''Anthuleni Katha'' () is a 1976 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 ...

-language film directed by K. Balachander, starring

Jaya Prada Jaya Prada Nahata (born Lalitha Rani; 3 April 1962) is an Indian actress and politician. She is hailed as one of the most iconic and influential actresses in both Telugu and Hindi film industries in late '70s, '80s and early '90s. Jayaprada ...

, with

Fatafat Jayalaxmi Jayalakshmi, whose popular screen name was Fatafat Jayalakshmi (also Phataphat Jayalaxmi) (1958–1980), was an Indian actress active mainly in Tamil and Telugu films. In Malayalam movies she was known as Supriya. She acted about 66 movies in ...

Rajinikanth Shivaji Rao Gaikwad (born 12 December 1950), known professionally as Rajinikanth, is an Indian actor, producer and screenwriter. In a career spanning over five decades, he has done 160 films that includes films in Tamil, Hindi, Telugu, Kannad ...

and

Sripriya Sripriya is an Indian actress, film director and politician from Tamil Nadu. She has acted in over 300 films in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and Hindi languages. She has also directed films in Tamil, Kannada and Telugu languages, includin ...

in supporting roles.

Kamal Haasan Kamal Haasan (born 7 November 1954) is an Indian actor, filmmaker, screenwriter, playback singer, television presenter and politician who works mainly in Tamil cinema and has also appeared in some Telugu, Malayalam, Hindi, Kannada and Bengali f ...

played a cameo. The film is a remake of the 1974 Tamil film ''

Aval Oru Thodar Kathai ''Aval Oru Thodar Kathai'' () is a 1974 Indian Tamil-language drama film directed by K. Balachander. The story revolves around a working middle-class woman, who sacrifices her desires to support her large family. The lead role was played by S ...

'', which was also directed by Balachander. This is Jaya Prada's first starring role, reprising the role played by Sujatha in the original and is considered to be one of her best films. This was also Rajinikanth's first major role. This film was shot in black-and-white.

Plot

Saritha (

) is a working woman in a poor family. She works hard to support her widowed sister, unmarried sister, her blind younger brother, her mother, her drunkard brother Murthy (

) and his family. Her father abandons the family and goes on a pilgrimage. Her brother not only does not take responsibilities, but also creates additional problems for her. She has a longtime boyfriend, who wants to marry her, but she doesn't because of her commitment to her family. His eyes now wander to Saritha's widowed younger sister (

), who reciprocates his feelings. Saritha, after reading her boyfriend's love letter to her sister, arranges for them to get married, thus giving up her chance of having a life with him. She eventually accepts a marriage proposal of her boss (

), when she realises that her brother has become responsible enough to take care of her family. She also helps her distressed friend, played by Phataphat Jayalaksmi to settle in life. She decides to resign from hard work, but could not as the result of the turning point in a typical Balachandar style climax.

Cast

as Saritha *

Phataphat Jayalaxmi Jayalakshmi, whose popular screen name was Fatafat Jayalakshmi (also Phataphat Jayalaxmi) (1958–1980), was an Indian actress active mainly in Tamil and Telugu films. In Malayalam movies she was known as Supriya. She acted about 66 movies in T ...

as Chandra *

as Murthy *

as Bharathi * G. V. Narayana Rao as Vikatakavi Gopal *

Prasad Babu Prasad Babu is an Indian actor who acts in predominantly Telugu films and also TV serials. Filmography * '' Punadhirallu'' * '' Anthuleni Katha'' * ''Mana Voori Pandavulu'' (1978) * ''I Love You'' (1979) * ''Aarani Mantalu'' (1980) * '' Bobb ...

as Thilak *

Pradeep Shakthi Pradeep Shakthi (25 July 1954 – 20 February 2016) was an Indian Telugu actor, director and businessman. Pradeep Shakthi, born as Raja Vasireddy, was from the Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh. He was introduced to Telugu cinema by director ...

as Arun Ghosh (Cameo)

Production

and

made their acting debut in Telugu with this film.

Soundtrack

All songs are penned by

Acharya Aatreya Acharya Aatreya (born Kilambi Venkata Narasimhacharyulu ) (7 May 1921 – 13 September 1989) was an Indian poet, lyricist, playwright, and screenwriter known for his works in Telugu cinema and Telugu theatre. He received the state Nandi Award ...

and the music was composed by

M. S. Viswanathan Manayangath Subramanian Viswanathan (24 June 1928 – 14 July 2015), also known as M.S.V., was an Indian music director, singer and actor who predominantly worked in Tamil film industry. He was popularly known as ''Mellisai Mannar''. He compose ...

. * "Are Emiti Lokam", cast by Phaphat Jayalakshmi and voice by

L. R. Eswari Lourde-Mary Rajeswari, better known as L. R. Eswari, is an Indian playback singer who has sung several songs in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Hindi, Tulu, and English. She was awarded with the Kalaimamani, the highest civilian award for ...

* "Tali Kattu Subhavela", cast by Narayana Rao and voice by

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 ...

* "Kallalo Unnadedo Kannulake Telusu", cast by Jaya Prada and voice by

S. Janaki Sistla Janaki (born 23 April 1938) is an Indian playback singer and occasional music composer from Andhra Pradesh. She is referred to respectfully as "Janaki Amma" and Nightingale of South India. She is one of the best-known playback singers in ...

* "Ugutundu Nee Inta Uyyala", cast by Jayaprada and voice by

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 ...

* "Devude Icchadu Vidhi Okkati", cast by Rajinikanth and voice by

Yesudas Kattassery Joseph Yesudas (born 10 January 1940) is an Indian playback singer and musician who sings Indian classical, devotional and film songs. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest singers in the history of Indian Music and also as a ...

Reception

In 2001,

herself acknowledged the impact the film had in her personal life, as she very much related to the lead character.

Awards

;'' Nandi Awards'' * Third Best Feature Film - Bronze won by Ram Aranganal (1976)

Filmfare Awards South Filmfare Awards South is the South Indian segment of the annual Filmfare Awards, presented by the Filmfare magazine of The Times Group to honour both artistic and technical excellence of professionals in the Indian film industry encompassing ...

* Special Award – Jaya Prada

References

External links

* {{K. Balachander 1976 drama films 1976 films Films about poverty in India Films about widowhood in India Films about women in India Films directed by K. Balachander Films scored by M. S. Viswanathan Films shot in Visakhapatnam Films with screenplays by K. Balachander Indian black-and-white films Indian drama films Indian feminist films Telugu remakes of Tamil films 1970s Telugu-language films Unemployment in fiction