GUNDAMMA KATHA 1962

Banner: Vijaya

Duration: 2 Hrs. 46 minutes

Format: Black and White

Director: Kamalakara Kameswara Rao

Story: Chakrapani

Dialogues: DV Narasaraju

Lyrics: Pingali Nagendra Rao

Camera: Marcus Bartley

Music: Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao

Cast: NT Rama Rao, Akkineni Nageswara Rao, SV Ranga Rao, Savitri, Vijaya Lakshmi, Jamuna, Relangi Venkat Ramaiah, Chayadevi, Haranath, Rajanala, Ramana Reddy

Producers: Chakrapani & B Nagi Reddy

Cast:
NT Rama Rao,
Nageswara Rao,
SV Ranga Rao,
Savitri,
Vijaya Lakshmi,
Jamuna,
Relangi Venkat Ramaiah,
Chayadevi,
Haranath,
Rajanala,
Ramana Reddy

Story:
Vijaya banner is known for producing 'golden films'. With the use of excellent narration skills by the director Kamalakara Kameswara Rao and the right casting, the producer duo Chakrapani-Nagireddy gave a wholesome entertainer in the form of 'Gundamma Katha'.

Gundamma (Suryakantham) has a son, an exploited stepdaughter, for whom she hopes to get a 'resident' son-in-law who can also look after the rest of the family. Two brothers Anji (NTR) and Raja (ANR), decide to teach the old woman a lesson for the harm she once did to their family.

Kamalakara Kameswara Rao garu is known as 'Pauranika Chitra Brahma'. With this film, he tried his hand at comedy and passed out with flying colors. Another major contributor for this film's success is the dialogue writer DV Narasaraju. He gave fine dialogues like …

"Paalallo neellu kalapakapothe .. petrol kaluputhaara?"
"Vunnollantha vedhavalaithe … mana telivikem .. Divitilaa veligi podoo?"
"Manishi sukhaniki kavalsindi .. manasulu kaani .. aasthi paastulu kaavu"
"Aasaku Chaavu ledu!'

NTR donned the role of a rich guy with a strong determination. ANR acted as another rich man who is addicted to alcohol. Savitri, who acted in soft roles in the past acted as a strong-willed woman, who is very hard to convince. Jamuna played a headstrong lady. The scene-stealer of the film is none but Smt. Suryakantham, who made a mark for herself with this film. SVR did a short yet nice role of the father of heroes.

This film is also a musical masterpiece. Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao garu has given excellent tunes for 'kolukoloyanna', 'veshamu maarchenu', 'kanulu moosina neevaye', 'prema yatralaku'. Lyricist Pingali Nagendra Rao garu coined new words like 'Sakhinera Choopula', 'Jagamuna Ooty Saayaga'. He also compared the 'preyasi jada' with 'valapu paasam'.

Producer Chakrapani credited with direction of the Tamil version of Gundamma Katha as Manithan Maravillai tasted failure unlike the stupendous success of the original Telugu version. Gundamma Katha is regarded as the last film of Vijaya's 'Golden Age'.