Ratnamala (1947)

The first film from Bhanumathi’s independent production concern, set up with her husband, director Ramakrishna. Cast in a folk-tale idiom, the story tells of Ratnamala (Bhanumathi) who is tricked into marrying the infant Prince Chandrakantha. She raises her ‘husband’ in a forest but when he is 7 years old he is kidnapped by bandits for a ritual sacrifice. Ratnamala follows him and the robber chieftain tries to molest her. The couple are eventually rescued by the king, Ratnamala’s father. When he refuses to believe that the boy is indeed her husband, the gods Shiva and Parvathi descend to earth to sort out the confusion. The film is famous composer C.R. Subburaman’s first independent assignment and includes several hit songs: Anandadayini and, when Ratnamala goes in search of her husband, Niluva needa leka. The film also featured compositions by Saluri Rajeshwara Rao, Ghantasala and Rajanikanta Rao, all uncredited.