# Chenchu Lakshmi (1958 film)

Chenchu Lakshmi is a 1958 Indian Hindu mythological film produced and directed by B. A. Subba Rao. It stars Akkineni Nageswara Rao and Anjali Devi, with music composed by S. Rajeswara Rao. Along with the Telugu version, it was simultaneously shot in Telugu and Tamil, with most of the actors and scenes being the same in both versions. Another Chenchu Lakshmi was earlier made in 1943 with a different cast and crew.

## Plot

The film is based on the Hindu mythological story, which begins with the weddings of Vishnu & Lakshmi. During this, Durvasa is furious as he is uninvited and curses Mahalakshmi's parents, Samudra & his wife, to be born as tribals. After a while, Vishnu kills Hiranyaksha, donning a Varaha avatar. Learning it, his brother Hiranyakashipu, a ferocious, performs a vast penance. Exploiting it, Indra kidnaps his pregnant wife, Leelavathi, to destroy his heir. Narada safeguards her and sculpts Prahlada in her womb as an ardent devotee of Vishnu.
Meanwhile, Hiranyakasipa triumphs and gets a boon from Brahma: the absence of death of any weapon, human, animal, demon, or divinity. Now, he trounces the universe and moves in search of Vishnu, who absconds with Lakshmi. He transforms Lakshmi's glow into fruit and plants it on a tree. Samudra & his wife take birth as the tribals but are perturbed as childless. So, Narada tricks by bestowing the fruit to them and the couple is blessed with a baby girl, Chenchita. Besides, Prahlada's worship of Vishnu reaches esteem, and Hiranyakasipa makes several attempts to bar him but in vain. He challenges to show his God when Vishnu appears from the pillar as Narasimha, half man & half lion and slays Hiranyakasipa.
Narasimha is still raging with fury here, and no one can make him calm, including Lakshmi, because she does not obtain the glow. During that plight, Narasimha is acquainted with fearless Chenchita, who subsides his anger and turns into the handsome Narahari, and they knit. Being aware of it, Lakshmi displays grievance, and the two wives squabble. At last, Narada affirms Chenchita is her glows when they conjoin, and Samudra & his wife are also relieved from the curse. The film ends with the reunion of Vishnu & Lakshmi at Vaikuntha.

## Cast

| Character | Telugu | Tamil |
| Lord Vishnu | Akkineni Nageswara Rao | Akkineni Nageswara Rao |
| Goddess Lakshmi & Chenchita (Dual role) | Anjali Devi | Anjali Devi |
| Hiranyakashipu | S. V. Ranga Rao | S. V. Ranga Rao |
| Durvasa | Gummadi | C. V. V. Panthulu |
| Narada Maharshi | Relangi | K. A. Thangavelu |
| Samudrudu | E. R. Sahadevan | E. R. Sahadevan |
| Lord Shiva | Nagabhushanam | Nagabhushanam |
| Chandamarkula | Vangara Venkata Subbaiah | Vangara Venkata Subbaiah |
| Leelavathi | Pushpavalli | Pushpavalli |
| Queen of the Chenchus | Sandhya | Sandhya |
| | Rushyendramani | Rushyendramani |
| Prahlada | Master Babji | Master Babji |
| Dancer | E. V. Saroja | E. V. Saroja |
| | A. V. Subba Rao | A. V. Subba Rao |
| | Nalla Rama Murthy | Nalla Rama Murthy |
| | K. S. Angamuthu | K. S. Angamuthu |

## Soundtrack

Music was composed by S. Rajeswara Rao. All the tunes for all the songs for both languages are the same.

