Gunasundari Katha: Difference between revisions

What links here Related changes Page information Get shortened URL
Created by Monkbot
Last edited February 24, 2026
VisualWikitext
>Monkbot
m Task 18 (cosmetic): eval 2 templates: hyphenate params (1×);
 
m correct section for consistency
 
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Other uses|Gunsundari (disambiguation){{!}}Gunsundari}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2015}}
{{Use Indian English|date=November 2015}}
{{Use Indian English|date=November 2015}}
Line 4: Line 5:
| name          = Gunasundari Katha
| name          = Gunasundari Katha
| image          = Gunasundari Katha.JPG
| image          = Gunasundari Katha.JPG
| native_name  = {{film name|te|గుణసుందరి కథ}}
| caption        =  
| caption        =
| director      = [[K. V. Reddy]]
| director      = [[Kadiri Venkata Reddy]]
| producer      = K. V. Reddy
| producer      =
| story         = [[Pingali Nagendra Rao]]
| writer         = [[Kamalakara Kameswara Rao]]<br />[[Pingali Nagendra Rao]]<br />[[Kadiri Venkata Reddy]]<br />
| screenplay    = K. V. Reddy<br/>[[Kamalakara Kameswara Rao]]
| narrator      =
{{Infobox | decat = yes | child = yes
| starring      = [[Sriranjani (junior)|Sriranjani]]<br />[[Kasturi Siva Rao]]<br />[[Vallabhajosyula Sivaram]]<br />[[Relangi Venkata Ramaiah]]<br />[[Govindarajula Subba Rao]]<br />[[Shanta Kumari]]<br />[[K. Malathi]]<br />[[Pamarthi Venkateswara Rao]]<br />[[Jandhya Gaurinatha Sastry]]<br />[[T. G. Kamala Devi]]<br />[[Hemalatha]]<br />[[Kallakoori Sadasiva Rao]]<br />[[T. Kanakam]]<br />[[Vijaya Nirmala]]
    | label1= Dialogue by
    | data1 = {{ubl|Pingali Nagendra Rao}}
}}
| narrator      =  
| starring      = [[Sriranjani (junior)|Sriranjani]]<br />[[Kasturi Siva Rao]]<br />Vallabhajosyula Sivaram<br />[[Relangi (actor)|Relangi]]<br />[[Govindarajula Subba Rao]]<br />Santha Kumari<br />K. Malathi
| music          = [[Ogirala Ramachandra Rao]]
| music          = [[Ogirala Ramachandra Rao]]
| cinematography = [[Marcus Bartley]]
| cinematography = [[Marcus Bartley]]
| editing        = [[C. P. Jamboolingam]]
| editing        = C. P. Jamboolingam
| studio        = [[Vauhini Studios]]
| studio        = [[Vauhini Studios]]
| distributor    =
| distributor    =  
| released      = 28 December 1949
| released      = {{Film date|1949|12|28|df=yes}}
| runtime        = 172 minutes
| runtime        = 172 minutes
| country        = [[India]]
| country        = [[India]]
| language      = Telugu
| language      = Telugu
| budget        =
| budget        =  
}}
}}
'''''Gunasundari Katha''''' is a 1949 [[Telugu language]] film directed by [[Kadiri Venkata Reddy]] starring [[Sriranjani (junior)|Sriranjani]] in the title role as Gunasundari. It is loosely based on [[William Shakespeare]]'s ''[[King Lear]]''.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/400-years-later-shakespeare-still-remains-relevant-in-indian-cinema/article23648292.ece |title=400 years later, Shakespeare still remains relevant in Indian cinema |last=Radhakrishnan |first=Sruthi |date=23 April 2018 |work=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=7 December 2018}}</ref> "Sri Tulasi Jaya Tulasi", sung by [[P. Leela]], was a hit with the public. Story, Dialogues and Songs were by [[Pingali Nagendra Rao]]. While Screen play was by [[Kadiri Venkata Reddy]], [[Kamalakara Kameswara Rao]]. [[Kamalakara Kameswara Rao]] was also Associate Director.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/gunasundari-katha-1949/article3948788.ece|title=Guna Sundari (1949)|access-date=2019-12-04|publisher=hindu}}</ref>
'''''Gunasundari Katha''''' ({{Translation|Gunasundari's story}}) is a 1949 Indian [[Telugu language]] [[fantasy film]] produced and directed by [[K. V. Reddy]], starring [[Sriranjani (junior)|Sriranjani]], [[Kasturi Siva Rao]], [[Santha Kumari]]. The script was written by [[Pingali Nagendra Rao]], [[K. V. Reddy]], and [[Kamalakara Kameswara Rao]]. Kameswara Rao was also the associate director.<ref name=":1">{{cite news |last1=Narasimham |first1=M. L. |date=29 September 2012 |title=Guna Sundari (1949) |newspaper=[[The Hindu]] |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/gunasundari-katha-1949/article3948788.ece |access-date=2019-12-04}}</ref> [[William Shakespeare]]'s play ''[[King Lear]]'' was the inspiration for the core plot.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Radhakrishnan |first=Sruthi |date=23 April 2018 |title=400 years later, Shakespeare still remains relevant in Indian cinema |work=[[The Hindu]] |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/400-years-later-shakespeare-still-remains-relevant-in-indian-cinema/article23648292.ece |access-date=7 December 2018}}</ref> However the writers changed the tone from the [[tragedy]] of ''King Lear'' to a more entertaining one for the film.<ref name=":1" /> The film was commercially successful.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Gudipoodi |first=Srihari |title=Telugu Cinema - Past and Present |url=https://www.idlebrain.com/research/anal/anal-tc4.html |access-date=2022-10-01 |website=[[Idlebrain.com|Idlebrain]] |quote=Gunasundari Katha was an experiment by itself with Kasturi Siva Rao, a comedian, as hero. It clicked and made good profits.}}</ref><ref name=":1" />


