| Mala Pilla | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Gudavalli Ramabrahmam |
| Written by | Tapi Dharma Rao |
| Produced by | Gudavalli Ramabrahmam, Yarlagadda Sivarama Prasad |
| Starring | Kanchanamala Gali Venkateswara Rao Govindarajula Subba Rao Sundaramma |
| Cinematography | Sailen Bose |
| Music by | Bhimavarapu Narasimha Rao |
Production company | |
Release date |
|
Running time | 175 minutes |
| Country | India |
| Language | Telugu |
Mala Pilla, or Malapilla, (English: Girl from Mala caste) is a 1938 Indian Telugu-language social problem film directed by Gudavalli Ramabrahmam and written by Tapi Dharma Rao.[1][2] The film was produced by Raja of Challapalli, Yarladadda Sivarama Prasad, under the Sarathi Films banner.[3] It featured Kanchanamala in the title role, with Gali Venkateswara Rao, Govindarajula Subba Rao, P. Suribabu, and Sundaramma in other prominent roles.
It is a social drama depicting the love story between a Brahmin boy and a Dalit girl.[4] The film dealt with themes like untouchability, taboos on entry into temples for Dalits, Gandhism, and nationalism in pre-independent India.[2][5][6] The film was dedicated to the Maharajah of Travancore, Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma, who had passed a law allowing members of all castes to enter temples.[3]
Malapilla was released in a record 12 centres on September 25, 1938, and was an industry hit.[5] On its release, the film caused a sensation, rejecting the stage-derived mythological genre dominating Telugu cinema in the 1930s.[3] The film's success kindled interest in other Telugu filmmakers to make films based on social themes.[5] Malapilla was also the 50th talkie film made in Telugu cinema.[6]
- ^ "Did you know the popular film Mala Pilla was penned by renowned writer Tapi Dharma Rao ?". The Times of India. 6 April 2020. Retrieved 19 August 2022.
- ^ a b S. V. Rama Rao (2006) Naati 101 Chitralu. Kinnera Publications, Hyderabad. p. 14.
- ^ a b c "Malapilla (1938)". Indiancine.ma. Retrieved 19 August 2022.
- ^ Nostalgia Mala Pilla (1938) at Cinegoer.com Archived 26 September 2012 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b c "Nostalgia Mala Pilla (1938)". Cinegoer.com. Archived from the original on 26 September 2012.
- ^ a b Narasimham, M. L. (22 January 2011). "Malapilla (1938)". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 19 August 2022.