Batasari

Batasari
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Ramakrishna
Produced by	Ramakrishna
Written by	Samudrala Sr (screenplay / dialogues)
Story by	Saratchandra Chatterjee
Based on	Bada Didi (novel)
Starring	Akkineni Nageswara Rao Bhanumathi Ramakrishna
Music by	Master Venu
Cinematography	M. Sundaraam
Edited by	V. Venkat
Production company	Bharani Pictures
Distributed by	Navayuga Films
Release date	21 July 1961 (1961-07-21)
Running time	146 mins
Country	India
Language	Telugu / Tamil

Batasari (English: Stranger) is a 1961 Telugu, drama film, produced & directed by Ramakrishna on Bharani Pictures banner. Starring Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Bhanumathi Ramakrishna in the lead roles and music composed by Master Venu. The film is simultaneously made as Tamil Movie Kaanal Neer. It is based on the Bengali novel Bada Didi written by Saratchandra Chatterjee.

Surendranath/Suren (ANR) is the son of a Zamindar (Ramanna Panthulu). His good-hearted step mother (Suryakantham) keeping in mind his health objects to his going to London for higher studies. A peeved Suren leaves home, reaches Madras, and stays with a rich man Apparao (B.R. Panthulu) as a tutor to his younger daughter Pramila (Baby Sasikala). Widowed even before she attained womanhood, Madhavi (Bhanumathi) the eldest daughter of Apparao learns about the distrait ways of Suren, provides him with all his needs. When she writes about Suren to her friend Manorama (Devika), Manorama cautions her about showing too much interest in him. Hurt by her servant’s (Chayadevi) gossip about her and Suren and also for neglecting his duty as a teacher, Madhavi chides Suren. Upset, he leaves on an aimless journey, meets with an accident and his father takes him home. Suren marries Shanti (‘Shavukaru’ Janaki) but his heart longs for Madhavi. After performing her brother Siva Chandra (Ramanamurthy)’s marriage, Madhavi hands over responsibilities to his wife (Mohana) and leaves for her home inherited from her husband but finds that house under auction due to a plot hatched by Suren’s estate manager (Mudigonda Lingamurthy). Not knowing it was Suren, Madhavi goes to confront the zamindar. Meanwhile Suren learns about the manager’s wicked ways and despite his grave illness rushes on horseback to meet Madhavi to give her house documents. They meet. She expresses a wish to see his wife Shanti while he struggles to express his love for her. He dies in her lap.