Prema (1952)

Rich boy-poor girl romance following on from the successful Nageshwara Rao-Bhanumathi hit Laila Majnu (1949) made by the same production team. The naive village girl Moti (Bhanumathi) meets the rich city youth Raja (Nageshwara Rao) in a rural resort. Moti’s father insists that she marry the villain Parashuram (Mukkamala), but she escapes and goes to Raja. When she sees Raja walking with another woman, Lata (Sriranjani), she becomes a beggar, eventually finding a job with a theatre group. The reconciliation takes place when Raja and Lata happen to see the play, and Moti, recognising Raja, swoons on stage. Remembered mainly for Subburaman’s music (e.g. the song Agavoyi maa raja, sung by Bhanumathi).