# Maaya Rambha

Maaya Rambha (transl. Magical Rambha) is a 1950 Indian Telugu-language Hindu mythological film, produced and directed by T. P. Sundaram under the N. B. Productions banner. It stars N. T. Rama Rao and Anjali Devi, with music composed by Ogirala Ramachandra Rao.

## Plot

Once Narada senses Rambha's endeavor to defile the fervent penance of a Rishi, he incites her vanity, causing her to express her unique beauty, and he challenges her. He multiplies her mortification on the birthday of Krishna when he crowns Kalavathi, the Lord's court dancer, and his disciple with the honor of a two-person dance recital with Vidyadhara, another disciple of his, ignoring the claims of Kalavathi and Nalacoobra. The Lord presents a Manikyamala to Kalavathi and Vidyadhara together, which the latter rejects when offered by the former. Now Vidyadhara and Nalacoobra stay in Dwaraka, the former with his mentor and later forced by his love for Kalavati. Being Kambha hurts on both sides, and she, too, remains there to mend her husband. Kalavathi methodically reveals her heart to Vidyadhara. Since their first meeting, Vidhya has learned to love and often meets in the garden of Narada Ashram. On one such occasion, Nala observes their intimacy in the form of a deer and becomes agitated. The more Rambha tries to control him, the more wilful he becomes. He visits Kala's house and offers everything for her love, but in vain. Then he meets Kala in the garden in the form of Vidyadhara, for whom she is waiting, and appears to Vidyadhara as Nala, who, being busy fetching Bhagavath Geetha from Krishna, comes too late and makes him misunderstand that Nala is the one who loves Kala; with this blow, Vidhya takes leave of his mentor to be away from Dwaraka and away from all that is feminine in the world. The innocent Kala sets out alone in search of him, unaware of her crime, and Uddanda, the husband of her maidservant, sets out in search of her.
Nala, whom Kalavathi is stalking, finds her in the forest and tries to molest her. He distracts Uddanda, who approaches the spot by creating a Yakshini when Rambha appears on the scene, and Kala escapes. Narada arrives and informs Rambha about Indra's curse, which has deprived her of her divine powers for neglecting her duty. Rambha mistakes Kala for reciprocating Nala's love and decides to snuff out her life. Uddanda is cursed to be a pigeon by a Parkaya Yogi for his misbehavior towards him. Kalavathi gets caught in a storm while searching for Vidyadhara and eventually loses sight. Vidhya, who has almost completed his visits to the temple, meets Kala's innocence, corrupted by another treacherous act of Nalacoobra. She wins Kala's sympathy in the form of a baby. She creates a motherly atmosphere around her; after that, Vidyadhara confirms her infidelity and walks away without speaking to the blind man. Nala assumes his original form as a baby and again tries to molest Kalavathi when the earthly Kalpaka defends her and belittles Nala's caste. But the trials and tribulations of Kala, who, despite being blind, throws off Kalpavalli's protection and goes in search of Vidhya, only to learn her crime and die, never seem to end. Rambha instigates Kalpalika, a staunch devotee of the goddess and aspirant to the title of Amrajyasiddi, behind the idol of the Bhubaneshwar temple to sacrifice Kalavathi on the altar of the goddess to achieve his goal while offering himself for the purpose.

## Cast

* N. T. Rama Rao as Nalakubharudu
* Anjali Devi as Kalavathi
* G. Varalakshmi as Rambha
* C. S. R. as Narada Maharshi
* Kasturi Siva Rao as Udhanda
* K. Raghuramayya as Vidyadhara
* Balijepalli Lakshmikantam as Kapalika
* Kumpatla as Thota Maali
* K. V. Srinivas as Krishna
* A. L. Narayana as Parakaaya Yogi
* Sriranjani as Adavi Pilla
* Surabhi Kamalabai as Kapalini
* Soudamini as Kalavathi's friend
* Jayalakshmi as Vasanthi
* Revathi as Yakshini

## Reception

A reviewer for Zamin Ryot praised the performances of the cast especially Anjali Devi, N. T. Rama Rao, and Siva Rao but criticised the direction and technical aspects like photography, sound, and production design.