Bala Nagamma (1959 film): Difference between revisions

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| image          = Bala Nagamma (1959 film).jpg
| image          = Bala Nagamma (1959 film).jpg
| caption        = Theatrical release poster
| caption        = Theatrical release poster
| director      = [[Vedantam Raghavaiah]]
| director      = [[Vedantam Raghavayya]]
| screenplay    = Vedantam Raghavayya
| story          = [[Samudrala Jr.]]
| producer      = B. S. Raju<br />D. S. Raju<br />P. Venkatapathi Raju
| producer      = B. S. Raju<br />D. S. Raju<br />P. Venkatapathi Raju
| writer        = [[Samudrala Ramanujacharya|Samudrala Jr]]<br /> {{small|(story / dialogues)}}
| screenplay    = Vedantam Raghavaiah
| starring      = [[N. T. Rama Rao]]<br />[[Anjali Devi]]<br />[[S. V. Ranga Rao]]
| starring      = [[N. T. Rama Rao]]<br />[[Anjali Devi]]<br />[[S. V. Ranga Rao]]
| music          = [[T. V. Raju]]
| cinematography = C. Nageswara Rao
| cinematography = C. Nageswara Rao
| editing        = N. S. Prakash
| editing        = N. S. Prakash
| music          = [[T. V. Raju]]
| studio        = Sri Venkata Ramana Pictures
| studio        = Sri Venkata Ramana Pictures
| released      = {{Film date|df=yes|1959|October|9}}
| released      = {{Film date|df=yes|1959|10|9}}
| runtime        = 182 mins
| runtime        = 182 minutes
| country        = India
| country        = India
| language      = Telugu
| language      = Telugu
}}
}}


'''''Bala Nagamma''''' is a 1959 [[Telugu language|Telugu]]-language [[fantasy film|fantasy]] [[swashbuckler film]], produced by D. N. Raju, B. S. Raju and P. Venkatapathi Raju under the Sri Venkataramana Films banner and directed by [[Vedantam Raghavaiah]]. It stars [[N. T. Rama Rao]], [[Anjali Devi]] and [[S. V. Ranga Rao]], with music composed by [[T. V. Raju]]. It is a remake of the 1942 film of [[Bala Nagamma (1942 film)|the same name]].<ref name="thehindu" />
'''''Bala Nagamma''''' is a 1959 Indian [[Telugu language|Telugu]]-language [[fantasy film|fantasy]] [[swashbuckler film]] directed by [[Vedantam Raghavayya]]. The film stars [[N. T. Rama Rao]], [[Anjali Devi]], and [[S. V. Ranga Rao]] with music composed by [[T. V. Raju]]. It is a remake of the 1942 Telugu film of [[Bala Nagamma (1942 film)|the same name]].<ref name="thehindu" />


