Padaharella Vayasu
Padaharella Vayasu is a 1978 Indian Telugu-language romantic drama film starring Sridevi, Chandra Mohan and Mohan Babu. Directed by K. Raghavendra Rao, it is a remake of the Tamil hit 16 Vayathinile, which starred Sridevi, Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth. Like the original, the film was a success, completing 100 days in almost every theatre it was shown in.
Plot
This film revolves around a 16-year-old girl, Malli. She is a recent high school graduate with exceptional scores. She is an attractive, intelligent woman living in a small society, filled with ambitions of becoming a teacher. A new veterinarian arrives at the village hospital. Many are impressed by this charming young fellow, he seems to be wealthy and prosperous. Malli is deeply attracted to the doctor and he too in turn seems to reciprocate her feelings. Malli sacrifices her opportunity to study in the teaching college course to spend time with him. But she sees his true colors when he tries to force himself on her. Malli refuses his advances. The doctor dumps her insulting her that she is an ignorant villager and leaves the village.Malli's mother also passes away after finding out about her daughter's affair and her failure to get any match arranged for Malli. Her only remaining family is her distant cousin Gopalakrishna, a village simpleton who is taken advantage of and isolated by the society. He is secretly in love with Malli, and is jealous and upset about the veterinarian. Another important character is the village rowdy Simhachalam, who also has an eye on Malli. With no other hope Malli gets support from Gopal and turns him into good person and gradually falls in love with him. Malli asks Gopal to make arrangements for their marriage for which Gopal goes to town in the mean while simhachalam makes a rape attempt on Malli but Gopal reaches on time and kills simhachalam he is sentenced to jail for this murder and Malli waits for him.
In the end it is shown that Gopal gets released from jail and marries Malli.
Cast
- Sridevi as Malli
- Chandra Mohan as Gopalakrishna
- Mohan Babu as Simhachalam
- Nirmalamma
Production
The film was completed in four months. Overall, with all expenses for rights and remunerations, the film cost makers 10.5 lakh rupees, and they got a table profit of six lakhs. The film celebrated hundred day runs in almost all centers it was released.
Soundtrack
The music, largely Carnatic, was composed by K. Chakravarthi.| Song | Singer | Notes |
| "Sirimallepoovaa Sirimallepoovaa" | S. Janaki | Dubbed version of Tamil composed by Ilayaraaja |
| "Sirimallepoovaa Sirimallepoovaa" | S. Janaki | Dubbed version of Tamil composed by Ilayaraaja |
| "Puvvulaanti Malli Pushpinchenamma" | Chorus | |
| "Vayasanta Mudupugatti Vastantale Adukundaam" | S. Janaki | |
| "Kattukathalu Nenu Cheppi Navviste" | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki | |
| "Pantachelo Paalakanki Navvindi" | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki |