Did you know that Malleswari was the first Telugu film to be screened at an international film festival

Malleswari

, one of the classics of Telugu cinema directed by the renowned filmmaker

B Narasimha Reddy

was the first Telugu film that got screened at an international film festival. Released in 1951, Malleswari was a huge commercial success and was screened at the Peking Film Festival in China in the following year.

Starring NT

Rama Rao

and Bhanumathi Ramakrishna as Nagaraju and Malleswari the film was written by

Devulapalli Krishnasastri

based on the stories Rayalavari Karunakruthyamu by Buchibabu and The Emperor and the Slave Girl by Devan Sharar.

The film revolves around Nagaraju and Malleswari’s love story and the struggles they face when Malleswari’s mother sends her away to

Krishnadevaraya

Palace for Rani Vasam. How Nagaraju tries to get Malleswari back is the major plot of the story. Narasimha Reddy who was the first person to receive the Dada Saheb Phalke Award from Southern India also made many popular films like Bangaru Panjaram, Bangaru Papa and Devatha.