Sita Kalyanam (1934 Telugu film)

Seetha Kalyanam
Directed byChitrapu Narasimha Rao
Written byRamana Murthy
Produced byPinapala Venkata Dasu
StarringBezawada Rajaratnam
Master Kalyani
Madhavapeddi Venkatramayya
T. Venkateswarlu
CinematographyK. Ramnoth
Music byGali Penchala Narasimha Rao
Production
company
Vel Pictures
Release date
  • 6 October 1934 (1934-10-06)
Running time
133 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageTelugu

Sita Kalyanam is a 1934 Telugu-language Hindu mythological film directed by Chitrapu Narasimha Rao and produced by Pinapala Venkata Dasu (P. V. Dasu) under the banner of Vel Pictures.[1] The film stars Bezawada Rajaratnam, Master Kalyani, and Madhavapeddi Venkatramayya, with music composed by Gali Penchala Narasimha Rao.[2] It is considered the first Telugu talkie to feature outdoor sequences[3] and the first Telugu talkie produced in Madras.[4][5] Additionally, it was the second Telugu talkie film produced by a Telugu person.[6] Released on October 6, 1934, Sita Kalyanam was a commercial success.[7]

Plot

Sita Kalyanam is based on the story of Sita from the Ramayana, focusing on her marriage to Lord Rama. The film emphasizes the divine and ceremonial aspects of the wedding, showcasing several key events leading up to their union.

Cast

Source:[8]

Production

Pinapala Venkata Dasu (P. V. Doss), who had previously built Minerva Talkies in Machilipatnam and Srikrishna Talkies in Repalle, relocated to Madras, where he established Vel Pictures.[6][9] He partnered with a few local Tamil individuals for this venture. Vel Pictures is considered to be the first Telugu talkie studio founded in Madras.[10][11] Due to the lack of available studios at the time, the team rented the bungalow of the Pithapuram Raja and used temporary structures to facilitate film production.[6]

Their first project was Sita Kalyanam, which became the second talkie film produced by a Telugu filmmaker. The film was an adaptation of Prabhat Film Company's Tamil film of the same name.[3] Directed by Chitrapu Narasimha Rao, with K. Ramnoth as the cinematographer and A. K. Sekhar overseeing art direction.[8] It was the first Telugu talkie to incorporate outdoor sequences, setting it apart from other early productions.[3][1]

Music

The soundtrack features devotional songs and verses relevant to the mythological theme. The film's songs, composed by Gali Penchala Narasimha Rao (Master Penchalayya), were well-received.[8]

Reception

Seetha Kalyanam was released on October 6, 1934, and was a commercial success, garnering praise for its devotional content and performances by the lead actors.[7]

References

  1. ^ a b "Seeta Kalyanam (1934)". Indiancine.ma. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
  2. ^ "Sita Kalyanam". Cinemaazi. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
  3. ^ a b c Rajadhyaksha, Ashish; Willemen, Paul (2014). Encyclopedia of Indian Cinema. Routledge. p. 260. ISBN 978-1-135-94318-9.
  4. ^ Film World. Vol. 1. T.M. Ramachandran. 1964. p. 132.
  5. ^ Somaaya, Bhawana (8 December 2016). Once Upon a Time in India: A Century of Indian Cinema. Random House India. p. 26. ISBN 978-93-85990-40-3.
  6. ^ a b c కలకొండ, ఆదిత్య శివశంకర (23 May 2024). "తెలుగు టాకీ మొదలైన తరువాత మొదటి పదేళ్ళలో తెలుగు సినిమా." TheBetterAndhra (in Telugu). Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  7. ^ a b "1931-2006: తెలుగు సినిమారంగం మేలిమలుపులు" [1931-2006: Important milestones of Telugu film industry]. Andhra Jyothi: 5. 28 January 2007.
  8. ^ a b c "1934 Seeta Kalyanam Songbook". Indiancine.ma. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
  9. ^ History and Culture of the Andhras. Komarraju Venkata Lakshmana Rau Vijnana Sarvaswa Sakha, Telugu University. 1995. p. 390. ISBN 978-81-86073-07-0.
  10. ^ Thoraval, Yves (2000). The Cinemas of India. Macmillan India. pp. 346–347. ISBN 978-0-333-93410-4.
  11. ^ Indian Cinema: A Visual Voyage. National Film Development Corporation of India. ISBN 978-81-230-2192-8.