Missamma

Missamma
Directed by L. V. Prasad
Written by Pingali Nagendra Rao
Starring N.T. Rama Rao
Akkineni Nageswara Rao
Jamuna
Savitri
S. V. Ranga Rao
Relangi Venkataramaiah
Ramana Reddy
Music by Saluri Rajeshwara Rao
Release date(s) 1955
Country India
Language Telugu

Missamma (మిస్సమ్మ) is a Telugu movie, released in the year 1955 featuring Nandamuri Taraka Rama rao (NTR) and Akkineni Nageswara Rao (ANR). It was produced under Vijaya banner and was directed by L. V. Prasad. The title character, Missamma, was played by the actress Savitri. Missamma is the movie adaptation of Yotish Banerjee's classic Bengali comedy Manmoyee Girls School. The dialogues and song lyrics were written by Pingali Nagendra Rao and sung by A. M. Rajah, P. Leela and P. Susheela. This film was remade in Tamil as Missiyamma and in Hindi as Miss Mary.

Contents

The movie's undercurrent themes

"M. T. Rao" (pun intended - to be read as "empty rao") and Mary are foils for each other - Mary's aggressive personality and M. T. Rao's meekness are frequently juxtaposed. Mary is a staunch Christian in this movie, and in many scenes complains about Hindu customs and the Hindu pantheon. M. T. Rao, on the other hand, is knowledgeble and accepting of several religions, having read the Bible, Koran, Bhagavad Gita, and Rig Veda. The undercurrent religion theme is best exemplified when Paul, Mary's father says that, "as rivers join at the sea, all the religions are paths that take the devotees to the Almighty".

Soundtrack

The songs in the movie are very melodious and situational.

Missamma
Soundtrack album by Saluri Rajeswara Rao
Released 1955
Language Telugu

Plot

NTR is an unemployeed lonely man. He tutors a kid of a govt officer, who is also taught by Mary (Savithri). The govt officer is transferred to another town and the two lose their jobs. NTR has no job and is worried about earning for a living and Savithri's family has debts (to Ramana Reddy) which have to be paid off. Meanwhile, SVR is a landlord in a small village who runs a charity school for village kids in the name of his missing daughter (Mahalakshmi). He has a daughter (Jamuna) and nephew (ANR). ANR aspires to be a private detective and Jamuna wants to learn traditional music and dance. SVR advertises for teachers, preferably married couple (with knowledge of music and dance to teach his daughter) for his school. NTR persuades Savithri to accept the offer - acting as a couple - as they have no other choice. They along with NTR's accomplice Relangi reach the place and get the jobs to run the school. After many a petty clashes, NTR and Savithri fall in love. Meanwhile ANR starts search for SVR's missing daughter, who is lost 16 yrs ago while she was four years old. Ramana Reddy who wants to marry Savithri (under the pretext of clearing the loan) enters the show. Though Savitri's parents keep the whereabouts of Savithri a secret, he steals the letter written by Savithri to her parents and also a pendant which has been with Savithri's family since her childhood. The pendant happens to belong to Mahalakshmi (missing daughter of SVR) when she was a 4 yr girl. In the end, ANR manages to find the truth that the Savithri is none other than the lost girl and reunites the family.

Tamil version

Tamil: This film has been made in Tamil with again Savithri in the lead role. This movie was titled Missiamma

Hindi version

Hindi: The film has been made in Hindi too with Meena Kumari in the lead role as Miss Mary.

External links

Missamma at the Internet Movie Database