DenaDelamothe53 at 02:54, 27 March 2026

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{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2015}}
{{Use Indian English|date=November 2015}}
{{Sources exist|date=February 2022}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Chandraharam
| image = Chandraharam.jpg
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = [[Kamalakara Kameswara Rao]] [[L. V. Prasad]] {{small|(Supervision)}}
| producer = [[B. Nagi Reddy|Nagi Reddy]] [[Aluri Chakrapani|Chakrapani]]
| writer = [[Pingali Nagendra Rao]] {{small|(story / dialogues / songs)}} [[Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass]] {{small|(Tamil)}}
| starring = [[N. T. Rama Rao]] [[Savitri (actress)|Savitri]] [[Sriranjani (junior)|Sriranjani]]
| music = [[Ghantasala (musician)|Ghantasala]]
| cinematography = [[Marcus Bartley]]
| editing = Jambulingam
| studio = [[Vijaya Productions]]
| released = {{film date|df=yes|1954|1|6|}}
| runtime = 174 minutes
| country = India
| language = Telugu Tamil
}}

'''''Chandraharam''''' is a 1954 Indian [[swashbuckler film]] directed by [[Kamalakara Kameswara Rao]] in his debut. It was produced by [[B. Nagi Reddy|Nagi Reddy]]-[[Aluri Chakrapani|Chakrapani]] under the [[Vijaya Productions]] banner. The film, a [[Telugu language|Telugu]]-[[Tamil language|Tamil]] bilingual, stars [[N. T. Rama Rao]], [[Savitri (actress)|Savitri]] and [[Sriranjani Jr.]], with music composed by [[Ghantasala (musician)|Ghantasala]].<ref name="encyclopedia">{{Cite book |last1=Rajadhyaksha |first1=Ashish |author-link1=Ashish Rajadhyaksha |title=Encyclopaedia of Indian Cinema |last2=Willemen |first2=Paul |author-link2=Paul Willemen |publisher=[[British Film Institute]] and [[Oxford University Press]] |year=1998 |isbn=0-19-563579-5 |pages=330–331 |orig-date=1994}}</ref> It was not commercially successful.<ref name="idlebrain12">{{Cite web |last=Srihari |first=Gudipoodi |title=Telugu Cinema – Past and Present |url=http://www.idlebrain.com/research/anal/anal-tc4.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221006211806/http://www.idlebrain.com/research/anal/anal-tc4.html |archive-date=6 October 2022 |access-date=2022-10-08 |website=[[Idlebrain.com]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=History of Birth And Growth of Telugu Cinema (Part 13) |url=http://www.cinegoer.com/telugucinema13.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120207113115/http://www.cinegoer.com/telugucinema13.htm |archive-date=7 February 2012 |access-date=2022-10-15 |website=CineGoer.com}}</ref>

== Plot ==
The film begins in the kingdom of Chandana Desam, a baby boy, Chandanraju, is born to its king by the boon of Chandra with a necklace ''Chandraharam'' which preserves his life. At the age of five, Maali Chandan's mentor starts turning him into a jack of all trades with ethical and royal moralities. Years roll by, and Chandan must get nuptial lest his life is in danger; hence, his parents procure portraits of neighboring princesses. All the while, Chandan has a dream girl and affirms to knit her. The king edicts Maali to quest for the girl and sends Chandan to tour the country. Chandan's sly brother-in-law, Dhoomekatu, wants to usurp the kingdom and ploys to break Chandan's intention and sends his sidekick, Niksheparayudu, behind him. Niksheparayudu detects the girl Gauri and tricky hides her. Besides, Chanchala is an angel who entices Chandan, which he denies. So, she snatches his Chadraharam and says he will be alive only in the night. Meanwhile, Gauri absconds and collapses when Chanchala's sister Achala aids her land at Chandan, whom Maali splices. Dhoomketu threatens the king to crown him, and as inevitable, he agrees. During this time, Niksheparayudu detects Gauri's presence at Maali's residence, whom he put out of sight in a temple. Consequently, infuriated Chanchala kills Chandan when Dhoomketu incriminates and sentences Gauri to the funeral pyre. At last, Gauri's adoration retrieves Chandan to life. Chanchala is cursed by [[Indra]] by stripping her divinity. Dhoomekatu and Niksheparayudu also plead pardon. Finally, the movie ends on a happy note with the crowning ceremony of Chadanraju.

