Tilottama is a 1951 Indian swashbuckling adventure fantasy film, produced and directed by Raja Saheb of Mirzapur under the Sobhanachala Pictures banner. It stars Akkineni Nageswara Rao and Anjali Devi, with music composed by P. Adinarayana Rao. The film was simultaneously shot in Telugu and Tamil, with the latter being titled Mayamalai (transl. Mystic Chain). Tilottama was a box-office disaster.[2]

Tilottama
Theatrical release poster
Directed byRaja Saheb of Mirzapur
Written byTapi Dharma Rao (dialogues)
Screenplay byCh. Narayana Murthy
Story byCh. Narayana Murthy
Produced byRaja Saheb of Mirzapur
StarringAkkineni Nageswara Rao
Anjali Devi
CinematographyD. L. Naryana
Edited byCh Narayana Murthy
Music byP. Adinarayana Rao
Production
company
Release dates
  • 16 February 1951 (1951-02-16)
(Telugu)
  • 16 March 1951 (1951-03-16)[1]
(Tamil)
CountryIndia
LanguageTelugu

Plot

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This plot is about the Telugu version.
The film begins with Deva Datta, son of a florist, Haridas and, falls for a court dancer, Vasantha Sena. Once, while Deva Datta is asleep, a heavenly angel, Tilottama, spots, craves and abducts him. Whereat, Chandrakanth, who lures her, senses it. So, she backs Deva Datta by associating with her doppelganger Tilottama on earth, daughter of King Soorasena, by according him a ring to meet her.

Princess Tilottama also crushes & knits Deva Datta without her parents' knowledge, and she conceives. One night, when Deva Dattudu thinks of the angel Tilottama, he wears the ring and lands therein. Chandrakanth catches them redhandedly, curses them to be hunters and be oblivious to their past. Besides, Haridas & Vasantha Sena are in quest of Deva Datta, and Princess Tilottama feels sorrow that knows no bounds. So, her father prepares the picture of Deva Datta and announces rewards to those who could get him.

Ganapathi, Deva Datta's friend, views it, notifies Vasantha Sena and gains a post as a musician in the fort. The chief commander, Vijaya Simha, lusts for her, which she denies. So, as enranged, he tries to capture her, but accidentally, his men seize Tilottama and leave her in the forest, where she delivers a baby boy. Fortuitously, Haridas gives her shelter. Parallelly, Deva Datta & angel Tilottama lead a jollity life as hunters. Vasantha Sena has to pay the death penalty for the missing princess, and she is dragged to the forest for execution, where Deva Datta shields her. Anyhow, he cannot detect her due to curse and quits ruthlessly.

Meanwhile, Angel Tilottama is banned from religious rituals since she is childless. In distress, she consults a sorceress who suggests she offer a child to Kaali for progeny. Tilottama prevails over her husband, and Deva Datta steals his kid born to Princess Tilottama. Hereupon, She chases him, Vasantha Sena & Haridas also follow them. All of them approach the temple; they try to stop killing the baby but are goaded to it by Deva Datta. At last, Kali appears to Princess Tilotamma's devotion, retrieves her child, and relieves Deva Datta & angel Tilotamma from the curse. Finally, the movie ends happily, with the Goddess blessing them all.

Cast

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Poster of Tamil version
Telugu version
  • Akkineni Nageswara Rao as Deva Dattudu
  • Anjali Devi as Tilottama
  • A. V. Subba Rao as Vijaya Simha
  • M. C. Raghavan as Haridasu
  • Sadasiva Rao as Chandrakanth
  • M. Kondayya as Ganapathi
  • K. V. Subba Rao as Setty
  • Sundara Rao as Soorasena
  • Ram Murthy as Venkatesam
  • Aadi Seshayya as Mantri
  • Babji as Lambu
  • Eemaan as Jambu
  • Kishan as Pingalla
  • P. M. Naidu as Adhikaari
  • Suryaprabha as Vasantha Sena
  • Vijayalakshmi as Chaarulata
  • Kanaakam as Maalathi
  • Vaanilakshmi as Manjari
  • Gangaratnam as Setty's wife
  • Chitti as Hema
  • Shanta as Sarala
  • Pushpalata as Vakula
  • Saroja as Goddess Kali
Tamil version

List adapted from the database of Film News Anandan.[1]

Soundtrack

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Music was composed by P. Adinarayana Rao. Lyrics were written by Tapi Dharma Rao.

Telugu version
Song Title Singers Length
"Sobhanagiri Nilaya"
"Valapularaju Yeedi"
"Puthutalaikham"
"Aakasamantha"
"Manasulu Kalasi"
"Sundara Nandakumara"
"Leevidi Leevidi"
"Darisanameeya Raava"
"Deva Deva"
"Preme Paramani"
"Dhaname Punyam"
"Sadhuseyakandi"
"Kaavava Deva!"
"Oo Landakaari Bangaru Bomma"
"Kaaruchikatlalo"
"Jaya Jaya Janani Jagadamba"
Tamil version

The lyrics were penned by Papanasam Sivan, Rajagopala Iyer and Narasimhan. Playback singers are M. L. Vasanthakumari, P. Leela and Jikki.[3]

Song Singer/s Lyricist Duration (m:ss)
"Sobana Giri Nilaiya Dhayaaman"
"Mana Mohanaangkiye" Narasimhan
"Endhan Manam Polave"
"Poothu Thazhaikkum Poongkaavum"
"Kaadhalukinaiyo Ulaga Saamraajyam"
"Nin Thiru Malaradi Naan Maraven" Papanasam Sivan
"Dharisanam Tharuvaayo"
"Manamarindhor Pizhai Seikilaen"
"Parithaabam Agalaadha Jagath Padhiye"
"Thoththu Ponaayaa Thoo Thoththu Ponaayaa" Rajagopala Iyer
"Koodiye Koodiye Koottam Thaanaaga"
"Paarka Paarka Azhagaana Penne"

References

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  1. ^ a b "1951 – மாயமாலை – சோபனாசலா (திலோத்தமா – தெ)" [1951 – Mayamalai – Sobhanachala (Tilottama – te)]. Lakshman Sruthi (in Tamil). Archived from the original on 17 June 2017. Retrieved 27 June 2020.
  2. ^ Nathan, Archana (15 September 2017). "KV Reddy, director of 'Pathala Bhairavi' and 'Mayabazar', was the original fantasy movie king". Scroll.in. Archived from the original on 1 September 2024. Retrieved 3 October 2022. ..... the disastrous performance of Tilottama at the box office made the industry nervous .....
  3. ^ Neelamegam, G. (December 2014). Thiraikalanjiyam — Part 1 (in Tamil) (1st ed.). Chennai: Manivasagar Publishers. p. 24.
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