| Manchi Kutumbam | |
| Director: | V. Madhusudhana Rao |
| Screenplay: | V. Madhusudhana Rao |
| Producer: | P. Mallikarjuna Rao |
| Starring: | Akkineni Nageswara Rao Sowcar Janaki Kanchana Krishna Vijaya Nirmala |
| Cinematography: | P. S. Selvaraj |
| Editing: | N. S. Prakasam |
| Music: | S. P. Kodandapani |
| Studio: | Madhu Pictures |
| Distributor: | Navayuga Films |
| Runtime: | 151 minutes |
| Country: | India |
| Language: | Telugu |
Manchi Kutumbam is a 1968 Indian Telugu-language drama film co-written and directed by V. Madhusudhana Rao. The film stars Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Sowcar Janaki, Kanchana, Krishna and Vijaya Nirmala, with music composed by S. P. Kodandapani. It is a remake of the Hindi film Grahasti (1963) itself based on the American film The Remarkable Mr. Pennypacker (1959). Grahasti was earlier remade into Tamil as Motor Sundaram Pillai (1966).
The film begins with an industrialist, Venu Gopal Rao, who leads a jollity life with his ideal wife, Shanta, and eight children, and his widowed elder sister, Seetamma, nephew Pandu, who stays with them. He spends five days of the week for work and halts on the weekend for his family. Venu Gopal Rao's elder daughter Kamala spliced Gopi, stipulating by Gopi's father that the couple must live separately until the completion of his son's studies. But once Gopi covertly arrives and spends time with Kamala. Meanwhile, two other college-going daughters, Mala & Nirmala, fall for two handsome men, Mohan & Shankar, respectively; Pandu loves Station Master Bhushanam's daughter, Bala, and the elders fix their alliance. During the engagement, a young lad, Chinna, lands, claiming himself as Venu Gopal Rao's progeny and conveying that he spends five days with them. Venu Gopal Rao accepts it and reveals his second spouse & family. Listening to it, Shanta collapses, and the engagement calls off. Now, everyone accuses Venu Gopal Rao, including his family; one thing led to another. Kamala's father-in-law warns him to drop her, and he does so.
Eventually, Shanta wants to know about her husband's second wife, so she visits their house, where she learns about her death and collapses looking at her photograph. Here, as a flabbergast, she is none other than Shanta's sibling, Sarada. Parallelly, Venu Gopal Rao calls the groom's parents to resolve the conflicts when Kamala's in-laws overtake and discard her as she is pregnant. Here, Venu Gopal Rao loses his cool and starts revealing his past. Indeed, a wise person raises him with two daughters, Shanta & Sarada. Once he forwards the bridal connection of his daughter to Venu, assuming it is Sarada since the two are in love, Venu delightfully accepts. Later, Sarada realizes Shanta admires Venu, so she sacrifices her love and convinces Venu to knit her sister. Soon after, the couple leaves for Rangoon. As it is the period of WW II, during a bombing raid, Venu declares Shanta is dead, so he goes back when Shanta's father discovers his past familiarity with Sarada and performs their wedlock. Now, startlingly, Shanta is alive. Thus, her father makes an oath from Venu on his deathbed that he will fuse with two without divulging whereabouts because one may sacrifice for the other. Due to this, Venu Gopal Rao has had to suffer and maintain secrecy all these years. After he ends the narration, Gopi admits his mistake, and everyone apologizes to Venu Gopal Rao. Finally, the movie ends on a happy note with the families, in-laws, brides, and grooms participating in the wedding processions.
Music was composed by S. P. Kodandapani.[1] The song "Manase Andhala Brundhavanam" is set to the Carnatic raga Hindolam, and is based on "Maname Muruganin" from Motor Sundaram Pillai.[2]
| Song Title | Lyrics | Singers | length | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Manase Andhala Brundhavanam" | Arudra | P. Susheela | 2:35 | |
| "Preminchuta Pillala Vantu" | C. Narayana Reddy | Ghantasala, K. J. Yesudas, P. Susheela, S. Janaki | 6:51 | |
| "Neelo Yemundho" | C. Narayana Reddy | Ghantasala, P. Susheela | 3:52 | |
| "Yevaruleni Chota" | Arudra | Ghantasala, P. Susheela | 4:19 | |
| "Thulli Thulli Padutondi" | Arudra | P. Susheela, S. Janaki, Vasantha | 3:48 | |
| "Tyaga Seelavamma" | C. Narayana Reddy | Ghantasala | 2:20 | |
| "Nera Nera Nerabandi" | Kosaraju | Pithapuram | 2:44 | |
| "Ding Dong Ding Dong" | Kosaraju | Geeta Dutt | 2:00 |
On 17 March 1968, a critic from Visalaandhra gave a positive review, appreciating the way drama was handled in the film.[3] Veeraiah Chowdhary writing for Andhra Prabha on 7 April 1968 appreciated the performances of the lead cast, in addition to the soundtrack.[4]