| Missamma | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Cover of the Telugu version | ||||
| Soundtrack album by | ||||
| Released | 21 September 1955 | |||
| Recorded | 1954–1955 | |||
| Studio | Western Electric | |||
| Genre | Film soundtrack | |||
| Length | 32:25 | |||
| Language | Telugu | |||
| Label | His Master's Voice | |||
| Producer | S. Rajeswara Rao | |||
| S. Rajeswara Rao chronology | ||||
| ||||
Missamma is the soundtrack of the 1955 IndianTelugu-language filmof the same name directed byL. V. Prasad. Composed byS. Rajeswara Rao, the soundtrack contains 11 songs with lyrics byPingali. The film was written byChakrapani, who co-produced it withB. Nagi Reddi forVijaya Productions.N. T. Rama Rao andSavitri played the lead roles in the Telugu version, withAkkineni Nageswara Rao,Jamuna,S. V. Ranga Rao,Rushyendramani,Relangi andRamana Reddy in supporting roles.
UntilBhanumathi was replaced by Savitri as the female lead, she was planned to provide vocals for her character in the film. After Bhanumathi left,P. Leela was chosen as Savitri'splayback singer. Unlike their previous films, Vijaya Productions preferredA. M. Rajah overGhantasala to sing for Rama Rao in the Telugu version. Chakrapani choseP. Susheela to sing the remaining two songs featuring Jamuna, and Venkata Ramaiah sang two uncredited songs.
The soundtrack album was released byHis Master's Voice on 21 September 1955. Although Rajeswara Rao was initially unhappy with his work, feeling that it was primarily influenced by Chakrapani, the soundtrack was critically and commercially successful.Missamma was released simultaneously inTamil asMissiamma with a different cast; the same soundtrack was used, with lyrics byThanjai N. Ramaiah Dass. The Tamil soundtrack, released a month later by His Master's Voice, also received similar critical acclaim.
S. Rajeswara Rao composed the soundtrack and background score, collaborating withPingali andThanjai N. Ramaiah Dass on the lyrics for the Telugu and Tamil versions of the film respectively.[1][2] Themixing was supervised by A. Krishnan and Siva Ram. It wasprocessed by N. C. Sen Gupta and orchestrated by A. Krishnamurthy.[1]Missamma was written byAluri Chakrapani (who co-produced the film withB. Nagi Reddy forVijaya Vauhini Studios) and directed byL. V. Prasad. The film starredN. T. Rama Rao andSavitri, withAkkineni Nageswara Rao,Jamuna,S. V. Ranga Rao,Rushyendramani,Relangi andRamana Reddy in supporting roles.[1] The Tamil version had a slightly-different cast.[3]
When Nagi Reddy told Bhanumathi thatP. Leela would sing for her character, Bhanumathi (also a playback singer) refused to let anyone else sing for her.[4] After Bhanumathi left the project, Leela was signed to sing for Savitri. Unlike their previous films, Vijaya Vauhini Studios preferredA. M. Rajah overGhantasala to sing for Rama Rao in the Telugu version.[5] Rajeswara Rao, who collaborated with Raja on vocals for Nageswara Rao inVipra Narayana (1954), took Rama Rao's approval before recording the songs.[2] Chakrapani choseP. Susheela to sing the remaining two songs featuring Jamuna after he was impressed with her rendition of "Anuragam Virisena" in the filmKanna Talli (1953). Although Susheela had recorded forDonga Ramudu (1955) first,Missamma was released earlier and was herbreakthrough as a singer.[5] "Ariya Paruvamada" and its Telugu version, "Balanura Madana", were Susheela's first songs for Rajeswara Rao.[6] Despite singing "Dharmam Chey" and "Sitaram Sitaram", Relangi Venkata Ramaiah was uncredited as a playback singer.[5]
"Ravoyi Chandamama" is based on theAbheriraga.[7] "Balanura Madana" is based on theKharaharapriya raga,[8][9] and "Telusukonave Yuvathi" is based on theMohanam raga.[10] "Brundavanamadi Andaridi" (itsbridge in particular) is primarily based on theShuddha Saveri raga, although an occasionalgandhara note suggests theArabhi raga.[11] It was the soundtrack's last song to be recorded, since Chakrapani rejected several of Rajeswara Rao's versions. When the vexed Rajeswara Rao asked Chakrapani to suggest a tune, he referred to a folk song he had heard as a child. Pingali was inspired by the line "A thing of beauty is a joy forever" fromJohn Keats' "Endymion" for the song's phrase,"Andamulandari Aanandamule" ("Beauty gives joy to all").[2]
All lyrics are written byPingali, except where noted.
