Mana Desam
Mana Desam (transl. Our Country) is a 1949 Telugu Patriotic film, produced by Raja Saheb of Mirzapur under the Sobhanachala Pictures banner, presented by Krishnaveni and directed by L. V. Prasad. It stars Chittor V. Nagaiah, C. H. Narayana Rao and C. Krishnaveni in the lead roles, with music composed by Ghantasala. The film is the debut of veteran actor N. T. Rama Rao in the film industry. The film is based on the Bengali novel Vipradas by Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay, and is set against the backdrop of the Indian freedom struggle.[1]
| Mana Desam | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | L. V. Prasad |
| Produced by | Raja Saheb of Mirzapur C. Krishnaveni (Presents) |
| Written by | Samudrala Sr. (dialogues) |
| Screenplay by | L. V. Prasad |
| Story by | Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay |
| Based on | Vipradas (Novel) |
| Starring | Chittor V. Nagaiah C. H. Narayana Rao C. Krishnaveni N. T. Rama Rao |
| Music by | Ghantasala |
| Cinematography | M. A. Rehman |
| Edited by | M. V. Rajan |
Production company | Sobhanachala Pictures |
Release date |
|
Running time | 172 mins |
| Country | India |
| Language | Telugu |
Plot
The story is set in 1942. Ramnath is a respectable rich man living in a village with his wife Janaki, son Nehru, brother Madhu and a doting step-mother Yashoda, who does not like Madhu's active participation in the freedom struggle, fearing that he may be jailed. Janaki's uncle, a lawyer, visits them with his city-bred daughter Sobha. She takes a liking for Madhu, but is against his political leanings.
Ramnath shifts his family to Madras. Madhu is arrested for participating in the movement against the British rule. A changed Sobha too jumps into the freedom struggle. Unable to trace her, the police take Ramnath into custody. An enraged Yashodha too joins the movement and goes to jail. But both are soon released. Madhu, on parole comes home and Janaki treats him like her son. By then she is critically ill. Once the parole is over, the police come to pick him up. On seeing them, Janaki dies of shock. The police drag a deranged Madhu. After serving the sentence, Madhu, still in a mentally deranged condition, is released. Yashoda blames Ramnath for her son's plight. A dejected Ramnath leaves the house with his son. But, worried about his brother, he returns home and saves him from a fall. In a dramatic way, Madhu regains normality. India gets independence and the family participates in the celebrations.
Cast
- Chittor V. Nagaiah as Ramanathan
- C. H. Narayana Rao as Madhu
- C. Krishnaveni as Sobha
- N. T. Rama Rao as British Inspector
- Relangi as Constable No: 144
- Vangara as Nandiah
- Ramanatha Sastry as Barrat Law
- Surabhi Bala Saraswati as Shobha's friend
- Kanchan as Janaki
- Hemalatha as Yashodha
- Lakshmikantham as Narsi
- Master Vijay Shankar as Nehru
Crew
- Art: T. V. S. Sharma
- Choreography: Vempati
- Dialogues - Lyrics: Samudrala Sr
- Playback: Ghantasala, M. S. Rama Rao, C. Krishnaveni, P.G. Jikki, P. Leela, Chittor V. Nagaiah etc.
- Music: Ghantasala
- Story: Sharat Chandra Chattopadhyay
- Editing: M. V. Rajan
- Cinematography: M. A. Rehman
- Presenter Krishnaveni
- Producer: Raja of Mirzapuram
- Screenplay - Director: L. V. Prasad
- Banner: Sobhanachala Pictures
- Release Date: 24 November 1949
Soundtrack
- "Jaya Janani" - patriotic song, singers are Ghantasala and C. Krishnaveni
- "Emito Ee Sambhandam Enduko Ee Anubhandam" - duet, singers are M. S. Ramarao and C. Krishnaveni
- "Chalo Chalo Raja" - Singers are M. S. Ramarao and C. Krishnaveni
- "Ninnu Nenu Maruvalenura Police Yenkatsami" - rural style song, singer is Jikki Krishnaveni
- "Atta leni Kodalu Uttamuralu" - folklore song. singer is Jikki Kirshnaveni
- "Vedalipo Tella Dora Vedalipo" - patriotic group song
- "Nirvedamela Kanneridela" - Gandian song by Nagaiah
- "O Bharata Yuvaka" - patriotic group song
- "Kallo Ninnu CHoosinane Pilla Vallu Jallumannade" - duet, singers are Ghantasala and C. Krishnaveni
- "Vaishnava Janato" - Traditional Bhajan
Trivia
- It will be remembered as the film that introduced Telugu thespian like N. T. Rama Rao and famous south Indian singer P. Leela to the Telugu people.
- Krishnaveni used traditional storytelling techniques in the movie. She used the styles of Burra katha, Oggu Katha, stage dramas like Veedhi Natakalu, Bommalatalu in parts of the movie. She also included all types of traditional songs in Telugu, patriotic songs, Dhampudu songs, bhajans and rural songs.
- The movie also portrays the Gandhi values during the freedom struggle and their deterioration after India got freedom from the British.
- It is the first Telugu film based on a Bengali story. Many Bengali stories like Devdas and Aradhana were used as plots for Telugu movies afterward.