Title: Pelli Chesi Choodu (1952)
Banner: Vijaya
Director: LV Prasad
Producers: Nagi Reddy and Chakrapani
Lyricist: Pingali Nagendra Rao & Utukuri Satya Narayana
Camera: Marcus Bartley
Music: Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao
Cast: NT Rama Rao, SV Ranga Rao, G Vara Lakshmi, Savitri, Suryakantham, Joga Rao, Meenakshi, Doraiswami, Pushpalata
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Story:
LV Prasad's ensemble comedy abounds in intrigues and disguises gearing to the making and breaking of marriage alliances.
This film pits three pairs of lovers, backed by a kind-hearted aristocrat, against traditional parents committed to viewing marriage as a commercial transaction. Govindaiah, a lawyer wants Raja to marry Chitti. She, however, loves an endearing bodybuilder to whom by traditional obligations, she rightfully belongs. Govindaiah makes Raja's marriage to Chitti on the precondition for helping to find a husband for Raja's sister Ammadu (Vara Lakshmi). Raja rejects the deal and, with his younger brother, sets out to find a groom for Ammadu.
In a distant village, he meets Zamindar Veeyanna (SV Ranga Rao), a complex character of declining fortunes and generous spirit who, as Panchayat President, also serves as a representative of the state. Raju and Veeyanna's daughter Savitri (Savitri) fall in love and their wedding is quickly arranged. Veeyanna also finds a groom, Ramana (NT Rama Rao), for Ammadu, but Ramana's father Venkatapathy is a puranam-reciting scrooge who demands a large dowry, which Veeyanna promises to pay.
Private Govindaiah meanwhile plots his own revenge on the wedding day, inciting Venkatapathy to insist on the dowry being paid before the marriage. The narrative that follows is 'staged' by the new couple with the help of Raja, Savitri and others. Ramana pretends to give in to his father's demands to cal the wedding off, but starts living with Ammadu and, when his father arrives, feigns mental illness while Ammadu and Raja disguise themselves as nurse and doctor. Ammadu endears to Venkatapathy by showing interest in his puranam recitals.
The groom 'recovers' from the madness and Ammadu gives birth to their son, causing a fresh round of gossip in the village and providing the original villain Govindaiah with yet another opportunity to make trouble. The crisis is resolved following a relapse of insanity on the part of Ramana, as well as the discovery of Ammadu's baby, before the uncaring parents relent and various couple are reunited.
In addition to use of popular theater techniques, especially when various characters 'enact' scenarios in order to teach other characters a lesion, the narrative is punctuated by two inserted stage performances by school children. It featured several popular songs, esp. Amma Noppule and Pelli Chesukuni.
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