Yugandhar is a 1979 Telugu-language action film, produced by P. Vidya Sagar under Sri Gajalakshmi Arts and directed by K. S. R. Das. It stars N.T. Rama Rao, Jayasudha in the lead roles and music composed by Ilaiyaraaja. The film is a remake of the Hindiblockbuster movieDon.
Plot
Yughandhar is a deadly and daredevil gangster. A special Interpol officer David is assigned to work with SP Jagannath. In spite of being on Interpol's most wanted list, Yugandhar remains elusive to the police. He kills one of his gang members Ramesh when he finds out that he is an informer of the police. His fiancée Kamini tries to avenge his death, but Yugandhar kills her also. Thereafter, Ramesh's sister Jaya takes judo and karate lessons in order to take revenge and she enters Yugandhar's gang. Once Police get an opportunity to nab Yugandhar, the police finally succeed. Unfortunately, Yugandhar dies, which Jagannath only knows and he secretly buries Yugandhar's body, ensuring that people believe he may still be alive; Jagannath while returning after the funeral of Yugandhar, to his fortune he encounters with Vijay, who resembles Yughandhar. Jagannath hatches a plan to replace Yughandhar with Vijay so he can arrest the rest of the gang. Vijay is a street dancer who adopts two orphan kids and looks after them affectionately. Jagannath requests Vijay to go in place of Yugandhar after assuring him that he will take care of the kids. Vijay agrees. In fact, the kids' father Ram Singh is in jail. Ram Singh used to work in a circus company. He has an extraordinary talent for opening any type of locker. Once Shankar one of the gang members offers Ram Singh to open a bank safe. In the beginning, Ram Singh refuses, but he is compelled to do so when his wife is in serious condition. Unfortunately, he was caught by Jagannath, in that attack Ram Singh loses a limb and his wife dies in hospital. Meanwhile, Jagannath succeeds in sending Vijay into the gang as a person who has lost his memory. Ram Singh, just released from jail, begins his mission against Jagannath and his search for his children. Eventually, as Vijay, learns more and more about Yugandhar and announces to his colleagues that he got back his memory. Vijay manages to replace the red diary which contains entire details of the gang and plans to give it to Jagannath. Jaya goes after him, but Vijay survives the attack and explains that he is Vijay. Jaya apologizes to Vijay and they fall in love. Vijay informs Jaganadham about a celebration where all big smugglers and gangsters of the country are attending. When Jagannath is about to start, Ram Singh obstructs his way, but could not do so as he comes to know that his children are with Jagannath. Jaganadham tells him that he will inform regarding them in his return. But things take a drastic turn when the police raid the celebrations, Vijay's only witness to his true identity, Jagannath, is shot dead, and Vijay is arrested because the police think that he is Yugandhar. The diary that Vijay had handed over to Jagannath, which is his last hope, is stolen by Ram Singh. However, he escapes from the police and he begins to fight for himself and tries to prove his innocence. Jaya agrees to help him. Meanwhile, the gang kidnaps Ram Singh's children to take Vijay into their hold. Ram Singh blackmails the gang as he is possessing the dairy. In that process, he comes to know that Interpol officer David is the original gang leader who also murdered Jagannath. Ram Singh goes to negotiations with David when the police come there and Ram Singh was kept in a room where his children are present, Ram Singh takes children and runs away. At the same time, Vijay arrives, both of them mistake each other as the enemy of the children and a quarrel arose between them. After knowing the truth from the children, both of them join hands, along with Jaya, catch the entire gang and Vijay proves that he is not Yughandhar. Finally, the movie ends on a happy note.
Music composed by Ilaiyaraaja and this was his first debut in Telugu film industry. Music released by EMI Columbia Audio Company.
Trivia
The Hindi song "Khaike Pan Banaraswala" was also remade into Telugu as "Orabba Esukunna Killi". Yugandhar is said to have some of the elements of another Telugu film also starring N. T. Rama Rao, titled Bhale Thammudu, where he played a dual role. That film was a direct remake of Shakti Samanta's Hindi filmChina Town, starring Shammi Kapoor. In 2009, a second Telugu remake of the Hindi film Don, titled Billa, starring Prabhas, Anushka Shetty and Krishnam Raju was released. Jayasudha played a guest role, different from the role she played in Yugandhar.
