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2021-07-03T14:11:52Z

Cast

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{{About|the film|information on the nocturnal flower Gul-e-Bakavali|Epiphyllum oxypetalum}}
{{short description|1962 film by N. T. Rama Rao}}
{{EngvarB|date=December 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2018}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Gulebakavali Katha
| image = Gulebakavali Katha 1962.jpg
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| writer =
| story =
| screenplay =
| producer = [[N. Trivikrama Rao]]
| director = [[N. T. Rama Rao]]
| starring = N. T. Rama Rao<br />[[Jamuna (actress)|Jamuna]]<br />Nagarathna
| music = Joseph<br />Vijaya Krishna Murthy
| cinematography = [[Ravikant Nagaich]]
| editing = S. P. S. Veerappa<br />G. Siva Murthy
| studio = National Art Theaters
| released = {{Film date|df=y|1962|1|5}}
| runtime = 170 minutes
| country = India
| language = Telugu
}}

'''''Gulebakavali Katha''''' ({{trans|The story of Gulebakavali}}) is a 1962 Indian [[Telugu language|Telugu]]-language [[fantasy film|fantasy]] [[swashbuckler film]] produced by [[N. Trivikrama Rao]] and directed by [[N. T. Rama Rao]]. It is based on the story of ''Gulebakavali'' from the tale collection ''[[Kasi Majilee Kathalu]]'' by [[Madhira Subbanna Deekshitulu]]. Rama Rao also stars as the male lead, alongside [[Jamuna (actress)|Jamuna]] and Nagarathna as the female leads. The film focuses on a man's quest to search for the [[Epiphyllum oxypetalum|''Gulebakavali'' flower]], which he needs to cure the king's blindness. It was released on 5 January 1962, and became a commercial success.

== Plot ==
King Chandrasena has two wives, Gunavathi and Rupavathi. Rupavathi has three sons. Rupavathi's brother Vakraketu has an eye on the king's throne. When Gunavathi gets pregnant with the blessings of the goddess Parvathi, Vakraketu and Rupavathi bribe the astrologer by saying that the King loses his eyesight if he sees the child and tries to murder the infant, but he is rescued and brought up by a shepherd couple and named Vijay. Once, King Chandrasena goes hunting in the forest, sees Vijay and loses his eyesight, but the actual reason had plotted against the king and made him blind. Doctors advise the king to get the [[Epiphyllum oxypetalum|''Gulebakavali'' flower]] which blossoms on the full moon day in the Yakshaloka.

Vijay sets on an adventurous journey to get the ''Gulebakavali'' flower which has healing powers and can, therefore, cure blindness. He meets a trickster dice player Yuktimati, whom he defeats and marries and saves his three elder brothers, sons of Rupavati. He then reaches Devaloka, woos princess Bakavali, gets the flower, but his brothers steal it from him. He returns to Devaloka only to find the pond dry. Vijay then offers his eyes. The pond blooms with the divine flower, an impressed Mahendra plucks it, restores Vijay's vision and gives him his daughter's hand. Vijay returns to his kingdom with his two wives, annihilates Vakrakethu and the army chief Dushtabudhi, cures his father's blindness with the divine flower saved for him by Atitelivi from his brothers and ascends the throne.

== Cast ==
Credits adapted from ''[[The Hindu]]'':<ref name="BFTP" />
* [[N. T. Rama Rao]] as Vijay
* [[Jamuna (actress)|Jamuna]] as Yuktimati
* Nagarathna as Bakavali
* [[Peketi Sivaram]] as one of Rupavathi's sons
* [[Mukkamala]] as Chandrasena
* [[Rajanala Kaleswara Rao]] as Vakraketu
* Lanka Satyam as the goatherd
* [[Mikkilineni (actor)|Mikkilineni]] as [[Indra|Mahendra]]
* K. V. S. Sharma as Dushtabudhi
* [[Padmanabham (actor)|Padmanabham]] as one of Rupavathi's sons
* [[Valluri Balakrishna|Balakrishna]] as Ati Telivi
* [[Rushyendramani]] as Gunavathi
* [[Hemalatha (Telugu actress)|Hemalatha]] as the goatherd's wife
* Surabhi Balasarswathi as Adikaasa
* [[Chhaya Devi]] as Rupavathi

== Production ==
''Gulebakavali Katha'' is the second Telugu film to be based on the story of ''Gulebakavali'' from the Arabian folktale collection ''[[One Thousand and One Nights]]'', following a 1938 film titled ''Gulebakavali''. It was produced by [[N. Trivikrama Rao]] under National Art Theaters, and directed by [[N. T. Rama Rao]]. This was Rama Rao's second directorial venture after ''[[Seeta Rama Kalyanam (1960 film)|Seeta Rama Kalyanam]]'' (1961); however, as with that film, he did not bill himself as director in the opening credits. The writer of the original story was not credited; instead, Trivikrama Rao was credited under "''kathasekarana''" (collecting the story). In addition to directing, Rama Rao starred as the male lead Vijay. He cast two female leads: [[Jamuna (actress)|Jamuna]] as the trickster dice player Yuktimati; and actress [[G. Varalakshmi]]'s niece Nagarathna as princess Bakavali, this being her acting debut. Nagarathna had only two dialogues, one of which was "Nanna". [[Rajanala Kaleswara Rao]] was cast as Vakraketu. [[Ravikant Nagaich]] was hired as cinematographer, K. Narasimha Rao for art direction,<ref name="BFTP" /> and S. P. S. Veerappa and G. Siva Murthy for editing.<ref name="indiancine">{{Cite web |url=https://indiancine.ma/KHQ/info |title=Gulebakavali Katha |website=Indiancine.ma |access-date=29 December 2018}}</ref>

