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About
the film:
BN
Reddy's best-known film is a remarkable melodrama chronicling the
metamorphosis of rural street Subbi (Bhanumati) into the urban seductress
Sujata Devi. Murthy (Nagaiah), a married man, helps her to become
a stage star while the heroine breaks-up Murthy's marriage to the
affectionate Kalyani (B Jayamma).
The
film can be read as a comment on the star manufacturing process
in Telugu cinema, with Bhanuamti, supported by Bartley's constantly
moving camera, expertly modulating the gradual shifts in gesture,
speed accent and the make-up as the village beauty is transformed
in to a 'sexy' star.
Allegedly
inspired by Mamoulian's Blood and Sand (1941) starring Rita
Hayworth. The film's generic innovativeness is sometimes ascribed
to the new unit assembled by the studio after the designer AK Shekar
and writer/cameraman K Ramnath left to join Gemini.
Major
new presence includes writer Chakrapani (later became co-producer
with BN Reddy for Vauhini), lyricist composer Rajanikantha Rao and
singer Ghantasala, who makes his singing debut here with the number
gajula pilla.
According
to VAK Ranga Rao, lyricist Rajnikantha Rao introduces Arabic music
and Bhanumati adopts Hayworth humming from Blood and Sand
for the classic hit song Ooh Paavurama (in the seduction
number) as contrast to the Carnatic number Manchi Dinamu Nede.
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