S. V. Ranga Rao
Samarla Venkata Ranga Rao (July 3, 1918 – July 18, 1974), known professionally as S. V. Ranga Rao or S.V.R., was an Indian actor, director, and producer who worked predominantly in Telugu and Tamil cinema. After early work on stage and an initial film appearance in *Varudhini* (1946), he gained widespread recognition as the sorcerer Nepala Manthrikudu in the fantasy swashbuckler *Pathala Bhairavi* (1951). Over the 1950s and 1960s, he became a central character actor and antagonist across South Indian cinema, playing major roles in the social comedy *Missamma* (1955), the historical drama *Tenali Ramakrishna* (1956), the fantasy film *Mayabazar* (1957), and the comedy *Gundamma Katha* (1962). For his portrayal of Keechaka in the mythological film *Narthanasala* (1963), he won the Best Actor Award at the 3rd Afro-Asian Film Festival in Jakarta.
In addition to Telugu cinema, Ranga Rao worked extensively in Tamil productions, with prominent roles in *Annai* (1962), *Karpagam* (1963), *Enga Veettu Pillai* (1965), and the historical biographical film *Kappalottiya Thamizhan* (1961). In the late 1960s, he expanded into directing and producing, helming the social dramas *Chadarangam* (1967) and *Bandhavyalu* (1968), both of which won Nandi Awards. His later screen appearances included *Dasara Bullodu* (1971), *Sampoorna Ramayanam* (1972), *Tata Manavadu* (1973), and *Andaru Dongale* (1974), concluding with the posthumously released devotional feature *Yashoda Krishna* (1975).
| Known For | Acting |
|---|---|
| Most Rating | 0.9001 |
| Birthday | 1918-07-03 |
| Place of Birth | Nuzvidu, Krishna dist, Andhra Pradesh, India |
| Also Known As | S.V. Ranga Rao, S. V. Ranga Rao, SV Ranga Rao, Rangarao, S V Ranga Rao, Ranga Rao, SVR, Viswanata Chakravarthi, |
1953
Pempudu Koduku
9/1
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Pempudu Koduku
1955
Anarkali
7/1
The legend of the romance between Mughal prince Salim and Anarkali.
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Anarkali
1963
Karpagam
10/1
A rich farmer makes his married children and their spouses live in his house to take care of his business. Problems arise when one of them starts to s...
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Karpagam
1950
Shavukaru
7/1
Satyam, a moneylender's son, is supposed to marry his neighbour's daughter Subbulu. However, complications arise when Satyam lands up in jail.
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Shavukaru
1954
Chandraharam
9/1
Chandhanaraju is a prince whose life is preserved within the necklace he wears. He should overcome several hurdles to marry his dream girl.
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Chandraharam
1957
Thodi Kodallu
7/1
Lawyer Ganapathi and his wife Annapurna are the eldest members of a family. His brother Subbu and his wife Anusuya live in the village. The duo treats...
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Thodi Kodallu
1959
Appu Chesi Pappu Koodu
7/2
Ramadasu, a perpetual debtor, wants his son Raghu to marry Manjari in order to acquire Mukunda Rao's assets. But Raghu is already married to Leela and...
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Appu Chesi Pappu Koodu
1967
Punyavathi
0/0
Professor Krishna Rao loves his wife and son, but is separated from them. He marries another woman and has children with her. Will the two families ev...
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Punyavathi
1962
Aathma Bandhuvu
9/1
Parvathi is excited that her youngest daughter, Geeta, has received a marriage proposal from a rich family. However, things go awry when Parvathi's hu...
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Aathma Bandhuvu
1962
Manchi Manasulu
0/0
Venu is a very poor student and seeks to come out of the hostel by being unable to bear its expenses. Thus, he shifts to a lawyer Anand Rao's summer-h...
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Manchi Manasulu
1962
Gundamma Katha
7.667/12
Gundamma is a rich widow who dotes on her daughter Saroja but mistreats her stepdaughter Lakshmi. When brothers Anji and Raja encounter this family, t...
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Gundamma Katha
1951
Pathala Bhairavi
8.6/7
Thota Ramudu faces opposition when he falls in love with a princess. He then seeks the help of a sorcerer, who secretly plans to sacrifice Thota Ramud...
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Pathala Bhairavi
1957
Mayabazar
8.048/31
Balarama promises Subhadra that he'll marry his daughter to her son. But when the Pandavas lose their kingdom to the Kauravas, Balarama breaks his pro...
