Bala Nagamma (1942 film)

Bala Nagamma is a 1942 Telugu-language film directed by C. Pullayya and produced by S. S. Vasan. The story Bala Nagamma was one of the most popular Burrakathas. It was one of the successful early films made by Gemini Studios in Telugu which was not remade in Tamil. Gemini Studios remade the film in Hindi starring Madhubala titled Bahut Din Huwe (1954).^[1] The film was later remade in 1959 with same name under the direction of Vedantam Raghavayya.

Bala Nagamma
Poster
Directed by	C. Pullayya
Written by	Balijepalli Lakshmikanta Kavi
Produced by	S. S. Vasan
Starring	Kanchanamala Govindarajula Subba Rao
Cinematography	Sailen Bose B. S. Ranga
Edited by	Chandru N. K. Gopal
Music by	M. D. Parthasarathy S. Rajeswara Rao
Production company	Gemini Studios
Distributed by	Gemini Studios
Release date	17 December 1942 (1942-12-17) (India)
Running time	220 minutes
Language	Telugu

Plot

The story is about Bala Nagamma, a young princess. The queen Bhulakshmi wife of King Navabhojaraju, prays Jatangi Muni for progeny and is blessed with seven children; the youngest of them is named Bala Nagamma (Kanchanamala). She is married off to Karyavardi Raju (Banda). She is kidnapped by Mayala Marathi (Govindarajula Subbarao), who turns her into a dog and takes her to his cave at Nagullapudi Gattu. Once there, he tries to take advantage of her. She keeps him away by chanting a Vratam (Holy Rites) and Pujas that she is involved in. She is a prisoner in the cave for fourteen years, during which time the Mayala Marathi's mistress, Sangu (Pushpavalli), becomes jealous. In the meantime, her son Balavardi Raju grows up and discovers that his mother is at Nagallapudi gattu as a captive of Mayala Fakir. He seeks the Fakir out through a flower-vendor Tambali peddi by posing as her grandson. Then, he defeats the Fakir and rescues his mother.

Cast

Male cast[2] Dr. Govindarajula Subba Rao as Mayala Marathi Banda Kanaka Lingeswara Rao B.A.,B.L. as Karyavardhi Raju Balijepalli Lakshmikantha Kavi as Navabhoja Raju Master Viswam as Balavardhi Raju Podila Venkata Krishnamurthy as Ramavardhi Raju Relangi Venkatramaiah as Kotwal Rama Singh Lanka Satyam as Chakali Tippudu V. Lakshmikantham as Astrologer Addala Narayana Rao as Nagendrudu Karra Suryanarayana as Puli Raju

Female cast[2] Kanchanamala as Balanagamma Pushpavalli as Rani Sangu Bellary Lalitha as Bhulakshmi Kamala Devi as Mandula Manikyam Seetabayamma as Durga Ratnamala as Seetali (Chakali Tippudu’s Wife) Anjani Bai as Tambali Peddi Saraswati as Young Balanagamma Kamala as Young Suryanagamma Kamalakumari as Dasi

Soundtrack

There are three songs in the film.^[3]

1. "Naa Sogase Kani Marude Dasudu Kada" – Pushpavalli
2. "Nanna Memu Delhi Potham"
3. "Sri Jaya Jaya Gowri Ramana" – Bellary Lalitha

Reception

According to film historian Randor Guy, Bala Nagamma netted a profit of ₹40 lakh (equivalent to ₹59 crore or US$7.0 million in 2023).^[4]