Lakshmi Kataksham (transl. Grace of Lakshmi) is a 1970 Indian Telugu-language swashbuckler film, produced by Pinjala Subba Rao under the P.S.R. Pictures banner and directed by B. Vittalacharya.[1] It stars N. T. Rama Rao and K. R. Vijaya, with music composed by S. P. Kodandapani.[2]

Lakshmi Kataksham
Theatrical release poster
Directed byB. Vittalacharya
Written byChillara Bhava Narayana Rao (dialogues)
Screenplay byB. Vittalacharya
Story byH. V. Subba Rao
Produced byPinjala Subba Rao
StarringN. T. Rama Rao
K. R. Vijaya
CinematographyH. S. Venu
Edited byK. Govinda Swamy
Music byS. P. Kodandapani
Production
company
P.S.R. Pictures
Release date
  • 12 March 1970 (1970-03-12)
Running time
138 mins
CountryIndia
LanguageTelugu

Plot

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The film revolves around the secret hidden treasure Lakshmi Bhandagaram, over which two kingdoms, Srungarapuram & Punardaranagaram, compete for generations. The saint Kodandapani is under hunt for it with his disciples Prachanda, a malicious one, and Vinayadanda, an obedient one. Once, he walks to Mahendra Varma, the king of Srungarapuram, and prophesies that the child in the womb of Queen Chandravati will achieve it. Kodandapani then proceeds to penance.Prachanda, who has covertly observed the first hint attempts but crashes. At that moment, he affirms that the son of Mahendra Varma is the only one eligible. So, he abducts him immediately after his birth & rears him as Kulavardhana, pretending that he is an orphan before Vinayadanda. Years pass, and Prachanda molds Kulavardhana into a generalist and gains insight. Assuming him as futile, Prachanda dumps him by withdrawing his power & memory. Vinayadanda discovers the ruse of Prachanda. To gather clues, he is associated with Hemamalini, the queen of Punardara Nagaram. He clears the man with the Padmarekha lotus line on his palm to win the treasure.

A rover, Kulavardhana, is guarded by a tribal girl, Singari, and they fall in love. Prachanda has acquired the second page of a manuscript, which can only be read by one with the same palm. So, he starts his hunt by defrauding the king & queen of Srungarapuram with a surety for their son. Vinayadanda quickly tries to read the manuscript when Prachanda transforms him into a dog. In this form, he asks Kulavardhana for help, and the two restore to their originality with a bath in holy water. At that point, Vinayadanda declares that Kulavardhana is the lucky charm with the palm and warns him to be beware of Prachanda. Simultaneously, Prachanda forcibly draws Kulavardhana and the two-step into Srungarapuram, where the King & Queen exert an unknown warmth on him. Kulavardhana plays tactically with Prachanda without revealing details in the manuscript.

Meanwhile, Vinayadanda outdoes Prachanda, informing Hemamalini of the status quo. So, she intrudes into Srungaapuram disguised as a maid and falls for Kulavardhana. Kulavardhana enters Punardaranagaram with Hemamalini, Prachanda & Madhura Varma's armies. Prachanda discerns that Hemamalini is traitorous and is about to enforce his witchcraft, but Vinayadanda breaks all his forces, and they are all captured. Here, Hemamalini frees Prachanda & Madhura Varma and holds Kulavardhana as he understands her genuine love and steps toward the treasure. Amid this, Prachanda retrieves his sorcery and seizes Madhura Varma, Chandravati, & Hemamalini. After an adventurous journey, Kulavardhana triumphs over the treasure with the blessings of the goddess Lakshmi and getting the knowledge of his birth. At last, he defeats Prachanda when Kodandapani lands and curses Prachanda to be a snake. Finally, the movie ends happily with Kulavardhana's crowing ceremony.

Cast

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Soundtrack

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Lakshmi Kataksham
Film score by
Released1970
GenreSoundtrack
LabelSAREGAMA Audio
ProducerS. P. Kodandapani

Music composed by S. P. Kodandapani.

S. No Song Title Lyrics Singers length
1 "Ponna Chettu Maatuna" C. Narayana Reddy S. Janaki 4:22
2 "Kilakila Bullammo" Kosaraju Ghantasala, S. Janaki 4:02
3 "Ammammamaayo Telisindile" C. Narayana Reddy Ghantasala, P. Susheela 3:05
4 "Ra Ra Vennela Dora" C. Narayana Reddy Ghantasala, P. Susheela 3:44
5 "Naa Vayasu Sumagandham" Chellara Bhavanarayana Rao P. Susheela, Vijayalakshmi 3:39
6 "Swagatham Swagatham" Chellara Bhavanarayana Rao S. Janaki, P. Leela 4:33
7 "Andala Bommanu Nenu" Viswa Prasad L. R. Eswari 4:17
8 "Dhanyosmi Dhanyosmi" Chellara Bhavanarayana Rao Ghantasala
9 "Sukravarapu Poddu Sirini" Chillara Bhavanarayana Rao S. Janaki 1:08
10 "Jaya Jaya Mahalakshmi" Chillara Bhavanarayana Rao Chorus
11 "Gata Suvignana" Chillara Bhavanarayana Rao Ghantasala, S. Janaki
12 "Naadu Gurudevu Karyarthinavuchu" Chillara Bhavanarayana Rao Ghantasala
13 "Sakala Vidyamayee" Chillara Bhavanarayana Rao Ghantasala

References

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  1. ^ Lakshmi Kataksham. "Flashback@50". Andhra Bhumi. Archived from the original on 25 February 2020. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
  2. ^ "Lakshmi Kataksham". TVGuide.com. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
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