Vaddante Dabbu
Vaddante Dabbu (transl. Endless Money)[1] is a 1954 Indian Telugu-language screwball comedy film, produced by Moola Narayana Swamy on Rohini Pictures banner and directed by Y. R. Swamy.[2] It is based on the English novel Brewster's Millions (1902). The film stars N. T. Rama Rao, Sowcar Janaki and Jamuna, with music composed by T. A. Kalyanam. Edited by M.S. Parthasarathy. Despite originally opening to a mixed response, it attained cult status in Telugu cinema, and was remade in the same language as Babai Abbai (1985).
| Vaddante Dabbu | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Y. R. Swamy |
| Produced by | Moola Narayana Swamy H. M. Reddy (Presents) |
| Screenplay by | Vempati Sadasivabrahmam Y. R. Swamy |
| Story by | G. D. Mudugulkar |
| Based on | Brewster's Millions by George Barr McCutcheon |
| Starring | N. T. Rama Rao Sowcar Janaki Jamuna |
| Music by | T. A. Kalyanam |
| Cinematography | D. L. Narayana |
| Edited by | M.S. Parthasarathy |
Production company | Rohini Pictures |
Release date |
|
Running time | 140 mins |
| Country | India |
| Language | Telugu |
Plot
Shyam and Rama Rao are close friends and start living together, their lifestyle is to make debts for their survival and escape from lenders. Shyam is an artist, Saroja, the daughter of a multimillionaire Rao Saheb Hemachalapathi is an admirer of his paintings, she meets him to draw her portrait and both of them fall in love. Hemachalapathi assigns a task for Shyam by giving a huge amount of ₹1 lakh and asks him to spend it within the timeline of 30 days and also keeps some conditions that he should not donate or destroy the money. Shyam starts the spending the money with the help of his Rama Rao ideas such as racing, gambling, making a drama, construction of house etc. But their income grows day by day and Shyam gets fed-up with this money. Finally, he gives all the money back to Hemachalapathi, at that time Hemachalapathi explains to him that he has kept this task to study Shyam's character and he should also understand how dangerous the money is and the film ends with the marriage of Shyam & Saroja.
Cast
- N. T. Rama Rao as Shyam
- Sowcar Janaki as Saroja
- Jamuna as Rekha
- Rajanala as Rao Saheb Hemachalapathi
- Peketi Sivaram as Rama Rao
- Allu Ramalingaiah as Master Baddanki
- Hemalatha as Yashoda
Production
Vaddante Dabbu was adapted from George Barr McCutcheon's English-language novel Brewster's Millions (1902),[1] and was among the earliest screwball comedies of Telugu cinema.[3]
Soundtrack
| Vaddante Dabbu | |
|---|---|
| Film score by T. A. Kalyanam | |
| Released | 1954 |
| Genre | Soundtrack |
| Producer | T. A. Kalyanam |
Music composed by T. A. Kalyanam. Lyrics were written by Devulapalli, Vempati, Sri Sri.
| S. No. | Song Title | Lyrics | Singers | length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Naa Priya" | Devulapalli | Jikki | 3:14 |
| 2 | "Alladi Avatala" | Vempati Sadasivabrahmam | Jikki | 3:05 |
| 3 | "Chadavali" | Vempati Sadasivabrahmam | A. M. Rajah, P. Susheela | |
| 4 | "Evaro Doshulu" | Vempati Sadasivabrahmam | Rohini | |
| 5 | "Endukoyi" | Devulapalli | Raavu Balasaraswathi | 2:49 |
| 6 | "Thimtalangthom" | Sri Sri | Raavu Balasaraswathi, Rohini, V. Ramakrishna, S. P. Kodandapani, M. V. Raju | |
| 7 | "Alakinchavoyi" | Devulapalli | Jikki | 3:33 |
| 8 | "Mansaemo Chalinchaneyo" | Sri Sri | Raavu Balasaraswathi | 2:55 |
Release and reception
Vaddante Dabbu was released on 19 February 1954.[4] Despite originally opening to a mixed response, it attained cult status in Telugu cinema, and was remade in the same language as Babai Abbai (1985).[3]
References
- Ramachandran, Naman (2012). Rajinikanth: The Definitive Biography. Penguin Books. pp. 170–171.
- Rajadhyaksha, Ashish; Willemen, Paul (1998) [1994]. Encyclopaedia of Indian Cinema (PDF). Oxford University Press. p. 654. ISBN 0-19-563579-5.
- Parankusam, Aditya (11 June 2017). "Chronicles of screwball comedy". The Hans India. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
- "Vadhante Dabbu". indiancine.ma. Retrieved 11 June 2019.