| No. | Title | Singer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Raaga Sudharasa" (Written byTyagaraja) | P. Leela,Jikki | 02:26 |
| 2. | "Dharmam Chey" | Relangi | 02:30 |
| 3. | "Adavari Matalaku Arthale Verule" | A. M. Rajah | 02:21 |
| 4. | "Balanura Madana" | P. Susheela | 03:16 |
| 5. | "Telusukonave Chelli" | P. Leela | 04:58 |
| 6. | "Telusukonave Yuvathi" | A. M. Rajah | 02:51 |
| 7. | "Karuninchu Mary Maathaa" | P. Leela | 02:30 |
| 8. | "Ee Navanavabhyudaya" | A. M. Rajah | 03:04 |
| 9. | "Brundavanamadi Andaridi" | A. M. Rajah, P. Susheela | 02:56 |
| 10. | "Ravoyi Chandamama" | A. M. Rajah, P. Leela | 02:54 |
| 11. | "Yemito Ee Maaya" | P. Leela | 02:39 |
| Total length: | 32:25 | ||
The Telugu soundtrack was released on 21 September 1955, and the Tamil version was released on 21 October 1955; both were marketed byHis Master's Voice.[12][13] The Telugu soundtrack's album cover features Jamuna and Savitri, each tugging on one of Rama Rao's hands.[14] Rajeswara Rao's eldest son, musician Ramalingeswara Rao, said in an interview withThe Hindu that his father was initially unhappy withMissamma's music because he had to cater to Chakrapani (who had his own view of mainstream cinema). Rao said that his father was afraid of failure and rejection by filmmakers, and wanted to leave forVizianagaram before the soundtrack's success.[2]
The soundtrack was a commercial success, with "Adavari Matalaku Ardhale Verule" in particular becoming a classic romantic song.[15] According to M. L. Narasimham ofThe Hindu, Rajeswara Rao's music and Pingali's "situational" lyrics were major contributors to the film's commercial success. Narasimham praised "Brundavanamadi Andaridi" in particular: "Pingali’s lyric and Saluri’s melodious score breathed life into the voices of P. Susheela and A. M. Raja [sic]".[2]
A 26 January 1955Andhra Patrika reviewer called Rajeswara Rao's soundtrack "soothing", and praised his ability to tune "Brundavanamadi Andaridi"'s uneven background properly.[16] AKinima magazine reviewer praised Pingali's lyrics in its February 1955 issue, saying that they were in tune with the situations the characters went through and "sarcastic enough, in sync with the film's tone". The reviewer praised Rajeswara Rao's music as "easily acceptable by all the sectors of the audience".[17]
According to M. L. Narasimham, "Brundavanamadi Andaridi"'s popularity made it a part of music lessons for children in Telugu-speaking regions.[2] For "Sundarangulanu Choosina Velana" in the 1959 filmAppu Chesi Pappu Koodu (also produced by Vijaya Vauhuni Studios), Rajeswara Rao re-used the melody of "Brundavanamadi Andaridi" at Chakrapani's insistence – a rare example of the composer recycling an earlier song. Pingali wrote that song's lyrics, andGhantasala provided the vocals with Leela and Rajah.[18]
Leela sang songs fromMissamma at her concerts, to popular acclaim.[19] "Njaan Ariyathen", from the Malayalam filmJailppulli (1957), is loosely based on "Brundavanamadi Andaridi".[20] "Adavari Matalaku Arthale Verule" was remixed byMani Sharma with no changes to its melody and lyrics for the Telugu filmKushi (2001). It was sung byKorivi Muralidhar, who was known as Kushi Murali after the success of the remixed version.[3] "Brundavanamadi Andaridi" was adapted byHemanta Mukherjee as "Brindavan Ka Krishan Kanhaiya" forMissamma'sHindi remake,Miss Mary (1957).[2]