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Mayabazar
1971
Adi Parasakthi
7/1
A man saved from death by God and told how God help others.
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Adi Parasakthi
1973
Tata Manavadu
8/1
A young man teaches a lesson to his parents for abandoning his grand parents.
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Tata Manavadu
1963
Kungumam
10/1
Sundaram returns from America and witnesses his father committing a murder. He takes the blame on himself and goes absconding in order to save his fat...
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Kungumam
1966
Selvam
8/1
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Selvam
1964
Pachai Vilakku
7/4
Pachai Vilakku (English: Green Lantern) is a 1964 Indian Tamil film, directed by A. Bhim Singh and produced by Rama. Arangannal, A. R. Hassan Khan and...
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Pachai Vilakku
1963
Annai Illam
5/1
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Annai Illam
1962
Bandha Pasam
7.5/2
Bandha Pasam is a 1962 Indian Tamil language film directed by A. Bhimsingh and produced by Periyanna. The film stars Sivaji Ganesan, Gemini Ganesan, S...
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Bandha Pasam
1960
Irumbu Thirai
9/2
Two brothers find themselves against each other when the younger one decides to form a union to oppose the unfair means used by the mill owner, whom t...
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Irumbu Thirai
1961
Padithal Mattum Podhuma
7/2
Gopal dearly loves his brother Raju, despite the latter's unkind acts and frauds. But fate seems to have something else in store for Gopal as he is so...
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Padithal Mattum Podhuma
1964
Kai Kodutha Deivam
6/2
Raghu befriends Ravi, a homeless man, and provides him with shelter and a job. However, when Ravi sees the photograph of the girl Raghu decides to mar...
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Kai Kodutha Deivam
1961
Nitchaya Thamboolam
8/1
A privileged young man marries his childhood fiancée against the odds—but suspicion, scandal, and a murder charge tear them apart. When his devoted wi...
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Nitchaya Thamboolam
1963
Iruvar Ullam
10/1
The story revolves around Selvam, an easygoing youngster who befriends many girls without the intention of marrying any of them.
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Iruvar Ullam
1960
Padikkadha Medhai
7.5/2
Chandrasekaran, an industrialist, is very successful in his business and has a loving family. His three sons and two daughters live happily as one fam...
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Padikkadha Medhai
1958
Sabaash Meena
8.5/2
Mohan is a spoiled young man who wants nothing else in life but to act in stage dramas with his friends. As a result of his carefree behavior, his fat...
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Sabaash Meena
1972
Vasantha Maligai
7/4
Is an emotionally charged tale that depicts the transformation of an alcoholic after his life is touched by true love.
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Vasantha Maligai
1955
Gunasundari
10/1
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Gunasundari
1956
Matharkula Manikkam
10/1
The film is based on two couples – where the first couple Dr. Chandra Shekar (Gemini Ganesan) & Parvathi (Anjali Devi) and the second couple is Ravi (...
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Matharkula Manikkam
1960
Parthiban Kanavu
9/1
7th century AD. Parthiban, the Chola King, dies in battle leaving incomplete his desire to be free from the yoke of the Pallavas. His son Vikraman (Ge...
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Parthiban Kanavu
1958
Thirumanam
9/1
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Thirumanam
1962
Kaathiruntha Kangal
8.5/2
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Kaathiruntha Kangal
1958
Kadan Vaangi Kalyanam
8/1
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Kadan Vaangi Kalyanam
1968
Ramu
8/1
A man faces many trials and tribulations while taking care of his son who has a hearing impairment. He goes through many hardships to emerge victoriou...
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Ramu
1969
Kulavilakku
8/1
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Kulavilakku
1952
Kalyanam Panni Paar
7/1
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Kalyanam Panni Paar
1969
Nam Naadu
6/1
The philanthropists and pillars of society, a doctor, a builder, and a merchant, led by the rich Dharmalingam, are in fact villains dealing in crime a...
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Nam Naadu
1967
Thaaiku Thalaimagan
0/0
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Thaaiku Thalaimagan
1965
Enga Veettu Pillai
7.2/4
Ramu is an innocent son of a rich landlord who is afraid of his brother-in-law Narendran and his whiplash. To escape from his punishments, Ramu leaves...
