''Tatamma Kala'' ( Great-Grandmother's Dream) is a 1974 Telugu-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 ...

, produced by Bhanumathi Ramakrishna directed by

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 ...

under his Ramakrishna Cine Studios banner. The film stars

, Bhanumathi Ramakrishna, debutant

Nandamuri Balakrishna Nandamuri Balakrishna (born 10 June 1960), simply known as Balakrishna or Balayya or NBK, is an Indian actor, producer and politician. He appeared in more than 100 Telugu films over forty years in a variety of roles and established himself as ...

and has music composed by S. Rajeswara Rao.

Plot

The film begins in a village where Ravamma an indomitable woman whose husband Musalaiah becomes a wanderer. So, Ravamma safeguards their property and rears her grandson Ramaiah who lost his parents in his childhood. Time passes, Ramaiah marries Seeta and the couple is blessed with five children. But unfortunately, Ravamma loses her property due to land ceiling act. So, Ramayya decides to leave the city which Ravamma opposes, and stays back. Ramaiah lands in the city along with the family and joins as a clerk in a firm. Years roll by, and the children grew up with different mentalities, eldest one Govindu marries an intercaste girl Saru, and leaves for his in-law's house. The second son Hareram a hippie, and the third Venkatesam a mechanic gets the clutches of a dancer, Mala, and the daughter Rama becomes a scapegoat for the modern lifestyle. Finally, Ramiah is sentenced for the crime committed by Hareram and his wife Seeta commits suicide. In that ruined family, the last one Balakrishna a good-natured boy who is left alone reaches his great-grandmother. By that time, Ravamma is 97 years old, and seeing her great-grandson her heartfelt with joy. After that, Balakrishna learns that the village is under severe drought. So, he succeeds in bringing a green revolution using modern techniques for which he receives the Krishi Pandit award from the

Govt of India The Government of India (ISO: ; often abbreviated as GoI), known as the Union Government or Central Government but often simply as the Centre, is the national government of the Republic of India, a federal democracy located in South Asia, ...

and he presents the award to his great-grandmother. Ravamma feels proud that her great-grandson fulfilled the dream for which she is striving. At last, Ramaiah is acquitted of catching Hareram and he returns to the village with the remaining family. Finally, Musalaiah also arrives and the movie ends on a happy note with the reunion of the entire family.

Cast

as Ramaiah and Musaliah * Bhanumathi Ramakrishna as Ravamma *

as Balakrishna * Nandamuri Harikrishna as Venkatesam *

Ramana Reddy Ramana Reddy (1 October 1921 – 11 November 1974) was an Indian character actor, comedian and producer known for his works predominantly in Telugu cinema. In a career spanning 24 years, he acted in more than 200 movies. Ramana Reddy and Relangi ...

as John * Raja Babu as Hare Ram * Mada as Bhusaiah * P. J. Sarma as Venkaiah * Chalapathi Rao *Bhima Raju as Ratnam *Balakrishna *Jaya Bhaskar * Kanchana as Seeta *

Roja Ramani Roja Ramani (also known as Chemparathy Shobana; born 16 September 1959) is an Indian actress who predominantly worked in Malayalam and Telugu films. She was a child actor and her debut movie was '' Bhakta Prahlada'' (1967) for which she receiv ...

as Rama *

Vijayalalitha Vijayalalitha or Vijaya Lalitha was an Indian actress who appeared in Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada and Hindi films in the 1960s and 1970s. She is best known for her appearances in '' Rani Mera Naam'' (1972), ''Baazigar'' (1972) and '' Saa ...

as Mala *Subha as Saru

Soundtrack

Music composed by S. Rajeswara Rao. Music released on EMI Columbia Audio Company.

Awards

* Nandi Award for Best Story Writer -

(1974)(in Telugu)

References

{{reflist 1974 films 1970s Telugu-language films Indian drama films Films scored by S. Rajeswara Rao Films directed by N. T. Rama Rao 1974 drama films