Devadasu (1953 film)

Devadasu
Theatrical release poster of the Telugu version
Directed by	Vedantam Raghavayya
Screenplay by	Chakrapani
Dialogue by	Samudrala Sr. (Telugu) Udayakumar (Tamil)
Based on	Devdas by Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay
Produced by	D. L. Narayana
Starring	Akkineni Nageswara Rao Savitri Lalitha
Cinematography	B. S. Ranga
Edited by	P. V. Narayana
Music by	Soundtrack: C. R. Subburaman Background score: Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy
Production company	Vinodha Pictures
Distributed by	Vinodha Pictures
Release date	26 June 1953 (1953-06-26)
Running time	191 minutes[1]
Country	India
Languages	Telugu Tamil

Devadasu is a 1953 Indian romantic drama film directed by Vedantam Raghavayya and produced by D. L. Narayana for Vinodha Pictures. Chakrapani wrote the script based on Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay's novel, Devdas. C. R. Subbaraman composed the film's music. The film was edited by P. V. Narayanan, while B. S. Ranga provided the cinematography.

The film focuses on Devadasu and Parvati, who have been in love since childhood. Devadas' father rejects the proposal from Parvati's family. Parvati's father forces her to marry a middle-aged zamindar. Unable to cope with his failure to win Parvati, Devadas turns into a drunkard, and the rest of the film is about whether or not Devadas meets Parvati again.

The film was produced in Telugu and Tamil languages (the latter titled Devadas) with slightly different casts. Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Savitri, and Lalitha played the lead roles in both versions; supporting roles were played by S. V. Ranga Rao, C. S. R. Anjaneyulu, Dorasamy and Surabhi Kamalabai.

Devadasu was released on 26 June 1953, and the Tamil version was released three months later, on 11 September 1953. Both versions were critically and commercially successful. It has since achieved cult status, with terms and phrases from the film being widely cited. Both versions proved to be a major breakthrough in both Savitri's and Nageswara Rao's career, although they also led to the latter being typecast in similar roles.