Thodi Kodallu
- 11 January 1957 (1957-01-11) (Telugu)
- 1 February 1957 (1957-02-01) (Tamil)
Tamil
Thodi Kodallu (transl. Sisters-in-law) is a 1957 Indian Telugu-language drama film directed and edited by Adurthi Subba Rao who co-wrote the script with D. Madhusudhana Rao and Acharya Aatreya. Madhusudhana Rao produced the film under Annapurna Pictures. It stars Akkineni Nageswara Rao and Savitri with music composed by Master Venu. The film is based on Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay's Bengali novel Nishkriti, and was simultaneously made as the Tamil film Engal Veettu Mahalakshmi (1957); both films were made simultaneously by the same banner and director, and some of the scenes and artists are the same in both versions. Thodi Kodallu won the Certificate of merit for Best Feature Film in Telugu.[2]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/45/Engal_Veettu_Mahalakshmi.jpg/220px-Engal_Veettu_Mahalakshmi.jpg)
Plot
The film begins with a wealthy, conjoined joint family. Advocate Kutumba Rao is his paterfamilias, an introvert & oblivious. He resides with his wife Annapurna and their progeny. Ramanaiah, his younger brother, looks after their farms in the village with his virago wife, Anasuya. Besides, Kutumba Rao raises his cousin Satyam, an idealist who knits benevolent Susheela, and they have a son, Babu. Annapurna & Susheela share more than just a relationship. Annapurna is very fond of Babu, whom she rears above her own. Since she is ailing, Susheela takes up the family tasks and operates them disciplinarily.
After civilizing, Satyam was appointed in their rice mill, led by his venomous distant relative Vaikuntam. Soon, he resigned, being unable to tolerate fraud therein. On the eve of Dasara, they invite Ramanaiah's family when Anasuya envies Susheela's esteem. Ergo, she slowly sows vicious seeds in Annapurna, creating a rift that makes Satyam's family quit, and they walk to the village. Now, Anasuya clutches the household authority and usurps the entire wealth. Parallelly, Vaikuntam entraps Ramanaiah via his amour Navaneetam and addicts him to all vices.
Following his ideals, Satyam cultivates barren lands with Susheela, associates with all the jobless peasants, and conducts communal agriculture. Besides, Ramanaiah & Vaikuntam spoiled the total heisted by Anasuya. They also snatched the amount of a client, Tirupataiah, by forging Kutumba Rao’s signature, which is about to be claimed. After learning it, Satyam clears it by mortgaging Susheela’s jewelry to shield his brother’s honor and handing over the counterfeited document.
Meanwhile, Anasuya’s intrigues break out when Annapurna becomes angry and collapses, making Anasuya reform. It is time for harvest when Ramanaiah & Vaikuntam plot to grab it on behalf of Kutumba Rao. Satyam hinders it, and the government seizes the crop when he summons Kutumba Rao. Being incognizant of the fact, enraged Kutumba Rao heads to the village, where he rebukes and is about to neck out Satyam. Simultaneously, Ramanaiah & Vaikuntam covetously try to destroy the proof but are caught. At that point, Kutumba Rao comprehends the virtues of Satyam & Susheela, welcomes them back, and permanently allocates their lands to the farmers. At last, they return home when Ramanaiah’s family is to exit, and Susheela changes their intention. Finally, the movie ends happily with the family’s reunion.
Cast
Telugu cast
- Akkineni Nageswara Rao as Satyam
- Savitri as Susheela
- S. V. Ranga Rao as Kutumba Rao
- Relangi as Ramanaiah
- Jaggayya as Vaikuntham
- Chadalavada as Tirupataiah
- Allu Ramalingaiah as Ayomayam
- P. Kannamba as Annapurna
- Suryakantam as Anasuya
- Rajasulochana as Navaneetam
- Parvati as Kamala
- Kameswaramma
- Master Kundu
- Master Sharat Babu as Babu
- Rood, the dog
Tamil cast
- Savithri as Susheela
- A. Nageswara Rao as Gopu
- Kannamba as Annapoorna
- S. V. Ranga Rao as Lawyer Ganapathi
- M. S. Sundari Bai as Anusooya
- K. A. Thangavelu as Subbu
- P. Rajasulochana as Sanjala
- M. N. Nambiar Vaikuntam
- Ezhumalai as Thirupathi
- Root the dog
- Sarathbabu
- Sampath
- Angamuthu
- Santhanam
- Master Kunthu
- Seshagiri Rao
- Subba Rao
- Master Krishnamoorthi
- Ramakrishnan
- Parvathi as Kamala
- Dance
- E. V. Saroja
- A. K. Chopra
- Nataraja Dance School Girls
Production
The film was produced by D. Madhusudhana Rao under his own banner Annapurna Pictures and was directed by Adurthi Subba Rao, who also did the editing. The story was based on Sharat Chandra Chatterjee's Bengali novel Nishkruti. Dialogues were penned by Sridhar. Cinematography was handled by P. S. Selvaraj. S. Krishna Rao was in charge of art direction while A. K. Chopra handled the choreography. The film was also made in Telugu with the title Thodi Kodallu.
