Keelu Gurram
Keelu Gurram | |
---|---|
Directed by | Raja of Mirzapur |
Written by | Tapi Dharma Rao |
Starring |
Anjali Devi Akkineni Nageswara Rao Laxmirajyam T. Kanakam Surabhi Kamalabai Relangi Venkata Ramaiah A. V. Subba Rao |
Music by | Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao |
Cinematography | D. L. Narayana |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 220 minutes |
Country | India |
Language | Telugu |
Keelugurram or Keelu Gurram (English title: The Magic Horse) is a 1949 Telugu film produced and directed by Raja of Mirzapur under Sobhanachala Pictures.[1] Noted writer Tapi Dharma Rao wrote the story, dialogues and lyrics for the film. This is the debut film of Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao as music director. It was also dubbed into Tamil and released as Maya Kudhirai.[2] This is also the first Telugu film dubbed into another language, Tamil titled Mayakkudirai[3]
Plot
King of Vidarbha is attracted to a Yakshini called Guna Sundari (Anjali Devi) when he goes out for hunting with his aide (Relangi). He brings her to his kingdom as the second wife. She is a demon who eats elephants and horses in the fort at night and leaving bones. According to her plan, she manages to shift the blame onto the Queen. The king punishes the pregnant queen and asks his commander to kill her by taking into a forest. But the commander feels sorry for her. He does not kill her but blinds her by removing her eyeballs and take them as a proof that he killed her. He handover them to Guna Sundari. She secretly keeps them with her sister.
She gives birth to a son Vikrama (Akkineni Nageswara Rao) and was rescued by forest dwellers. He grows up there without knowing his past and learns all fighting skills. One day, because of a petty fight with the son of Chieftain of their tribe, he comes to know about his past through his mother. He leaves the forest without telling his mother.
In the kingdom, there is an announcement that the princess of Anga kingdom was kidnapped by an unknown witch, if anybody finds and bring her back, they will be awarded half of the kingdom and the princess herself as a bride. Three intelligent people in the city a Fore teller, a blacksmith, and a priest wish to win the reward. Through their magical powers, they find that the princess is hidden in a very far away across three oceans on a mountain surrounded by dangerous creatures. To reach there, they design a Mechanical horse (Keelu Gurram) which can fly. After they finish making it, they are afraid of riding on it. So they take it to the king and asks him if there is any brave youngman in the kingdom who can ride on it.
Vikrama just reaches the kingdom and rides on Keelu Gurram (Magic horse), he wins the king's attention. He is also able to stop the Yakshini from eating the horses and elephants with the help of that horse. He was given the Sainyadhikari (Chief of Army) position due to his bravery. The Yakshini now finding it difficult to fulfill her wishes, wants to get rid of Vikrama somehow. She pretends that she has a severe headache and asks the king to send Vikram to bring a medicinal herb for her headache. So he set on to the journey on his magical horse. On the way, he saves a queen(Lakshmirajyam) who is about to be killed by a cruel conjurer in order to possess great powers. He rests in her place for some time. She finds out a small note in which it is written that "Dear elder Sister, whoever brings this letter to you, is causing me a lot of trouble. As soon as he hand over this letter to you, gobble him up". She suspects something and changes the letter so that he will be treated well by her.
Vikrama tricks her and get hold of the princess, his mother's eyeballs and also two insects, which hold the life of Yakshinis. On the way back he is deceived by the three makers the magical horse but manage to survive. He reaches the kingdom, while his mother is sentenced to death by hanging. He kills Mohini and saves his mother and restores her dignity.
Cast
- Anjali Devi as Guna Sundari, a Yakshini
- Akkineni Nageshwara Rao as Vikrama
- T. Kanakam
- Suryashree
- Balamani
- G. Varalakshmi
- Lakshmirajyam Jr.
- Surabhi Kamalabai
- Gangaratnam
- M. Subbulu
- A. V. Subba Rao
- Relangi Venkataramaiah as helper of the king
- Valisetty Koteswara Rao
- D. Satyanarayana
Songs
- Bhaagyamu Naadenoyi (Lyrics: Tapi Dharma Rao; Singer: Krishna Veni)
- Choochi Teeravakada Naa Chadarangamu Vechichoodavalera (Lyrics: Tapi Dharma Rao; Singer: Krishna Veni)
- Enta Anandabayenaha Madikenta (Lyrics: Tapi Dharma Rao; Singer: V. Sarala Rao)
- Enta Krupamative Bhavani Enta Dayanidhive (Singers: Ghantasala)
- Evaru Chesina Karma Varanubhavimpaka Edikainanu Tappadanna (Singer: Ghantasala)
- Gaali Kanna Gola Kanna Pada Biraana (Lyrics: Tapi Dharma Rao; Singer: Ghantasala)
- Kaadusuma Kala Kaadusuma (Lyrics: Tapi Dharma Rao; Singers: Ghantasala and V. Sarala Rao)
- Mana Kali Chettuki Mana Kanna Talliki Mokkulanu Chellincha Ravoyi (Singer: Ghantasala group)
- Payanamaye Priyathama Nanumarachipokuma (Lyrics: Tapi Dharma Rao;Singer: Ghantasala)
- Sobhana Giri Nilaya Dayamaya (Lyrics: Tapi Dharma Rao; Singer: Krishna Veni)
- Teliyavasama Palukatarama (Lyrics: Tapi Dharma Rao;Singers: Ghantasala and Krishna Veni)
- Yentha Krupamathive Bhavani (Lyrics: Tapi Dharma Rao; Singers: Ghantasala and P. Sridevi)
Box office
- The film ran for more than 100 days in 11 centers in Andhra Pradesh.[4]
References
- ↑ Rama Rao, S. V. Naati 101 Chitralu. Kinnera Publications. pp. 42–43.
- ↑ Eenadu Daily, Eenadu Sunday - 28 April 2013, 100 years of Indian Cinema, Early Tollywood, Page 9
- ↑ Narasimham, M. L. "Keelugurram (1949)". thehindu.com. Kasturi and Sons. Retrieved 23 July 2016.
- ↑ http://www.idlebrain.com/trade/records/anr100days.html