

'') and two

fantasy Fantasy is a genre of speculative fiction involving Magic (supernatural), magical elements, typically set in a fictional universe and sometimes inspired by mythology and folklore. Its roots are in oral traditions, which then became fantasy ...

films (''

Gunasundari Katha ''Gunasundari Katha'' is a 1949 Indian Telugu language fantasy film produced and directed by K. V. Reddy, starring Sriranjani, Kasturi Siva Rao, Santha Kumari. The script was written by Pingali Nagendra Rao, K. V. Reddy, and Kamalakara Kameswa ...

, Pathala Bhairavi'' ), K. V. Reddy wanted to make a

film this time. As

B. N. Reddy Bommireddy Narasimha Reddy (16 November 1908 – 8 November 1977), professionally known as B. N. Reddy, was an Indian film director, producer, and screenwriter. He was an early figure in the Telugu cinema. Many of his earlier films like ''Vand ...

and K. V. Reddy previously agreed to alternately direct films for Vauhini, K. V. Reddy planned to make his next film on Vauhini Productions banner. K. V. Reddy was interested in

western literature Western literature, also known as European literature, is the literature written in the context of Western culture in the languages of Europe, as well as several geographically or historically related languages such as Basque and Hungarian, an ...

and films. ''

,'' a 1877 play by famous Norwegian

attracted him. He wanted to direct a film based on the play. He collaborated with D. V. Narasaraju and D. B. G. Tilak and prepared the script. Only two characters from the play were retained and rest of the story was newly developed by the writers.

Casting

Narasaraju felt that the role of Dharma Rao was tailor-made for

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. ...

, but he and K. V. Reddy had an ego hassle regarding the dates of ''

'' (1947), so Jandhyala Gowrinatha Sastry was cast in that role. He had earlier done a minor role as Sreenadha in K. V. Reddy's ''

Bhakta Potana ''Bhakta Potana'' is a 1943 Telugu-language biographical film directed by K. V. Reddy in his directorial debut. Based on the life of poet-saint Potana who translated Bhagavatham into Telugu language, the film was scripted by Samudrala Sr. The f ...

'' (1943). Relangi, who was famous for his comic roles, was cast as 'Tikka Sankarayya' in a serious role. Ramachandra Kasyapa, junior to Narasaraju in college was cast for the role of Prabhakar.

Kosaraju Raghavayya Kosaraju Raghavayya (23 June 1905 – 27 October 1987), known mononumously by his surname Kosaraju, was an Indian lyricist and poet known for his works in Telugu cinema. He wrote about 3,000 songs in 350 films. His lyrics are steeped in Telug ...

wrote lyrics for three songs in the film. Kosaraju had a smashing debut with ''

Raithu Bidda ''Raithu Bidda'' (''English:'' Farmer of Common Origins) ( ''Telugu'': రైతు బిడ్డ, lit. Farmer-Son of the Soil) is a 1939 Telugu social problem film directed by Gudavalli Ramabrahmam. It is a social reformist film during th ...

'' (1939) and procured the title 'Kavi Ratna', after which he went back to a quiet life as a farmer. Narasaraju wished him to come back and write, to which Kosaraju was hesitant. He finally wrote the extremely difficult satirical numbers in flat one week and went back to his home.

Music

Music was composed by Ogirala Ramchandra Rao and Addepalli Rama Rao. The film featured a total of nine songs. Lyrics were penned by Vutukuri Satyanarayana Rao,

Kosaraju Kosaraju Raghavayya (23 June 1905 – 27 October 1987), known mononumously by his surname Kosaraju, was an Indian lyricist and poet known for his works in Telugu cinema. He wrote about 3,000 songs in 350 films. His lyrics are steeped in Telu ...

and N. Raghava Rao. While Ghantasala,

P. Leela Porayathu Leela (19 May 1934 – 31 October 2005) was an Indian playback singer, Carnatic vocalist and a music director. She has recorded more than 5,000 songs in various Indian languages including Malayalam, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Hindi, ...

Jikki Pillavalu Gajapathy Krishnaveni (3 November 1935 – 16 August 2004), more famously known as Jikki, was an Indian playback singer from Andhra Pradesh. She sang around 10,000 songs in Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, Hindi, and Sinhalese langua ...

, Pithapuram Nageswara Rao,

Madhavapeddi Satyam Madhavapeddi Satyam (11 March 1922 – 18 December 2000) was an Indian playback singer and actor who predominantly worked in Telugu cinema. He entered films as a singer-actor in Y. V. Rao's Tamil-Hindi bilingual movie ''Ramadas'' in the year 194 ...

and Varma were the playback singers. * "Nandamaya Guruda Nandamaya Ananda Deviki Nandamaya" (Singer: Ghantasala) * "Siva Siva Moortivi Gananatha" (Singer: Ghantasala)

Awards

National Film Awards The National Film Awards is the most prominent film award ceremony in India. Established in 1954, it has been administered, along with the International Film Festival of India and the Indian Panorama, by the Indian government's Directorat ...

* 2nd National Film Awards (1954) -

National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu The National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu is one of the National Film Awards presented annually by the Directorate of Film Festivals, the organisation set up by Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, India. It is one of several ...

References

External links

* {{National Film Award Best Feature Film Telugu 1950s Telugu-language films 1954 films Indian courtroom films Films about corruption in India Indian black-and-white films Films directed by K. V. Reddy Best Telugu Feature Film National Film Award winners Indian drama films 1954 drama films Films scored by Ogirala Ramachandra Rao Films scored by Addepalli Rama Rao