== Cast ==
{{Cast listing|
*[[N.T. Rama Rao]] as Prince Chandan
*[[Savitri (actress)|Savitri]] as Chanchala
*[[Sriranjani Jr.]] as Gauri
*[[S. V. Ranga Rao]] as Mali
*[[Relangi (actor)|Relangi]] as Dhumaketu
*[[R. Nageswara Rao]]
*[[Padmanabham]]
*[[Valluri Balakrishna|Balakrishna]]
*K. V. S. Sarma
*Joga Rao
*[[Suryakantham (actress)|Suryakantham]]
*[[Rushyendramani]] as Maridamma
}}

== Production ==
The film was produced by [[B. Nagi Reddy|Nagi Reddy]] and [[Chakrapani (director)|Chakrapani]] under the banner [[Vijaya Vauhini Studios|Vijaya Pictures]] simultaneously in Telugu and Tamil. This is the directorial debut for [[Kamalakara Kameswara Rao]]. The cinematography was by Marcus Bartley. [[Aluri Chakrapani|Chakrapani]] wrote the story while [[Pingali Nagendra Rao]] wrote the dialogues and lyrics for the Telugu version.<ref name="encyclopedia" />

[[Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass]] wrote the dialogues and lyrics for the Tamil version.<ref name="neelamegam" />

== Music ==

=== Telugu songs ===
Music was composed by [[Ghantasala (musician)|Ghantasala]]. Lyrics were written by [[Pingali Nagendra Rao]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Chandraharam (1954) |url=http://www.raaga.com/channels/telugu/moviedetail.asp?mid=A0001325 |website=[[Raaga.com]] |access-date=3 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120531210202/http://www.raaga.com/channels/telugu/moviedetail.asp?mid=A0001325 |archive-date=31 May 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

{|class="wikitable"
|-
!Song title !!Singers !!Length
|-
|"Idi Naa Cheli"
|Ghantasala
|2:38
|-
|"Enchesthe Adhi Ghanakaryam"
|[[Pithapuram Nageswara Rao|Pithapuram]]
|2:34
|-
|"Vignana Deepamunu"
|Ghantasala
|3:30
|-
|"Laali Jaya Laali"
|N. Lalitha
|3:36
|-
|"Yemi Siksha Kaavalo"
|Ghantasala
|2:38
|-
|"Ye Saadhuvvlu"
|[[P. Leela]]
| 6:03
|-
|"Neeku Neeve Thodugaa"
|[[Madhavapeddi Satyam]]
|3:20
|-
|"Yevarivo Yechatanundivo"
|Ghantasala, [[A. P. Komala]]
|5:28
|-
|"Yevare Yevare"
|[[K. Rani (singer)|K. Rani]]
|4:48
|-
|"Yenadu Modalidithivo"
|Ghantasala
|2:43
|-
|"Krupa Ganavaa Naa"
|P. Leela
|3:28
|-
|"Jaya Jaya"
|Ghantasala
|3:19
|-
|"Daya Ganave Thalli"
|P. Leela
|3:14
|}

=== Tamil songs ===
Lyrics by [[Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass]].<ref name="neelamegam">{{Cite book |last=Neelamegam |first=G. |title=Thiraikalanjiyam — Part 2 |date=November 2016 |publisher=Manivasagar Publishers |edition=1st |location=Chennai |pages=70–71 |language=Tamil}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
! Song !! Singers !! Lyrics !! Length
|-
| "Arut Jyothi Devam" || [[Ghantasala (musician)|Ghantasala]]|| [[Ramalinga Swamigal]]|| 02:38
|-
| "Laali Jaya Laali" || [[N. Lalitha Bhanu|N. Lalitha]]|| rowspan="11" |[[Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass]]|| 03:36
|-
| "Enadhaaruyir Vanithamani" || rowspan=3|Ghantasala || 3:30
|-
| "Enna Sidshai Unakku Vendum" || 02:38
|-
| "Vidhiye Un Leelai Idhuvo" || 02:43
|-
| "Arul Purivai Amma" || rowspan=3|[[P. Leela]]||06:03
|-
| "Thayavillaiyo En Kurai Kelaayo" ||
|-
| "Jagam Meedhil Alai Modhum" ||
|-
| "Edhu Seidhaal Adhu" || [[Madhavapeddi Satyam|M. Sathyam]] & Group || 03:30
|-
| "Vaazhivile Kanavu Palikkumo" || Ghantasala & [[A. P. Komala]]|| 05:28
|-
| "Alaigal Sayanamael" || [[K. Rani (singer)|K. Rani]]|| 04:48
|-
| "Unakku Neeye Thunai Enre" || M. Sathyam || 03:28
|}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
*{{IMDb title}}

{{Kamalakara Kameswara Rao}}

[[Category:1954 Indian films]]
[[Category:1954 multilingual films]]
[[Category:1954 Tamil-language films]]
[[Category:1954 Telugu-language films]]
[[Category:1954 directorial debut films]]
[[Category:1954 films]]
[[Category:Films directed by Kamalakara Kameswara Rao]]
[[Category:Films scored by Ghantasala (musician)]]
[[Category:Indian black-and-white films]]
[[Category:Indian multilingual films]]
[[Category:Tamil-language Indian films]]

Chandraharam - Revision history

DenaDelamothe53 at 02:54, 27 March 2026