==Plot==
== Plot ==
Queen Bhoolakshmi (Hemalatha) prays to Lord Shiva for children and acquires a boon. The Lord orders her to take a fruit from the tree in the front of the temple. To reach, she steps on snake anthill when King Nagendra inside becomes furious, tries to bite her but she requests him to leave until she becomes a mother and he agrees. Bhoolakshmi is blessed with 7 they are suryanagamma chundranagamma dhakhinakanya manikanya pagadala nagamma utharakanya and balanagamma daughters and dies. After her death, King Navabhoja Raju (C.S.R.) remarries Manikyamba (Suryakala) to take care of the children, but the shrew woman harasses the kids and also goads the King to leave the girls in the forest. Bhoolakshmi's aura saves them and they grow up. Years roll by, Bhoolakshmi's brother King Ramavardhi (A. V. Subba Rao) sends his seven sons in search of his niece. In the forest, the younger prince Karyavardhi (N. T. Rama Rao) spots the last girl Balanagamma (Anjali Devi) and both of them fall in love. Now the seven sisters marry the seven princes and Karyavardhi & Balanagamma are blessed with a baby boy. Meanwhile, the wicked wizard Mayala Marathi (S. V. Ranga Rao) challenges his paramour Rani Sangu (Raja Sulochana) to show a beautiful woman in the universe and kidnaps Balanagamma from her palace. After that, he turns Karyavardhi and his army who confronts him, into statues. Here Balanagamma tries to commit suicide when Bhoolakshmi's aura again protects and explains that her son at the age of 12 will rescue her. At present, Balanagamma plots and resists Marathi in the name of vow ''Vratha'' for 12-year to which Marathi agrees. Time passes, Balanagamma's son Balavardhi (Master Satyanarayana) learns that his parents have been held captive by Mayala Marathi. Thereupon, Balavardhi starts, enters the Marathi's den, meets his mother and breakouts the life secret of Marathi. Soon, he sets off on an adventurous journey that takes him across the seven seas to bring the parrot in which lies the Marathi's life. Finally, he eliminates Marathi, frees his parents and returns home to be appointed as the Prince.
The film begins with Queen Bhulakshmi, wife of King Nava Bhoja, penances [[Shiva]] for progeny. Ultimately, she acquires the boon, and according to the Lord's mandate, she procures a fruit from the tree by stepping on an anthill. At this, enraged Nagendra is about to kill her, but she begs for life until her motherhood. After a while, Bhulakshmi is blessed with seven daughters and decides to repent. Anyhow, Nava Bhoja bars and attempts to shield her but gets a victim of a snake bite and dies. Now, the King coercively knits a shrew, Manikyamba, who oppress the kids. Plus, she molds Nava Bhoja, a henpecked husband, via a witchcraft paste and goads him to slaughter the girls. Generous father cannot make it, so he quits them in the forest, where the Bhulakshmi aura rears them.


Years pass, and King Ramavardhi, the ruler of Panuganti, is the sibling of Bhulakshmi, who sends his seven sons to detect his niece. Whereat, the younger Karyavardhi, spots the last girl, Balanagamma, and they crush. Now, the seven sisters' splices, their cousins, Karyavardhi & Balanagamma, are blessed with a baby boy, Balavardhi. Besides, Mayala Marathi,  the splenetic wizard, resides on the outskirts of his ghost den. Once, he challenges his paramour Sangu to nab a gorgeous in the universe and picks Balanagamma. At the same time, Karyavardhi proceeds to the battlefield, drawing a chalk outline for protection and designating his acolyte, Thalari Ramudu, as a guard. However, Marathi's chicanery abducts Balanagamma by transforming her into a dog. Knowing it, Karyavardhi onslaughts with his men on Marathi, whom he turns as the status and even incinerates Sangu. Spotting it, Balanagamma attempts suicide, and Bhulakshmi's aura secures her, stating that her son will safeguard her at the age of 12. Hereupon, Balanagamma tactically resisted Marathi for 12 years.


==Cast==
As time passes, Balavardhi learns about Marathi's atrocity. Ergo pledges to relieve his parents and steps in with Thalari Ramudu. Amid this, he shields a kingdom from a tiger hunt and conjoins its princess. Following, seeking guidance from Nagendra, Balavardhi intrudes into Marathi's palace through a florist, Tambala Pedi. He is acquainted with his mother and, with wit, extracts the life secret of Marathi, i.e., amalgamated beyond the seven seas; one pillar is the floor and in the parrot's neck. Balavardhi acquires it after an adventurous journey. At last, he ceases Marathi, making his father & family normal. Finally, the movie ends on a happy note with a family reunion.
*[[N. T. Rama Rao]] as Karyavardhi
 
== Cast ==
{{Cast listing|*[[N. T. Rama Rao]] as Karyavardhi
*[[Anjali Devi]] as Bala Nagamma
*[[Anjali Devi]] as Bala Nagamma
*[[S. V. Ranga Rao]] as Mayala Marathi
*[[S. V. Ranga Rao]] as Mayala Marathi
*[[Relangi Venkata Ramaiah|Relangi]] as Thalari Ramudu
*[[Relangi (actor)|Relangi]] as Thalari Ramudu
*[[Chilakalapudi Seeta Rama Anjaneyulu|C.S.R.]] as Navabhoja Raju
*[[C. S. R. Anjaneyulu|C. S. R.]] as Navabhoja Raju
*[[Chadalavada Kutumba Rao|Chadalavada]] as Tippadu
*[[Chadalavada Kutumba Rao|Chadalavada]] as Tippadu
*A. V. Subba Rao as Ramavardhi
*A. V. Subba Rao as Ramavardhi
Line 38: Line 41:
*[[Raja Sulochana]] as Sangu
*[[Raja Sulochana]] as Sangu
*[[Hemalatha (Telugu actress)|Hemalatha]] as Bhulakshmi Devi
*[[Hemalatha (Telugu actress)|Hemalatha]] as Bhulakshmi Devi
*Suryakala as Manikyamba
*Suryakala as Manikyala Devi
*''Master'' Satyanarayana as Balavardhi
*''Master'' Satyanarayana as Balavardhi}}


