Rechukka

Rechukka
Tamil: நாட்டிய தாரா(Naattiya Thara)

Film poster
Directed by P. Pullaiah
Produced by Ghantasala Krishnamurthy
Written by Ghantasala Balaramaiah (story)
Malladi Ramakrishna Sastry (screenplay, dialogues and lyrics)
Starring N.T. Rama Rao
Anjali Devi
Devika
Mukkamala
Nagabhushanam
Peketi Sivaram
Music by Ashwathama
Cinematography P. L. Roy
Edited by G. D. Joshi
Production
company
Revathi studios
Release date
 23 May 1954
Country India
Language Telugu
Budget Rs. 3-4 lakhs

Rechukka is a 1954 Telugu language film directed by Ghantasala Balaramaiah and P. Pullaiah and produced by Ghantasala Krishnamurthy. N. T. Rama Rao acted in the lead role as prince. Devika debuted in the film as Princess. The story was inspired by The Prince Who Was a Thief (1951) starring Tony Curtis.[1]

The film was remade into Tamil titled Naattiya Thara[2]. The Tamil version was released in 1955.[3] Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass wrote the dialogues and lyrics for the Tamil version while G. Ramanathan scored the music.[4] It was also a commercial hit.

Aroordas, who was a successful screenplay writer later, started his career as an assistant to Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass in 1955 and assisted in writing the dialogues for this film.[5] He has said that he named his first child as Arokyamary and also gave a pet name, Thara Devi in remembrance of the film Nattiya Thara.[6]

Plot

The story is set in a kingdom. The chief minister wants his daughter to marry the King's only son, the future prince. The King refused the idea, and the angry minister captures and arrests the King and runs the Kingdom. A loyal countryman Veeranna (Nagabhushanam) takes the Prince and leaves him in the forest away from the evil minister's hands, but gets captured himself. The Prince, grows up as the forest chief's adopted son Kannayya (N.T. Rama Rao). Veeranna's daughter is Nana (Anjali Devi). Both of them grows up as thieves. The old King escapes finally and stays at Nana's house. Nana steals the Princess Lalita Devi's (Devika) necklace and Kannayya returns it to her. The princess falls in love with him. Nana also falls for the Kannayya too. He gets to know his true identity, defeats his enemies and gets back his Kingdom.

Cast

Actor Character
Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao Kannaiah / Yuvaraju
Anjali Devi Nana, daughter of Veeranna
Mukkamala Krishna Murthy King
Prameela (Devika) Lalita Devi
Nagabhushanam Chitti Veeranna
Sadashiva Rao Minister
Peketi Sivaram Annayya
Jogarao Chandrayya
Y. V. Raju Nagulu
Akkineni Nageshwara Rao Cameo appearance
Kanchi Narasimham
Lingam Subba Rao
Kakinada Rajaratnam

Production

The Rechukka film is an outcome of Ghantasala Balaramaiah, Telugu film producer of Pratibha Pictures and General Manager and Production Executive of the company Thopalli Venkata Sundara Shivarama Sastry (better known as Pratibha Sastry). Sastry has seen the English film entitled The Prince Who Was a Thief in Mount Road. Balaramaiah prepared a story to suit local audience. The story was given to Malladi Ramakrishna Sastry, who wrote the screenplay, dialogues and lyrics for the film.

The shooting was started with N. T. Rama Rao, Anjali Devi and supporting staff and Ashwathamma as Music director. After shooting three reels including two songs, Ghantasala Balaramaiah died suddenly due to Heart attack on 29 October 1953. Ghantasala Krishna Murthy, the elder son of Balaramaiah has taken the charge of Pratibha pictures. Nageshwara Rao wished to be a part of the film after the demise of his mentor Balaramaiah. He made a cameo appearance. The film is completed with the financial involvement of Sunderlal Nahata and director P. Pullaiah.[2]

Most of the film was shot at Revathi Studios at Madras. Prakash Studios was used for few important scenes. The forest scenes are pictured at Jamal Gardens (Now Vijaya Gardens).

For the role of Lalitha Devi, they wanted to take new actress. They have chosen Prameela, the grand daughter of Raghupathi Venkaiah to portray the character besides N.T.Ramarao. She changed her name as Devika and became a big star later years.

Soundtrack

All the tunes for all the songs for both languages are the same.

Telugu songs

The music was composed by G. Aswathama. Lyrics by Malladi Ramakrishna Sastry.

No. Song Singers Lyrics Length (m:ss)
1 Aa Manasemo Aa Sogasemo Jikki Malladi Ramakrishna Sastry 03:07
2 Aaye Sambarame P. Leela 03:42
3 Ayyo Bangaru Saami P. Leela 04:12
4 Bhale Bhala Paavurama Ghantasala 03:12
5 Ekkadidi Ee Andam Evvaridi Ee Andam Jikki 03:13
6 Etu Choosina Bootakale Evaraadina Naatakale P. Leela 04:04
7 Neesari Nevanamma Vayyari P. Leela 03:37
8 Ontarontariga Poyedana Ghantasala 02:33
9

Tamil songs

Music was Scored by G. Ramanathan for one song Paadi Panivome that he himself sang. Other songs were rendered by singers as per the same tune set by Aswathama in the Telugu version. Lyrics by: Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass[4]

No. Song Singers Lyrics Length (m:ss)
1 Paadi Panivome G. Ramanathan Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass 03:17
2 P. Leela 03:42
3 P. Leela 04:12
4 Maadappura Paaduthammaa Ghantasala 03:12
5 Jikki 03:13
6 P. Leela 04:04
7 P. Leela 03:37
8 Thulli Thulli Enge Poraai Thaaraa Ghantasala 02:33
9 Yaengiduthe Endrum M. S. Anuradha 02:55

Box-office

The film was commercial hit and ran for more than 100 days in three centres in Andhra Pradesh. Centenary celebrations are organized at Vijayawada.

References

  1. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20160131175717/http://ntr.telugudesam.org/paperslides/ntr-rechukka.html
  2. 1 2 M. L. Narasimhan (18 April 2014). "RECHUKKA (1954)". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 28 May 2015. Retrieved 7 January 2017.
  3. ↑ Film News Anandan (23 October 2004). Sadhanaigal Padaitha Thamizh Thiraipada Varalaru [History of Landmark Tamil Films] (in Tamil). Chennai: Sivakami Publishers.
  4. 1 2 Naattiya Thara song book. Chandrasekaran Press, 3 Perumal Mudali Road, Madras-14.
  5. ↑ "Kavinjar Thanjai Ramaiyah Das – Tamil Cinema Poets". Archived from the original on 6 January 2016. Retrieved 7 January 2016.
  6. ↑ "எம்.ஜி.ஆருடன் முதல் சந்திப்பு- ஆரூர் தாஸ்" [First meeting with M. G. R. - Aroor Das]. Archived from the original on 7 January 2016. Retrieved 7 January 2016.
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