Anthuleni Katha

Anthuleni Katha
Anthuleni Katha
	Poster
Directed by	K. Balachander
Written by	K. Balachander; M. S. Perumallu ; Acharya Aatreya
Based on	Aval Oru Thodar Kathai (Tamil)
Produced by	Rama Arannangal
Starring	Jaya Prada; Phataphat Jayalaxmi ; Rajinikanth ; Sripriya
Cinematography	B. S. Lokanath
Music by	M. S. Viswanathan
Production; company	Andal Productions
Release date	27 February 1976;
Country	India
Language	Telugu

Anthuleni Katha (transl. Never Ending Story) is a 1976 Indian Telugu-language film directed by K. Balachander, starring Jaya Prada, with Fatafat Jayalaxmi, Rajinikanth and Sripriya in supporting roles. Kamal Haasan played a cameo.

The film is a remake of the 1974 Tamil film Aval Oru Thodar Kathai, which was also directed by Balachander. The film was later remade in Bengali as Kabita with Kamal Haasan reprising his role in the film, marking his debut in Bengali cinema.^[1] This is Jaya Prada's first starring role, reprising the role played by Sujatha in the original and is considered to be one of her best films. This was also Rajinikanth's first major role. This film was shot in black-and-white.

Plot

Saritha (Jaya Prada) is a working woman in a poor family. She works hard to support her widowed sister, unmarried sister, blind younger brother, her mother, and her drunkard brother Murthy (Rajinikanth) along with his family. Her father abandons the family and goes on a pilgrimage. Not only does her brother not take responsibilities, but he also creates additional problems for her.

She has a longtime boyfriend, who wants to marry her, but she doesn't because of her commitment to her family. His eyes now wander to Saritha's widowed younger sister (Sripriya), who reciprocates his feelings. Saritha, after reading her boyfriend's love letter to her sister, arranges for them to get married, thus giving up her chance of having a life with him. She eventually accepts a marriage proposal of her boss (Kamal Haasan), when she realises that her brother has become responsible enough to take care of her family. She also helps her distressed friend, played by Phataphat Jayalaksmi to settle in life. She decides to resign from hard work, but could not as the result of the turning point in a typical Balachandar style climax.

Cast

Jaya Prada as Saritha
Rajinikanth as Murthy
Sripriya as Bharathi
Phataphat Jayalaxmi as Chandra
G. V. Narayana Rao as Vikatakavi Gopal
Prasad Babu as Thilak
Pradeep Shakthi as Conductor
M. Jayashree as Saritha’s Mother
Sudha as Sumathi
Kamal Haasan as Arun Ghosh (Cameo)

Production

Anthuleni Katha was a remake of Tamil film Aval Oru Thodarkathai. Both versions were produced by Rama Arangannal and directed by Balachander.^[2] Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth both made their Telugu cinema acting debut with this film.^[3] The former did a cameo of Saritha's boss while Hassan's role from original was reprised by Narayana Rao. Phatapat Jayalakshmi and Sripriya reprised their roles from the original. The indoor scenes were shot at Neptune Studios while the outdoor scenes were shot at Vishakapatnam.^[2]

Soundtrack

All songs are penned by Acharya Aatreya and the music was composed by M. S. Viswanathan.^[4]

"Are Emiti Lokam", cast by Phaphat Jayalakshmi and voice by L. R. Eswari
"Tali Kattu Subhavela", cast by Narayana Rao and voice by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
"Kallalo Unnadedo Kannulake Telusu", cast by Jaya Prada and voice by S. Janaki
"Ugutundu Nee Inta Uyyala", cast by Jayaprada and voice by P. Susheela
"Devude Icchadu Vidhi Okkati", cast by Rajinikanth and voice by Yesudas.

Reception

In 2001, Jaya Prada herself acknowledged the impact the film had in her personal life, as she very much related to the lead character.^[5]

Awards

Nandi Awards^[6]

Third Best Feature Film - Bronze won by Ram Aranganal (1976)

Filmfare Awards South

Special Award – Jaya Prada

References

^ "Anthuleni Katha was the Telugu debut for Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth". The Times of India. 27 April 2020. ISSN 0971-8257. Archived from the original on 24 December 2020. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
^ ^a ^b "Articles: Movie Retrospect: Anthleni Katha". Telugu Cinema. 23 August 2006. Archived from the original on 9 July 2007. Retrieved 23 June 2021.
^ "Anthuleni Katha was the Telugu debut for Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth". The Times of India. 22 April 2020. Archived from the original on 24 December 2020. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
^ "Anthuleni Katha". indiancine.ma (in Telugu). Archived from the original on 24 June 2021. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
^ "I want to experience motherhood: Jayaprada". Screen. Archived from the original on 30 June 2009. Retrieved 3 July 2009.
^ "నంది అవార్డు విజేతల పరంపర (1964–2008)" [A series of Nandi Award Winners (1964–2008)] (PDF) (in Telugu). Information & Public Relations of Andhra Pradesh. Archived (PDF) from the original on 23 February 2015. Retrieved 21 August 2020.

External links

Anthuleni Katha at IMDb

[1] "Anthuleni Katha was the Telugu debut for Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth". The Times of India. 27 April 2020. ISSN 0971-8257. Archived from the original on 24 December 2020. Retrieved 7 November 2023.

[ak-2] "Articles: Movie Retrospect: Anthleni Katha". Telugu Cinema. 23 August 2006. Archived from the original on 9 July 2007. Retrieved 23 June 2021.

[Debut-3] "Anthuleni Katha was the Telugu debut for Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth". The Times of India. 22 April 2020. Archived from the original on 24 December 2020. Retrieved 9 June 2021.

[4] "Anthuleni Katha". indiancine.ma (in Telugu). Archived from the original on 24 June 2021. Retrieved 19 June 2021.

[5] "I want to experience motherhood: Jayaprada". Screen. Archived from the original on 30 June 2009. Retrieved 3 July 2009.

[6] "నంది అవార్డు విజేతల పరంపర (1964–2008)" [A series of Nandi Award Winners (1964–2008)] (PDF) (in Telugu). Information & Public Relations of Andhra Pradesh. Archived (PDF) from the original on 23 February 2015. Retrieved 21 August 2020.

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