== Production ==
== Production ==
''Bala Nagamma'' was remade from the 1942 film of [[Bala Nagamma (1942 film)|the same name]]. [[Relangi Venkata Ramaiah]] and Lanka Satyam, who appeared in the 1942 film, returned in the remake.<ref name="thehindu" />
''Bala Nagamma'' was remade from the 1942 film of [[Bala Nagamma (1942 film)|the same name]]. [[Relangi (actor)|Relangi]] and Lanka Satyam, who appeared in the 1942 film, returned in the remake.<ref name="thehindu" />


== Soundtrack ==
== Soundtrack ==
{{Infobox album
{{Infobox album
| name       = Bala Nagamma
| name         = Bala Nagamma
| type       = film
| type         = film
| artist     = [[T. V. Raju]]
| artist       = [[T. V. Raju]]
| cover     =
| cover       =  
| alt       =
| alt         =  
| released   = 1959
| released     = 1959
| recorded   =
| recorded     =  
| venue     =
| venue       =  
| studio     =
| studio       =  
| genre     = Soundtrack
| genre       = Soundtrack
| length     = 32:30
| length       = 32:30
| label     =
| label       =  
| producer   = [[T. V. Raju]]
| producer     = [[T. V. Raju]]
| prev_title =
| prev_title   =  
| prev_year =
| prev_year   =  
| next_title =
| next_title   =  
| next_year =
| next_year   =  
}}
}}


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The soundtrack of the film was composed by [[T. V. Raju]], while the lyrics were written by [[Samudrala Jr.|Samudrala Jr]].<ref name="indiancine.ma" />
The soundtrack of the film was composed by [[T. V. Raju]], while the lyrics were written by [[Samudrala Jr.|Samudrala Jr]].<ref name="indiancine.ma" />


[[Playback singer]]s are [[Ghantasala (singer)|Ghantasala]], [[Pithapuram Nageswara Rao]], [[P. Leela]], [[Jikki]], [[P. Susheela]], [[S. Janaki]] and [[K. Rani (singer)|K. Rani]].
[[Playback singer]]s are [[Ghantasala (musician)|Ghantasala]], [[Pithapuram Nageswara Rao]], [[P. Leela]], [[Jikki]], [[P. Susheela]], [[S. Janaki]] and [[K. Rani (singer)|K. Rani]].
{|class="wikitable"
{|class="wikitable"
|-
|-
!S. No.!!Song Title !! Singer/s !! Lyricist  !!length
!S. No.!!Song title !! Singer/s !! Lyricist  !!length
|-
|-
|1 || "Jayamu Jayamu Venkataramana" || Ghantasala || rowspan=13|Samudrala Jr || 1:12
|1 || "Jayamu Jayamu Venkataramana" || Ghantasala || rowspan=13|Samudrala Jr || 1:12
Line 95: Line 98:
|11 || "Appudu Ne Thippadandi" || Pithapuram Nageswara Rao || 2:33
|11 || "Appudu Ne Thippadandi" || Pithapuram Nageswara Rao || 2:33
|-
|-
|12 || "Anilo Vairula Dorbalambanachi" || Ghantasala ||  
|12 || "Anilo Vairula Dorbalambanachi" || Ghantasala ||
|-
|-
|13 || "Bale bale Phalarasam" || Ghantasala ||  
|13 || "Bale bale Phalarasam" || Ghantasala ||
|}
|}


;Tamil Songs
;Tamil Songs
Music by Pamarthi. Lyrics by Kuyilan and Kambadasan.
Music by Pamarthi. Lyrics by Kuyilan and Kambadasan.
[[Playback singer]]s are [[Seerkazhi Govindarajan]], [[Ghantasala (singer)|Ghantasala]], P. Seenivasan, [[A. L. Raghavan]], [[P. Leela]], [[P. Susheela]], [[Jikki]], [[Raavu Balasaraswathi|R. Balasaraswathi Devi]] and [[K. Rani (singer)|K. Rani]].


