{{short description|1965 film directed by Adurthi Subba Rao}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2022}} {{Use Indian English|date=June 2022}} {{Infobox film | name = Thodu Needa | image = Thodu Needa.jpg

| caption = Theatrical release poster | director = Adurthi Subba Rao | screenplay = Adurthi Subba Rao | based_on = {{based on|''Karpagam'' (1963) by K. S. Gopalakrishnan}} | producer = N. N. Bhatt<br />A. Rami Reddy | starring = N. T. Rama Rao<br />Bhanumathi<br />Jamuna | cinematography = M. K. Raju | editing = T. Krishna | music = K. V. Mahadevan | studio = Vijayabhatt Movies | released = {{Film date|df=y|1965|5|12}} | runtime = 150 minutes | country = India | language = Telugu }}

'''''Thodu Needa''''' ({{translation|Companion and protective shade}}) is a 1965 Indian Telugu-language drama film written and directed by Adurthi Subba Rao. The film stars N. T. Rama Rao, Bhanumathi and Jamuna, with music composed by K. V. Mahadevan.<ref>{{Cite news |date=16 May 1965 |title=తోడు నీడ |language=te |trans-title=Thodu Needa |work=Visalaandhra |url=https://indiancine.ma/document/FVQ |access-date=6 September 2020}}</ref> It is a remake of the Tamil film ''Karpagam'' (1963). The film was released on 12 May 1965, and emerged a commercial success.

== Plot == The film begins in a village where Dharma Rao is an affluent, honorable bigwig. He resides with his two progeny, Raja, & Radha. Raja knits his classmate Rani, the daughter of a black-hearted Nagaraju of the same town who ploys to usurp Dharma Rao's wealth. Dharma Rao performs his daughter Radha's marriage with Gopi, an ordinary farmer with a noble character. Time passes, and Raja & Rani are blessed with a baby girl, but they neglect their child, and she comes closer to Radha & Gopi, which irks Nagaraju as he knows that the little girl is the legal heir to Dharma Rao's wealth. He creates problems in the family by brainwashing and misleading Raja and Rani, who mindlessly follow his advice. Raja sends the legal notice to his father, asking for property settlement, and separates the baby. Radha goes into depression. While saving the baby from being attacked by a bull, she dies. Gopi goes into depression, but Dharma Rao reconciles to marry his friend Collector Ananda Rao's daughter, Lakshmi. Though he marries her, he cannot forget Radha and is reluctant to invite Lakshmi into his life. Lakshmi longs for the love and attention of both Gopi and the baby. Meanwhile, the estranged son Raja and Nagaraju conspire to swindle Dharma Rao. The frustrated Nagaraju decides to eliminate Gopi and sends goons to attack him, where Lakshmi gets stabbed. Finally, Gopi realizes Lakshmi's love, Nagaraju is arrested, Raja & Rani are remorseful, and the entire family is reunited.

== Cast == *N. T. Rama Rao as Gopi<ref name="thehindu" /> *Bhanumathi as Lakshmi<ref name="thehindu" /> *Jamuna as Radha<ref name="thehindu" /> *S. V. Ranga Rao as Dharma Rao<ref name="thehindu" /> *V. Nagayya as Collector Ananda Rao<ref name="thehindu" /> *Nagabhushanam as Nagaraju<ref name="thehindu" /> *Ramakrishna as Raja<ref name="thehindu" /> *Geetanjali as Rani<ref name="thehindu" /> *Baby Shakeela as Viji<ref name="thehindu" /> *Raavi Kondala Rao as the doctor<ref name="thehindu" /> *Baby Rani

== Production == ''Thodu Needa'' is a remake of the Tamil film ''Karpagam'' (1963). S. V. Ranga Rao and V. Nagayya reprised their roles from that film.<ref name="thehindu" />

== Music == The soundtrack was composed by K. V. Mahadevan. Lyrics were written by Acharya Aatreya.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Thodu Needa (1965)-Song_Booklet |url=https://indiancine.ma/ |access-date=27 August 2021 |website=Indiancine.ma}}</ref> Bhanumathi sang the original version of the song "Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be, Will Be)" in the film with minor changes in the lyrics.<ref>{{Cite web |last=V |first=Sriram |date=15 May 2019 |title=Doris Day sang 'Que Sera Sera'&nbsp;– and so did Telugu star Bhanumathi |url=https://scroll.in/reel/923526/doris-day-sang-que-sera-sera-but-so-did-bhanumathi |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190608155915/https://scroll.in/reel/923526/doris-day-sang-que-sera-sera-but-so-did-bhanumathi |archive-date=8 June 2019 |access-date=7 August 2021 |website=Scroll.in}}</ref> {|class="wikitable" |- !Song title !!Singers !!length |- |"Valapuloni" |P. B. Sreenivas, S. Janaki |3:39 |- |"Enno Ratrulu" |Bhanumathi |4:12 |- |"Mallunnaa" |Ghantasala, P. Susheela |3:36 |- |"Attha Odi Puvvuvale" |P. Susheela |4:03 |- |"Jolapata" |Bhanumathi Ramakrishna |3:33 |- |"Mohini Bhasmasura" |Ghantasala, P. Susheela |5:06 |}

== Release and reception == ''Thodu Needa'' was released on 12 May 1965, and emerged a commercial success.<ref name="thehindu" /> Vasiraju Prakasam of ''Andhra Patrika'' appreciated the story, music, cast and direction of the film in his review.<ref name="Andhra Patrika" /> B. V. Rao of ''Andhra Janata'' reviewed the film as an enlightening film depicting sacrifice and selfishness. He appreciated the performances of the cast.<ref>{{Cite news |last=B. V. |first=Rao |date=16 May 1965 |title=చిత్ర సమీక్ష: తోడూ నీడా |language=te |trans-title=Movie review: Thodu Needa |work=Andhra Janata |url=https://indiancine.ma/documents/FVM/615,812,1469,1236 |access-date=7 August 2021}}</ref>

== References == <references>

<ref name="Andhra Patrika">{{Cite news |last=Prakasham |first=Vasiraju |date=28 May 1965 |title=ఎన్ని రోజులకు ఒక మంచి చిత్రం! |language=te |trans-title=How long since the last good film! |work=Andhra Patrika |url=https://indiancine.ma/document/FVK/0,543,1153,1348 |access-date=6 September 2020}}</ref> <ref name="thehindu">{{Cite news |last=Narasimham |first=M. L. |date=15 December 2017 |title=Thodu Needa (1965) |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-fridayreview/thodu-needa-1965/article21669108.ece |url-status=live |access-date=10 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190609134814/https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-fridayreview/thodu-needa-1965/article21669108.ece |archive-date=9 June 2019}}</ref>

</references>

== External links == *{{IMDb title|0259666}}

Category:1965 Telugu-language films Category:1965 Indian films Category:1965 drama films Category:1965 films Category:Films directed by Adurthi Subba Rao Category:Films scored by K. V. Mahadevan Category:Indian drama films Category:Telugu remakes of Tamil films