Navarathri (1966 film)

Navaratri
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Tatineni Rama Rao
Produced by	A. V. Subba Rao
Written by	Mullapudi Venkata Ramana (dialogues)
Screenplay by	Tatineni Rama Rao
Story by	A. P. Nagarajan
Based on	Navarathri (1964)
Starring	Akkineni Nageswara Rao Savitri
Narrated by	Jaggaiah
Music by	T. Chalapathi Rao
Cinematography	P. S. Selvaraj
Edited by	J. Krishna Swamy
Production company	Prasad Art Productions
Release date	1966
Running time	165 mins
Country	India
Language	Telugu

Navaratri (English: Nine Nights; Telugu: నవరాత్రి) is a 1966 Telugu drama film, produced by A. V. Subba Rao on Prasad Art Pictures banner and directed by Tatineni Rama Rao. Starring Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Savitri in lead roles and music composed by T. Chalapathi Rao. The film is remake of Tamil movie with the same title (1964), starring Sivaji Ganesan and Savitri in pivotal roles.

The lead Actor Akkineni Nageswara Rao got high critical acclaim for his portrayal of nine characters. This film is regarded to be having some of the finest ever performances by him. In the song Addala Meda Vundi, heavy star cast Jayalalitha, Kanchana, Jamuna, Girija make a guest appearance as patients admitted in mental hospital.

The plot of the movie is totally based on what happens during Navaratri (Nava means Nine and Ratri means Night). The film opens with the narrator explaining that there are nine types of human behaviors (Navarasam) such as Wonder, Fear, Compassion, Anger, Equanimity, Disgust, Elegance, Bravery and Bliss and that Nageswara Rao's nine roles represents one character per role.

Radha (Savitri) is the only daughter of a rich man. When she happily celebrates Navaratri festival at her home with her friends her father informs about the visit of a groom and his parents for her wedding. Radha is reluctant to the proposal as she wants to marry her college mate Venu Gopal. After arguments with her father, she leaves away from home without her father's knowledge at the first Navaratri night.