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Laila Majnu
1949 171’ b&w Telugu/Tamil? d/sc P.S. Ramakrishna Rao pc Bharani Pics dial/lyr Samudrala Raghavacharya c B.S. Ranga m C.R. Subburaman lp P. Bhanumathi, A. Nageshwara Rao, C.S.R. Anjaneyulu, K. Siva Rao, Mukkamala Krishnamurthy, Arani Satyanarayana, Lalitha, Padmini, Sriranjani Jr.
The first Telugu version of the classic Sufi legend filmed extensively in Hindi. The rich Laila (Bhanumathi) loves the poor Qais (A. Nageshwara Rao) who is accused of insanity by her family. She is sent to Iraq but, in a reversal of the usually tragic ending, meets and unites with her lover in the desert. Remembered mainly for the two stars’ performances and for Bhanumathi’s songs Ninu basipovudana and Preme neramauna, both of which she later claimed to have composed herself. The film is also Malayalam star Padmini’s Telugu debut with her sister Lalitha.