Though he had started his career making films on social themes and tasted big success, B.A. Subbarao’s penchant for mythology, folklore and historical subjects later led him to produce movies in all these genres. One such popular film that he made under the B.A.S. Productions banner was Chenchulakshmi based on a mythical folktale woven around Lord Vishnu and his consort Goddess Lakshmi. B.A. Subbarao (B.A.S) was aware that the 1943 version of ‘ Chenchulakshmi ’ (The Hindu/Cinema Plus/ January 15, 2012) was a big hit and he wanted to be one up on it. B.A.S. engaged the brilliant screenwriter V. Sadasivabrahmam who was known to spin several tales from a single plot, to pen the story. The master storyteller intelligently intertwined two popular tales revolving around Lord Vishnu and wrote the dialogue and some lyrics.
The Story: Ever since Lord Vishnu killed Hiranyaksha, donning Varaha avatar, his brother Hiranyakasipu hates Vishnu and made him leave his abode Vaikuntha after getting a boon from Lord Brahma that he will not be killed by either weapon, man, demon or divinity. After his efforts to dissuade his son Prahlada from worshipping Vishnu fail, Hiranyakasipu challenges him to show Vishnu in a pillar. On Prahlada’s prayer Vishnu appears in Narasimha (half man and half lion) avatar and kills Hiranyakasipu. Parallel to this runs another story involving Vishnu and his consort Goddess Lakshmi and her parents the ocean king Samudra and his wife. Due to a curse from sage Durvasa, Samudra and his wife are born in Chenchu tribe and beget a child after eating a fruit. The little girl has the angelic charm of Goddess Lakshmi and grows up as the fearless Chenchulakshmi. After killing Hiranyakasipu, still raging with fury, Narasimha wanders in the forest and it is only after seeing Chenchulakshmi that his anger subsides and he sheds the avatar and turns into the handsome Narahari who falls in love with her. Narada plays his part in the entire drama that finally culminates in the reunion of Vishnu and Lakshmi.
Cast & Crew : A stage actor, B.A. Subbarao enacted each character to his actors and guided them with the right diction. Sadasivabrahmam, B.A. Subbarao and K.S. Prakasa Rao (who also directed a few scenes for B.A.S. on his request) wrote the screenplay. Ace lensman C. Nageswara Rao cranked the camera, Vali worked as the art director and K.A. Marthandam (as Marthand was credited in the titles both in Telugu and Tamil) edited.
Most of the movie ran on the story of Prahlada. S.V. Rangarao (Hiranyakasipu) and Master Babji (Prahlada) corner the acting honours. Anjali Devi showcased her virtuosity while playing the two contrasting characters – Goddess Lakshmi and the flamboyant Chenchulakshmi. Akkineni Nageswara Rao appeared as Lord Vishnu and Narahari. Koderu ‘Vastadu’ Raju, a pahilwan from Vissakoderu near Palakol, enacted the role of ‘ ugra ’ Narasimhaswamy. The other major players in this super hit movie were – Pushpavalli (Leelavathy, Hiranyakasipu’s wife), A.V. Subbarao (King Samudra/ Chenchu tribal leader), Sandhya (as his wife), Vangara (Rakshasa guru Chandamarkula). Nalla Ramamurthy, Sitaram and the Tamil actress Angamuthu acted in comic characters. Gummadi (Durvasa) and Nagabhushanam (Lord Siva) made guest appearances. The surprise package was Relangi as Narada. Relangi was at first reluctant to take up the character thinking he wouldn’t fit into it. He gave such a shining portrayal that B.A.S signed him again for Narada’s role in Bhishma .
S. Rajeswara Rao made a great contribution with his melodious score. The all time favourites were – ‘Neelagagana Ghana Ghana Syama…’ (Arudra -Ghantasala), ‘Chettulekkagalava O Narahari…’ (Arudra- Ghantasala, Jikki). And the songs and poems for Prahlada rendered by P. Susheela which include the popular song - ‘Paala kadalipai Seshathalpamuna…’(lyric: Sadasivabrahmam). Ghantasala sang for Relangi (apart from ‘Neelagagana Ghana Ghana…’ the songs and bit songs that end with the catch lines ‘Karunalavala Idu Needhu leela…’) and Madhavapeddi Sathyam for S.V. Rangarao.
Trivia: B.A.S. simultaneously made the movie in Tamil with the same set of actors and technicians adding ace Tamil comedian Thangavelu to the cast. Released on May 28, 1958 it also met with box office success.
B.A.S. first signed Bhanumathi for the title role and even shot a few scenes with her before differences cropped up between them and she opted out. After considering Padmini for the role, Subbarao finally chose Anjali Devi.
Two songs – ‘Chettulekkagalava…’ and ‘Chilaka Gorinka…’ were first recorded in the voices of P. Susheela and P.B.Srinivos and were also released as gramophone records. But for some reasons, the two songs were again recorded with Ghantasala and Jikki and were retained in the movie.
Real life mother and son – Pushpavalli and Master Babji played reel life mother and son in the movie.
Released on April 9, 1958 Chenchulakshmi celebrated 100 day run in five centres and all the major actors went round the centres to participate in the celebrations.The function was held at Poorna theatre in Vizianagaram.
Veteran actress Radhakumari’s father Ramanamurthy was the theatre’s manager. An ardent fan of Anjali Devi, Radhakumari, then not yet into films, went to see her matinee idol. The crowd was so huge that she was not allowed by the security guards even though she mentioned her father’s name. Finally she could enter and catch a glimpse of Anjali Devi. Interestingly, Radhakumari later shared screen space in many movies with Anjali Devi.
