Jayabheri

The film begins 1600-1700 during the Vijayanagara empire at a place Vidyanagaram the hometown of high scholars & elite communities where Kasinatha Sastry (Akkineni Nageswara Rao) an orthodox Brahmin brought up by his elder brother Viswanatha Sastry (Gummadi) & sister-in-law Annapurna (Santha Kumari). Once a low caste Bhagavatar's called Bhachanollu visits Vidyanagaram in which an extraordinary dancer Manjulavani (Anjali Devi) challenges the people of Vidyanagaram when Kasi competes and wins. Knowing it, Viswambhara Sastry (Chittor V. Nagaiah) the mentor of Kasi chides him that he has dragged Goddess Saraswati into the streets. Here, Kasi argues that art does not have any caste or community it should hold the public admiration when Viswambhara Sastry becomes furious and necks Kasi out. Being cognizant of it, Viswanatha Sastry berates and forcibly makes Kasi to apologize the mentor. Thereafter, Kasi & Manju fall for each other and gives a show ignoring the ordinance of village heads & his elders for which he has been ostracized from the religion. Soon, Kasi marries Manju and beloved by the public all over the country with their performances. At that juncture, King Vijayananda Ramagajapati (S.V.Ranga Rao) impressed and invites them to his kingdom where Dharmadhikari (Mukkamala) narrates the story of Kasi. Affirms, Kasi is ineligible for the honor when Kasi strives and gains victory over all the scholars in the council when he is accoladed. Even Viswambhara Sastry too appreciates him. Keeping that grudge in mind Dharmadhikari ploys using court dancer Amurthamba (Rajasulochana) who clutches him into a spoiled brat. Once, drunken Kasi unable to sing in the court, so, King makes his prison when Manju arrives on time and breaks the conspiracy of Dharmadhikari. Later Kasi & Manju returns to Vidyanagaram, but Kasi cannot get rid off his vices, loses his wealth and start ill-treating Manju. Learning it, Annapurna reaches Kasi secretly, upbraids which makes him repent and reform. On her back, Viswanatha Sastry does not allow her, so, she commits suicide when Kasi & Manju gets back her with their devotional power. At last, the entire society realizes the couple's eminence and pleads guilty. Finally, the movie ends a happy note.

• Akkineni Nageswara Rao as Kasinatha Sastry
• Anjali Devi as Manjulavani
• Santha Kumari as Annapoorna
• Rajasulochana as Amrutha
• Relangi as Bangarayya
• S. V. Ranga Rao as Raja Vijayananda Rama Gajapati
• Gummadi as Viswanatha Sastry
• Chittoor V. Nagaiah as Viswambhara Sastry
• Ramana Reddy as Narayya
• Suryakantham as Ratnam
• Mukkamala as Dharmadhikari
• Maddali Krishnamurthy
• Peketi Sivaram as Sanjeevi
• Chadalavada as Raghavulu
• Surabhi Kamalabai as Ranganayaki

Supported by

Gauripathi Rao, Y.V.Raju, Vadlamani, Boddapati, Prabhala, Chinnanna,
R.V.Krishnarao, Kashinath, Dharmaraju, Raju, A.V.Subbarao, Sathyam,
Vasanthakumar, Thathachari, Anand, and Shambhuprasad.

National Film Awards

• 1959: Certificate of Merit for Best Feature Film in Telugu[2]

Filmfare Awards South

• Filmfare Award for Best Film - Telugu.[3]

• Jayabheri at IMDb