Ramadasu

Ramadasu
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Chittor V. Nagaiah
Produced by	Chittor V. Nagaiah
Written by	Yadavalli Lakshmi Narayana Malladi Satyanarayana (dialogues)
Screenplay by	Chittor V. Nagaiah
Based on	Life of Kancharla Gopanna
Starring	Chittor V. Nagaiah N. T. Rama Rao Akkineni Nageswara Rao Gummadi Shivaji Ganesan Anjali Devi
Music by	Ashwathama Chittor V. Nagaiah (Supervision)
Cinematography	K. S. Prasad Jagirdaar
Edited by	G. D. Joshi A. S. Tangaveelu
Production company	V. N. Films[1]
Release date	23 December 1964 (1964-12-23)
Running time	180 mins
Country	India
Language	Telugu

Ramadasu is a 1964 Telugu biographical devotional film based on the life of Kancharla Gopanna, produced and directed by Chittor V. Nagaiah on V. N. Films banner. Starring Chittor V. Nagaiah in the lead role while N. T. Rama Rao, Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Shivaji Ganesan, Anjali Devi in special appearances and music composed by Ashwathama. The blockbuster film has garnered the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu, and has garnered several state awards.^[2]

Plot

Kancherla Gopanna’s uncles, Akkanna and Madanna are ministers in Golconda ruled by Tanisha. Ramadasu marries Akkanna’s daughter Kamala. In Bhadrachalam, Gopanna meets Kabir, a Rama devotee who renames him Ramadasu. Impressed by his selfless service, Tanisha appoints Ramadasu as the Tehsildar, the tax collector of Bhadrachalam. Ramadasu spends the tax money to build a temple for Rama. The letter he sends explaining this does not reach the Tanisha, due to a plot hatched by the Dharmakarta. A furious Tanish has Ramadasu imprisoned but on the day of his hanging, Lord Rama and Lakshmana appear in disguise before Tanisha, and pay him the amount due from Ramadasu. Tanisha realizes his folly and rushes to save Ramadasu from the gallows.

Cast

• Chittor V. Nagaiah as Kancharla Gopanna / Ramadasu
• Gummadi as Kabir das
• Relangi
• C.S.R
• Mudigonda Lingamurthy
• A. V. Subba Rao
• Kannamba
• Rushyendramani
• Tanguturi Suryakumari
• Rajasree
• Prabhavathi

Special appearances

• N. T. Rama Rao as Lord Rama
• Akkineni Nageswara Rao as Lord Vishnu
• Shivaji Ganesan as Lakshmana
• Anjali Devi as Goddess Lakshmi

Crew

• Art: C. Ramaraju
• Choreography: Vempati
• Dialogues: Yadavalli Lakshmi Narayana, Malladi Satyanarayana
• Lyrics: Samudrala Jr, Ramadasu Keerthanalu
• Playback: Ghantasala, P. Susheela, Jikki, M. Balamuralikrishna, Mohammed Rafi, Madhavapeddi Satyam, Chittor V. Nagaiah, P. Nageswara Rao, Sirkazhi Govindarajan, Sundaram, Soumitri, Malik, A. P. Komala, T. G. Kamala Devi, Soolamangalam Sisters
• Music: Aswadhamma
• Editing: G.D.Joshi, A.S.Tangaveelu
• Cinematography: K.S.Prasad, Jagirdaar
• Music Supersion - Screenplay - Producer - Director: Chittor V. Nagaiah
• Banner: V. N. Films
• Release Date: 23 December 1964

Soundtrack

Music composed by Aswadhama. Music released on HMV Audio Company.

Awards

National Film Awards

• National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu - 1964^[2]

Others

• VCDs & DVDs on - VOLGA Videos, Hyderabad

References