# Charana Daasi

Charana Daasi (transl. Wife) is a 1956 Indian Telugu-language drama film written by Vempati Sadasivabrahmam and directed by T. Prakash Rao. It stars N. T. Rama Rao, Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Anjali Devi and Savitri, and music composed by S. Rajeswara Rao. The film is based on Rabindranath Tagore's 1906 Bengali novel Noukadubi. It was simultaneously made in Tamil as Mathar Kula Manikkam (1956).

## Plot

The film revolves around two couples – Dr. Chandra Sekhar & Parvathi and Venu & Lakshmi. Venu & Lakshmi love each other, but Venu is forcibly married to another girl, Devaki, by his parents. Simultaneously, another wedding takes place in the same village of an orthodox girl, Parvathi, which is disrupted due to dowry problems. During that plight, Dr. Chandra Shekar, the bestie of Parvathi's brother, nuptials her to keep them safe face. Due to the sudden espousal, the couple fails to notice. Parallelly, as it is an unwilling alliance, Venu overlooks the bride. The bridal parties travel on the same train, resulting in a disastrous accident. In which Venu's parents and wife die. Here, Venu mistakes Parvathi for his wife, sees her bridal dress, and takes her home. Meanwhile, Shekar assumes that both his friend and wife are deceased. Fortuitously, on time, Venu realizes the truth that he hides from Parvathi and is relentlessly searching for Parvathi's husband to unite them. Before he can succeed, Lakshmi misconstrues him by considering Parvathi to be his wife. Right now, Parvathi also learns the truth and flees from Venu's house, mortified when she tries to commit suicide. Destiny makes her, rescued by her mother-in-law Annapurna, and lands at her husband's house. Nevertheless, knowing the reality, she cannot divulge her identity, being dastarded that Shekar may suspect her chastity. Besides, Lakshmi becomes a lunatic due to Venu's deceit and is admitted to Shekar's hospital. During treatment, Lakshmi & Shekar convene with each other, and their elders decide to merge them, which Parvathi also happily approves. Just in time, Venu arrives and imparts the facts when Shekar wholeheartedly accepts Parvathi, and both thank Venu even though Lakshmi feels sorry. Finally, the movie ends on a happy note with the marriage of Venu & Lakshmi.

## Cast

* N. T. Rama Rao as Dr. Chandra Sekhar
* Akkineni Nageswara Rao as Venu
* Anjali Devi as Parvathi
* Savitri as Lakshmi
* S. V. Ranga Rao as Raghavaiah
* Relangi as Mahesham
* Ramana Reddy as Narsu & Krishna (dual role)
* Govindarajula Subba Rao as Basavaiah
* Chadalavada as Hanumanthu
* Perumallu as Rangaiah
* Kannamba as Annapurna
* Sowcar Janaki as Saroja
* Suryakantam as Seshamma
* Hemalatha as Venu's mother
* Kamala Lakshman as Vasavadatta in Svapnavasavadattam Dance Drama
* Ragini as Dancer
* Ambika Sukumaran as Dancer

## Production

The film is based on Rabindranath Tagore's novel, Noukadubi. The director, T. Prakash Rao, chose to replace the boat crash sequence in the novel with a train accident in the film, inspired by a real event that took place near Ariyalur. The film was shot simultaneously in Telugu and Tamil languages, with the Tamil version titled Mathar Kula Manikkam.

## Soundtrack

Music was composed by S. Rajeswara Rao.
| Song Title | Lyrics | Singers | length |
| "Gulabeela" | Samudrala Sr | Ghantasala & P. Leela | 2:07 |
| "Aasalu Poochinavi" | Samudrala Sr. | P. Susheela | 3:49 |
| "Are Beta.... Bommalaata" | Vempati Sadasivabrahmam | Mallikarjuna Rao | 3:14 |
| "Gunde Raayi Chesuko" | B. V. N. Acharya | Madhavapeddi Satyam | 3:42 |
| "Ee Dayachaluna Raa" | Samudrala Sr. | P. Leela | 3:41 |
| "Regina Aasa" | Samudrala Sr. | Jikki | 2:59 |
| "Srilalitaa Dayaakalitaa" | BVN Acharya | P. Leela | 3:03 |
| "Badhalee Ayipoyindhe Bhamamani" | Kosaraju | Pithapuram Nageswara Rao | 3:36 |
| "Nede Kadaa Hayi" | Kosaraju | Madhavapeddi Satyam & Swarnalatha | 3:32 |
| "Maruvakumaa Manoramana" | BVN Acharya | P. Susheela | 4:31 |
| "Murisenu Lokalu Kanumaa" | Samudrala Sr. | Ghantasala & P. Susheela | 2:23 |
| "Oho Viyogini" | BVN Acharya | P. Susheela | 2:42 |
| "Yekkadunnadi" | Samudrala Sr. | Jikki & K. Rani | 3:10 |
| "Tharumaarulaadeveme Vayyaari" | Samudrala Sr. | V. N. Sundaram | 2:15 |
| "Dhushtudu Jooche Ninnu" | Samudrala Sr. | P. Susheela | |
| "Kantini Satyamu Nenee Reyi" | Samudrala Sr. | P. Leela | |

## Release

Charanadasi and Mathar Kula Manikkam, the Telugu and Tamil versions, respectively, were released the same year and were box-office successes.