Ramudu Bheemudu is a 1964 Indian Telugu-language film directed by Tapi Chanakya. It was produced by D. Ramanaidu under the Suresh Productions banner. It stars N. T. Rama Rao, Jamuna and L. Vijayalakshmi, with music composed by Pendyala. The film was a major box office success.
The film was the debut of D. Rama Naidu's Suresh Productions banner into the film industry and it is N. T. Rama Rao's first dual role film. Satyanarayana was body double for N. T. Rama Rao in climax scenes. The film is considered a trendsetting venture and became an inspiration for later films with similar storyline. Chanakya remade the film in Tamil as Enga Veettu Pillai (1965). It was also remade in Hindi as Ram Aur Shyam (1967), in Malayalam as Ajayanum Vijayanum (1976) and Kannada as Mojugara Sogasugara (1995).
Contents
Plot
Ramudu is a wealthy but naive and timid sole heir who is constantly controlled and tortured by his malicious brother-in-law, Panakala Rao. Deeply unhappy, Ramudu craves nothing more than the genuine affection of his loving sister, Susheela, and his young nephew, Ravi.
Meanwhile, Bhimudu is a brave, energetic village youth who looks exactly like Ramudu. He lives with his mother, Venkamma, but has a deep passion for acting in stage plays. After getting heavily scolded by his mother for his theatrical antics, Bhimudu decides to run away from home.
At the same time, Panakala Rao arranges a wealthy marriage alliance for Ramudu entirely to serve his own greedy self-interests. However, Leela, the daughter of a wealthy man named Ranganatham, quickly rejects the match after realizing how weak-willed and fearful Ramudu is.
Consequently, knowing how to imperil, Ramudu flees when the two swap in funny contexts. Leela acquits Bhimudu, judging him as Ramudu, and endears after securing her. He lands at Ranganatham's residence, who delivers him to Panakalu but skips. Subsequently, Bhimudu meets his mate Jayaram, the son-in-law of Panakalu's sly manager, Sarabhayya, when they clutch him. After reaching home, Bhimudu detects the atrocities when he aims to chastise Panakalu for Suseela. Next, Panakalu compels him to entrust the property when Bhimudu's reprisal and the sharp shift startle everyone.
Ramudu, as a rover, gets to Bhimudu's village, where the public forcibly surrenders him to Venkamma. At her nurture, he moulds as gentlemanly and falls for Santha, a village belle. Once, he visits her house when a strange bondage arises in Santha's insane grandmother. Subsequently, Bhimudu takes ownership of Panakalu and guards it with Jayaram's aid. Ranganatham proceeds to finalise the match, which Bhimudu denies, excluding fraudulence. On the way back, Ranganatham & Leela notice Ramudu with Santha. Whereat, they denounce Santha, and Ramudu rebukes them, which entails confusion. Santha detests him anywise comprehends after knowledge of the facts.
Since he turns a tough nut to him, Panakalu wiles to victim Bhimudu for an accident. Sensing it, Suseela informs Jayaram, who secures him. In return, he could not withstand Panakalu's striking on his sister and revolts, which led to Panakalu's walkout with Ravi. Now Suseela collapses and puts down Bhimudu for it, so he quits affirming the actuality in a letter. Knowing this fact, Panakalu backs and evicts to seize Bhimudu. Ramudu also discerns that Panakalu has bargained for his property. Hence, he steps toward home, and Panakalu grabs him. Besides, Bhimudu backs and understands the status quo when, as a flabbergast, Santha's grandmother and Venkamma reveal the two as detached twins. Bhimudu hurriedly reverts and divulges the verity when Ranganatham & Leela reach therein. At last, Bhimudu shields Ramudu from Panakalu and reforms him. Finally, the movie ends happily with the marriages of Ramudu & Santha and Bhimudu & Leela.
Cast
N. T. Rama Rao as Ramudu & Bheemudu (dual role)
Jamuna as Leela
L. Vijayalakshmi as Santha
S. V. Ranga Rao as Ranganatham
Rajanala as Panakala Rao
Relangi as Jayaram
Ramana Reddy as Sarabhayya
Mikkilineni as Director Somayya
Raavi Kondala Rao as Registrar
D. Ramanaidu as Lawyer (cameo)
Santha Kumari as Suseela
Rushyendramani as Venkamma
Suryakantham as Sundaramma
Hemalata as Nainamma
Girija as Kamala
Kuchala Kumari as Dancer (Song Undile Manchi Kalam)
Production
Development
D. V. Narasaraju originally prepared a folkloric story based on a concept of two identical looking persons interchanging places loosely inspired from American film The Prisoner of Zenda (1952). He had originally written the script for producer Midde Jagannatha Rao with Kamalakara Kameswara Rao directing the film. However both the producer and director had doubts over the subject as similar film Nadodi Mannan (1958) in Tamil made on this subject could be dubbed in Telugu thus dropped the idea of producing the film.
Narasaraju then came across a novel Scapegoat, a social drama which had a similar plot and decided to change the genre of his script from folklore to social drama which eventually became Ramudu Bheemudu. Midde and Kamalakara were impressed with the plot and decided to do this film with Akkineni Nageswara Rao who refused as he was busy with Iddaru Mithrulu (1961) which also featured him in dual roles and Midde shelved the film.
Narasaraju then narrated the script to Ramanaidu who agreed to produce the film. It became his first independent film to be produced by him after his previous venture Anuragam which he co-produced became a below average grosser. Both Narasaraju and Ramanaidu narrated this script to N. T. Rama Rao who agreed to act in the film thus becoming the first film to feature him in dual roles.
Filming
The film's shoot began on 16 November at Vauhini Studios. Two songs "Desamu Marindale" and "Taluku Talukumani" were picturised at Nagarjunasagar. The former was shot among thousand construction workers while latter was shot at River View Guest House. The rest of the filming was held at Vauhini Studios, Kodambakkam and other surrounding areas.
Soundtrack
Music was composed by Pendyala.