Thenali Raman

Starring nadigar thilakam Sivaji Ganesan, Jamuna, N.T.Rama Rao, M.N.Nambiar, Banumathi, Santhiya and others, this movie shows some of the stories out of the comical, yet witty life of Thenali Raman.
By birth, Thenali Raman's name was Ramakrishnan. He was poet by profession, but without much income, save the money from his mother's menial work. At her urging, he went to see a patron of literature, but insulted he walks out of his house. On the way, a sage tells him to approach the king as he loves literature and arts.
Raman leaves with his family for the city. On the way, he passes by a ritual of animal sacrifice and butts in. The people warn him of the goddess' wrath, but he stays and shouts his heart out to the idol. Magically, the goddess appears forth and provides him with a choice between 2 portions that would bring him either wealth or wit. Raman, quickly mixes both potions and drinks it up. Annoyed at stepping over his bounds, the goddess tells him that he will become a vikatakavi, a witty jester.
When he reaches the city, after much difficulty gets to meet the king, Krishdeva Rai, and after some tests, becomes part of the royal court, as the king is much impressed with him.
Meanwhile some of the neighbouring kings are planning on attacking the southern kingdom and send in their spies. Bit by bit, Raman helps the kingdom and the king to get rid of these spies.
Eventually, with the help of the Mughal emperor Babar, an onslaught is planned on the Southern kingdom, for which the king is now prepared. Yet, realising the severity of the situation, Raman requests Appaji, the mahamanthri, the great minister, to let him go to the baadshah and make him understand the situation.
Raman manages to reach in time and clear the baadshah's misconception. Without his elephants, Vijaynagar wins the battle and all ends happily.
N.T.Rama Rao looks very good in the royal costumes. Even with the black and white pictures, all characters look awesome in their respective roles. Although Sivaji Ganesan had done a great job in the movie, my previous ideas about how a court jester should look and be didn't quite match the image in the movie. Having read most of Thenali Raman's stories as comics, I imagined a bald headed man, with a cute tuft and a simple dhothi for garments with a merry, wise twinkle in the eye.
Nevertheless, it was a different movie than the usual life of a king or a sentimental old movie. Movie worth a watch.