''Bala Nagamma'' is a 1942 Telugu-language film directed by

C. Pullayya Chittajallu Pullayya (Telugu language, Telugu: చిత్తజల్లు పుల్లయ్య; 1898 – 6 October 1967) was an Indian film director and screenwriter. He is one of the earliest film personalities in Telugu cinema being ...

and produced by

S. S. Vasan Subramaniam Srinivasan (4 January 1904 – 26 August 1969), popularly known by his screen name S. S. Vasan, was an Indian journalist, writer, advertiser, film producer, director and business tycoon. He is the founder of the Tamil-language maga ...

. The story Bala Nagamma was one of the most popular

Burrakatha Burra Katha, also spelled Burrakatha, is an oral storytelling technique in the Jangam Katha tradition, performed in villages of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. The troupe consists of one main performer and two co-performers. It is a narrative ent ...

s. It was one of the successful early films made by Gemini Studios in Telugu which was not remade in Tamil. Gemini Studios remade the film in Hindi starring

Madhubala Madhubala (born Mumtaz Jehan Begum Dehlavi; 14 February 1933 – 23 February 1969) was an Indian actress and producer who worked in Hindi-language films. She ranked as one of the highest-paid entertainers in India in the post-independence era, ...

titled ''

Bahut Din Huwe ''Bahut Din Huwe'' () is a 1954 Indian Hindi-language film directed by S. S. Vasan, produced by Gemini Studios and starring Madhubala. It is a remake of the Telugu film '' Bala Nagamma'' (1942). ''Bahut Din Huwe'' received lukewarm reviews fro ...

'' (1954). The film was later remade in 1959 with same name under the direction of

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 theat ...

Plot

The story is about Bala Nagamma, a young princess. The queen Bhulakshmi of King Navabhojaraju prays Jatangi Muni for progeny and is blessed with seven children; the youngest of them is named Bala Nagamma (

Kanchanamala Kanchanamala (1917–1981) was an Indian actress known for her works in Telugu cinema. Personal life She was born in Tenali, Andhra Pradesh. During her childhood days, she went to live with her uncle who was a violin teacher. She was married to ...

). She is married off to Karyavardi Raju (Banda). She is kidnapped by Mayala Marathi (

Govindarajula Subbarao Dr. Govindarajula Venkata Subba Rao (1895 – 29 October 1959) was a famous Telugu drama and film actor.Nata Ratnalu, Dr. Mikkilineni Radhakrishna Murthy, Second edition, Seetharatnam Grandhamala, Vijayawada, 2002, pp:56-59 Life sketch He play ...

), who turns her into a dog and takes her to his cave at Nagullapudi Gattu. Once there, he tries to take advantage of her. She keeps him away by quoting some ''Vratam'' ( Holy Rites) and Pujas that she is involved in. She is a prisoner in the cave for fourteen years, during which time the Fakir's mistress, Sangu (

Pushpavalli Pushpavalli (3 January 1926 – 28 April 1991) was an Indian actress who predominently worked in Telugu and Tamil films. She entered the film industry as a child actress with a small role as young Sita in the film ''Sampoorna Ramayanam'' (1936) ...

), becomes jealous. In the meantime, her son Balavardi Raju grows up and discovers the truth about his mother that she is at Nagallapudi gattu under captive of Mayala Fakir. He seeks the Fakir out through flower-seller woman Tambali peddi by posing as her grandson. Then, he defeats the Fakir.

Cast

;Male cast * Dr. Govindarajula Subba Rao as Mayala Marathi * Banda Kanaka Lingeswara Rao as Karyavardhi Raju * Balijepalli Lakshmikantha Kavi as Navabhoja Raju *

Master Viswam 'Master Viswam was a child actor during the early era of Telugu Cinema during the British era of India. He shot to fame with the role of Balawardhiraju in 1942 Balanagamma movie produced by Gemini Studios. Birth and childhood Master Viswam was ...

as Balavardhi Raju *Podila Venkata Krishnamurthy as Ramavardhi Raju * Relangi Venkatramaiah as Kotwal Rama Singh *Lanka Satyam as Chakali Tippudu *V. Lakshmikantham as Astrologer *Addala Narayana Rao as Nagendrudu *Karra Suryanarayana as Puli Raju ;Female cast *

as Balanagamma *

as Rani Sangu *Bellary Lalitha as Bhulakshmi * Kamala Devi as Mandula Manikyam *Seetabayamma as Durga *Ratnamala as Seetali (Chakali Tippudu’s Wife) *Anjani Bai as Tambali Peddi *Saraswati as Young Balanagamma *Kamala as Young Suryanagamma *Kamalakumari as Dasi

Soundtrack

There are three songs in the film. #"Naa Sogase Kani Marude Dasudu Kada" –

#"Nanna Memu Delhi Potham" #"Sri Jaya Jaya Gowri Ramana" – Bellary Lalitha

Reception

According to film historian

Randor Guy Madabhushi Rangadorai (born 8 November 1937), better known by his pen name Randor Guy, is an Indian lawyer, columnist and film and legal historian associated with the English language newspaper ''The Hindu''. He is also the official editor of the ...

, ''Bala Nagamma'' netted a profit of .

References

External links

*
Balanagamma at Cinegoer.comWatch BalaNagama At Basthi.comBala Nagamma at The Hindu/Cinema PlusList of Copyright violators reported
{{Gemini Studios 1940s Telugu-language films Gemini Studios films Indian fantasy films Films based on Indian folklore Telugu films remade in other languages 1940s fantasy films Indian black-and-white films Films directed by C. Pullayya