Soundtrack
Thodi Kodallu | |
---|---|
Film score by | |
Released | 1957 |
Genre | Soundtrack |
Length | 35:58 |
Producer | Master Venu |
Music was composed by Master Venu. All the tunes for all the songs for both languages are the same.
- Telugu Track List
- Thodi Kodallu
Lyrics were penned by Acharya Aatreya, Tapi Dharma Rao, Kosaraju and Sri Sri. Playback singers are Ghantasala, Madhavapeddi Satyam, P. Susheela, Jikki and K. Rani.
S. No. | Song Title | Lyrics | Singers | length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | "Kaarulo Shikarukelle" | Acharya Aatreya | Ghantasala | 3:39 |
2 | "Shreerastu Shubhamastu" | Acharya Aatreya | P. Susheela | 2:53 |
3 | "Town Pakkakelloddura" | Kosaraju | Ghantasala & Jikki | 4:48 |
4 | "Aadutu Paadutu" | Kosaraju | Ghantasala & P. Susheela | 4:22 |
5 | "Naluguru Kalisi" | Sri Sri | Ghantasala | 3:26 |
6 | "Kalakaalam Ee Kalata" | Tapi Dharma Rao | P. Susheela | 3:32 |
7 | "Ententa Dooram" | Acharya Aatreya | P. Susheela & K. Rani | 3:24 |
8 | "Nee Shoku Choodakunda" | Kosaraju | Madhavapeddi Satyam & Jikki | 3:05 |
9 | "Gaalipatam Gaalipatam" | Kosaraju | Ghantasala, P. Susheela & K. Rani | 4:04 |
10 | "Bhale Maavayya" | Sri Sri | Jikki | 2:45 |
- Tamil Track List
- Engal Veettu Mahalakshmi
Lyrics were penned by Udumalai Narayana Kavi, A. Maruthakasi and K. S. Gopalakrishnan. Singer is K. A. Thangavelu. Playback singers are Ghantasala, T. M. Soundararajan, Seerkazhi Govindarajan, S. C. Krishnan, P. Susheela, Jikki, T. V. Rathnam and K. Rani.[3]
No. | Song | Singers | Lyrics | Length (m:ss) |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | "Kaarile Savaari Seiyyum" | Ghantasala | Udumalai Narayana Kavi | 04:00 |
2 | "Sendhiru Maadhum Kalai Maadhum" | T. V. Rathnam & group | 03:15 | |
3 | "Pattanamthaan Pogalaamadi" | Seerkazhi Govindarajan & P. Susheela | 04:30 | |
4 | "Aadi Paadi Velai Senjaa" | Ghantasala & P. Susheela | 02:37 | |
5 | "Uzhudhundu Vaazhvaare...Naattukku Poruttham" | T. M. Soundararajan & group | 05:14 | |
6 | "Pala Kaalam Vethanai" | P. Susheela | 02:58 | |
7 | "Pollaadha Payalai Serthida Maattom" | P. Susheela & K. Rani | K. S. Gopalakrishnan | 02:15 |
8 | "Mannai Nambi Maram Irukka" | S. C. Krishnan & Jikki | 03:27 | |
9 | "Kaatthaadi Kaatthaadi" | Ghantasala, P. Susheela & K. Rani | 02:59 | |
10 | "Pushan Sollai Kedkaame" | K. A. Thangavelu | ||
11 | "Vilakketri Vaikkavum Illai" | Jikki | A. Maruthakasi | 02:47 |
Awards
Notes
- ^ Aatreya is also credited for dialogues.
References
- ^ "Engal Veettu Mahalakshmi". The Indian Express. 1 February 1957. p. 1. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
- ^ Narasimham, M. L. (19 February 2015). "Blast from the past: Todikodallu (1957)". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 25 August 2021. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
- ^ G. Neelamegam. Thiraikalanjiyam — Part 1 (in Tamil). Manivasagar Publishers, Chennai 108 (Ph:044 25361039). First edition December 2014. p. 123.
- ^ "5th National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Archived (PDF) from the original on 3 November 2013. Retrieved 2 September 2011.
External links
- Thodi Kodallu at IMDb
- Engal Veettu Mahalakshmi Tamil Titles on YouTube
- Thodi Kodallu review at Cinegoer.com
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Certificate of Merit |
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