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Thodi Kodallu

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Thodi Kodallu
Theatrical release poster
Directed byAdurthi Subba Rao
Screenplay byAdurthi Subba Rao
D. Madhusudhana Rao
Acharya Aatreya[a]
Based onNishkruti
by Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay
Produced byD. Madhusudhana Rao
StarringAkkineni Nageswara Rao
Savitri
CinematographyP. S. Selvaraj
Edited byAdurthi Subba Rao
Music byMaster Venu
Production
company
Distributed byNavayuga Films
Release dates
  • 11 January 1957 (1957-01-11) (Telugu)
  • 1 February 1957 (1957-02-01) (Tamil)
[1]
Running time
182 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguagesTelugu
Tamil

Thodi Kodallu (transl. Sisters-in-law) is a 1957 Indian Telugu-language drama film directed and edited by Adurthi Subba Rao who co-wrote the script with D. Madhusudhana Rao and Acharya Aatreya. Madhusudhana Rao produced the film under Annapurna Pictures. It stars Akkineni Nageswara Rao and Savitri, with music composed by Master Venu. The film is based on Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay's Bengali novel Nishkriti, and was simultaneously made as the Tamil film Engal Veettu Mahalakshmi (1957); both films were made simultaneously by the same banner and director, and some of the scenes and artists are the same in both versions. Thodi Kodallu won the Certificate of merit for Best Feature Film in Telugu.[2]

Poster of Tamil version

Plot

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The film begins with a wealthy, conjoined joint family. Advocate Kutumba Rao is his paterfamilias, an introvert & oblivious. He resides with his wife Annapurna and their progeny. Ramanaiah, his younger brother, looks after their farms in the village with his virago wife, Anasuya. Besides, Kutumba Rao raises his cousin Satyam, an idealist who knits benevolent Susheela, and they have a son, Babu. Annapurna & Susheela share more than just a relationship. Annapurna is very fond of Babu, whom she rears above her own. Since she is ailing, Susheela takes up the family tasks and operates them disciplinarily.

After civilizing, Satyam was appointed in their rice mill, led by his venomous distant relative Vaikuntam. Soon, he resigned, being unable to tolerate fraud therein. On the eve of Dasara, they invite Ramanaiah's family when Anasuya envies Susheela's esteem. Ergo, she slowly sows vicious seeds in Annapurna, creating a rift that makes Satyam's family quit, and they walk to the village. Now, Anasuya clutches the household authority and usurps the entire wealth. Parallelly, Vaikuntam entraps Ramanaiah via his amour Navaneetam and addicts him to all vices.

Following his ideals, Satyam cultivates barren lands with Susheela, associates with all the jobless peasants, and conducts communal agriculture. Besides, Ramanaiah & Vaikuntam spoiled the total heisted by Anasuya. They also snatched the amount of a client, Tirupataiah, by forging Kutumba Rao’s signature, which is about to be claimed. After learning it, Satyam clears it by mortgaging Susheela’s jewelry to shield his brother’s honor and handing over the counterfeited document.

Meanwhile, Anasuya’s intrigues break out when Annapurna becomes angry and collapses, making Anasuya reform. It is time for harvest when Ramanaiah & Vaikuntam plot to grab it on behalf of Kutumba Rao. Satyam hinders it, and the government seizes the crop when he summons Kutumba Rao. Being incognizant of the fact, enraged Kutumba Rao heads to the village, where he rebukes and is about to neck out Satyam. Simultaneously, Ramanaiah & Vaikuntam covetously try to destroy the proof but are caught. At that point, Kutumba Rao comprehends the virtues of Satyam & Susheela, welcomes them back, and permanently allocates their lands to the farmers. At last, they return home when Ramanaiah’s family is to exit, and Susheela changes their intention. Finally, the movie ends happily with the family’s reunion.