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Enga Veettu Pillai
1956
Charana Daasi
8.5/2
The film revolves around couples - Dr. Chandra Shekar and Parvathi ahead Venu and Lakshmi. Charana Daasi (transl. Wife) is a 1956 Indian Telugu-langu...
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Charana Daasi
1969
Mooga Nomu
0/0
A young unmarried woman has a child but is told that her baby is stillborn. Thereafter, she joins an orphanage as a teacher where she encounters a man...
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Mooga Nomu
1961
Kalasi Unte Kaladu Sukham
8/1
Pattabhi Ramayya, who does not have any children, dotes on his younger brother and his two sons. However, trouble starts in their happy joint family w...
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Kalasi Unte Kaladu Sukham
1971
Prema Nagar
10/1
A romantic story about a wealthy boy whose life revolves around wine and women and a middle class girl who changes him. They fall in love but his moth...
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Prema Nagar
1959
Mangalya Balam
7/1
1959 Indian film starring Akkineni Nageshwara Rao, Savitri and S.V. Ranga Rao
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Mangalya Balam
1964
Server Sundaram
8/6
Sundaram, a hotel employee, dreams of becoming an actor. He meets Vijaya, who admires his innocence and sincerity, and falls in love with her. But Rag...
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Server Sundaram
1968
Sukha Dukhalu
0/0
Vanishree plays the role of a young college girl from a middle class family. She is being taken care by a her older brother (who is also young, no par...
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Sukha Dukhalu
2013
Seethamma Vakitlo Sirimalle Chettu
7.093/43
An exuberant and evocative family drama, that primarily revolves around the close bond between two brothers with radically different personalities, hi...
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Seethamma Vakitlo Sirimalle Chettu
1955
Jayasimha
10/1
Inspired from the Telugu novel Veera Pooja, the film tells the story of Jayasimha (played by Rama Rao), the crown prince of Malawa kingdom who escapes...
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Jayasimha
1964
Main Bhi Ladki Hoon
8/1
Rajni, a dusky, uneducated girl, is deceptively married off to Ram, son of a wealthy father. Although loved by all, a conniving relative sows the seed...
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Main Bhi Ladki Hoon
1958
Bhookailasa
8.5/2
Ravana, the king of Lanka gets tricked by various people in the process of attaining ' Athmalinga ' from Shiva.
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Bhookailasa
1962
Dakshayagnam
9/1
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Dakshayagnam
1954
Sangham
10/1
Kamini, a pretty woman, and Raja, a handsome man, are in love, but Raja's parents do not approve of the match.
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Sangham
1950
Palletoori Pilla
7/1
At the command of tyrannical Kampanna Dora, Chief Jayanth raids many villages in the region to loot them of their food, livestock, and wealth. When a...
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Palletoori Pilla
1952
Palletooru
0/0
Ganapathi, a wicked village head, stirs up trouble for Chandram, a hardworking young man who tries to educate the inhabitants of his village.
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Palletooru
1956
Chintamani
9/1
Chintamani, a courtesan, is a devotee of Lord Vishnu. Her strong faith impresses Lord Vishnu and he decides to help her with her problems.
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Chintamani
1961
Sati Sulochana (Indrajeet)
9/0
Indrajeet (Sati Sulochana) is a 1961 Telugu-language Hindu Epic film, based on the life of Indrajit from the epic Ramayana. It tells the story of the...
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Sati Sulochana (Indrajeet)
1960
Bhatti Vikramarka
0/0
Bhatti Vikramarka (transl. Bhatti and Vikramarka) is a 1960 Indian Telugu-language swashbuckling adventure film based on the life of King Vikramaditya...
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Bhatti Vikramarka
1960
Nammina Bantu
9/1
Film starring Akkineni Nageshwara Rao, Savitri and S.V. Ranga Rao
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Nammina Bantu
1972
Pandanti Kapuram
9/2
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Pandanti Kapuram
1963
Naanum Oru Penn
6/1
The plot revolves around the dark complexioned and uneducated girl and how she convinces everyone that more than appearance and education, it is the c...
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Naanum Oru Penn
1970
Desamante Manushuloyi
10/1
Desamante Manushuloyi is a 1970 Telugu, political social problem film. The film was directed by C. S. Rao. It received the 1970 National Film Award fo...
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Desamante Manushuloyi
1960
Mahakavi Kalidasu
10/1
1960 Telugu biographical film based on the life of the great Sanskrit poet Kalidas.
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Mahakavi Kalidasu
1958
Pellinaati Pramanalu
7/1
Krishna Rao impresses Bheemasena Rao, a dignified village leader, who gets his daughter Rukmini married to him. But will Krishna Rao stay true to Rukm...
