Balaraju
Balaraju is a 1948 Telugu-language swashbuckler fantasy film, produced and directed by Ghantasala Balaramaiah under the Pratibha Productions banner. It stars Akkineni Nageswara Rao and S. Varalakshmi in the lead roles and music jointly composed by Ghantasala, Galipenchala Narasimha Rao and C. R. Subbaraman. The film was recorded as an Industry Hit at the box office and was the first Telugu Silver Jubilee film.
Plot
The story begins in heaven; a Devakanya Mohini and a Yaksha are in love. Indra, the ruler of Suvarloka, has an interest in Mohini. His emissary Kubera, unable to separate the lovers, curses Yaksha to be born as a human. Mohini refuses to bow to the wish of Indra, who then curses her to be born as a human and pine for her lover. The Yaksha, now Balaraju, is brought up by a shepherd. Mohini is found in a field by Kamma Naidu, who names her Sita and brings her up. As she grows up, pressure mounts on him to perform her marriage. Fearing that the wealth he had acquired after her arrival may disappear if she leaves him, he refuses to get her married and keeps her in a solitary tower in a forest.Balaraju and his companion Yelamanda pass by that route. Attracted by the music that Balaraju plays on his flute, Sita escapes to meet him. She recognizes him, but his memory fails him due to the curse. She makes attempts to revive their love. The story takes interesting twists when the hero is turned into a snake by an angry sage. Balaraju regains his memory and realizes that he is in love with Sita. Indra once again makes an attempt to separate the lovers. Unable to bear any further agony, Sita is all set to curse Indra when the Gods appear and Indra seeks Sita's pardon. He invites the couple to Suvarloka, but Balaraju and Mohini prefer a blissful life on the earth.
Cast
- Akkineni Nageswara Rao as Balaraju
- S. Varalakshmi as Seeta
- Anjali Devi as Mohini
- Kasturi Siva Rao as Yalamanda
- Seetaram as Rayudu
- D. S. Sadasiva Rao as Indra
- G. Ramaiah as Kammanaidu
- G. Subba Rao as Shetty
- A. L. Narayana as Gandharva
- N. Krishnaiah as Agni
- G. Narayana Rao as Kubera
- C. Venkateswara Rao as Yaksha
- A. Aadi Seshaiah as Lord Shiva
- K. Ram Murthy as Varuna
- T. K. V.Naidu as Rushi
- Lingam Subba Rao as Thief
- K. K. Ayangar as Chalamaiah
- K. V. Subba Rao as Peda Naidu
- Surabhi Balasaraswathi
- Naarimani as Lakshmi
- C. Rajaratnam as Lakshmamma
- B. Seetabayamma as Punnamma
- Anasuya
- Krishnaveni
Crew">S. V. S. Rama Rao#/editor/0">Crew
- Art: S. V. S. Rama Rao
- Choreography: Vedantam Raghavaiah
- Screenplay - Lyrics - Dialogues: Samudrala Sr.
- Playback: Ghantasala, S. Varalakshmi, V. Sarala Rao, Kasturi Siva Ram
- Music: Galipenchala Narasimha Rao, Ghantasala
- Background Score: C. R. Subburaman
- Story: Prayaaga
- Editing: T. M. Lal
- Cinematography: P. Sridhar
- Producer - Director: Ghantasala Balaramaiah
- Banner: Pratibha Films
- Release Date: 26 February 1948
Soundtrack
| S. No. | Song Title | Singers | length |
| 1 | "O Balaraja Preme Yerugava" | S. Varalakshmi | 1:55 |
| 2 | "Evarine Nenevirine" | S. Varalakshmi | 2:46 |
| 3 | "O Balaraja Jali Leda" | S. Varalakshmi | 2:45 |
| 4 | "Alak Paadi Araka Chesi" | Chorus | 1:51 |
| 5 | "Cheliya Kanarava" | Ghantasala | 2:25 |
| 6 | "Rupama Neeyaraya" | S. Varalakshmi | 5:47 |
| 7 | "Okarini Nanavesav" | Kasturi Siva Rao, V. Sarala Rao | 1:46 |
| 8 | "Teeyani Vennela Reyi" | V. Sarala Rao | 2:53 |
| 9 | "Gutilo Chilakedire" | Chorus | 1:31 |
| 10 | "Chalura Vagalu" | S. Varalakshmi, Akkineni Nageswara Rao | 1:17 |
| 11 | "Teli Chudumu Hai" | Ghantasala, S. Varalakshmi | 2:51 |
| 12 | "Chuda Chakkani Chinnadi" | Seetaram | 1:02 |
| 13 | "Devudayya Devudu" | Kasturi Siva Rao | 2:19 |
| 14 | "Raja Ra Na Raja" | S. Varalakshmi | 3:39 |
| 15 | "Navodayam Subhodayam" | Ghantasala | 3:25 |
| 16 | "Neeku Nevaru Leru" | S. Varalakshmi | 3:54 |
| 17 | "Vere Leraya Paramesha" | S. Varalakshmi | 2:16 |
| 18 | "Varala Kuna" | Kasturi Siva Rao | 2:56 |
| 19 | "Varuna Varuna" | S. Varalakshmi | 3:29 |
Box office
- The film ran for more than 100 days in 11 centres in Andhra Pradesh.
- The Silver Jubilee celebrations were held at Jaihind Talkies, Vijayawada on 4 June 1948.
- This film had a 365-day run in Vijayawada.