''Devata'' () is a 1965 Indian

Telugu Telugu may refer to: * Telugu language, a major Dravidian language of South India ** Telugu literature, is the body of works written in the Telugu language. * Telugu people, an ethno-linguistic group of India * Telugu script, used to write the Tel ...

-language

drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. The drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular ...

, produced by B. Purushottam, presented by comedian Padmanabham on his Rekha & Murali Combines banner and directed by K. Hemambharadhara Rao. It stars

N. T. Rama Rao Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao (28 May 1923 – 18 January 1996), often referred to by his initials NTR, was an Indian actor, film director, film producer, screenwriter, film editor, philanthropist, and politician who served as the Chief Minister o ...

and Savitri, with music composed by S. P. Kodandapani.

Plot

The film begins with an ideal couple, Prasad & Sita, who lead a delightful life with a son, Madhu. Everyone applauds Sita as the finest woman of her amicable, obedient & caring nature. Once, she suddenly walks up because of her terminally ill father, Seshaiah. Tragically, the train traveling meets with a disastrous accident. Knowing it, Prasad rushes to the railway hospital, where he detects unconscious Sita between victims lying in heaps and shifts her home. Therein, Sita cannot recognize anyone, behaves strangely, and seeks to abscond. Ergo, the doctor's opinion is that she may be in an insane state. It drowns the family into deep distress and ailing Madhu. Besides, Seshaiah dies, entrusting the property to Sita, when his malicious nephew Jaganadham envies and ruses to usurp it. Prasad consults renowned specialist Dr. Rukmini, who startlingly affirms that the lady is not Sita, a doppelganger, Lalitha. Afterward, Lalitha also comprehends the situation when Prasad requests her whereabouts. Indeed, Lalitha is needy and brought up under the scorn of her maternal uncle & aunt. An affluent guy, Ramesh, endeared her but refused to knit for the dowry, and the elders compelled her to wed a wealthy drunkard. So, Lalitha attempted suicide by falling under the same train on which Sita was moving. Prasad implores Lalitha to act as Sita for a few days to secure his family, and she does. At this, she nears and grows attached to them. Meanwhile, Prasad collapses after identifying Sita's skeleton buried in the destruction via the bangles he bestowed. He recovers and decides to perform Lalitha's nuptial with Ramesh by granting the required dowry. However, Ramesh suspects Prasad & Lalitha's relationship. Thus, she rebukes and expels him. Simultaneously, Jaganadham abducts Lalitha & Madhu, and Prasad shields them by ceasing him. Overhearing the totality, Prasad's parents state Lalitha is their daughter-in-law. At last, Lalitha decides to replace Sita, considering the family's affection. Finally, the movie ends happily with the marriage of Prasad & Lalitha.

Cast

as Prasad * Savitri as Seeta and Lalitha *

V. Nagayya Vuppaladadiyam Nagayya Sarma (28 March 1904 – 30 December 1973), popularly known as Chittoor Nagayya, was an Indian actor, singer, music composer, and director known for his works in Telugu cinema, Tamil cinema, and Telugu theatre. Nagayya wa ...

as Lokabhiramaiah * Rajanala as Jagannatham * Padmanabham as Varahalu / Prem Kumar * Vallam Narasimha Rao as Ramesh * Vangara as Anjaneyulu * Perumallu as Sheshaiah *

Balakrishna Bala Krishna (). Present day Krishna worship is an amalgam of various elements. According to historical testimonies Krishna-Vasudeva worship already flourished in and around Mathura several centuries before Christ. A second important element is ...

* Geetanjali as Hema *

Hemalatha Hemalatha, often credited as Hema, is an Indian actress and dancer who works in Tamil cinema. She is acclaimed for her roles in the popular soap opera '' Kana Kaanum Kaalangal'' on STAR Vijay and in the drama serial on Sun TV '' Thendral''. ...

Nirmalamma Nirmalamma (18 July 1920 – 19 February 2009) was an Indian actress in the Telugu cinema. She appeared in more than 1000 films and was well known for her grandmother roles in several films. She won two Nandi Awards. Early life She was born in ...

as Parvatamma * Master Murali as Madhu

Cameo appearances

* S. V. Ranga Rao as himself * Gummadi as himself * Relangi as himself *

Ramana Reddy Ramana Reddy (1 October 1921 – 11 November 1974) was an Indian character actor, comedian and producer known for his works predominantly in Telugu cinema. In a career spanning 24 years, he acted in more than 200 movies. Ramana Reddy and Relang ...

as himself *

Kanta Rao Tadepalli Lakshmi Kantha Rao (16 November 1923 – 22 March 2009) was an Indian actor and producer known for his works predominantly in Telugu cinema. Regarded as one of the finest method actors, Rao appeared in more than 400 feature films, ...

as himself * Raja Babu *

Nagesh Nageshwaran Rao (born Cheyur Krishnarao Nageshwaran; (27 September 1933 – 31 January 2009) was an Indian actor and comedian mostly remembered for his comic roles in Tamil films during the 1960s. Nagesh was born in Dharapuram. He acted in ov ...

Anjali Devi Anjali Devi (; 24 August 1927 – 13 January 2014) was an Indian actress, model and producer in Telugu and Tamil films. She was well known for her role as the Devi Sita in '' Lava Kusa'' as well as for the title roles in movies like Chenchu ...

as herself * Krishna Kumari as herself * Jamuna as herself *

Sowcar Janaki Sankaramanchi Janaki (born 12 December 1931), widely known as Sowcar Janaki, is an Indian actress known for her works in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada films. In a career spanning over seven decades, Janaki has appeared in nearly 390 fil ...

as herself *

Vanisri Vanisri (born Rathna Kumari) is an Indian actress known for her works predominantly in Telugu, Tamil, and Kannada films. In a film career spanning 40 years, she has received three Filmfare Awards South, the Nandi Awards and the Tamil Nadu St ...

Soundtrack

Music composed by S. P. Kodandapani.

Production

Veeturi wrote this story for a drama company called Rekha and Murali Arts. Later everyone involved thought that the story was not suitable for a stage drama as the heroine of the story has to perform a dual role. It was felt that the story was suitable for a motion picture. Padmanabham took up the task of producing the film under the banner ''Rekha & Murali Arts'' with the support from Kakarla Venkateswarlu of Vani film distributors. Padmanabhan mortgaged his house for Rs. 40,000 for the initial capital. Most of the shooting was done in Vauhini Studios, Chennai in three months. *

acted as a guest in the college anniversary festival song "Naaku Neeve Kaavalera". * Master Murali acted as Madhu, son of Prasad and Seeta. He is the eldest son of B. Padmanabham. * Padmanabham portrayed the character as Varahalu, who is crazy about films and film actors. In the film, he visits Madras to personally meet many famous film actors of that time. * Vallam Narasimha Rao, one of the partners in Rekha and Murali Arts has acted in the film as the lover of Savitri.

References

External links

* {{IMDb title, 0290563 Indian drama films 1960s Telugu-language films 1960s Indian films 1965 drama films 1965 films Films scored by S. P. Kodandapani