| Palnati Yuddham | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | G. Ramineedu |
| Written by | Vempati Sadasivabrahmam (story / dialogues) |
| Screenplay by | G. Ramineedu |
| Produced by | T. Hanumantha Rao Y. Lakshmaiah Chowdary D. Suryanarayana |
| Starring | N. T. Rama Rao Bhanumathi |
| Cinematography | C. Nageswara Rao |
| Edited by | Gopal |
| Music by | S. Rajeswara Rao |
Production company | Sri Anurupa Films |
Release date |
|
Running time | 182 mins |
| Country | India |
| Language | Telugu |
Palnati Yuddham (transl. The Battle of Palnadu) is a 1966 Indian Telugu-language historical war film directed by G. Ramineedu.[1] It stars N. T. Rama Rao, Bhanumathi with music composed by S. Rajeswara Rao. The film is based on the Battle of Palnadu which occurred in Palnadu region in c. 1180 CE.[2] It was produced by T. Hanumantha Rao, Y. Lakshmaiah Chowdary, and D. Suryanarayana under the Sri Anurupa Films banner. The film was first made under the same title in 1947. It received the Certificate of Merit for Best Feature Film in Telugu at the 13th National Film Awards.[3]
Plot
The film begins with Palnadu's Chief Minister Brahmanaidu and his wife Ithamba being blessed with a baby boy after many years. They name the child Balachandra and at the naming ceremony the entire capital city Gurajala was filled with joy. King Nalagamaraju himself visited along with his brother Narasimharaju and their stepmother Vidhyala Devi. But unfortunately, according to the child's horoscope, the astrologers predict that he would create huge destruction of war in Palnadu. So, Brahmanaidu orders his henchmen to kill the child, but the child was protected by Brahmanaidu's brother-in-law Kannamma Naidu, who secretly raised him.
At the same time, Palnadu saw flash floods. Progressive-minded Brahmanaidu allows Scheduled Caste people Harijans entry into temples and appoints a Harijan, Kannama Dasu as his commander and chief. This irks the upper caste people's head Gopamantri, so he decides to take revenge against Brahmanaidu, for which he uses a powerful woman, Nayakuralu Nagamma. Nagamma has an edict that she can rule the kingdom for three days, which was given by King Anuguraju. Using the edict, Nagamma creates a lot of destruction within the kingdom and also corrupts King Nalagamaraju's mind, due to which Brahmanaidu has to leave his position.
On hearing this, Raja Maata Vidyaladevi also decides to leave the kingdom, she asks Nalagamaraju to divide the kingdom and give the share to his son Malidevadulu. So, Macharla has been given to Malideva. Malideva and Vidhyala Devi along with her brother Kommaraju leave for Macharla. Years roll by, and under Brahmanaidu's guidance, Macharla develops as another progressive capital that hurts Nagamma. Here she plans to grab the Macharla kingdom by creating a conspiracy. She performs Nalagamaraju's daughter Peerindevi's marriage with Kommaraju's son Alaraju. The next day after the marriage ceremony, Nagamma incites Malideva for a rooster fight (Kodi Pandalu) on the condition that whoever loses the gamble must leave the kingdom and live incognito for seven years. Nagamma cheats to win and Malideva has to leave his kingdom.
Meanwhile, Brahmanaidu discovers that his son Balachandra is alive and he again tries to kill him. But at the request of his wife and brother-in-law, he calms down and accepts Balachandra as his son. Concurrently, Balachandra's marriage is performed with Kanamma Naidu's daughter Maguva Manchala. Time passes, and after the exile of seven years, Brahmanaidu sends Alaraju as a mediator for negotiations to give back their kingdom to Malideva. Using Narasimharaju as a weapon, Nagamma kills Alaraju by poisoning, Peerindevi also makes Sathi with him, and before dying she takes a word from Balachandra to kill Narasimharaju. Brahmanaidu sends another person to negotiate on the condition that to give back the kingdom with Narasimharaju's head. But the negotiations fail and the battle begins at Karampuudi, leaving Brahmanaidu, Nagamma, Nalagamaraju, and Kanamma Dasu, everyone dies in the war. In the end, Nagamma also realizes her mistake and bows her head down before Brahmanaidu. Finally, Brahmanaidu hands over the kingdom to Nalagamaraju, making Nagamma chief minister and Kanamma Dasu as chief commander, and leaves for the forest for penance.
Cast
- N. T. Rama Rao as Palnati Brahmanaidu
- Bhanumathi as Nayakuralu Nagamma
- Kanta Rao as Alaraju
- Haranath as Balachandrudu
- Gummadi as Nalagaama Raju
- Rajanala as Narasimha Raju
- M. Balaiah as Malidevadulu
- Mikkilineni as Kannama Naidu
- Mukkamala as Kommaraju
- K. V. S. Sarma as Gopa Mantri
- Prabhakar Reddy as Kannama Dasu
- Tyagaraju as Veerabhadrudu
- Anjali Devi as Ithamba
- Jamuna as Maguva Manchala
- Hemalatha as Vidyala Devi
- Chayadevi as Rekhanba
- L. Vijayalakshmi as Subbai
- Vasanthi as Peerindevi
Soundtrack
| Palnati Yuddham | |
|---|---|
| Film score by | |
| Released | 1966 |
| Genre | Soundtrack |
| Length | 29:59 |
| Producer | S. Rajeswara Rao |
Music composed by S. Rajeswara Rao.
| S. No. | Song Title | Lyrics | Singers | length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Satavahana" | Pulupula Sivaiah | B. Gopalam | 1:36 |
| 2 | "Velugocchene" | Malladi Ramakrishna Sastry | Swarnalatha, Vasantha | 3:57 |
| 3 | "Jaya Sambho" | Malladi Ramakrishna Sastry | Bhanumathi Ramakrishna | 3:02 |
| 4 | "Teeyani Tolireyi" | Aarudhra | P. B. Srinivas, S. Janaki | 4:02 |
| 5 | "Rammante Raavemira" | Kosaraju | P. Susheela | 4:33 |
| 6 | "Oka Megham" | Dasaradhi | P. Susheela, S. Janaki | 3:59 |
| 7 | "Amma Bangaru Talli" | Malladi Ramakrishna Sastry | P. Susheela | 1:20 |
| 8 | "Sheelamugalavari Chinavada" | Malladi Ramakrishna Sastry | M. Balamuralikrishna, P. Susheela | 3:00 |
| 9 | "Rati Cheti Rachiluka" | Malladi Ramakrishna Sastry | M. Balamuralikrishna, P. Susheela | 4:30 |
Awards
- The film won National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu - certificate of merit in 1967.[3] Also Bhanumathi received the Rashtrapati Award for her role.
References
- ↑ "Palnati Yudham" – via www.imdb.com.
- ↑ Sadanandam, P. (2008). Art and Culture of Marginalised Nomadic Tribes in Andhra Pradesh. Gyan Publishing House. ISBN 978-81-212-0958-8.
- 1 2 "13th National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Retrieved 15 September 2011.