{{short description|1966 film by S. D. Lal}} {{EngvarB|date=November 2018}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2018}} {{Infobox film | name = Monagallaku Monagadu | image = Monagallaku Monagadu.JPG | caption = Poster | director = S. D. Lal | producer = Rama Sundaram | writer = L. Balu | screenplay = | story = | based_on = {{Based on|''[[Ustadon Ke Ustad (1963 film)|Ustadon Ke Ustad]]''}} (Hindi)(1963) | starring = [[S. V. Ranga Rao]]<br />[[Haranath (actor)|Haranath]]<br />Prabhakara Reddy<br />[[Raavi Kondala Rao]]<br />[[Krishna Kumari (actress)|Krishna Kumari]]<br />G. Rathna | music = [[Vedha (composer)|Vedha]] | cinematography = S. S. Lal | editing = L. Balu | studio = [[Modern Theatres]] | distributor = | released = {{Film date|df=yes|1966|1|14}} | runtime = | country = India | language = Telugu }} '''''Monagallaku Monagadu''''' ({{translation|Expert of all experts}}) is a 1966 Indian [[Telugu language|Telugu]]-language [[action thriller]] film directed by S. D. Lal and produced by Rama Sundaram. It is a remake of the [[Hindi]] film ''[[Ustadon Ke Ustad (1963 film)|Ustadon Ke Ustad]]'' (1963). The film stars [[S. V. Ranga Rao]], [[Haranath (actor)|Haranath]], Prabhakara Reddy, [[Raavi Kondala Rao]], [[Krishna Kumari (actress)|Krishna Kumari]] and G. Rathna. It was released on 14 January 1966, and became a commercial success.
== Plot == {{more plot|date=July 2022}} Ramesh, an engineer, impresses Madhava Rao, a businessman, with his plan to build a factory. Madhava Rao's daughter Geetha falls in love with Ramesh. Partners in crime Bhujangam and Mala loot a bank. With some of the looted money, Mala travels in a bus in which Ramesh also happens to be seated. Their suitcases get interchanged, and Ramesh, now suspected of committing the bank robbery, is arrested. To avoid his own arrest, the actual culprit, Bhujangam hires Kathula Rathaiah, an assassin, to kill Ramesh. Geetha had earlier saved Rathaiah, who has since considered her his sister. After learning of her love for Ramesh, he promises to help Ramesh to clear his name. After a few disguises by both Ramesh and Rathaiah and many more incidents, Bhujangam and Mala are brought to justice.
== Cast ==
* [[S. V. Ranga Rao]] as Kathula Rathaiah<ref name="BFTP" /> * [[Haranath (actor)|Haranath]] as Ramesh<ref name="BFTP" /> * [[M. Prabhakar Reddy|Prabhakar Reddy]] as Bhujangam<ref name="BFTP" /> * [[Raavi Kondala Rao]] as Madhava Rao<ref name="BFTP" /> * [[Krishna Kumari (actress)|Krishna Kumari]] as Geetha<ref name="BFTP" /> * [[Rathna (actress)|G. Rathna]] as Mala<ref name="BFTP" /> * [[Savitri (actress)|Savitri]] as a [[qawwali]] dancer<ref name="BFTP" /> *[[M. Balayya|Balayya]] *[[Chalam (actor)|Chalam]]
== Production == After the commercial success of ''[[Vallavanukku Vallavan]]'', the [[Tamil language|Tamil]] remake of the [[Hindi]] film ''[[Ustadon Ke Ustad (1963 film)|Ustadon Ke Ustad]]'' (1963), its producer Rama Sundaram decided to remake the film in [[Telugu language|Telugu]] under the same banner, [[Modern Theatres]].<ref name="BFTP" /> S. D. Lal was signed on to direct the remake, titled ''Monagallaku Monagadu'',<ref>{{Cite book |last=Pillai |first=Swarnavel Eswaran |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HreICwAAQBAJ&q=monagallaku+Monagadu&pg=PA315 |title=Madras Studios: Narrative, Genre, and Ideology in Tamil Cinema |publisher=[[SAGE Publishing|SAGE Publications]] |year=2015 |isbn=978-93-5150-212-8 |pages=93}}</ref> and his brother S. S. Lal was signed as cinematographer, while Pinisetty wrote the dialogues.<ref name="BFTP" /> L. Balu worked as editor.<ref name="indiancine.ma" /> [[Savitri (actress)|Savitri]], who made a guest appearance as a [[qawwali]] dancer in ''Vallavanukku Vallavan'', was chosen to reprise the role in ''Monagallaku Monagadu''.<ref name="BFTP" />
