Pooja Phalam

Veteran director B. N. Reddy adapted Munipalle Raju's novel Poojari for Pooja Phalam (1964), a reflective black-and-white drama about love misread and love found. Akkineni Nageswara Rao plays Madhu, a shy, unworldly young landowner who mistakes the warmth of Vasanthi (Jamuna), a cheerful girl who sees him only as a brother, for romance. When he returns from his studies to find that she and her family have vanished, leaving behind a letter that ends his hopes, Madhu sinks into heartbreak. Comfort comes from Seeta (Savitri), the quiet daughter of his estate manager Ramakrishnaiah (Gummadi). But a relative's lawsuit over Madhu's inheritance forces him out of his own home, and a scheme against him leaves him facing troubles he cannot overcome alone. Jaggayya plays his friend Sriram, a psychiatrist, with Relangi and Ramana Reddy in support. S. Rajeswara Rao composed the nine-song soundtrack, which includes the much-loved "Pagale Vennela", set in raga Hindolam, and D. V. Narasa Raju wrote the dialogue. With ANR, Savitri and Jamuna together, it brings three of the era's biggest stars into a gentle, character-driven story.