Palletoori Pilla (transl. Village Girl) is a 1950 Indian Telugu-language film produced and directed by B. A. Subba Rao under the Sobhanachala & B. A. Subba Rao Joint Productions banner. It stars N. T. Rama Rao, Akkineni Nageswara Rao and Anjali Devi, with music was composed by P. Adinarayana Rao.[1] The film was loosely based on the English play Pizaro by Richard Brinsley Sheridan.[2]
| Palletoori Pilla | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | B. A. Subba Rao |
| Written by | Tapi Dharma Rao (dialogues) |
| Screenplay by | B. A. Subba Rao |
| Story by | B. A. Subba Rao Tapi Dharma Rao P. Adinarayana Rao |
| Produced by | B. A. Subba Rao Raja Saheb of Mirzapuram (Presents) |
| Starring | N. T. Rama Rao Akkineni Nageswara Rao Anjali Devi |
| Cinematography | D. S. Kotnis |
| Edited by | K. A. Sreeramulu |
| Music by | P. Adinarayana Rao |
Production company | Sobhanachala & B. A. Subba Rao Joint Productions |
| Distributed by | Poorna films |
Release date |
|
Running time | 176 minutes |
| Country | India |
| Language | Telugu |
Palletoori Pilla was the first lead role for Rama Rao who had earlier acted in a minor role in Mana Desam (1949). It was blockbuster and was the highest grossing Telugu film of the year, and both Subba Rao and Rama Rao gained a good reputation from it.[1][2] The film also marks the first collaboration between Nageswara Rao and Rama Rao who further acted in 14 films together thereafter.[2]
The film was dubbed into Tamil as Grama Penn which became a hit.[2] It was later remade in Hindi as Insaniyat (1955).[1]
Plot
editSantha is a beautiful village girl who grew up with her cousin Vasanth. Vasanth has loved Santha without her knowledge since childhood. A dangerous dacoit, Kampanna Dora, frequently raids and loots the villages in the nearby territory.
Once, during their attack, Santha slaps Kampanna's principal associate, Jayanth, convincingly arguing regarding their lifestyle and livelihood. The incident makes Jayanth reform and decide to leave the realm when a rift arises between Jayanth and Kampanna, and he is imprisoned. But Jayanth absconds with the help of Thatha, a casuist in their squad, and reaches Santha's village.
At that juncture, he shields Vasanth and Santha against an onslaught of bulls when the villagers embrace and shelter him. After that, Jayanth aegis and develops self-defense skills in them when Santha starts loving him. Knowing this, an enraged Vasanth tries to knock out Jayanth, but after learning Santha's real intention, he couples them up. Right now, Kampanna traipses to destroy the village by slaughtering Thatha when the villagers crush him.
Time passes, and Santha gives birth to a baby boy. They are presently celebrating a folk festival when Kampanna ploys and captures Jayanth. Then, Santha denounces Vasanth when he affirms to safeguard her husband and proceeds towards Kampanna's fort. Meanwhile, anxious Santha also searches for Jayanth when Kampanna's men catch the baby. At last, Vasanth shields them by sacrificing his life and forgives Kampanna, making him repent. Finally, the movie ends, and it is shown that Vasanth's soul blesses the villagers.
Cast
editCast according to the song book
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|
Soundtrack
editMusic composed by P. Adinarayana Rao. Music released on Audio Company.
| Song Title | Lyrics | Singers | length |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Mahatma" | Tapi Dharma Rao | Ghantasala | 1:35 |
| "Premamaya" | Tapi Dharma Rao | Pithapuram | 2:51 |
| "Shantavanti Pilla" | Tapi Dharma Rao | Ghantasala | 2:49 |
| "Dheerakampana" | P. Adinarayana Rao | Jikki | 2:42 |
| "Vaddura Baboi" | Tapi Dharma Rao | Pithapuram | 2:51 |
| "Chinnari Papayi" | Tapi Dharma Rao | Jikki | 3:05 |
| "Vuntenemi" | Tapi Dharma Rao | Jikki | 2:26 |
| "Chitapata Chinukulu" | Tapi Dharma Rao | Pithapuram, Jikki | 2:08 |
| "Palleseemala Bratuke" | Tapi Dharma Rao | Jikki | 2:58 |
Production
editPalletoori Pilla marked the first on-screen collaboration between N. T. Rama Rao and Akkineni Nageswara Rao. Initially, Kalyanam Raghuramayya was cast in the lead role, but he was later replaced by Nageswara Rao. While this film was the first to be shot with N. T. Rama Rao in a lead role, his second film, Shavukaru (1950), was released before Palletoori Pilla.[1][2]
During filming, Rama Rao performed his own stunts, notably in an action sequence involving a bull. Although the director advised using a stunt double, he insisted on doing the scene himself. Rama Rao was instructed to only catch the bull's horns, but he fully engaged in the fight, resulting in a fall that fractured his right hand. Despite sustaining two fractures, he continued shooting the next day, covering his bandages with full sleeves.[1][2][3]
Box office
editThe film ran for more than 100 days in 7 centres in Andhra Pradesh.[3]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e "Nostalgia - Palletoori Pilla (1950)". CineGoer.com. 11 September 2007. Archived from the original on 19 September 2016. Retrieved 9 September 2016.
- ^ a b c d e f Narasimham, M. L. (11 November 2012). "Palletoori pilla (1950)". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 9 March 2013. Retrieved 9 September 2016.
- ^ a b "N.T. Rama Rao (1923 - 1995): A messiah of the masses". The Hindu. 9 December 2002. Archived from the original on 11 June 2003. Retrieved 9 September 2016.
Bibliography
edit- Naati 101 Chitralu (Telugu hit films released between 1931 and 1965), S. V. Rama Rao, Kinnera Publications, Hyderabad, 2006, pages: 52–3.