Premalu Pellillu () is a 1974 Indian Telugu-language drama film, produced by D. Bhaskara Rao under the Sri Ananta Lakshmi Art Pictures banner and directed by V. Madhusudhana Rao. It stars Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Jayalalithaa, and Sharada with music composed by M. S. Viswanathan.

Plot Dr. Madhu is a highly respected idealist who marries Indira, a vain and spendthrift woman. Madhu’s orthodox mother only half-heartedly accepts the marriage, and a constant rift grows between the two women due to their completely opposite lifestyles.

Meanwhile, in a nearby village, an upright man named Raghavaiah lives with his wife Janaki, his son Mohan, and his niece Radha. Raghavaiah wants Mohan and Radha to marry, but his greedy wife, Janaki, fiercely opposes the match because Radha is poor.

Radha fractures her leg and is treated by Dr. Madhu, establishing a connection between them.

Malathi, the daughter of a wealthy tycoon, is crippled in a separate accident. Plunged into a deep depression, she is comforted by Mohan. Mohan begins visiting Malathi frequently. When Malathi falls in love with him, the materialistic Mohan eagerly accepts her proposal for her money. This enrages his honorable father, Raghavaiah, but gains the enthusiastic support of his greedy mother, Janaki. Mohan abandons Radha and marries Malathi. Heartbroken by the betrayal, Radha leaves the village for the city to find a job, where she happens to befriend Madhu’s cousin, Saroja.

Years pass, and Madhu and Indira have two children. However, Indira’s reckless spending plunges the family into colossal debt. Indira treats her own children with cold detachment and constantly disdains her mother-in-law. Madhu finally snaps, divorces Indra and spirals into a severe drug addiction.

Seeing the family disintegrate, Saroja brings Radha into their home. Radha restores order to the household and showers the neglected infants with motherly affection. Desperate to save her son, Madhu’s mother begs him to remarry. Madhu agrees to a second marriage with Radha, but under one harsh stipulation: she will be a mother to his children, but never his true wife. Radha selflessly accepts the terms, and they marry. From that moment on, Radha unconditionally adores Madhu and patiently strives to reform him and pull him back from the brink.

Mohan is obsessed with wealth and overlooks his parents when Radha aids them, which makes Janaki regretful. Moreover, Raghavaiah turned terminally ill, and when Madhu was diagnosed, to underwent surgery. Just before he encounters Indira, who mocks him as impaired, Madhu again takes sedation. However, Radha, with her grit, enlightens him regardless of being beaten to death when his integrity emanates. Forthwith, he sets foot for Radha after accomplishing surgery, seeks pardon, and wholeheartedly receives her as his better half. Apart from this, Mohan continuously pesters Malathi for his luxuries, which her father withholds. So, he hustles for divorce and approaches Madhu for a fake certificate, being unbeknownst. Whereat, he detects and rectifies him with Radha and reunites the pair.

Meanwhile, remorseful Indira eats humble pie, craves for her children, and steps up when Radha conceives. Indira implores Radha to spend two days with the kiddies, which she approves in the absence of Madhu. Anyhow, they cannot stand in that atmosphere and abscond. Concurrently, Madhu returns to chastise Radha, which throws her into labor. Now Madhu & Indira hasten for the children. At last, Indira sacrifices her life while guarding them, and they admit her as a mother at the last breath. Finally, the movie ends happily with Radha delivering a baby girl.

Cast

Soundtrack

Music composed by M. S. Viswanathan. Music released on Audio Company. S. NoSong title Lyrics Singers length1"Chiliki Chiliki"C. Narayana ReddyV. Ramakrishna, P. Susheela4:342"Manasulu Murise"Dasaradhi V. Ramakrishna, P. Susheela3:593"Evaru Neevu Nee Roopamedi"Acharya Aatreya Ghantasala, P. Susheela4:454"Evarunnaru Papa"Dasaradhi P. Susheela4:025"Manasu Leni Devudu"Acharya Aatreya V. Ramakrishna4:24

Reception On 25 January 1974, Griddaluru Gopalrao of Zamin Ryot gave a mixed review for the film. He termed it watchable, but criticized the poorly made romantic scenes and humour. Andhra Jyothi critic Bharadwaja in his review dated 14 January 1974 appreciated the performances and the soundtrack.

References

External links