https://indianpedia.org/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Gunasundari_KathaGunasundari Katha - Revision history2026-07-31T15:00:35ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.45.4https://indianpedia.org/index.php?title=Gunasundari_Katha&diff=464496&oldid=prevYvetteJasso5372 at 05:50, 24 February 20262026-02-24T05:50:40Z<p></p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Other uses|Gunsundari (disambiguation){{!}}Gunsundari}}<br />
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2015}}<br />
{{Use Indian English|date=November 2015}}<br />
{{Infobox film<br />
| name = Gunasundari Katha<br />
| image = Gunasundari Katha.JPG<br />
| caption = <br />
| director = [[K. V. Reddy]]<br />
| producer = K. V. Reddy<br />
| story = [[Pingali Nagendra Rao]]<br />
| screenplay = K. V. Reddy<br/>[[Kamalakara Kameswara Rao]]<br />
{{Infobox | decat = yes | child = yes<br />
| label1= Dialogue by<br />
| data1 = {{ubl|Pingali Nagendra Rao}}<br />
}}<br />
| narrator = <br />
| starring = [[Sriranjani (junior)|Sriranjani]]<br />[[Kasturi Siva Rao]]<br />Vallabhajosyula Sivaram<br />[[Relangi (actor)|Relangi]]<br />[[Govindarajula Subba Rao]]<br />Santha Kumari<br />K. Malathi<br />
| music = [[Ogirala Ramachandra Rao]]<br />
| cinematography = [[Marcus Bartley]]<br />
| editing = C. P. Jamboolingam<br />
| studio = [[Vauhini Studios]]<br />
| distributor = <br />
| released = {{Film date|1949|12|28|df=yes}}<br />
| runtime = 172 minutes<br />
| country = [[India]]<br />
| language = Telugu<br />
| budget = <br />
}}<br />
'''''Gunasundari Katha''''' ({{Translation|Gunasundari's story}}) is a 1949 Indian [[Telugu language]] [[fantasy film]] produced and directed by [[K. V. Reddy]], starring [[Sriranjani (junior)|Sriranjani]], [[Kasturi Siva Rao]], [[Santha Kumari]]. The script was written by [[Pingali Nagendra Rao]], [[K. V. Reddy]], and [[Kamalakara Kameswara Rao]]. Kameswara Rao was also the associate director.<ref name=":1">{{cite news |last1=Narasimham |first1=M. L. |date=29 September 2012 |title=Guna Sundari (1949) |newspaper=[[The Hindu]] |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/gunasundari-katha-1949/article3948788.ece |access-date=2019-12-04}}</ref> [[William Shakespeare]]'s play ''[[King Lear]]'' was the inspiration for the core plot.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Radhakrishnan |first=Sruthi |date=23 April 2018 |title=400 years later, Shakespeare still remains relevant in Indian cinema |work=[[The Hindu]] |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/400-years-later-shakespeare-still-remains-relevant-in-indian-cinema/article23648292.ece |access-date=7 December 2018}}</ref> However the writers changed the tone from the [[tragedy]] of ''King Lear'' to a more entertaining one for the film.<ref name=":1" /> The film was commercially successful.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Gudipoodi |first=Srihari |title=Telugu Cinema - Past and Present |url=https://www.idlebrain.com/research/anal/anal-tc4.html |access-date=2022-10-01 |website=[[Idlebrain.com|Idlebrain]] |quote=Gunasundari Katha was an experiment by itself with Kasturi Siva Rao, a comedian, as hero. It clicked and made good profits.}}</ref><ref name=":1" /><br />
<br />
== Plot ==<br />
King Ugrasena (Govindarajula Subba Rao) of Dhara Nagaram had three daughters: Rupasundari (Santakumari) who is married to her cousin Haramati (Subba Rao), Hemasundari (Malathi) who is married to her cousin Kalamata (Relangi), and Gunasundari (Sriranjani).<br />
<br />
During a discussion, the King asked his daughters who they loved the most. Rupa and Hema told him they loved him the most, even more than their husbands. Gunasundari who is unmarried insists that she will love her husband the most once she is married. She goes on to say that she will love him more than her father regardless of his appearance or physical condition.<br />