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Pellinaati Pramanalu
1955
Golden Baby
9/1
Kotayya (Ranga Rao) is a kind man. He marries Rami. She succumbs to pressure from Gopala Swamy and elopes with him, leaving her husband. Rami and Gopa...
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Golden Baby
1963
Narthanasala
7/4
The Pandavas have to finish 13-year exile and hide their real identities until Vijayadashmi. Arjun's son, Abhimanyu, falls in love with Virata's daugh...
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Narthanasala
1961
Velugu Needalu
8/1
The life of 2 friends suguna (Savitri) and chandram (Nageshwara Rao) is potrayed as they and people around them swing between happiness and misery ( d...
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Velugu Needalu
1953
Devadasu
5.2/5
Landlord Narayan Rao's son Devdasu and Parvathi, their poor neighbour's daughter, fall in love. But Devadas's family does not approve of the relations...
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Devadasu
1955
Missamma
7.857/7
Rao and Mary, unemployed college graduates from Madras, act as if they are a married couple to get jobs as schoolteachers in the small village of Appa...
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Missamma
1968
Lakshmi Nivasam
10/1
Lakshmi Nivasam is a 1968 Indian Telugu drama film released on Jul 19, 1968. The film is directed by V. Madhusudan Rao.
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Lakshmi Nivasam
1972
Sampoorna Ramayanam
7/1
This film depicts the complete life of Sri Rama.
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Sampoorna Ramayanam
1964
Bobbili Yuddham
8/1
The story of this film revolves around the ' Battle of Bobbili ' fought between the Bobbili and the Vijayanagaram kingdoms in 1757.
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Bobbili Yuddham
1964
Ramudu Bheemudu
7/2
Ramudu and Bheemudu are look-alikes who are both fed up of their respective lives. They incidentally end up taking each other's place in their homes,...
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Ramudu Bheemudu
1969
Sivandha Mann
6/1
The diwan of Vasanthapuri grows tyrannical and makes a deal with the Portuguese so that he can become the new king and marry the princess, who is in l...
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Sivandha Mann
1959
Manjal Mahimai
0/0
Manjal Mahimai (English: Power of Turmeric) is a 1959 Tamil language drama film, produced by D. Madhusudhana Rao under Annapurna Pictures and directed...
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Manjal Mahimai
1960
Vidivelli
0/0
Chandru (Sivaji Ganesan) has a sister (Rajam) who is married to a handsome Ravi (Balaji). But her in-laws insist on a diamond necklace, without which...
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Vidivelli
1965
Vazhkai Padagu
0/0
A young attractive and unemployed woman Seetha(Devika) taking up stage acting as a career. A wealthy man Kannabiran(K. Balaji) is after her, and uses...
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Vazhkai Padagu
1965
Pandava Vanavasamu
6.667/3
After the Pandavas are forcefully exiled by their enemies, they must get together and fight back in order to reclaim their land.
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Pandava Vanavasamu
1958
Bhookailas
7.5/2
The story is based on the Sthala Purana of Gokarna Kshetram in Karnataka
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Bhookailas
1968
Chinnari Papalu
0/0
It tells the story of a rich man falling in love with a tribal girl, and how the pair face challenges in life when they separate.
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Chinnari Papalu
1972
Raja
0/0
Conflict arises between two brothers after the death of their father and unknowingly they become rivals.
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Raja
1967
Bhaktha Prahlada
7/1
Prahlada, Lord Vishnu's staunch devotee, is born to Hiranyakashipu (S.V. Ranga Rao) his father. Hiranyakashipu is determined to dissuade his son from...
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Bhaktha Prahlada
1960
Naan Kanda Swargam
9/1
Naan Kanda Sorgam (transl. My Heaven) is a 1960 Indian Tamil-language comic fantasy film directed and produced by C. Pullaiah. The film stars K. A. Th...
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Naan Kanda Swargam
1953
Chandirani
9/1
When Prachandudu kills Chandirani's mother and imprisons her father who is a king, she decides to eliminate him to avenge her mother's death and to sa...
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Chandirani
1959
Bala Nagamma
7.5/2
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Bala Nagamma
1975
Yashoda Krishna
0/0
Chronicles the birth and childhood of Krishna, who is prophesied to be the death of his tyrannical uncle Kans. Also tells the story of Krishna's subse...
