Mantra Dandam

Mantra Dandam (transl. Magical Wand) is a 1951 Telugu-language fantasy swashbuckler film, produced by C. K. C. Chitti under the Sri Gnanambika Pictures banner^[2] and directed by K. S. Ramachandra Rao.^[3] It stars Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Sriranjani Jr. and music composed by Nallam Nageswara Rao, while S. Rajeswara Rao has taken care of the background score.^[4]

Mantra Dandam
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	K. S. Ramachandra Rao
Written by	Tapi Dharma Rao (dialogues)
Screenplay by	K. S. Ramachandra Rao
Story by	C. Hemalata Devi
Produced by	C. K. C. Chitti
Starring	Akkineni Nageswara Rao Sriranjani Jr.
Cinematography	Bolla Suba Rao
Edited by	M. V. Rajan
Music by	Nallam Nageswara Rao S. Rajeswara Rao (Background score)
Production company	Sri Gnanambika Pictures^[1]
Release date	6 October 1951 (1951-10-06)
Country	India
Language	Telugu

The film was dubbed into Tamil with the title Arasaala Piranthavan and released in 1958.^[5]

Plot

Once upon a time, there was a kingdom, and its queen departed after giving birth to a baby boy. Just after, the younger Queen ploys and dumps him in the forest. Here, the baby is safeguarded by a Yogini who rears him as Siva Prasad. Years roll by, and Siva Prasad falls for a florist, Gowri, and a naughty girl, Girija, behind him. After some time, Siva Prasad & Gowri moved to the capital, Girija's posteriors, and they split in between. At the fort, the King opts for Siva Prasad as his heir as a royal elephant facilitates him. Simultaneously, Gowri enrolls with the queen, and Girija is seized by a sorcerer, Tintakarala, who aids the queen. After some time, Gowri is indicted for a theft done by the queen's brother when Siva Prasad punishes her imperatively. Soon, he proves her guiltless and ascertains to knit her, which the King opposes. During this, the queen realizes Siva Prasad is the prince by his birthmark. So, she conspires to eliminate him via Tintakarala, and he utilizes Girija by creating a magic wand to clutch Siva Prasad. Discerning it, she absconds together with Magic Wand. Forthwith, Gowri is apprehended and penalized for death within 7 days. Afterward, aware of Siva Prasad's love for Gowri, Girija slays her when the queen's brother heists Magic Wand. Parallelly, the King discloses the fact when the queen commits suicide. However, Tintakarala captures Siva Prasad and judges him to sacrifice. Distressed King hits his cave under Yogini's umbrella. At last, Siva Prasad eliminates Tintakarala when Girija dies while guarding her love. All at once, Gowri is edged to hang and frees her. Finally, the movie ends on a happy note with the marriage of Siva Prasad & Gowri.

Cast

• Akkineni Nageswara Rao as Siva Prasad
• Sriranjani Jr. as Gowri
• C.S.R as Maharaju
• Kasturi Siva Rao as Shankara Sarma
• Ram Murthy as Sambaiah
• Linga Murthy as Tintakarala, a wizard
• Aadiseshaiah as Mahamantri
• Ganapathi Bhattu as Rajagaru
• Suryanarayana as Kothvalu
• Kanchi Narasimham as Maavati
• Krishna Kumari as Bhavani
• Surabhi Balasaraswathi as Girija
• B. Jayamma as Yogini
• C. Hemalata Devi as Chinna Rani
• K. Jayalakshmi as Pedda Rani
• C. Varalakshmi as Durga
• Radio Bhanumathi as Gowri's mother
• Kantha Devi as Dancer

Soundtrack

Seeta Rama Jananam
Film score by Nallam Nageswara Rao
Released	1951
Genre	Soundtrack
Producer	Nallam Nageswara Rao

Music composed by Nallam Nageswara Rao. Lyrics were written by Tapi Dharma Rao. Music released on Audio Company.

S. No.	Song Title	Singers	length
1	"Gowrimaata"
2	"Ravvikidanda Veemukidanda"
3	"Kaalusethulunanta Matrame"
4	"Gaali Edela Eevela"
5	"Nanne Rajuni Chesavante"
6	"Yenta Bharnthi"
7	"Kanugonava Priyasakha"
8	"Repekada Maa Pandaga"
9	"Talapulu Parugidava Hai"
10	"Vaddusuma"
11	"Amba Jagadamba"
12	"Meenatha Kuthurani Nenu"
13	"Priya Nipaina Mohanburaa"

References

1. "Mantra Dandam (Overview)". IMDb.
2. "Mantra Dandam (Producer)". gomolo.com.
3. "Mantra Dandam (Direction)". Filmiclub.
4. "Mantra Dandam (Overview) (Cast & Crew)". Know Your films.
5. Film News Anandan (23 October 2004). [History of Landmark Tamil Films] (in Tamil). Chennai: Sivakami Publishers. Archived from the original on 25 July 2010.