Tatamma Kala ( Great-Grandmother's Dream) is a 1974 Telugu-language drama film, produced and directed by N. T. Rama Rao under his Ramakrishna Cine Studios banner. The film stars N. T. Rama Rao, Bhanumathi Ramakrishna and debutant Nandamuri Balakrishna and has music composed by S. Rajeswara Rao.
Plot
The film begins in a village, lives a traditional, wealthy lady Ravamma whose husband Musalaiah turns into a wanderer. So, Ravamma safeguards their property and rears her grandson Ramaiah who lost his parents in his childhood. Time passes, Ramaiah marries Seeta, and the couple is blessed with five children. But unfortunately, Ravamma loses her property due to land ceiling act, so, Ramayya decides to leave the city which Ravamma opposes and stays back. Ramaiah reaches the city with the family and joins as a clerk in an office. Years roll by, and the children grew up with different mentalities, elder Govindu nuptials an intercaste girl Saru, and leaves for his in-law's house. The second Hareram becomes a hippie, the third Venkatesam goes into the trap of a dancer Mala, and the daughter Rama becomes a scapegoat for the modern lifestyle. Ramaiah lands up in jail for the crime committed by Hareram and his wife Seeta commits suicide. In that ruined family, the last one Balakrishna a good-natured boy left alone, reaches his great-grandmother. By that time, Ravamma was 97 years old and is on cloud nine viewing her great-grandson. After that, Balakrishna learns that the village is under severe drought. So, he succeeds in bringing a green revolution using modern techniques for which he receives the Krishi Pandit award from the Govt of India and he bestows to his great-grandmother. Ravamma feels proud that her great-grandson fulfilled the dream for which she is striving. At last, Ramaiah is acquitted of catching Hareram and he returns to the village with the remaining family. Finally, Musalaiah also arrives and the movie ends on a happy note with the reunion of the entire family.
Cast
N. T. Rama Rao as Ramaiah and Musaliah
Bhanumathi Ramakrishna as Ravamma
Nandamuri Balakrishna as Balakrishna
Nandamuri Harikrishna as Venkatesam
Ramana Reddy as John
Raja Babu as Hare Ram
Mada as Bhusaiah
P. J. Sarma as Venkaiah
Chalapathi Rao
Bhima Raju as Ratnam
Balakrishna
Jaya Bhaskar
Kanchana as Seeta
Roja Ramani as Rama
Vijayalalitha as Mala
Subha as Saru
K. Hemantha Kumar as Jr Ramaiah
Soundtrack
Music composed by S. Rajeswara Rao. Music released on EMI Columbia Audio Company.
Awards
Nandi Award for Best Story Writer - N. T. Rama Rao (1974)