== Plot ==
== Plot ==
King Ugrasena (Govindarajula Subba Rao) of Dhara Nagaram has three daughters – Rupasundari (Shantakumari), Hemasundari (Malathi) and Gunasundari (Sriranjani). Rupa and Hema are married to their cousins, Haramati (Subba Rao) and Kalamati (Relangi).
King Ugrasena (Govindarajula Subba Rao) of Dhara Nagaram had three daughters: Rupasundari (Santakumari) who is married to her cousin Haramati (Subba Rao), Hemasundari (Malathi) who is married to her cousin Kalamata (Relangi), and Gunasundari (Sriranjani).
 
During a discussion, the King asked his daughters who they loved the most. Rupa and Hema told him they loved him the most, even more than their husbands. Gunasundari who is unmarried insists that she will love her husband the most once she is married. She goes on to say that she will love him more than her father regardless of his appearance or physical condition.
 
Her father the King was offended by this and forced Gunasundari to marry a hideous and disabled man, Daivadheenam (Kasturi Siva Rao). After the arranged marriage to the ugliest man in the country, the king exiles his daughter to live outside the palace with her new husband whom she now loves more than the King.
 
Eventually, the King is wounded and develops a chronic illness. The Physicians tell him the wound could only be cured with the diamond "Mahendra Mani". The King sends his three sons-in-law on a journey to find the diamond.
 
Daivadheenam overcomes his disabilities during the quest for "Mahendra Mani". No one knew that Daivadheenam was once a handsome prince who had been cursed by his guru for misconduct and character flaws. While fulfilling the quest of finding the diamond and overcoming his physical limitations Daivadheenam's character was fixed. He then brings the diamond to the palace and cures the king. This breaks Daivadheenam's curse and he is returned to his original form.


== Cast ==
== Cast ==
Line 36: Line 49:
| [[Sriranjani (junior)|Sriranjani]] || Gunasundari
| [[Sriranjani (junior)|Sriranjani]] || Gunasundari
|-
|-
| [[Santha Kumari]] || Rupasundari
| [[Santha Kumari]]|| Rupasundari
|-
|-
| Malathi || Hemasundari
| Malathi || Hemasundari
Line 44: Line 57:
| [[Kasturi Siva Rao]]  || Daivadeenam
| [[Kasturi Siva Rao]]  || Daivadeenam
|-
|-
| [[Relangi Venkataramaiah]] || Kalamati
| [[Relangi (actor)|Relangi]] || Kalamati
|-
|-
| Subba Rao || Haramati
| Subba Rao || Haramati
Line 52: Line 65:


== Songs ==
== Songs ==
There are many lyrics, all of them written by [[Pingali Nagendra Rao]]. The Music is composed by [[Ogirala Ramachandra Rao]].
 
