Thodi Kodallu () is a 1957 Indian Telugu-language drama film directed and edited by Adurthi Subba Rao, who co-wrote the script with D. Madhusudhana Rao and Acharya Aatreya. Madhusudhana Rao produced the film for Annapurna Pictures. It stars Akkineni Nageswara Rao and Savitri, with music composed by Master Venu. A remake of the 1953 Bengali film Nishkriti, which itself is based on the eponymous novel by Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay. It was simultaneously made in the Tamil language as Engal Veettu Mahalakshmi (). Both films were made by the same banner and director, and share some of the cast and scenes. Thodi Kodallu won the Certificate of Merit for Best Feature Film in Telugu.

Plot The film depicts a wealthy joint family. Kutumba Rao, an advocate, is the patriarch. He is an introvert and often oblivious to domestic matters, living peacefully with his wife, Annapurna, and their children. His younger brother, Ramanaiah, manages their village farms alongside his domineering wife, Anasuya. Kutumba Rao also raises his idealist cousin, Satyam, who marries the benevolent Susheela; together, they have a son named Babu. Annapurna is deeply fond of Babu and has raised him as her own son. When Annapurna falls ill, Susheela step up to assume the household responsibilities, managing them with discipline. Satyam is appointed manager of the family's rice mill, which is led by a malicious distant relative, Vaikuntam. Satyam soon resigns, unable to tolerate the fraud committed there. Ramanaiah's family is invited for the Dasara festival. Anasuya becomes envious of the respect Susheela receives and creates discord in Annapurna's mind, forcing Satyam's family to move to the village. Anasuya takes control of the household and usurps its wealth. Meanwhile, Vaikuntam traps Ramanaiah using his mistress, Navaneetam, and encourages his vices.

Satyam and Susheela, guided by their ideals, transform barren land into communal farmland with the help of unemployed farmers. Anasuya plans for Ramanaiah and Vaikuntam to ruin the land. They also misappropriate funds belonging to a client, Tirupataiah, by forging Kutumba Rao's signature. Satyam resolves the issue by mortgaging Susheela's jewelry to protect his brother's honour and retrieves the forged document.

Meanwhile, Anasuya's schemes are exposed, causing Annapurna to collapse in anger; this incident prompts Anasuya to reform. During the harvest, Ramanaiah and Vaikuntam plot to seize the crop in Kutumba Rao's name. Satyam prevents this, leading the government to seize the crop. Unaware of the truth, an enraged Kutumba Rao arrives in the village and attempts to expel Satyam. Ramanaiah and Vaikuntam try to destroy the evidence of their forgery but are caught. Kutumba Rao realizes Satyam and Susheela's virtue. He welcomes them back and permanently allocates their lands to the farmers. Ramanaiah's family is about to leave, but Susheela convinces them to stay. The film ends with the family's reunion.

Cast Actor (Telugu) Actor (Tamil) Role (Telugu) Role (Tamil) Akkineni Nageswara Rao Satyam GopuSavitri SusheelaS. V. Ranga Rao Lawyer Kutumba Rao Lawyer GanapathiRelangi K. A. Thangavelu Ramanaiah SubbuJaggayya M. N. Nambiar Vaikuntham Chadalavada Ezhumalai TirupatiP. Kannamba AnnapurnaSuryakantam M. S. Sundari Bai AnasuyaRajasulochana Navaneetam SanjalaParvati KamalaMaster Kundu Master Sharat Babu Babu Rood, the dog

Telugu cast Allu Ramalingaiah as Ayomayam Kameswaramma

Tamil cast

Production After the success of Donga Ramudu, producer D. Madhusudhana Rao wanted to continue his success by collaborating again with Nageswara Rao and wanted K. V. Reddy to direct the film. Reddy was busy with prior commitments and suggested Adurthi Subba Rao; however, Nageswara Rao claimed that he had suggested Subba Rao as the director.

An avid fan of literature, Madhusudhana Rao bought the rights to the Bengali novel Nishkriti by Sharat Chandra Chattopadhyay. He wrote the screenplay along with Acharya Athreya and Subba Rao, retaining the major characters and situations from the original novel but making changes to suit local sensibilities, such as changing the character of the second brother from a lawyer to a caretaker of farmland. The film was simultaneously made in Tamil as Enga Veettu Mahalakshmi with the same lead actors and a slightly different supporting cast, with Thangavelu and Nambiar replacing Relangi and Jaggayya. Athreya and Sridhar wrote the dialogues for the Telugu and Tamil versions, respectively. Most of the filming took place at Janapastram, a village near Gudur.

Soundtrack The music was composed by Master Venu.

Telugu Track List Song title Lyrics Singers Length "Kaarulo Shikarukelle" Acharya Aatreya Ghantasala 3:39 "Shreerastu Shubhamastu" P. Susheela 2:53 "Town Pakkakelloddura" Kosaraju Ghantasala & Jikki 4:48 "Aadutu Paadutu" Ghantasala & P. Susheela 4:22 "Naluguru Kalisi" Sri Sri Ghantasala 3:26 "Kalakaalam Ee Kalata" Tapi Dharma Rao P. Susheela 3:32 "Ententa Dooram" Acharya Aatreya P. Susheela & K. Rani 3:24 "Nee Shoku Choodakunda" Kosaraju Madhavapeddi Satyam & Jikki 3:05 "Gaalipatam Gaalipatam" Kosaraju Ghantasala, P. Susheela & K. Rani 4:04 "Bhale Maavayya" Sri Sri Jikki 2:45

Tamil Track List Song Singers Lyrics Length "Kaarile Savaari Seiyyum" GhantasalaUdumalai Narayana Kavi 04:00 "Sendhiru Maadhum Kalai Maadhum" T. V. Rathnam & group 03:15 "Pattanamthaan Pogalaamadi" Seerkazhi Govindarajan & P. Susheela 04:30 "Aadi Paadi Velai Senjaa" Ghantasala & P. Susheela 02:37 "Uzhudhundu Vaazhvaare...Naattukku Poruttham" T. M. Soundararajan & group 05:14 "Pala Kaalam Vethanai" P. Susheela 02:58 "Pollaadha Payalai Serthida Maattom" P. Susheela & K. RaniK. S. Gopalakrishnan 02:15 "Mannai Nambi Maram Irukka" S. C. Krishnan & Jikki 03:27 "Kaatthaadi Kaatthaadi" Ghantasala, P. Susheela & K. Rani 02:59 "Pushan Sollai Kedkaame" K. A. Thangavelu "Vilakketri Vaikkavum Illai" Jikki A. Maruthakasi 02:47

Awards At the 5th National Film Awards, Thodi Kodallu won the Certificate of Merit for Second Best Feature Film in Telugu.

Release Both Thodi Kodallu and Enga Veettu Mahalakshmi became commercially successful and ran for 100 days in five centres.

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