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Dharma Daata
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Wikipedia article
'Dharma Daata' is a 1970 Indian Telugu-language drama film, produced by Tammareddy Krishna Murthy under the Ravindra Art Pictures banner and directed by A. Sanjeevi. It stars Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Kanchana and music composed by T. Chalapathi Rao. The film is a remake of the Tamil film 'Enga Oor Raja' (1968), and was a box office success.
Plot
Raja Raghupathi Rao (Akkineni Nageswara Rao) is a generous Zamindar of Sripuram, well-renowned for his charity & humanity who leads a happy family life with his wife Susheela (Sowkar Janaki), sister Lakshmi (Jhansi) and two sons Shekar (Master Aadinarayana Rao) & Chakravarthy (Master Visweswara Rao). Meanwhile, Bhageswaram Zamindar Bhujangam Rao (Nagabhushanam) envious of Raghupathi Rao, wants to grab his property by coupling up his son Raju with Lakshmi. During the time of the wedding, Raja Raghupathi Rao is unable to pay some part of the dowry as he is bankrupt for the charities. Right now, Raghupathi Rao mortgages his palace 'Srinilayam' which he adores as a temple. Knowing it, Bhujangam Rao contempts him by pulling his shoulder cloth. Here enraged Raghunatha Rao challenges to regain his 'Srinilayam' and make Bhujangam Rao touch his feet. Thereafter, Susheela passes away after giving birth to a baby girl Jaya and Lakshmi even refuses to attend the funeral as bullying of Bhujangam when Raghupathi Rao & sons develop animosity towards her. Grief-stricken Raghupathi Rao reaches the city to make money and takes an oath from his children that they will get back 'Srinilayam'. Years roll by, Shekar (again Akkineni Nageswara Rao), Chakravarthy (Padmanabham), and Jaya (Anitha) grow up, they all work hard and make three-quarters of money. On the other side, Lakshmi tries to get close to her brother's family, as it is her husband's last wish. So, Lakshmi's daughter Padma (Kanchana) makes acquaintance with Shekar and cleverly accommodates herself in their house, hiding her identity. Meanwhile, Lakshmi moves with the marriage proposal of her son Prasad (Eeswar Rao) with Jaya to which Shekar refuses. Parallelly, a glimpse love story of Chakravarthy with the princess of Vijayapur Rani (Geetanjali). At present, Shekar learns the truth regarding Padma and necks her out. Being cognizant of it, Lakshmi & Padma's intention Bhujangam Rao becomes furious when Padma makes him know that Raghupathi Rao is almost on the edge to win. So, he ploys to snatch 'Srinilayam', makes the money vendor Seth Dayaram (Venkateswara Rao) threaten Raghupathi Rao, and also steals their hard-earned money. There, Raghupathi Rao's sons accuse and leave him alone when he becomes mentally disturbed. Thereafter, through Padma, Shekar finds the evil design of Bhujangam Rao and retrieves their money. By the time, insane Raghupathi Rao reaches Sripuram to protect his 'Srinilayam' when Bhujangam Rao intrigues to blast the building. At last, Raghupathi Rao teaches the lesson to Bhujangam Rao with the help of his sons and gets back his property. Finally, the movie ends on a happy note with the marriages of Shekar & Padma, Prasad & Jaya, and Chakravarthy & Rani.
Cast
*Akkineni Nageswara Rao as Raja Raghupathi Rao & Sekhar (Dual role)
*Kanchana as Padma
*Nagabhushanam as Zamindar Bhujanga Rao
*Relangi as Bhushanam
*Padmanabham as Chakravarthy
*Allu Ramalingaiah as Yedukondalu
*Sakshi Ranga Rao as Bhaja Govindam
*Vallam Narasimha Rao as Satyam
*Venkateswara Rao as Seth Dayaram
*Eeswara Rao as Prasad
*Sowcar Janaki as Susheela
*Suryakantham as Vijayapur Rani
*Geetanjali as Vijayapur Yuvarani
*Anita as Jaya
*Jhansi as Lakshmi
*'Master' Aadinarayana Rao as Young Sekhar
*'Master' Visweswara Rao as Young Chakravarthy
Soundtrack
Music composed by T. Chalapathi Rao. Music released on Audio Company.
Box office
The film ran for 100 days in 13 centres and the celebrations were held at Shanti Talkies, Hyderabad.
Awards
* Filmfare Best Film Award (Telugu) 'TammaReddy Krishnamurthy' (1970).
References
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