* "Adiye Eduraivachche Daka Pada Munduku Padipodam" (Singers: Relangi and Pamarti Krishna Murthy)
{{Track listing
* "Amma Mahalakshmi Dayacheyavamma" (Singer: [[Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao]])
| headline =
* "Challani Doravele O Chandamama" (Singers: Malathi and Shanta Kumari)
| extra_column = Singer(s)
* "Kala Kala Aa Kokilemo Palukarinche Vintiva" (Singers: Malathi and Shanta Kumari)
| all_lyrics = [[Pingali Nagendra Rao]]
* "Kalpagama Tallivai Ghanata Velasina Gouri" (Singer: [[P. Leela]])
| all_music  = [[Ogirala Ramachandra Rao]]
* "O Chaaru Sheela Le Javarala" (Singer: V. Shivaram)
| title1 = Adiye Eduraivachche Daka Pada Munduku Padipodam
* "O Matha Raavaa Naa Mora Vinavaa" (Singer: P. Leela)
| extra1 = Relangi, Pamarti Krishna Murthy
* "Ore Ore Brahma Devuda" (Singer: Kasturi Shiva Rao)
| title2 = Amma Mahalakshmi Dayacheyavamma
* "Siri Thalam Vesenante" (Singers: Kasturi Shiva Rao and P. Leela)
| extra2 = [[Ghantasala (musician)|Ghantasala]]
* "Sri Thulasi Jaya Thulasi Jayamuneeyave" (Singer: P. Leela)
| title3 = Challani Doravele O Chandamama
* "Thelusukondayya" (Singers: [[T. G. Kamala Devi]] and Chorus)
| extra3 = Malathi, Shanta Kumari
* "Upakaara Gunaalayavai Vunnavu Kade Maatha" (Singer: P. Leela)
| title4 = Kala Kala Aa Kokilemo Palukarinche Vintiva
| extra4 = Malathi, Shanta Kumari
| title5 = Kalpagama Tallivai Ghanata Velasina Gouri
| extra5 = [[P. Leela]]
| title6 = O Chaaru Sheela Le Javarala
| extra6 = V. Shivaram
| title7 = O Matha Raavaa Naa Mora Vinavaa
| extra7 = P. Leela
| title8 = Ore Ore Brahma Devuda
| extra8 = Kasturi Shiva Rao
| title9 = Siri Thalam Vesenante
| extra9 = Kasturi Shiva Rao, P. Leela
| title10 = Sri Thulasi Jaya Thulasi Jayamuneeyave
| extra10 = P. Leela
| title11 = Thelusukondayya
| extra11 = [[T. G. Kamala Devi]], Chorus
| title12 = Upakaara Gunaalayavai Vunnavu Kade Maatha
| extra12 = P. Leela
}}
 
"Sri Tulasi Jaya Tulasi", sung by [[P. Leela]], was a hit with the public.


== References ==
== References ==
Line 71: Line 104:
== External links ==
== External links ==
* [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0266605/ Gunasundari Katha at IMDb.]
* [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0266605/ Gunasundari Katha at IMDb.]
* [http://www.movieplusmusic.com/gunasundari-katha-audio-songs-download/ Gunasundari Katha songs to download]{{Dead link|date=January 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
{{K. V. Reddy}}
{{Kadiri Venkata Reddy}}
{{King Lear}}
{{King Lear}}


Line 80: Line 112:
[[Category:Films directed by K. V. Reddy]]
[[Category:Films directed by K. V. Reddy]]
[[Category:Indian films based on plays]]
[[Category:Indian films based on plays]]
[[Category:Indian films]]
[[Category:Films scored by Ogirala Ramachandra Rao]]
[[Category:Indian black-and-white films]]
[[Category:Indian black-and-white films]]
[[Category:Indian fantasy films]]
[[Category:Indian fantasy films]]
[[Category:1940s fantasy films]]
[[Category:1949 fantasy films]]

Latest revision as of 11:20, 24 February 2026

For other uses, see Gunsundari.

