Ratnamala (film)

Simhakethu, the ruler of Kancheepuram, is on the lookout for a suitable bridegroom for his daughter, Rathnamala. Chandrachooda, the king of Sonapura, is blessed with a son, but with a curse; to survive, before it reaches the 16th month, the child should be married to a 16-year-old girl. His minister goes on a bride hunt and reaches Kancheepuram. He shows them his own son's portrait and not that of the child prince. Rathnamala agrees to marry him. However, the minister says that, according to tradition, her marriage has to be performed with a sword. On entering the room, Rathnamala is shocked to see a child instead of the handsome youth she had seen in the portrait. The minister's son explains to her why they had to do that. She leaves the palace along with her child "husband" and goes into a forest. Unaware of all this and finding Rathnamala missing, her father imprisons Chandrachooda, his minister, and the minister's son, and then sends his men in search of his daughter. An elderly couple shelter Rathnamala in the forest.

Years pass by. The child, Chandrakanth, now seven years old, is kidnapped by a gang. Rathnamala goes in search of him. Dhoomakethu, her affectionate uncle who came in search of her locates her and brings her back to Kancheepuram. In a fit of anger, the King, unable to get the truth from his daughter, orders her to be hanged. The minister's son reveals the truth to prove that Rathanamala is innocent. Chandrakanth lands up there. The old couple who had sheltered Rathnamala is none other than Lord Shiva and Parvathi, with whose boon Chandrakanth turns into a young man. The King performs Rathnamala's marriage with him.

• Bhanumathi as Ratnamala
• Akkineni Nageswara Rao as Chandrakanth
• Govindarajula Subba Rao as Simhakethu
• C. S. R. as Dhoomakethu
• Suryanarayana as Chandrakanth
• Aarani Satyanarayana
• Nyapati Raghava Rao as Lord Siva
• Sitaram
• Hemalatha
• Baby Sumithra

Ratnamala advertisement in 1948 issue of Chandamama magazine.

• Art: D. S. Godgaonkar
• Choreography: Vedantam Raghavayya
• Dialogues - Lyrics: Samudrala Sr
• Playback: Ghantasala, Bhanumathi Ramakrishna, K. Jamuna Rani, C.S.R., Baby Sarojini
• Music: C. R. Subburaman
• Editing: V. S. Narayanan
• Cinematography: P. S. Selvaraj
• Presenter: Bhanumathi Ramakrishna
• Producer - Screenplay - Director: P. S. Ramakrishna Rao
• Banner: Bharani Pictures
• Release Date: 2 January 1948

Music composed by C. R. Subburaman. Lyrics were written by Samudrala Sr.

The film was the debut of Bharani Pictures in the film industry and the debut movie for P. S. Ramakrishna Rao as director. Though Samudrala was credited with the lyrics, it is widely believed that some of the hit numbers were actually ghost-written by Malladi Ramakrishna Sastry.

• Ratnamala film at IMDb.