<br />
Her father the King was offended by this and forced Gunasundari to marry a hideous and disabled man, Daivadheenam (Kasturi Siva Rao). After the arranged marriage to the ugliest man in the country, the king exiles his daughter to live outside the palace with her new husband whom she now loves more than the King.<br />
<br />
Eventually, the King is wounded and develops a chronic illness. The Physicians tell him the wound could only be cured with the diamond "Mahendra Mani". The King sends his three sons-in-law on a journey to find the diamond.<br />
<br />
Daivadheenam overcomes his disabilities during the quest for "Mahendra Mani". No one knew that Daivadheenam was once a handsome prince who had been cursed by his guru for misconduct and character flaws. While fulfilling the quest of finding the diamond and overcoming his physical limitations Daivadheenam's character was fixed. He then brings the diamond to the palace and cures the king. This breaks Daivadheenam's curse and he is returned to his original form.<br />
<br />
== Cast ==<br />
{| class="wikitable"<br />
|-<br />
! Actor / Actress !! Character<br />
|-<br />
| [[Govindarajula Subba Rao]] || King Ugrasena<br />
|-<br />
| [[Sriranjani (junior)|Sriranjani]] || Gunasundari<br />
|-<br />
| [[Santha Kumari]]|| Rupasundari<br />
|-<br />
| Malathi || Hemasundari<br />
|-<br />
| Vallabhajosyula Sivaram ||<br />
|-<br />
| [[Kasturi Siva Rao]] || Daivadeenam<br />
|-<br />
| [[Relangi (actor)|Relangi]] || Kalamati<br />
|-<br />
| Subba Rao || Haramati<br />
|-<br />
| [[T. G. Kamala Devi]] ||<br />
|}<br />
<br />
== Songs ==<br />
<br />
{{Track listing<br />
| headline = <br />
| extra_column = Singer(s)<br />
| all_lyrics = [[Pingali Nagendra Rao]]<br />
| all_music = [[Ogirala Ramachandra Rao]]<br />
| title1 = Adiye Eduraivachche Daka Pada Munduku Padipodam<br />
| extra1 = Relangi, Pamarti Krishna Murthy<br />
| title2 = Amma Mahalakshmi Dayacheyavamma<br />
| extra2 = [[Ghantasala (musician)|Ghantasala]]<br />
| title3 = Challani Doravele O Chandamama<br />
| extra3 = Malathi, Shanta Kumari<br />
| title4 = Kala Kala Aa Kokilemo Palukarinche Vintiva<br />
| extra4 = Malathi, Shanta Kumari<br />
| title5 = Kalpagama Tallivai Ghanata Velasina Gouri<br />
| extra5 = [[P. Leela]]<br />
| title6 = O Chaaru Sheela Le Javarala<br />
| extra6 = V. Shivaram<br />
| title7 = O Matha Raavaa Naa Mora Vinavaa<br />
| extra7 = P. Leela<br />
| title8 = Ore Ore Brahma Devuda<br />
| extra8 = Kasturi Shiva Rao<br />
| title9 = Siri Thalam Vesenante<br />
| extra9 = Kasturi Shiva Rao, P. Leela<br />
| title10 = Sri Thulasi Jaya Thulasi Jayamuneeyave<br />
| extra10 = P. Leela<br />
| title11 = Thelusukondayya<br />
| extra11 = [[T. G. Kamala Devi]], Chorus<br />
| title12 = Upakaara Gunaalayavai Vunnavu Kade Maatha<br />
| extra12 = P. Leela<br />
}}<br />
<br />
"Sri Tulasi Jaya Tulasi", sung by [[P. Leela]], was a hit with the public.<br />
<br />
== References ==<br />
{{reflist}}<br />
<br />
== External links ==<br />
* [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0266605/ Gunasundari Katha at IMDb.]<br />
{{K. V. Reddy}}<br />
{{King Lear}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:1940s Telugu-language films]]<br />
[[Category:1949 films]]<br />
[[Category:Films based on King Lear]]<br />
[[Category:Films directed by K. V. Reddy]]<br />
[[Category:Indian films based on plays]]<br />
[[Category:Films scored by Ogirala Ramachandra Rao]]<br />
[[Category:Indian black-and-white films]]<br />
[[Category:Indian fantasy films]]<br />
[[Category:1949 fantasy films]]</div>YvetteJasso5372