Sita Rama Kalyanam () is a 1961 Indian Telugu-language Hindu mythological film directed by N. T. Rama Rao in his directorial debut. It stars N. T. Rama Rao, Haranath, Geetanjali, B. Saroja Devi, Kanta Rao, Sobhan Babu. The film was produced by N. Trivikrama Rao on 'National Art Theatres' banner. The music composed by Gali Penchala Narasimha Rao.
The film was a commercial success. It also won the Certificate of Merit for Best Feature Film in Telugu at the 8th National Film Awards. The film was dubbed into Tamil with the same title and was released on 3 February 1961.
Plot
The film begins with the Ravana visiting Kailasa, the abode of Shiva, at an inopportune time. He is obstructed by the guardian deity Nandi who hinders him. A rift arises when enraged Nandi curses Ravana that his clan will be distracted by the army of monkeys. In retaliation, Ravana decides to uproot Kailasa and uses all his strength to do so. Siva notices this and presses the land with his big toe, trapping Ravana completely beneath the mountain. Disparate Ravana conducts huge penance and acquires a boon of invincible.
As of now, he conquers multiple worlds when the deities approach Vishnu and request him to intervene, who promises to address it at the opportune time. In a chance encounter, he falls for the beauty of celestial Rambha and molests her. Rambha's fiancée Nalakuvara curses Ravana to die when he aspires to possess any woman without her wish. Lakshmi then chose to take birth as Vedavathi on Earth, for whom Ravana lusts. Thereupon, she commits suicide after cursing to be reborn and causing his death, setting Nalakuvara and Nandi's curses into action. She is born as Sita accordingly and is adopted by Janaka, the king of Mithila.
Around the same time, as a result of a Putrakameshti Yagna, King Dasaratha of Ayodhya and his three wives beget four children. Vishnu is born as Rama, the eldest of the four. Years later, Rama and his brother Lakshmana join the gurukula of sage Visvamitra when the latter requests Dasaratha security for a yagna they are conducting in the forest. Visvamitra trains the duo in warfare and administration, which helps them in killing the demons Tataka and Maricha who try to obstruct the yagna. As the purpose of their stay is completed, Visvamitra takes Rama and Lakshmana to an old hermit, where Rama's presence helps the cursed Ahalya regain her form.
Meanwhile, in Mithila, Janaka has arranged svayamvara for Sita, and various kings attend as prospective bridegrooms. Ravana joins them uninvited along with Rama, who has only accompanied Visvamitra as an audience. The challenge posed is to affix and subsequently break the bow Siva Dhanasu bestowed by Siva to Janaka's ancestors. As Ravana fails, Rama lifts the bow with Siva's blessings and breaks it. This enraged Siva's devotee Parasurama who confronts Rama. Later, he realizes that Rama is an incarnation of Vishnu just like him, and backs off. The film ends on a happy note with the wedding of Sita and Rama.
Cast
N. T. Rama Rao as Ravana
B. Saroja Devi as Mandodari
Haranath as Rama
Geetanjali as Sita
Kanta Rao as Narada
Sobhan Babu as Lakshmana
V. Nagayya as Dasaratha
Mikkilineni as Janaka
Gummadi as Vishwamitra
K. V. S. Sarma as Parashurama
Kommineni Seshagiri Rao as Bharata
M. Kameswara Rao as Brahma
Udaykumar as Kumbhakarna
A. V. Subba Rao Jr. as Vibhishana
Arja Janardhana Rao as Hiranyakashipu
Kasturi Siva Rao as Vaishya
Sarathi as Nalakubara
Master Nagaraju as Prahlada / Young Lakshmana
Chhaya Devi as Sumedha Devi (Janaka's wife) Swarna as Soorpanakha Kuchala Kumari as Rambha
Production
N. T. Rama Rao portrayal of the demon king Ravana (the antagonist of the Hindu epic Ramayana) in Bhookailas (1958) earned him critical acclaim. However, after the release of its Kannada-language version Bhookailasa in the same year which featured a different cast and crew, Rama Rao's portrayal was often compared with that of Rajkumar who played Ravana. This, along with Ravana's reputation as a renowned Shiva devotee, made Rama Rao consider reprising the role in another film which focused on a more layered representation of the character. He and writer Samudrala Sr. studied Ravana's arcs from various versions of Ramayana and other mythologies. Later, Rama Rao's friend Dhanekula Buchi Venkata Krishna Chowdhary came up with a story which they liked, and Samudrala wrote the dialogues, songs and poems. Though the film's narrative was centered around Ravana, Samudrala named the film Sita Rama Kalyanam after Ramayana protagonists Rama and Sita.