Cast

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Telugu cast

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Tamil cast

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Dance

Production

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After the success of Donga Ramudu, its producer D. Madhusudhana Rao wanted to continue its success streak by again collaborating with Nageswara Rao and wanted K. V. Reddy to direct the film. However Reddy was busy with prior commitments and suggested Adurthi Subba Rao as director. However Nageswara Rao claimed it was he who suggested the name of Subba Rao as the director.[3]

Being an avid fan of literature, Madhusudhana Rao bought the rights of the Bengali short novel Nishkriti by Sharat Chandra Chattopadhyay. He wrote the screenplay along with Acharya Athreya and Subbarao by retaining the major characters and situations from the original novel while also making changes to suit local sensibilities by bringing changes such as changing character of second brother from lawyer to caretaker of agriculture fields. The film was simultaneously made in Tamil as Enga Veettu Mahalakshmi with the same lead actors and slightly different supporting cast such as Thangavelu and Nambiar replacing Relangi and Jaggayya.[2] Atreya and Sridhar wrote the dialogues for Telugu and Tamil versions respectively. Most of the filming was held at Janapastram, a village near Gudur.[2][3]

Soundtrack

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Music was composed by Master Venu.

Telugu Track List
Song Title Lyrics Singers Length
"Kaarulo Shikarukelle" Acharya Aatreya Ghantasala 3:39
"Shreerastu Shubhamastu" P. Susheela 2:53
"Town Pakkakelloddura" Kosaraju Ghantasala & Jikki 4:48
"Aadutu Paadutu" Ghantasala & P. Susheela 4:22
"Naluguru Kalisi" Sri Sri Ghantasala 3:26
"Kalakaalam Ee Kalata" Tapi Dharma Rao P. Susheela 3:32
"Ententa Dooram" Acharya Aatreya P. Susheela & K. Rani 3:24
"Nee Shoku Choodakunda" Kosaraju Madhavapeddi Satyam & Jikki 3:05
"Gaalipatam Gaalipatam" Kosaraju Ghantasala, P. Susheela & K. Rani 4:04
"Bhale Maavayya" Sri Sri Jikki 2:45
Tamil Track List[4]
Song Singers Lyrics Length
"Kaarile Savaari Seiyyum" Ghantasala Udumalai Narayana Kavi 04:00
"Sendhiru Maadhum Kalai Maadhum" T. V. Rathnam & group 03:15
"Pattanamthaan Pogalaamadi" Seerkazhi Govindarajan & P. Susheela 04:30
"Aadi Paadi Velai Senjaa" Ghantasala & P. Susheela 02:37
"Uzhudhundu Vaazhvaare...Naattukku Poruttham" T. M. Soundararajan & group 05:14
"Pala Kaalam Vethanai" P. Susheela 02:58
"Pollaadha Payalai Serthida Maattom" P. Susheela & K. Rani K. S. Gopalakrishnan 02:15
"Mannai Nambi Maram Irukka" S. C. Krishnan & Jikki 03:27
"Kaatthaadi Kaatthaadi" Ghantasala, P. Susheela & K. Rani 02:59
"Pushan Sollai Kedkaame" K. A. Thangavelu
"Vilakketri Vaikkavum Illai" Jikki A. Maruthakasi 02:47

Awards

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At the 5th National Film Awards, Thodi Kodallu won the Certificate of Merit for Second Best Feature Film in Telugu[5]

Release

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Both Thodi Kodallu and Enga Veettu Mahalakshmi became commercially successful and ran for hundred days in five centres.[2][3]

Notes

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  1. ^ Aatreya is also credited for dialogues.

References

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  1. ^ "Engal Veettu Mahalakshmi". The Indian Express. 1 February 1957. p. 1. Retrieved 4 January 2022 – via Google News Archive.
  2. ^ a b c d Narasimham, M. L. (19 February 2015). "Blast from the past: Todikodallu (1957)". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 25 August 2021. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
  3. ^ a b c Palakodety (24 December 2005). "Nostalgia - Thodi Kodallu". Cinegoer. Archived from the original on 10 January 2006. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
  4. ^ Neelamegam, G. (December 2014). Thiraikalanjiyam — Part 1 (in Tamil) (1st ed.). Chennai: Manivasagar Publishers. p. 123.
  5. ^ "State Awards for Films" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. 16 April 1958. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 November 2013. Retrieved 2 September 2011.
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