Madurai Shanmukhavadivu Subbulakshmi was an Indian Carnatic singer from Madurai, Tamil Nadu. She was the first musician ever to be awarded the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honour. She is the first Indian musician to receive the Ramon Magsaysay award in 1974 with the citation reading "Exacting purists acknowledge Srimati M. S. Subbulakshmi as the leading exponent of classical and semi-classical songs in the carnatic tradition of South India. She was the First Indian who performed in United Nations General Assembly in 1966."
Vat Purnima is a Hindu celebration observed by married women in Nepal, North India and in the Western Indian states of Maharashtra, Goa, Kumaon, Gujarat. On this Purnima during the three days of the month of Jyeshtha in the Hindu calendar, a married woman marks her love for her husband by tying a ceremonial thread around a banyan tree. The celebration is based on the legend of Savitri and Satyavan as narrated in the epic Mahabharata.
In Hinduism, Savitri and Satyavan are a legendary couple, known for Savitri's love and devotion to her husband Satyavan. According to the legend, princess Savitri marries an exiled prince named Satyavan, who was prophesied to die early. The later part of legend focuses on Savitri's wit and love, which saved her husband from the death god Yama.
Yamadonga is a 2007 Indian Telugu-language fantasy action comedy film directed by S.S. Rajamouli who co-wrote the film with V. Vijayendra Prasad. It stars N. T. Rama Rao Jr., Mohan Babu, Priyamani, and Mamta Mohandas while Ali and Brahmanandam play supporting roles. Inspired by the 1977 film Yamagola, the plot follows Raja, a thief who is killed by his rivals. Raja's soul travels to Naraka (hell) to face the trail for his sins by Yama, the Hindu god of death and justice.
Azaad (transl. Free) is a 1955 Indian Hindi-language action comedy film produced and directed by S. M. Sriramulu Naidu. It was the top grossing Hindi film in the year of its release, and one of the biggest Hindi film hits in the decade. In addition, Dilip Kumar won his second Filmfare Award for Best Actor for his work in this movie.
Bhookailas is a 1958 Indian Telugu-language Hindu mythological film, produced by A. V. Meiyappan under the AVM Productions banner and directed by K. Shankar. It stars N. T. Rama Rao, Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Jamuna and music composed by R. Sudarsanam & R. Govardhanam. The story is based on the Sthala Purana of Gokarna Kshetram in Karnataka. The film was released in Tamil as Bhaktha Ravana. Previously, a film was made with the same story casting different artists in Tamil in 1938 and in Telugu in 1940 with the same title which were adaptation of the famous Kannada stage play Bhookailasa by Sri Sahitya Samrajya Nataka Mandali of Mysore. A. V. Meiyappan also shot the movie simultaneously in Kannada as Bhookailasa starring Rajkumar.
Yaragudipati Varada Rao was an Indian actor, screenwriter, director, editor, and producer, known for his works primarily in Telugu cinema, Kannada cinema, and Tamil cinema. Rao plunged into theatre and did a few stage plays before moving to Kolhapur and Bombay to act in silent films. Regarded as one of the greatest filmmaking pioneers of the Cinema of South India, he made motion-pictures across Telugu, Kannada, Tamil, Konkani and Hindi languages, apart from silent films. Rao started his career as a lead actor in many silent films such as Garuda Garva Bhangam, Gajendra Moksham and Rose of Rajasthan.
Meera is a 1945 Indian Tamil-language musical drama film directed by Ellis R. Dungan, produced by T. Sadasivam and written by Kalki Krishnamurthy. Based on the life of the 16th century mystic and poet Mirabai, the film stars M. S. Subbulakshmi as the eponymous character, a zealous devotee of Krishna, who considers him to be her husband. Despite marrying Rana, she follows her own way of living, which is unacceptable to her husband and his family.
Saradha Bullodu is a 1996 Indian Telugu-language drama film directed by Ravi Raja Pinisetty and produced by T. Trikrama Rao under the Vijayalakshmi Art Pictures banner. It stars Venkatesh and Nagma playing the lead roles, with music composed by Koti. The film was recorded as a flop at the box office. It was dubbed into Tamil as Enga Oor Singam.
