Tenali Ramakrishna (1956 film)

Tenali Ramakrishna
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	B. S. Ranga
Produced by	B. S. Ranga
Written by	Samudrala Sr (dialogues)
Story by	Ch. Venkataramaiah
Based on	Tenali Ramakrishna (drama)
Starring	N. T. Rama Rao Akkineni Nageswara Rao Bhanumathi Ramakrishna Jamuna
Music by	Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy
Cinematography	B. S. Ranga
Edited by	P. G. Mohan
Production company	Vikram Productions
Release date	12 January 1956 (1956-01-12)
Running time	169 mins
Country	India
Language	Telugu

Tenali Ramakrishna is a 1956 Telugu, historical, biographical film, based on the life of Tenali Rama Krishna famous jester poet of 15th century, produced and directed by B. S. Ranga on Vikram Productions banner. Starring N. T. Rama Rao, Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Bhanumathi Ramakrishna, Jamuna in the lead roles and music composed by Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy. The film is was adapted from the stage play based on Tenali Ramakrishna written by Ch. Venkataramaiah. The film is remade as Tamil Movie Tenali Raman (1956) where Sivaji Ganesan played the title role; both the movies are made simultaneously by same banner & director and some of the scenes & artists are same in both versions. Both versions were commercially successful. Tenali Ramakrishna was remade in Kannada as Hasyaratna Ramakrishna by Ranga; however, that version was a commercial failure. The Telugu version has garnered the All India Certificate of Merit for Best Feature Film.

The Deccan Sultans of Berar, Ahmednagar, Bidar, Bijapur and Golconda who the splinters from the erstwhile Bahmani Sultans now unite with the common purpose to defeat of Krishnadeva Raya and the conquest of the prosperous Vijayanagaram. They send their stooge Kanakaraj to assassinate Krishnadeva Raya, but Kanakaraj fails in his mission and is put to death.

Then they planned courtesan Krishnasani. She enters Vijayanagaram, and with her acclaimed dancing skills, manages to elicit the notice of the King, a great connoisseur of arts and beauty. She then plays her cards cleverly and besotted by her intelligent repartees and smoldering sensuousness, the susceptible King is soon a puppet in her hands.