{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"
! No. !! Song !! Singer/s !! Lyricist !! Duration (m:ss)
! Song !! Singer/s !! Lyricist !! Duration (m:ss)
|-
|-
| 1 ||  ||  || || 1:12
| "Bale Bale Palarasam"||  Dr. Sirkazhi S. Govindarajan|| || 3:16
|-
|-
| 2 || "Jaya Jaya Girijaa Ramanaa" || P. Leela || || 03:12
| "Jaya Jaya Girijaa Ramanaa" || P. Leela || || 03:12
|-
|-
| 3 || "Thaale Laale En Premai"  || P. Leela || || 02:47
| "Thaale Laale En Premai"  || P. Leela || || 02:47
|-
|-
| 4 || "Thaalo Thaalo Oonjale" || K. Rani & P. Leela || || 02:51
| "Thaalo Thaalo Oonjale" || K. Rani & P. Leela || || 02:51
|-
|-
| 5 || "Viraigindra Vennilaavey" || Ghantasala & Jikki || Kuyilan  || 02:58
| "Viraigindra Vennilaavey" || Ghantasala & Jikki || Kuyilan  || 02:58
|-
|-
| 6 ||  || P. Susheela ||  || 03:41
| || P. Susheela ||  || 03:41
|-
|-
| 7 || "Aararo Ennaasai Raajaa" || R. Balasaraswathi Devi ||  || 03:16
| "Aararo Ennaasai Raajaa" || R. Balasaraswathi Devi ||  || 03:16
|-
|-
| 8 ||  ||  || || 03:06
| ||  || || 03:06
|-
|-
| 9 || "Irul Neengumo Baabu"  || P. Susheela ||  || 03:23
| "Irul Neengumo Baabu"  || P. Susheela ||  || 03:23
|-
|-
| 10 || "Nee Kelaiyaa"  || P. Susheela ||  || 03:15
| "Nee Kelaiyaa"  || P. Susheela ||  || 03:15
|-
|-
| 11 ||  ||  || || 02:33
| ||  || || 02:33
|-
|-
| 12 ||  ||  || ||  
| ||  || ||
|-
|-
| 13 ||  ||  || ||  
| ||  || ||
|}
|}


== Reception ==
== Reception ==
''[[The Indian Express]]'' in its review dated 11, 1960 reviewing the Tamil-dubbed version noted the theme "will not be without fascination for our Tamil folk on account of the touch of the super-natural dominating the theme" but praised S. V. Ranga Rao as "providing major attraction".<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=P9oYG7HA76QC&dat=19600311&printsec=frontpage&hl=en |title=Bala Nagamma |date=11 March 1960 |work=[[The Indian Express]] |page=10}}</ref>
''[[The Indian Express]]'' in its review dated 11 March 1960 reviewing the Tamil-dubbed version noted the theme "will not be without fascination for our Tamil folk on account of the touch of the super-natural dominating the theme" but praised S. V. Ranga Rao as "providing major attraction".<ref>{{Cite news |date=11 March 1960 |title=Bala Nagamma |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=P9oYG7HA76QC&dat=19600311&printsec=frontpage&hl=en |access-date=12 February 2020 |work=[[The Indian Express]] |pages=10 |via=[[Google News Archive]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref>


== References ==
== References ==
{{Reflist|refs=
{{Reflist|refs=
<ref name="thehindu">{{Cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/balanagamma-1942/article2662737.ece |title=Balanagamma (1942) |last=Narasimham |first=M. L. |date=26 November 2011 |work=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=25 February 2018 |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>
<ref name="thehindu">{{Cite news |last=Narasimham |first=M. L. |date=26 November 2011 |title=Balanagamma (1942) |work=[[The Hindu]] |url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/balanagamma-1942/article2662737.ece |url-status=live |access-date=25 February 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191228103732/https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/balanagamma-1942/article2662737.ece |archive-date=28 December 2019}}</ref>


