# Aathma Balam

Aathma Balam (transl. Power of the Soul) is a 1964 Indian Telugu-language romantic thriller film directed by V. Madhusudhana Rao and produced by V. B. Rajendra Prasad. The film stars Akkineni Nageswara Rao, B. Saroja Devi, Jaggayya and music composed by K. V. Mahadevan. It is a Telugu adaptation to Agradoot's Bengali film Agni Sanskar (1961).

## Plot

The film begins with a tycoon, Rama Rao, committing suicide out of fury as he suspects his wife, Jagadeeswari Devi when his son Kumar turns into a psycho witnessing it. So, Jagadeeswari Devi admits Kumar into a psychiatric center but counterfeits his presence abroad. Years pass, and Kumar grows up as a peculiar loner with his father's memories. Meanwhile, Anand works as a chief engineer at Jagadeeswari Devi's factory, which she treats as her own. Anand loves Jaya, the spouse of Jagadeeswari's driver's daughter, who has sacrificed his life while guarding his owner. Besides, Mangapathi, the sly factory manager, grudges Anand as he creates obstacles for his misdeeds. Once, unfortunately, Kumar absconds from the psychiatric center when Jagadeeswari Devi requests Anand to retrieve her son. So, Anand moves in quest of Kumar and befriends him. After crossing many hurdles, he successfully brings him home.
However, Kumar is annoyed and about to quit when Anand lures him with Jaya's beauty. Kumar falls for her; he expresses his intention to his mother, and she pleads with Anand to convince Jaya. To show gratitude, both sacrifice their love, Anand resigns and exits. After that, Mangapathi spoils Kumar's mind by divulging the actuality. Ergo, adamant Kumar is about getting whatever he yearns for; if not, he will kill the opponent or abuse himself. So, Kumar plots to avenge by calling Anand and tries to slaughter him, but fails when Anand cautions Kumar and walks up. Next, Kumar attempts to slay Jaya when she flees and reaches Anand. Now, Kumar, as a home straight, intrigues Anand by committing suicide, tactically incriminates him, and is destined for the death penalty. During that plight, Kumar's Doctor, Seth, and Jagadeeswari Devi's ex-lover, Sundaram, had arrived by then. The people make her realize that Kumar is insane and Anand is innocent. Parallelly, Jaya learns that Kumar also has a habit of writing his innermost feelings in a diary, which Mangapathi tries to destroy, but with her willpower, Jaya achieves it. Just before Anand is at death's door, Jaya proves him as nonguilty and acquits him. Finally, the movie ends on a happy note with the marriage of Anand & Jaya.

## Cast

* Akkineni Nageswara Rao as Anand
* B. Saroja Devi as Jaya
* Jaggayya as Kumar
* Gummadi as Dr. Seth
* V. Nagayya as Sundaram
* Relangi as Kuramavataram
* Ramana Reddy as Manager Mangapathi
* Chadalavada as Anand's father
* Suryakantham as Rangamma
* Kannamba as Jagadeeswaramma
* Hemalatha as Parvathamma
* Girija as Chitti

## Soundtrack

Music was composed by K. V. Mahadevan. Lyrics were written by Acharya Aatreya.
| S. No. | Song Title | Singers | length |
| 1 | "Chita Pata Chinukulu" | Ghantasala, P. Susheela | 3:49 |
| 2 | "Gilligajalu" | Ghantasala, P. Susheela | 3:59 |
| 3 | "Ekkadiki Potavu Chinnavaada" | Ghantasala, P. Susheela | 5:29 |
| 4 | "Parugulu Teese" | Ghantasala, P. Susheela | 4:56 |
| 5 | "Tellavaaraneeku Ee Reyini" | Ghantasala, P. Susheela | 3:41 |
| 6 | "Naalugu Kallu Rendu Ayinayi" | P. Susheela | 3:37 |
| 7 | "Naalugu Kallu Rendu Ayinayi" | Ghantasala, Jamuna Rani | 3:29 |
| 8 | "Ramzu Ramzu" | Ghantasala, P. Susheela | 3:15 |