Mayadari Malligadu

<p>Munasabu Gangaraju (Nagabhushanam) is a corrupt and malevolent man, in stark contrast to his son, Ramu (Master Ramu), who is devout and virtuous. When Gangaraju murders Bala Brahmandanda Swamy (Padmanabham), he frames an innocent man, Mallanna (Krishna), for the crime. However, Ramu witnesses the murder, placing him in a moral dilemma. He must choose between exposing his father’s crime, which would result in his father’s execution, or remaining silent, condemning Mallanna to an unjust punishment. This internal conflict forms the crux of the film’s narrative. Source: Director faced challenges during the production of . After setbacks in the Hindi film industry, he returned to Telugu cinema with plans to cast newcomers, including as the lead. Inspired by his earlier success with (1965), which introduced new talent, Subba Rao aimed to replicate that formula. However, his colleagues advised against the financial risks of working with newcomers and suggested approaching , whom Subba Rao had launched as a lead actor in . Subba Rao met Krishna, who immediately agreed to star in the film, providing his without hesitation and prioritizing the project to support his mentor. Subba Rao initially envisioned a concept similar to his earlier film (1968), focused on the moral conflict of teaching children to always tell the truth while occasionally instructing them not to. The film aimed to explore the psychological consequences of such contradictions on children. However, recognizing that a children-centric film might not be commercially viable, the script was adapted to include other characters to broaden its appeal. The film featured Krishna in an unconventional role for a social drama, portraying a character who stands against injustice and corruption. His appearance was marked by a distinctive look, including a checked , thin shirt, around the neck, wide belt, and a stick. This unique presentation, combined with the character’s bold and assertive personality, contributed to the film’s appeal and left a lasting impression on audiences. marked the first collaboration between Krishna and as co-stars. Although it was her second appearance in Telugu cinema after (1970), it was her debut as a lead actress in Telugu. Manjula, who was under contract with Tamil superstar (MGR), was cast in the film after Ramachandran released her for the project at Subba Rao’s request. During filming, helped her improve her Telugu proficiency. The film played a pivotal role in establishing Manjula as a leading actress in Telugu cinema. The film also marked the debut of , director Adurthi Subba Rao’s nephew, who wrote the dialogues for the film. Initially an assistant director, Subba Rao encouraged Satyanand to switch to screenwriting. After Satyanand wrote dialogues for scenes around a song with Krishna and Manjula, Subba Rao was impressed and mentored him in screenwriting. Success of led to further opportunities, launching his career as a screenwriter. , who agreed to distribute the film, set a condition to Subba Rao that it be made in with a budget cap of ₹8 . Subba Rao accepted these terms. However, Krishna opposed the idea, recalling Subba Rao’s earlier achievement of making in , despite it featuring newcomers with no established market. Krishna insisted that also be filmed in colour, offering to arrange the necessary , which was scarce and difficult to procure at the time. Using his influence, Krishna secured the colour film. Subba Rao entrusted , his protégé, to direct the courtroom climax scenes due to scheduling conflicts with his Hindi ventures. The song “Navvuthu Bathakalira” was filmed at , as noted in the film’s credits. The soundtrack, composed by , significantly contributed to the film’s success. Songs such as “Navvuthu Bathakalira,”, and “Malle Pandiri Needalona,” became timeless classics. Source: was well received by both critics and audiences. Krishna’s performance, along with those of Jayanthi and Anjali Devi, was praised. Jayanthi’s performance stood out, while Anjali Devi’s acting was also appreciated. The music by K. V. Mahadevan, featuring popular songs, was another highlight of the film. Produced on a budget of ₹11 , the film grossed ₹13 share within 40 days of its release. Krishna took the Guntur region distribution rights as part of his remuneration. The film was distributed by , associated with . However, to accommodate Nageswara Rao’s , was removed from 14 centres after 49 days. It was also replaced in Sudarshan 70mm theatre in on its 99th day by , disappointing many fans. The film remains a notable film in Krishna’s career, celebrated for its engaging narrative, distinctive character design, and memorable music. It is also notable for Manjula’s debut as a lead actress. also marked the debut of , the nephew of director Adurthi Subba Rao, who wrote the dialogues for the film. Initially an assistant director, Satyanand was encouraged by Subba Rao to transition to screenwriting, which led to a successful career spanning over 400 films.</p>