Gunasundari Katha
Directed byK. V. Reddy
Produced byK. V. Reddy
Screenplay byK. V. Reddy
Kamalakara Kameswara Rao
Dialogue by
  • Pingali Nagendra Rao
Story byPingali Nagendra Rao
StarringSriranjani
Kasturi Siva Rao
Vallabhajosyula Sivaram
Relangi
Govindarajula Subba Rao
Santha Kumari
K. Malathi
Music byOgirala Ramachandra Rao
CinematographyMarcus Bartley
Edited byC. P. Jamboolingam
Production
company
Release date
  • 28 December 1949 (1949-12-28)
Running time
172 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageTelugu

Gunasundari Katha (transl. Gunasundari's story) is a 1949 Indian Telugu language fantasy film produced and directed by K. V. Reddy, starring Sriranjani, Kasturi Siva Rao, Santha Kumari. The script was written by Pingali Nagendra Rao, K. V. Reddy, and Kamalakara Kameswara Rao. Kameswara Rao was also the associate director.[1] William Shakespeare's play King Lear was the inspiration for the core plot.[2] However the writers changed the tone from the tragedy of King Lear to a more entertaining one for the film.[1] The film was commercially successful.[3][1]

Plot[edit | edit source]

King Ugrasena (Govindarajula Subba Rao) of Dhara Nagaram had three daughters: Rupasundari (Santakumari) who is married to her cousin Haramati (Subba Rao), Hemasundari (Malathi) who is married to her cousin Kalamata (Relangi), and Gunasundari (Sriranjani).

During a discussion, the King asked his daughters who they loved the most. Rupa and Hema told him they loved him the most, even more than their husbands. Gunasundari who is unmarried insists that she will love her husband the most once she is married. She goes on to say that she will love him more than her father regardless of his appearance or physical condition.

Her father the King was offended by this and forced Gunasundari to marry a hideous and disabled man, Daivadheenam (Kasturi Siva Rao). After the arranged marriage to the ugliest man in the country, the king exiles his daughter to live outside the palace with her new husband whom she now loves more than the King.

Eventually, the King is wounded and develops a chronic illness. The Physicians tell him the wound could only be cured with the diamond "Mahendra Mani". The King sends his three sons-in-law on a journey to find the diamond.

Daivadheenam overcomes his disabilities during the quest for "Mahendra Mani". No one knew that Daivadheenam was once a handsome prince who had been cursed by his guru for misconduct and character flaws. While fulfilling the quest of finding the diamond and overcoming his physical limitations Daivadheenam's character was fixed. He then brings the diamond to the palace and cures the king. This breaks Daivadheenam's curse and he is returned to his original form.

Cast[edit | edit source]

Actor / Actress Character
Govindarajula Subba Rao King Ugrasena
Sriranjani Gunasundari
Santha Kumari Rupasundari
Malathi Hemasundari
Vallabhajosyula Sivaram
Kasturi Siva Rao Daivadeenam
Relangi Kalamati
Subba Rao Haramati
T. G. Kamala Devi

Songs[edit | edit source]

All lyrics are written by Pingali Nagendra Rao; all music is composed by Ogirala Ramachandra Rao.

No.TitleSinger(s)Length
1."Adiye Eduraivachche Daka Pada Munduku Padipodam"Relangi, Pamarti Krishna Murthy 
2."Amma Mahalakshmi Dayacheyavamma"Ghantasala 
3."Challani Doravele O Chandamama"Malathi, Shanta Kumari 
4."Kala Kala Aa Kokilemo Palukarinche Vintiva"Malathi, Shanta Kumari 
5."Kalpagama Tallivai Ghanata Velasina Gouri"P. Leela 
6."O Chaaru Sheela Le Javarala"V. Shivaram 
7."O Matha Raavaa Naa Mora Vinavaa"P. Leela 
8."Ore Ore Brahma Devuda"Kasturi Shiva Rao 
9."Siri Thalam Vesenante"Kasturi Shiva Rao, P. Leela 
10."Sri Thulasi Jaya Thulasi Jayamuneeyave"P. Leela 
11."Thelusukondayya"T. G. Kamala Devi, Chorus 
12."Upakaara Gunaalayavai Vunnavu Kade Maatha"P. Leela 

"Sri Tulasi Jaya Tulasi", sung by P. Leela, was a hit with the public.

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Narasimham, M. L. (29 September 2012). "Guna Sundari (1949)". The Hindu. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
  2. ↑ Radhakrishnan, Sruthi (23 April 2018). "400 years later, Shakespeare still remains relevant in Indian cinema". The Hindu. Retrieved 7 December 2018.
  3. ↑ Gudipoodi, Srihari. "Telugu Cinema - Past and Present". Idlebrain. Retrieved 1 October 2022. Gunasundari Katha was an experiment by itself with Kasturi Siva Rao, a comedian, as hero. It clicked and made good profits.

External links[edit | edit source]

Template:K. V. Reddy Template:King Lear

Retrieved from "https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=Gunasundari_Katha&oldid=464496"
Discover more