== Soundtrack ==
Music composers Joseph and Vijaya Krishna Murthy made their debut with this film,<ref name="BFTP" /> as did lyricist [[C. Narayana Reddy]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/c-narayana-reddy-he-owned-the-literary-throne/article18996229.ece |title=C Narayana Reddy: He owned the literary throne |last=Nadadhur |first=Srivathsan |date=13 June 2017 |work=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=29 December 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181230055727/https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/c-narayana-reddy-he-owned-the-literary-throne/article18996229.ece |archive-date=30 December 2018 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref> The film's most popular songs were "Nannu Dhochukonduvate", "Kalala Alalapai", "Unnadi Chebuta" and "Madana Sundara Naa Doraa".<ref name="BFTP" />
{{Track listing
| headline =
| extra_column = Singer(s)
| total_length =
| all_writing =
| all_lyrics =
| all_music =
| title_width =
| writing_width =
| music_width =
| lyrics_width =
| extra_width =
| title1 = Unnadhi Chepputha Vintara
| note1 =
| writer1 =
| lyrics1 =
| music1 =
| extra1 = [[S. Janaki]], Vasantha
| length1 = 3:24
| title2 = Amba Jagadamaba
| note2 =
| writer2 =
| lyrics2 =
| music2 =
| extra2 = [[P. Leela]]
| length2 = 3:08
| title3 = Kaaligajje Kadalakamunde
| note3 =
| writer3 =
| lyrics3 =
| music3 =
| extra3 = S. Janaki
| length3 = 4:22
| title4 = Anuraga Payonidhi
| note4 =
| writer4 =
| lyrics4 =
| music4 =
| extra4 = [[Ghantasala (singer)|Ghantasala]]
| length4 = 0:58
| title5 = Salamalekum Sahebugaru
| note5 =
| writer5 =
| lyrics5 =
| music5 =
| extra5 = Ghantasala, S. Janaki
| length5 = 3:01
| title6 = Nannu Dhochukunduvate Vannela Dorasani
| note6 =
| writer6 =
| lyrics6 =
| music6 =
| extra6 = Ghantasala, [[P. Susheela]]
| length6 = 3:22
| title7 = Kalala Alalapai Telenu Manasu Malle Poovai
| note7 =
| writer7 =
| lyrics7 =
| music7 =
| extra7 = Ghantasala, S. Janaki
| length7 = 4:35
| title8 = Ontarinai Poyanu Ika Intiki Yemani Ponu
| note8 =
| writer8 =
| lyrics8 =
| music8 =
| extra8 = Ghantasala
| length8 = |3:35
| title9 = Madana Sundara Naa Dora
| note9 =
| writer9 =
| lyrics9 =
| music9 =
| extra9 = P. Susheela
| length9 = 3:19
| title10 = Vinnava Tatvam Guruda
| note10 =
| writer10 =
| lyrics10 =
| music10 =
| extra10 = [[Pithapuram Nageswara Rao]]
| length10 = 1:51
| title11 = Matha Jaganmatha
| note11 =
| writer11 =
| lyrics11 =
| music11 =
| extra11 = Ghantasala
| length11 = 2:12
}}

== Release and reception ==
''Gulebakavali Katha'' was released on 5 January 1962. The film was commercially successful, and contributed to Rama Rao's streak of successful films.<ref name="BFTP" />

== References ==
{{Reflist|refs=
<ref name="BFTP">{{Cite news |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/Blast-from-the-past-GULEBAKAVALI-KATHA-1962/article14583602.ece |title=Blast from the past: Gulebakavali Katha (1962) |last=Narasimham |first=M. L. |date=18 August 2016 |work=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=29 December 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161221101655/http://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/Blast-from-the-past-GULEBAKAVALI-KATHA-1962/article14583602.ece |archive-date=21 December 2016 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>
}}

== External links ==
* {{IMDb title|0263402}}
* {{CITWF title|139646}}

[[Category:1962 films]]
[[Category:1960s fantasy adventure films]]
[[Category:Films about royalty]]
[[Category:Films based on One Thousand and One Nights]]
[[Category:Films directed by N. T. Rama Rao]]
[[Category:Indian black-and-white films]]
[[Category:Indian fantasy adventure films]]
[[Category:Indian films]]
[[Category:Indian swashbuckler films]]
[[Category:Polygamy in fiction]]
[[Category:1960s Telugu-language films]]

Gulebakavali Katha - Revision history

JosefinaK97: Content updated and refined

>Jagancj: /* Cast */