Movie Stories
Velugu Needalu Story
Rao Bahadur Venkataramaiah was formerly abundant but currently owns only a small press. He resides with his virago wife, Kanakadurga, and the couple adopt an orphan, Suguna. Later, they are blessed with a baby girl, Varalakshmi (Varam), which ends Kanakadurga’s tolerance for Suguna. Perturbed, Venkataramaiah entrusts Suguna to his staunch associate, Vengalappa. Years roll by, and through her efforts, Suguna becomes a medico. Though Kanakadurga resents her, Varam conveys affection to Suguna. Chandram, a self-made man and Vengalappa’s nephew, is Suguna’s colleague, and the two fall in love. Suguna is also homeschooled at the residence of wealthy Subhadramma, whose sibling, Dr. Raghunath, silently adores her. Meanwhile, Chandram is afflicted with tuberculosis and is terminally ill. So, he takes an oath from Suguna to marry Raghu, which she respects. Later, Chandram goes to a sanatorium with Raghu’s aid and recovers. Suguna and Raghu begin an ideal marital life serving the impoverished. However, catastrophe strikes as Raghu passes away in a fatal accident, devastating Chandram.
Parallelly, Venkataramaiah faces bankruptcy and decides to marry Varam to Chandram, which he initially refuses. Later, Chandram consents and marries Varam at Suguna’s plea. Following this, Venkataramaiah hands over his failing magazine to Chandram, which he revives and flourishes. Time passes, and the couple is blessed with a boy, Raghu, who grows up under the care and affection of Suguna. Meanwhile, Kanakadurga sows seeds of suspicion in Varam’s mind about Chandram and Suguna’s closeness, creating a rift. As Rao Bahadur’s business prospers with high earnings, Chandram declares a bonus for the staff, which Venkataramaiah denies, leading to a fallout and Chandram taking over guardianship. Realizing the truth, Suguna and Varam intervene, but Varam is gravely injured while protecting Chandram. Hereupon, Venkataramaiah repents, acknowledging Suguna’s words. In the end, Suguna shields Varam, making her remorseful, and even Kanakadurga reforms. Finally, the movie ends happily with the family’s reunion.

Director: Adurthi Subba Rao
Cast (highlights): Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Savitri; with Jaggaiah, S. V. Ranga Rao, Relangi, Suryakantham
Genre: Drama (simultaneously made in Tamil as ‘Thooya Ullam’)
Notability: Annapurna Pictures (D. Madhusudhana Rao); music by Pendyala; released 7 Jan 1961; ~178 min.
Critical Reception: Warmly remembered for Sri Sri’s lyrics and Ghantasala–Susheela numbers; later retrospectives praise the performances.
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