Sati Savitri is a 1978 Telugu-language Hindu mythological film, produced by A. Sankar Reddy under the Lalitha Siva Jyothi Studios and directed by B. A. Subba Rao. It stars N. T. Rama Rao, Krishnam Raju, Vanisri and music composed by Ghantasala & Pendyala Nageswara Rao. The film is based on the story of Savitri and Satyavan.
Marumagal (transl. Daughter-in-law) is a 1953 Indian Tamil-language drama film, produced by Lena Chettiar on Krishna Pictures banner and directed by D. Yoganand. Starring N. T. Rama Rao, Padmini, Lalitha in lead roles and music composed by C. R. Subburaman. The film was simultaneously shot in Telugu-language as Ammalakkalu.
Manoos, also called Life's for Living, is a 1939 Indian Marathi social melodrama film directed by V. Shantaram. The movie was simultaneously made in Hindi as Aadmi. The film was based on a short story called "The Police Constable". The story was by A. Bhaskarrao, with screenplay and dialogue by Anant Kanekar. The cinematographer was V. Avadhoot and the music was composed by Master Krishna Rao, with lyrics by Kanekar. The cast included Shahu Modak, Shanta Hublikar, Sundara Bai, Ram Marathe, Narmada, Ganpatrao and Raja Paranjpe.
Savitri is a 1937 mythology legend Hindi film directed by Franz Osten. Adapted from a story in the Mahabharata the writers were Niranjan Pal with dialogues by J. S. Casshyap. The cinematographer was Joseph Wirsching. Saraswati Devi composed the music. According to Garga, Savitri was the "only mythological" produced by Himanshu Rai for Bombay Talkies, who were known for making "rurlist reform dramas". Ashok Kumar and Devika Rani played the lead roles supported by Maya Devi, Saroj Borkar, Mumtaz Ali, and Sunita Devi.
Shanta Apte (1916–1964) was an Indian actress-singer who worked in Marathi and Hindi cinema. Renowned for her roles in films like Duniya Na Mane/Kunku (1937) and Amar Jyoti (1936) under the Prabhat Films banner, she was active in Indian cinema from 1932 to 1958. Apte's impact on Marathi cinema "paralleled" that of Kanan Devi in Bengali cinema. Along with Kanan Devi, Apte is cited as one of the "great singing stars" from before the playback singing era. Apte began her career in films playing the role of a young Radha in the Marathi film Shyamsunder (1932). She joined Prabhat Films acting in her first Hindi language film Amrit Manthan in (1934).
Prathima Devi was an Indian actress known for her work in Kannada films. Devi made her debut through the 1947 film Krishnaleela. She starred in the lead role in Jaganmohini (1951), the first Kannada film to complete 100 days at the box-office. She went on to appear in over 60 films.
Maanasamrakshanam is a 1945 Indian Tamil language film, produced and directed by K. Subramaniam with S. D. Subbulakshmi, G. Pattu Iyer, V. N. Janaki, T. R. Ramachandran and Kali N. Rathnam in the lead roles. The film is lost.
Sati Savitri is 1957 Indian Telugu-language Hindu mythological film, based on the life of Savitri & Satyavan, produced by S. Varalakshmi under the Varalakshmi Pictures banner and directed by K. B. Nagabhushanam. It stars Akkineni Nageswara Rao, S. Varalakshmi, S. V. Ranga Rao and music composed by S. V. Venkatraman.
Chandrahari is a 1941 Indian, Tamil language film directed by K. S. Mani. The film featured N. S. Krishnan, T. A. Mathuram in the lead roles.
Rambaiyin Kaadhal is a 1939 Indian, Tamil language Hindu mythological film directed by B. N. Rao. The film featured K. Sarangapani and K. L. V. Vasantha in the lead roles. The film has an alternate title Yathbhavishyan.
Devanthakudu (transl. Daredevil) is a 1960 Indian Telugu-language fantasy comedy film produced and directed by C. Pullaiah. The film stars N. T. Rama Rao and Krishna Kumari, with K. V. S. Sarma, S. V. Ranga Rao, Kanta Rao, Kalyanam Raghuramaiah, Peketi Sivaram, P. Hemalatha and Mohana in supporting roles. It is a remake of the 1958 Bengali film Jamalaye Jibanta Manush and was simultaneously filmed in Tamil as Naan Kanda Sorgam with a largely different cast. Devanthakudu was released on 7 July 1960 and became a commercial success.