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Yashoda Krishna
1961
Kappalottiya Thamizhan
7/3
Chidambaram Pillai, a revolutionary leader, starts the first shipping company in India. With the help of this company, he fights against the monopoly...
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Kappalottiya Thamizhan
1958
Annaiyin Aanai
8/1
Ganesh's father is falsely accused of a crime and murdered in prison. Years later, his mother asks him to exact revenge against the culprit.
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Annaiyin Aanai
1961
Kumudham
0/0
Kumaran, who is married to Kumudha, takes the blame for a murder he did not commit. Convinced of his innocence, his former lover sets out to unearth t...
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Kumudham
1962
Saradha
7/1
Saradha, a wealthy woman, marries an ordinary professor against the wishes of her father. Her dream of leading a happily married life is shattered whe...
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Saradha
1962
Annai
8/1
Savithri, who does not have any kids with her husband, decides to adopt her sister's child. Things take a turn when her sister meets her child after m...
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Annai
1953
Poongothai
8/1
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Poongothai
1957
Alladin and the Wonderful Lamp
5.5/2
Alladin throws away a magic lamp after an evil magician fools him into finding it. Years later, when Alladin learns the full extent of its powers, he...
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Alladin and the Wonderful Lamp
1971
Dasara Bullodu
9/1
Both Radha and Nirmala love a young man named Gopi. But Nirmala's father wants to make Gopi marry Nirmala in order to grab his property. But she reali...
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Dasara Bullodu
1967
Chadarangam
7/1
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Chadarangam
1952
Pelli Chesi Choodu
9/1
A satirical comedy that deals with the negative effects of the Indian dowry system, through the marital life of Venkata Ramana and Ammadu.The film was...
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Pelli Chesi Choodu
1972
Papam Pasivadu
9/1
Venugopal and Janaki realise that their son has tuberculosis and send him by plane to Europe for better treatment. However, the plane crashes, and the...
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Papam Pasivadu
1971
Vikramarka Vijayam
10/1
Vikramarka is a brave man who always strives to maintain peace and fight for justice. However, when he faces an opponent from his own kingdom, he vows...
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Vikramarka Vijayam
1971
Thenum Paalum
0/0
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Thenum Paalum
1974
Chakravakam
0/0
No description
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Chakravakam
1962
Padandi Munduku
0/0
Follows the story of a freedom fighter couple, Santhamma and Dharmarao, during the British Raj.
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Padandi Munduku
1967
Vasantha Sena
7/1
Vasanthasena is a dancer in a king's palace. When Shakara troubles her, she escapes and meets Charudatta. But Shakara has no plans to leave them alone...
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Vasantha Sena
1968
Veeranjaneya
8/1
Veeranjaneya is a 1968 Telugu film directed by Kamalakara Kameswara Rao.
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Veeranjaneya
1957
Saarangadhara
7/1
In a fit of rage, King Narendra orders his men to chop off his son Sarangadhara's limbs in a forest. However, Meghananda comes to the rescue of an inj...
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Saarangadhara
1958
Sarangadhara
0/0
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Sarangadhara
1972
Koduku Kodalu
10/1
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Koduku Kodalu
1973
Abhimanavanthulu
0/0
Raghava Rao is a wealthy businessman who values money and reputation above everything else. When his daughter Sita marries an orphan, Ramu, against hi...
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Abhimanavanthulu
1967
Rahasyam
0/0
When an egoistic ascetic, Rakthabhisha, performs a penance to get salvation, Goddess Lalitha appears before him and sets a tough condition for him to...
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Rahasyam
1974
Andaru Dongale
0/0
A diamond heist goes wrong after one of the henchmen backstabs the gang leader, who soon dies. Trouble ensues when an innocent driver takes the blame....
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Andaru Dongale
1966
Kumari Penn
0/0
Shyamala, a young woman, and her father try to find of an ideal life partner for her. Worried about her marriage, the father falls ill and therefore,...
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Kumari Penn
1957
Soubhagyavathi
0/0
It is predicted that Kaladhar can only live up to 25 years of age. When he marries Gowri, they rue their short-lived happiness. However, Gauri has imm...
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Soubhagyavathi
1972
Bala Bharatam
0/0
The children of Pandu and Dhritarashtra, Pandavas and Kauravas, share their experiences with each other and tell the tales of their exciting and dange...
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