== Soundtrack == The soundtrack was composed by [[Vedha (composer)|Vedha]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Monagallaku Monagadu (1966)-Song_Booklet |url=https://indiancine.ma/documents/DCV/info |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230523060623/https://indiancine.ma/documents/DCV/info |archive-date=23 May 2023 |access-date=4 July 2022 |website=Indiancine.ma}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Monagallaku Monagadu (1966) |url=https://mio.to/album/Monagallaku+Monagadu+%281966%29 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20181115133458/https://mio.to/album/Monagallaku+Monagadu+(1966) |archive-date=15 November 2018 |access-date=15 November 2018 |website=Music India Online}}</ref> The song "Nenunnadi Neelone" is based on "Sau Baar Janam Lenge" from ''Ustadon Ke Ustad''.<ref name="BFTP" /> {{Track listing | headline = Track listing | extra_column = Singer(s) | total_length = | title1 = Chusanoi Neelanti | note1 = | writer1 = | lyrics1 = [[Kosaraju Raghavaiah]] | music1 = | extra1 = [[L. R. Eswari]], [[Pithapuram Nageswara Rao]] | length1 = | title2 = Thellari | note2 = | writer2 = | lyrics2 = [[C. Narayana Reddy]] | music2 = | extra2 = [[P. Susheela]], [[Madhavapeddi Satyam]] | length2 = | title3 = Andhala Bommalaga | note3 = | writer3 = | lyrics3 = C. Narayana Reddy | music3 = | extra3 = P. Susheela, [[P. B. Sreenivas]] | length3 = | title4 = Vachame Nee Kosam | note4 = | writer4 = | lyrics4 = C. Narayana Reddy | music4 = | extra4 = P. Susheela, P. B. Srinivas, Madhavapeddi Satyam, Chorus | length4 = | title5 = Kannu Chedhiri Poyinadhoi | note5 = | writer5 = | lyrics5 = Kosaraju Raghavaiah | music5 = | extra5 = L. R. Eswari, Pithapuram Nageswara Rao | length5 = | title6 = Ahaha Chudu Andhamu Chudu | note6 = | writer6 = | lyrics6 = Kosaraju Raghavaiah | music6 = | extra6 = P. B. Sreenivas | length6 = | title7 = Yevevo Ashalatho | note7 = | writer7 = | lyrics7 = C. Narayana Reddy | music7 = | extra7 = P. B. Sreenivas | length7 = }}
== Release and reception == ''Monagallaku Monagadu'' was released on 14 January 1966,<ref name="indiancine.ma" /> and became a commercial success.<ref name="BFTP" />
== References == {{Reflist|refs= <ref name="indiancine.ma">{{Cite web |title=Monagallaku Monagadu |url=https://indiancine.ma/BJWM/info |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230523061854/https://indiancine.ma/BJWM/info |archive-date=23 May 2023 |access-date=15 November 2018 |website=Indiancine.ma}}</ref>
<ref name="BFTP">{{Cite news |last=Narasimham |first=M. L. |date=1 June 2018 |title=Monagaallaku Monagaadu (1966) |work=[[The Hindu]] |url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-fridayreview/monagaallaku-monagaadu-1966/article24053250.ece |url-status=live |access-date=15 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181116044319/https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-fridayreview/monagaallaku-monagaadu-1966/article24053250.ece |archive-date=16 November 2018}}</ref> }}
== External links == * {{IMDb title}} * Watch movie online at [http://www.moviearchive.in/movie_archive_Monagallaku_Monagadu.html Movie Archive]
{{Modern Theatres}}
[[Category:1960s action thriller films]] [[Category:1966 Telugu-language films]] [[Category:1966 Indian films]] [[Category:Films about organised crime in India]] [[Category:Indian action thriller films]] [[Category:Indian black-and-white films]] [[Category:Telugu remakes of Hindi films]] [[Category:Films directed by S. D. Lal]] [[Category:1966 black-and-white films]]