### Telugu songs

Lyrics by Arudra, Tapi Dharma Rao, Kosaraju, Vempati Sadasivabrahmam, Samudrala Sr. & Pothana.
| Song Title | Lyrics | Singers | length |
| "Aanandamaye Ali Neelaveni" | Arudra | Ghantasala & Jikki | 4:18 |
| "Chettulekkagalava O Narahari" | Arudra | Ghantasala & Jikki | 3:07 |
| "Chilaka Gorinka" | Vempati Sadasivabrahmam | Ghantasala & Jikki | 2:54 |
| "Paala Kadalipai" | Arudra | P. Susheela | 3:23 |
| "Adhigo Kanalera Kamala" | Samudrala Sr. | P. Susheela | 3:10 |
| "Neelagagana Ghana Shyama" | Arudra | Ghantasala | 4:32 |
| "Kaanaga Raavaa" | Vempati Sadasivabrahmam | Ghantasala & Jikki | 3:26 |
| "Cheyi Cheyi" | Kosaraju | Jikki & T. Sathyavathi | 3:15 |
| "Ambari Lambaarihori" | Kosaraju | Pithapuram Nageswara Rao & A. P. Komala | 2:58 |
| "Ma Chinni Papayi" | Samudrala Sr | P. Susheela | 2:04 |
| "Marapuraani Manchi Roju" | Vempati Sadasivabrahmam | Ghantasala & Jikki | 5:33 |
| "Karunaala Vaalaa" | Kosaraju | Ghantasala | 7:14 |
| "Sri Nadhuni" | Samudrala Sr. | P. Susheela | 2:36 |
| "Chenchu Lakshmi Slokam" | Vempati Sadasivabrahmam | P. Susheela | 10:03 |
| "Dimbhaka Sarva Sthalamula" | Arudra | Madhavapeddi Satyam | |
| "Srihariye Natana Sutradari" | Arudra | Ghantasala | |
| "Yevadura Vishnundu Yevadiraa Jishnundu" | Arudra | Madhavapeddi Satyam | |
| "Parabhavammunu Sahintuna" | Arudra | Madhavapeddi Satyam | |
| "Yededu Lokala Elikaa Neepaina" | Arudra | Ghantasala | |
| "Maa Chinni Papayi" | Vempati Sadasiva Brahmam | Jikki | |
| "Maha Saktimantulaina Nijam Teliyalerayyo" | Arudra | Ghantasala | |
| "Brahma Ichina Varamulu" | Arudra | Ghantasala | |
| "Nadu Hiranyakasipudanargala" | Tapi Dharma Rao | Ghantasala | |
| "Akhila Jagamulakunu" | Arudra | P. B. Sreenivas | |
| "Chilaka Gorinka Kulike Paka Paka" | Arudra | P. B. Sreenivas & P. Susheela | |
| "Patutara Neeti Sastrachaya" | | Madhavapeddi Satyam | |
| "Srinathuni Pada Sarasija Bhajane" | Samudrala Sr. | P. Susheela | |
| "Chettulekka Galava O Narahari" | Vempati Sadasivabrahmam | P. B. Sreenivas & P. Susheela | 2:43 |
| "Hey Deva Divyaprabhava" | Vempati Sadasiva Brahmam | P. Susheela | |
| "Chadhivinchiri Nanu Guruvulu" | Pothana | P. Susheela | |
| "Kanjakshunakugani Kayambu" | Pothana | P. Susheela | |
| "Kantha Cheti Lopala" | Arudra | Ghantasala | |
| "Neelagagana Ghanasyama Deva" | Arudra | Ghantasala | |
| "Adhinadhuni Patnikuda" | Arudra | Ghantasala | |

### Tamil songs

Lyrics by Papanasam Sivan, Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass & M. S. Subramaniam.
| Song | Lyrics | Singers | Length (m:ss) |
| Aanandham Eedhe Alidula Veni | | Ghantasala & Jikki | 04:13 |
| Maratthil Eruvaayaa Ye Singga Manadhil | | Ghantasala & Jikki | 02:17 |
| Anbe En Raaja Assai Kannaalane | | Ghantasala & Jikki | 02:38 |
| Naaraayanaa Hari Naaraayanaa Sriman | Papanasam Sivan | P. Susheela | 03:23 |
| Naaraayanan Thiru Adi Malar Panindhu | | P. Susheela | 02:47 |
| Vidhiyai Vellum Valimai Amma Unakku Illaiye | | Ghantasala | 01:00 |
| Sri Hari Dheva Jegame Pugazh Jeeva | | Ghantasala & Jikki | 03:09 |
| Oyilu Kummi Podalaam Ullaasamaai | | Jikki & T. Sathyavathi | 03:22 |
| Lambaadi Lambaadi Hoi Lambaadi | | M. Sathyam & P. S. Vaidhehi | 02:58 |
| Paal Kadal Thanile Sesha Sayanatthil | | P. Susheela | 02:54 |
| Mangai Endhan Manadhil Inbam | | Ghantasala & Jikki | 05:01 |
| Uyar Karunaamoorthi Perumai Avar Kanndaar | | Ghantasala | 02:44 |
| Dhargamudan Viyaagaranam Sangeetham | | P. Susheela | 04:00 |
| Undhanai Pol Dheivam Undo Dhevaa | | P. Susheela | 01:54 |
| Paarkadal Thanile Palli Konde Endrum | | Seerkazhi Govindarajan | 00:51 |
| Sri Hariye Sagala Soothradhaari | | Ghantasala | 00:40 |
| Alitthidum Avamadhippaiyai Naan Nasukkuven | | V. N. Sundaram | 02:32 |
| Vidha Vidhamaagave Vedanggal Aniyum | | Seerkazhi Govindarajan | 00:45 |
| Eerezhu Loganggal Koorume Un Perai | | Ghantasala | 01:13 |
| Chandhrodhayam Pole Indha Jegam Meedhile | | Jikki | 01:59 |
| Gaandha Sakthi Enavo Kai Padave | | Ghantasala | 00:44 |
| Bramma Sittha Niyaayatthilum Unnmai Purivadhedhu | | Ghantasala | 01:01 |
| Andha Naal Arakkan Iraniyan Arundhava Palanil | | Ghantasala | 00:26 |
| Agila Jegamadhil Aadhi Naadhan | | Ghantasala | 01:26 |
| Inngiruppaano Anggiruppaano Endra Iyame | | V. N. Sundaram & P. Susheela | 02:58 |