Vagdanam

Vagdanam (transl. Promise) is a 1961 Indian Telugu-language drama film, written and directed by Acharya Aatreya. The film stars Akkineni Nageswara Rao and Krishna Kumari, with music composed by Pendyala. It is based on the novel Datta, written by Saratchandra Chatterjee. The film was a box office failure.^[1]

Vagdanam
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Acharya Aatreya
Screenplay by	Acharya Aatreya Bollimunta Sivaramakrishna
Based on	Datta by Saratchandra Chatterjee
Produced by	K. Satyanarayana D. Srirama Murthy
Starring	Akkineni Nageshwara Rao Krishna Kumari
Cinematography	P. L. Roy V. Roy
Edited by	N. S. Prakasam
Music by	Pendyala Nageshwara Rao
Production company	Kavitha Chitra
Release date	5 October 1961 (1961-10-05)
Running time	153 minutes
Country	India
Language	Telugu

Plot

The film begins with 3 childhood besties: Vishwanatham, a Zamindar, Ranganatham, and Diwan Jagannatham. The villagers ostracize Jagannatham as he is knitted and casteless. However, Vishwanatham befriends him, provides financial support for his son Suryam's education, and wants to wedlock his daughter Vijaya with him. It begrudges deceitful Ranganatham as he aspires to espouse Vijaya with his son Chandram haughty. Suddenly, Jagannatham dies, making Vishwanatham also pass away, leaving Vijaya's responsibility to Ranganatham. Meanwhile, Suryam completes his medicine, establishes a hospital in their village, and serves the penniless. Being unbeknownst, Suryam & Vijaya are acquainted and silently love. Then, Ranganatham clutches Vijaya in prison by utilizing a power of attorney. At the same time, a Harikatha Bhagavathar Ramadasu lands with his wife Balamani and son Padmanabham. Here, Ramadasu's niece Radha accompanies Suryam as a nurse and is Vijaya's friend, too. Parallelly, a love track runs between Padmanabham & Radha. Currently, Ramadasu wishes to construct a Rama Mandir, which Vijaya approves. Exploiting it, Ranganatham ruses and creates rifts between Suryam & Vijaya by auctioning his hospital for debt taken by Jagannatham. At present, Suryam strives to construct a camp and continues his service. Vijaya repents for it but is helpless. Moreover, Ranganatham slanders the relationship between Suryam & Radha, which Vijaya also believes. During that plight, Ramadasu makes a play when Vijaya learns her father's real intention and the conspiracy of Ranganatham. Finally, the movie ends on a happy note with the marriages of turtle doves.

Cast

• Akkineni Nageswara Rao as Suryam
• Krishna Kumari as Vijaya
• Gummadi as Ranganatham
• Chalam as Chandram
• V. Nagayya as Zamindar Vishwanatham
• Relangi as Ramadasu
• Padmanabham as Padmanabham
• Suryakantham as Balamani
• Girija as Radha
• Surabhi Kamalabai as Bujjamma

Soundtrack

Music composed by Pendyala.^[2][3] "Sri Nagaja Tanayam", penned by Sri Sri, is considered one of the first songs describing Seeta Kalyanam in Harikatha format.^[4]

S. No	Song Title	Lyrics	Singers	length
1	"Naa Kanti Papalo Nilichipora"	Dasaradhi	Ghantasala, P. Susheela	4:43
2	"Bangaru Naava"	Acharya Aatreya	P. Susheela	3:25
3	"Kaasipatnam Chudarababu"	Sri Sri	Ghantasala, P. Susheela	3:53
4	"Maa Kittayya Puttinadinam"	Acharya Aatreya	Pithapuram, S. Janaki, B. Vasantha	4:58
5	"Tappatlo Talalo"	Narla Chiranjeevi	S. Janaki, B. Vasantha, Sarojini	3:28
6	"Vanne Chinnelanni"	Acharya Aatreya	Ghantasala	3:38
7	"Velugu Chupavaya"	Acharya Aatreya	Ghantasala, P. Susheela	3:17
8	"Sri Nagaja Tanayam" (Harikatha)	Sri Sri	Ghantasala	6:41