Bharya
K.S. Prakash Rao
Country: India; Year: 1968; Language: Telugu
Studio: Kowmudi Films
Producer: M.S. Reddy; Cinematographer: G. Dorai; Editor: Bandi Gopal Rao; Composer: Master Venu; Lyricist: Acharya Athreya, Sri Sri, Arudra, Anisetty Subbarao, Kondamacharya Mudhivarthi, Mallemala, Samudrala Raghavacharya
Cast: Sobanbabu, Vanisri, Chittor V. Nagaiah, T. Krishna Kumari, Nagabhusanam, Shantha Kumari, T.V. Ramana Reddy, Vijayalalitha, Rajababu, Ramaprabha, Allu Ramalingaiah, Jyothilakshmi, Seetaram, Kanakam, Ramachandra Rao, Padmanjali, Manjula Vijaykumar, Tulasi Sivamani
Topic: Original Language, Released
Release Date: February 22, 1968
IMDb ID: 0254183
Child Artist: Tulasi Sivamani
Associate Director: K. Raghavendra Rao, G.C. Sekhar; Story: K.S. Gopalakrishnan; Dialogue: Anisetty Subbarao
Singer: Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao, P. Susheela, P.B. Srinivas, S. Janaki, L.R. Eswari
Art Director: V.V. Rajendra Kumar; Dance Director: Chinni-Sampath
K.S. Prakash Rao (Director)
Kovalapati Surya Prakash Rao (1914-96) Telugu director, also worked in Tamil. Born in Kolavennu, Krishna Dist., AP. Employed briefly as an insurance agent and by a gold jewellery firm. Associated with the Praja Natya Mandali, the Telugu wing of the IPTA. Started in films as lead actor in Ramabrahmam’s Apavadu (1941) and Patni (made in 1940, released in 1942: he played Kovalan); acted in R.S. Prakash’s Babruvahana (1942); produced and acted in L.V. Prasad’s Drohi (1948) for Swatantra Pics, which he replaced by his own Prakash Prod. (1949), producing and directing Modathi Rathri and Deeksha. Expanded this company into the Prakash Studio. 50s films were melodramas which later became psychological fantasies: e.g. Prem Nagar, a story of unrequited love drowned in liquor written by Kousalya Devi, and Kode Naagu, a remake of Kanagal’s demented love story Nagara Haavu (1972). Made Kannada films in the late 70s. His son K. Raghavendra Rao is a mainstream Telugu director of action fantasies.
Master Venu (Composer)
(1916-81) Telugu music composer born in Bandar, AP. Learnt music from a relative, Ramaiah Naidu, and later Chebrolu Venkatarathnam. Concert vocalist as a teenager. Introduced by Dr Giri of the Giri Museum in Madras to music director B. Narasimha Rao (1938), whom he assisted on Raitu Bidda (1939) and Meerabai (1940). Also worked in Vasant Desai’s orchestra. Employed as chief conductor of the Vijaya Studio orchestra, pioneering the use of electronic synthesisers in Telugu films. First film as composer, Anta Manavalle, at Sarathi Studio. Became a star with Rojulu Marayi, esp. with the folk number Eruvaaka sagaloi. The song, enacted by Waheeda Rehman in her screen début, caused major debates regarding its origins. It was adapted into Tamil and S.D. Burman made its Hindi version for Bambai Ka Babu (1960).
