Home | Movies By Year | Movies from 1954
Raju Peda
Buy Raju Peda now from AmazonFirst, read the Wikipedia article. Then, scroll down to see what other TopShelfReviews readers thought about the movie. And once you've experienced the movie, tell everyone what you thought about it.
Wikipedia article
'Raju Peda' is a 1954 Indian Telugu-language film, produced and directed by B. A. Subba Rao. It stars N. T. Rama Rao, Lakshmirajyam, S. V. Ranga Rao and Master Sudhakar, with music composed by S. Rajeswara Rao. The film is based on Mark Twains 1881 novel, 'The Prince and the Pauper' and was later remade into the Hindi film 'Raja Aur Runk' (1968) and dubbed into Tamil as 'Aandi Petra Selvan' (1957).
Plot
Two identical boys are born on the same day to King Surendra Dev and to a thief Poligadu. Twelve years later, the sick King decides to crown the Prince Narendra Dev. His lookalike Narigadu tortured by his father for refusing to beg, leaves home without informing his mother Achi and sister Malli. He is caught by the palace guards, but is saved by the Prince. They exchange clothes and find that they look identical. Narigadu falls asleep on the Prince's bed. Mistaking him for Narigadu, the guards throw the prince out. Thus they accidentally exchange places.
Soon the prince leaves Poligadu's house. Sudhir, a valiant soldier who is in love with Malli, takes care of him. Meanwhile, the king dies. The army commander Vikram Dev plots to usurp the kingdom. He learns the truth about Narigadu and compels him to act as the prince. He also plots to kill the real prince, but Poligadu and Sudhir thwart his plan. In the fight that follows, Poligadu kills Vikram. Narendra Dev is crowned as the king. He orders Poligadu and his family to stay with him in the palace.
Cast
* N. T. Rama Rao as Pooligadu
* Lakshmirajyam as Achamma
* S. V. Ranga Rao as Maharaju Surendra Dev
* Relangi as Sudhir
* R. Nageswara Rao as Vikram
* Dr. Sivaramakrishnaiah as Bhugolam Panthulu
* V. C. Kamaraju as Vijay
* Lakshmaiah Chowdary as Subedhar
* Chelamaiah Chowdary as Raja Guruvu
* Jaya Rami Reddy as Bhaskar
* Lakshman Rao as Prabhakar
* Ammaji as Malli
* T. D. Kusalakumari as dancer
* Master Sudhakar as Narendra Dev & Naarigadu: (dual role)
Soundtrack
;Telugu
The music of the film was composed by S. Rajeswara Rao. Lyrics were by Tapi Dharma Rao, Aatreya and Kosaraju. Playback singers are Ghantasala, Madhavapeddi Satyam, Jikki, K. Rani, P. Susheela and T. Sathyavathi.
;Tamil
Music for the Tamil version was composed by T. Chalapathi Rao and the lyrics were penned by Kuyilan and Puratchidasan. Playback singers are T. M. Soundararajan, S. C. Krishnan, Jikki, P. Leela, R. Balasaraswathi Devi, M. S. Rajeswari, T. Sathyavathi and Kamala.
Awards
*This film was one of N. T. Rama Rao's finest performances, for which he was awarded the Rashtrapati Award for his role.
References
Buy Raju Peda now from Amazon
<-- Return to movies from 1954