Illarikam


Illarikam is a 1959 Telugu comedy-drama film, produced by A. V. Subba Rao under the Prasad Art Pictures banner and directed by T. Prakash Rao. It stars Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Jamuna in the lead roles and music composed by T. Chalapathi Rao. The film has had a Silver Jubilee and was recorded as a Blockbuster at the box office.
Illarikam literally means a bridegroom going to the bride's family and living permanently with them; as against the custom of the bride going into the groom's family. This custom is observed in some rich families where the bride is the only child to their parents.

Plot

Venu is an orphan brought up by his maternal uncle Dharmayya. He falls in love with the Zamindar's daughter Radha. He married with a condition that Venu should live in their house, called Illarikam. Due to status-consciousness, Sundaramma, wife of the Zamindar, looks down on Venu and insults him indirectly. Govindayya, cousin of Sundaramma and also manager of their mica factories creates problems between Venu and Radha, because he plots to usurp the wealth. So, he brings his wayward son Seshagiri weaning him away from Kanakadurga, whom he had secretly married. Venu spots Kanakadurga, his presumed to be dead sister, while she was performing on stage. Not knowing they are siblings, Radha suspects Venu's fidelity. The villains try to cash in on their rift. When things are getting worse, Venu wears a Zorro-like guise, teaches Govindayya and his son a lesson and paves the way for a happy family reunion.

Cast

Music composed by T. Chalapathi Rao. All songs are evergreen blockbusters. Music released on Audio Company.
S. No.Song TitleLyricsSingerslength
1"Adigindaaniki Cheppi"KosarajuGhantasala, P. Susheela5:24
2"Ekkadi Dongalu Akkadane Gapchup"Sri SriGhantasala, P. Susheela3:35
3"Niluvave Vaalu Kanuladhana"KosarajuGhantasala, P. Susheela3:13
4"Chetulu Kalasina Chappatlu"ArudraGhantasala, P. Susheela, Madhavapeddi Satyam4:05
5"Nedu Srivariki Memante"ArudraGhantasala, P. Susheela3:17
6"Madhu Patram"ArudraJikki3:35
7"Bhale Chancele"KosarajuMadhavapeddi Satyam3:03

Production

After releasing the dubbed version of the Tamil film Uthamaputhiran in Telugu, A. V. Subbarao announced his next project Illarikam, with Nageswara Rao, based on the story of Vemapti Sadasivabrahmam. Jamuna was selected to pair with ANR. The pair had earlier collaborated in Nirupedalu. ANR suggested to remove the song – "Niluvave vaalu kanuladaana" as he felt the audience may not like the teasing song, as by then the heroine had realised the truth, but the producer and the director felt otherwise. After its release, seeing the audience response to that song, ANR conceded that he was wrong. Tatineni Ramarao started his career as an assistant director with Illarikam.

Remakes

Illarikam was remade in four languages. L. V. Prasad produced the Hindi version titled Sasural, which T. Prakash Rao directed. A. V. Subbarao himself remade it in Kannada as Mane Aliya, in Malayalam as Kalithozhan and in Tamil as Maadi Veettu Mappilai. All these versions were box office hits.