<ref name="indiancine.ma">{{Cite web |url=https://indiancine.ma/IZN/player/GF |title=Balanagamma (Vedantam Raghavaiah) 1959 |website=Indiancine.ma |access-date=25 February 2018}}</ref>
<ref name="indiancine.ma">{{Cite web |title=Balanagamma (Vedantam Raghavaiah) 1959 |url=https://indiancine.ma/IZN/player/GF |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180225210354/https://indiancine.ma/IZN/player/GF |archive-date=25 February 2018 |access-date=25 February 2018 |website=Indiancine.ma}}</ref>
}}
}}


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{{Vedantam Raghavaiah}}
{{Vedantam Raghavaiah}}


[[Category:Indian film remakes]]
[[Category:1950s fantasy adventure films]]
[[Category:1959 Indian films]]
[[Category:1959 Telugu-language films]]
[[Category:Films directed by Vedantam Raghavayya]]
[[Category:Indian fantasy adventure films]]
[[Category:Indian fantasy adventure films]]
[[Category:1950s fantasy adventure films]]
[[Category:Indian swashbuckler films]]
[[Category:Indian swashbuckler films]]
[[Category:Indian films]]
[[Category:Remakes of Indian films]]
[[Category:1950s Telugu-language films]]
[[Category:1959 fantasy films]]
[[Category:Films directed by Vedantam Raghavaiah]]

Latest revision as of 11:32, 6 March 2026


Bala Nagamma
Theatrical release poster
Directed byVedantam Raghavayya
Produced byB. S. Raju
D. S. Raju
P. Venkatapathi Raju
Screenplay byVedantam Raghavayya
Story bySamudrala Jr.
StarringN. T. Rama Rao
Anjali Devi
S. V. Ranga Rao
Music byT. V. Raju
CinematographyC. Nageswara Rao
Edited byN. S. Prakash
Production
company
Sri Venkata Ramana Pictures
Release date
  • 9 October 1959 (1959-10-09)
Running time
182 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageTelugu

Bala Nagamma is a 1959 Indian Telugu-language fantasy swashbuckler film directed by Vedantam Raghavayya. The film stars N. T. Rama Rao, Anjali Devi, and S. V. Ranga Rao with music composed by T. V. Raju. It is a remake of the 1942 Telugu film of the same name.[1]

Plot[edit | edit source]

The film begins with Queen Bhulakshmi, wife of King Nava Bhoja, penances Shiva for progeny. Ultimately, she acquires the boon, and according to the Lord's mandate, she procures a fruit from the tree by stepping on an anthill. At this, enraged Nagendra is about to kill her, but she begs for life until her motherhood. After a while, Bhulakshmi is blessed with seven daughters and decides to repent. Anyhow, Nava Bhoja bars and attempts to shield her but gets a victim of a snake bite and dies. Now, the King coercively knits a shrew, Manikyamba, who oppress the kids. Plus, she molds Nava Bhoja, a henpecked husband, via a witchcraft paste and goads him to slaughter the girls. Generous father cannot make it, so he quits them in the forest, where the Bhulakshmi aura rears them.

Years pass, and King Ramavardhi, the ruler of Panuganti, is the sibling of Bhulakshmi, who sends his seven sons to detect his niece. Whereat, the younger Karyavardhi, spots the last girl, Balanagamma, and they crush. Now, the seven sisters' splices, their cousins, Karyavardhi & Balanagamma, are blessed with a baby boy, Balavardhi. Besides, Mayala Marathi, the splenetic wizard, resides on the outskirts of his ghost den. Once, he challenges his paramour Sangu to nab a gorgeous in the universe and picks Balanagamma. At the same time, Karyavardhi proceeds to the battlefield, drawing a chalk outline for protection and designating his acolyte, Thalari Ramudu, as a guard. However, Marathi's chicanery abducts Balanagamma by transforming her into a dog. Knowing it, Karyavardhi onslaughts with his men on Marathi, whom he turns as the status and even incinerates Sangu. Spotting it, Balanagamma attempts suicide, and Bhulakshmi's aura secures her, stating that her son will safeguard her at the age of 12. Hereupon, Balanagamma tactically resisted Marathi for 12 years.

