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Illarikam
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Wikipedia article
'Illarikam' is a 1959 Indian Telugu-language comedy drama film, produced by A. V. Subba Rao under the Prasad Art Pictures banner and directed by T. Prakash Rao. It stars Akkineni Nageswara Rao and Jamuna, with music composed by T. Chalapathi Rao. The film has had a Silver Jubilee and was recorded as a 'Blockbuster' at the box office.
Illarikam literally means a bridegroom going to the bride's family and living permanently with them; as against the custom of the bride going into the groom's family. This custom is observed in some rich families where the bride is the only child to their parents.
'Illarikam' was remade in four languages. L. V. Prasad produced the Hindi version titled 'Sasural' (1961), which T. Prakash Rao directed. A. V. Subbarao himself remade it in Kannada as 'Mane Aliya' (1964), in Malayalam as 'Kalithozhan' (1966) and in Tamil as 'Maadi Veettu Mappilai' (1967). All these versions were box office hits.
Plot
Venu (Akkineni Nageswara Rao) is an orphan brought up by his maternal uncle Dharmayya (Ramana Reddy). He falls in love with the Zamindar's (Gummadi) daughter Radha (Jamuna). He married with a condition that Venu should live in their house, called 'Illarikam'. Due to status-consciousness, Sundaramma (Hemalatha), wife of the Zamindar, looks down on Venu and insults him indirectly. Govindayya (C. S. R. Anjaneyulu), cousin of Sundaramma and also manager of their mica factories creates problems between Venu and Radha because he plots to usurp the wealth. So, he brings his wayward son Seshagiri (R. Nageswara Rao) weaning him away from Kanakadurga (Girija), whom he had secretly married. Venu spots Kanakadurga, his presumed to be dead sister, while she was performing on stage. Not knowing they are siblings, Radha suspects Venu's fidelity. The villains try to cash in on their rift. When things are getting worse, Venu wears a Zorro-like guise, teaches Govindayya and his son a lesson, and paves the way for a happy family reunion.
Cast
*Akkineni Nageswara Rao as Venu
*Jamuna as Radha
*Gummadi as Zamindar
*Relangi as Brahmanandam
*Ramana Reddy as Dharmayya
*C.S.R. as Govindayya
*R. Nageswara Rao as Sadanandam/Seshagiri
*Allu Ramalingaiah as Panakalu
*Peketi Sivaram
*Hemalatha as Sundaramma
*Girija as Kanakadurga
*T. G. Kamala Devi as Zamindar's sister
*Bala as Savithri
*Surabhi Kamalabai
* Boddapati
Production
After releasing the dubbed version of the Tamil film 'Uthamaputhiran' in Telugu, A. V. Subbarao announced his next project 'Illarikam', with Nageswara Rao, based on the story of Vemapti Sadasivabrahmam. Jamuna was selected to pair with ANR. The pair had earlier collaborated in 'Nirupedalu' (1954). Nageswara Rao suggested to remove the song "Niluvave Vaalu Kanuladaana" as he felt the audience may not like the teasing song, as by then the heroine had realised the truth, but the producer and the director felt otherwise. After its release, seeing the audience response to that song, Nageswara Rao conceded that he was wrong. T. Rama Rao started his career as an assistant director with 'Illarikam'.
Soundtrack
Music composed by T. Chalapathi Rao.
Remakes
'Illarikam' was remade in four languages. L. V. Prasad produced the Hindi version titled 'Sasural' (1961), which T. Prakash Rao directed. A. V. Subbarao himself remade it in Kannada as 'Mane Aliya' (1964), in Malayalam as 'Kalithozhan' (1966) and in Tamil as 'Maadi Veettu Mappilai' (1967). All these versions were box office hits.
References
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