Ammalakkalu (transl. Mothers and Sisters) is a 1953 Indian Telugu-language drama film, produced by Lena Chettiar on Krishna Pictures banner and directed by D. Yoganand. The film stars N. T. Rama Rao, Padmini and Lalitha, with music composed by C. R. Subburaman. It was simultaneously shot in Tamil-language as Marumagal (transl. Daughter-in-law).[2][3]

Ammalakkalu
Release poster in Telugu
Directed byD. Yoganand
Screenplay byVempati Sadasivabrahmam
(Telugu)
A. S. A. Sami
(Tamil)
Story byVempati Sadasivabrahmam
Produced byLena Chettiar
StarringN. T. Rama Rao
Padmini
Lalitha
CinematographyBomman Irani
Edited byV. B. Nataraja Modaliyar
Music bySongs:
C. R. Subburaman
G. Ramanathan
Score:
Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy
Production
company
Krishna Pictures
Release date
  • 14 April 1953 (1953-04-14)
Running time
187 minutes (Telugu)[1]
177 minutes (Tamil)
CountryIndia
LanguagesTelugu
Tamil

Plot

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This is the plot of the Telugu version.

Ramaiah (B. R. Panthulu) and Kistaiah (D. Balasubramanyam) are close friends and farmers. Ramaiah's family consists of his wife Sugunamma (Rushyendramani) and two sons Sundar (Amarnath), Kumar (N. T. Rama Rao) and a daughter Rupa (Surabhi Balasaraswathi), who are struggling for their daily needs. On the guidance of Kishtaiah, Ramaiah starts a small contract business in the town for which Kistaiah organizes the amount by mortgaging his wife's jewelry. Ramaiah settles in the town, pays the debt and also promises to couple up Kishtaiah's daughter Usha (Padmini) with Kumar. Meanwhile, Ramaiah's sons move to town for education when Ammalakkalu heckles at Usha which makes Kistaiah offended, so, he too joins Usha in the same school. Years roll by, Kumar & Usha grow up together and love each other. At the present, Ramaiah arranges his elder son Sundar's marriage with a shrew woman Shanta (Lalitha). During the time of the wedding, Ammalakkalu provokes Sugunamma and she insults Kistaiah's wife when a rift arises between families. Here Kistaiah becomes furious leaves the venue and even breaks up the match of Usha and Kumar. So, they perform register marriage when soft-hearted Ramaiah welcomes the couple into the home. But Sugunamma & Shanta are very cold towards Usha. During that plight, Kumar leaves abroad for higher studies and Usha faces a lot of difficulties in her in-law's house. The rest of the story how she gets rid of these problems and reunited the family.[4]

Cast

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Tamil poster
Telugu version
Tamil version
Dance

Soundtrack

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The music was composed by C. R. Subburaman with background music to be completed later by Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy and party after the untimely death of C. R. Subburaman.T. K. Ramamoorthy acted as his assistant in several films and was asked by the producer to complete the music for the film. Tunes for both languages are the same.

However, there was one song in the film "Undaloi Undaloi"/"Aanukkoru Penn Pillai" that was composed by G. Ramanathan.

Telugu soundtrack
Song Singers Length
"Penugonu Manasula" A. M. Rajah & P. A. Periyanayaki 03:27
"Kannemaavi Thotalona" Jikki & A. P. Komala 02:45
"Kannemaavi Thotalona" A. M. Rajah & P. A. Periyanayaki 03:56
"Nee Kosam" Pithapuram Nageswara Rao & M. L. Vasanthakumari 03:51
"Oo Neeve Naa Prema" A. M. Rajah & P. A. Periyanayaki 02:27
"Undaloi Undaloi" P. A. Periyanayaki & A. P. Komala 11:10
"Maaradavela Maaramu" A. M. Rajah & P. A. Periyanayaki 03:48
"Rupaa Rupante" Pithapuram Nageswara Rao & A. P. Komala 02:18
"Lallaa Lallaa" Pithapuram Nageswara Rao & R. Balasaraswathi Devi 03:01
"Jhan Jhan Jhan" A. P. Komala 00:26
Tamil soundtrack
Song Singers Lyrics Length (m:ss)
"Kanavilum Nanavilum Inai Piriyaadha" A. M. Rajah & P. A. Periyanayaki Udumalai Narayana Kavi 03:31
"Chinna Chinna Veedu Katti" Jikki & A. P. Komala 03:50
"Chinna Chinna Veedu Katti" A. M. Rajah & P. A. Periyanayaki 03:18
"Nianikkira Maaadhiri Ellaam" T. R. Ramachandran & M. L. Vasanthakumari 03:51
"Oo Neethaan En Sondham" A. M. Rajah & P. A. Periyanayaki 03:01
"Aanukkoru Penn Pillai" P. A. Periyanayaki, A. P. Komala & A. G. Rathnamala 12:15
"Pesaadha Maounam Aamo" A. M. Rajah & P. A. Periyanayaki 04:23
"Romaani Maambazham Roobamthaan" T. R. Ramachandran & A. P. Komala 02:15
"Laali Suba Laali" C. R. Subburaman & P. A. Periyanayaki 03:05
"Jal Jal Jal Kingkini Aada" A. P. Komala K. D. Santhanam

Reception

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Reviewing Ammalakkalu, a critic from Zamin Ryot wrote that the story is not smooth, but turns into an unprofitable whorehouse with seams.[5] The film fared well at the box office in both languages, but the Telugu version was more successful.[6] In Ammalakkalu, the duet song sung by Relangi became popular in Telugu districts of the then-Madras State.[6] The Telugu version became popular through theatrical re-runs.[4]

References

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  1. ^ Rajadhyaksha, Ashish; Willemen, Paul (1998) [1994]. Encyclopaedia of Indian Cinema. British Film Institute and Oxford University Press. p. 329. ISBN 0-19-563579-5.
  2. ^ Guy, Randor (1 December 2006). "Patriot and an idealist". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 9 April 2023. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  3. ^ "1953 – மருமகள் – கிருஷ்ணாபிக்சர்ஸ் –அம்மலக்கலு(தெ)". Lakshman Sruthi (in Tamil). Archived from the original on 27 January 2020. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
  4. ^ a b c d e Pradeep, Prasanna (14 April 2023). "Ammalakkalu: 70 ఏళ్ళ 'అమ్మలక్కలు'" [Ammalakkalu: 70 years of 'Ammalakkalu']. NTV (in Telugu). Archived from the original on 14 October 2024. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
  5. ^ "కృష్ణాపిక్చర్సు 'అమలక్కలు'". Zamin Ryot (in Telugu). 3 April 1953. Archived from the original on 14 October 2024. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
  6. ^ a b Guy, Randor (22 December 2012). "Marumagal 1953". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 24 December 2019. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
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