As time passes, Balavardhi learns about Marathi's atrocity. Ergo pledges to relieve his parents and steps in with Thalari Ramudu. Amid this, he shields a kingdom from a tiger hunt and conjoins its princess. Following, seeking guidance from Nagendra, Balavardhi intrudes into Marathi's palace through a florist, Tambala Pedi. He is acquainted with his mother and, with wit, extracts the life secret of Marathi, i.e., amalgamated beyond the seven seas; one pillar is the floor and in the parrot's neck. Balavardhi acquires it after an adventurous journey. At last, he ceases Marathi, making his father & family normal. Finally, the movie ends on a happy note with a family reunion.

Cast[edit | edit source]

Production[edit | edit source]

Bala Nagamma was remade from the 1942 film of the same name. Relangi and Lanka Satyam, who appeared in the 1942 film, returned in the remake.[1]

Soundtrack[edit | edit source]

Bala Nagamma
Film score by
Released1959
GenreSoundtrack
Length32:30
ProducerT. V. Raju
Telugu Songs

The soundtrack of the film was composed by T. V. Raju, while the lyrics were written by Samudrala Jr.[2]

Playback singers are Ghantasala, Pithapuram Nageswara Rao, P. Leela, Jikki, P. Susheela, S. Janaki and K. Rani.

S. No. Song title Singer/s Lyricist length
1 "Jayamu Jayamu Venkataramana" Ghantasala Samudrala Jr 1:12
2 "Jaya Jaya Girijaaramana" P. Leela 3:12
3 "Laali Laali" P. Leela 2:47
4 "Yentho Yentho Vinthale" S. Janaki & K. Rani 2:51
5 "Virisindi Vintha Haayi" Ghantasala & Jikki 2:58
6 "Andamu Anadamu" P. Susheela 3:41
7 "Jo Jo Raja" P. Susheela 3:32
8 "Intiloni Pooru Inthintha" Pithapuram Nageswara Rao 3:06
9 "Yetuluntio Babu" P. Susheela 3:23
10 "Neekelaraa Ee Vedana" P. Susheela 3:15
11 "Appudu Ne Thippadandi" Pithapuram Nageswara Rao 2:33
12 "Anilo Vairula Dorbalambanachi" Ghantasala
13 "Bale bale Phalarasam" Ghantasala
Tamil Songs

Music by Pamarthi. Lyrics by Kuyilan and Kambadasan.

Song Singer/s Lyricist Duration (m:ss)
"Bale Bale Palarasam" Dr. Sirkazhi S. Govindarajan 3:16
"Jaya Jaya Girijaa Ramanaa" P. Leela 03:12
"Thaale Laale En Premai" P. Leela 02:47
"Thaalo Thaalo Oonjale" K. Rani & P. Leela 02:51
"Viraigindra Vennilaavey" Ghantasala & Jikki Kuyilan 02:58
P. Susheela 03:41
"Aararo Ennaasai Raajaa" R. Balasaraswathi Devi 03:16
03:06
"Irul Neengumo Baabu" P. Susheela 03:23
"Nee Kelaiyaa" P. Susheela 03:15
02:33

Reception[edit | edit source]

The Indian Express in its review dated 11 March 1960 reviewing the Tamil-dubbed version noted the theme "will not be without fascination for our Tamil folk on account of the touch of the super-natural dominating the theme" but praised S. V. Ranga Rao as "providing major attraction".[3]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. 1.0 1.1 Narasimham, M. L. (26 November 2011). "Balanagamma (1942)". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 28 December 2019. Retrieved 25 February 2018.
  2. "Balanagamma (Vedantam Raghavaiah) 1959". Indiancine.ma. Archived from the original on 25 February 2018. Retrieved 25 February 2018.
  3. "Bala Nagamma". The Indian Express. 11 March 1960. p. 10. Retrieved 12 February 2020 – via Google News Archive.

External links[edit | edit source]