Illarikam
Illarikam (transl. Matrilocal residence) is a 1959 Indian Telugu-language comedy drama film directed by T. Prakash Rao. It stars Akkineni Nageswara Rao and Jamuna, with music composed by T. Chalapathi Rao. It was produced by A. V. Subba Rao under the Prasad Art Pictures banner. The film had a Silver Jubilee run and was recorded as a Blockbuster at the box office.[1]
| Illarikam | |
|---|---|
.jpg.webp) Theatrical release Poster | |
| Directed by | T. Prakash Rao |
| Written by | Arudra (dialogues) |
| Screenplay by | T. Prakash Rao |
| Story by | Vempati Sadasivabrahmam |
| Produced by | A. V. Subba Rao |
| Starring | Akkineni Nageswara Rao Jamuna |
| Cinematography | A. Vincent |
| Edited by | A. Sanjeevi |
| Music by | T. Chalapathi Rao |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Navayuga Films |
Release date |
|
Running time | 160 minutes |
| Country | India |
| Language | Telugu |
Illarikam literally means a bridegroom going to the bride's family and living permanently with them (matrilocality); as against the custom of the bride going into the groom's family (patrilocality). 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.[2]
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.[2]
Music
Music was composed by T. Chalapathi Rao.[3]
| S. No. | Song Title | Lyrics | Singers | length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Adigindaaniki Cheppi" | Kosaraju | Ghantasala, P. Susheela | 5:24 |
| 2 | "Ekkadi Dongalu Akkadane Gapchup" | Sri Sri | Ghantasala, P. Susheela | 3:35 |
| 3 | "Niluvave Vaalu Kanuladhana" | Kosaraju | Ghantasala, P. Susheela | 3:13 |
| 4 | "Chetulu Kalasina Chappatlu" | Arudra | Ghantasala, P. Susheela, Madhavapeddi Satyam | 4:05 |
| 5 | "Nedu Srivariki Memante" | Arudra | Ghantasala, P. Susheela | 3:17 |
| 6 | "Madhu Patram" | Arudra | Jikki | 3:35 |
| 7 | "Bhale Chancele" | Kosaraju | Madhavapeddi Satyam | 3:03 |
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.[2]
References
- Sri (2 May 2009). "Retrospect : Illarikam completes 50 years". Telugucinema.com. Archived from the original on 5 May 2009. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
- Narasimham, M. L. (24 September 2015). "Blast from the past: Illarikam (1959)". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 9 December 2016. Retrieved 26 July 2019.
- "ILLarikam (1959)-Song_Booklet". Indiancine.ma. Retrieved 12 September 2022.