1964. Telugu.
So much have I heard about this film - and as recently as last week when Vasu's mother (also named Radha as the heroine of the film is) told me of how they all bunked college at Reddy's college and went to watch the film. It was a huge hit with a star cast including Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Savithri and Jamuna, plenty of hit songs, a first time ever in Indian cinema theme of reincarnation and a racy screenplay and stellar performances.
Gopi (ANR) is a boatman who ferries people across Godavari river. He is devoted to the daughter of the local zamindar Radha (Savithri), so much so that his day begins and ends with thinking about how to do his best to make her life comfortable - be it bringing her a flower every day, ferrying her across only in his boat, teaching her fold songs, learning English from her. Radha is aware of his pure, innocent devotion and they share what they share simply without labeling it and complicating it. Gowri (Jamuna) is a goatherd who loves Gopi and wants to marry him but he does not want any hindrance in his devotion to his ammayi garu. Things go haywire when Radha is married off and do not end very well.
The couple meet again in the present life and are finally united.
Adurthi Subba Rao is a multi faceted artist and it is his clear vision and subtle understanding of human emotions that make us connect to undercurrent of emotions so well. Never does Gopi go beyond his devotion to his mistress, never does she see anything in him but a well meaning friend and only when she goes away after she gets married does Gopi feel the force of his emotions. I thought I saw K Vishwanath's name in the assistants and he is another one who conveys the subtle in relationships so beautifully.
These people understood that line - there is no love, only proofs of love. ANR is amazing and so is Jamuna. ANR in many shots reminded me of Sumanth. Glad I watched it.
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