Raju Peda Telugu: రాజు-పేద) is a 1954 Telugu drama film, produced and directed by B. A. Subba Rao.The film is based on Mark Twain’s novel, The Prince and The Pauper. The film starred N. T. Rama Rao in one of his finest performances, and has received the Rashtrapati Award. The film has received the Filmfare Award for Best Film - Telugu
Ramaiah (NTR) is a horse-cart driver and his wife Lakshmi (Lakshmi Rajyam) works as a maid at the house of a wealthy man, Badrinath (S.V. Rangarao). The couple has a son, Subbadu. Badrinath, who is issueless, decides to remarry to have children and is in search of a bride. His wife Parvathamma (Santhakumari) is advised by her elder brother Ramarao (Srivatsa) to fake pregnancy. She reluctantly agrees. As Lakshmi is pregnant again, Ramarao’s idea is to show her baby as that of Parvathamma’s to Badrinath and dissuade him from a second marriage. Ramaiah suspects infidelity on the part of Lakshmi and sends her out of the house. She takes shelter in Parvathamma’s house, delivers a baby girl and is shocked to find Parvathamma and the baby missing from there. Ramaiah remarries Durgi (Kanakam), who elopes with a stage actor after throwing her step son Subbadu into a stream. Dejected Lakshmi, who decides to end her life by jumping into the stream, finds her son and saves him with the help of a doctor (Dr. Damodaram).
Directed byAdurthi Subba Rao GenresDrama ActorsAkkineni Nageswara Rao, Kommareddy Savitri, Kongara Jaggaiah, Relangi Venkata Ramaiah, Samarla Venkata Ranga Rao, Gummadi Venkateswara Rao Rating72% Venkat Ramaiah (SV Rangarao) and Kanaka Durga (Suryakantham) adopted Suguna (Savithri). When they have their own child Varalakshmi, Kanaka Durga's affection towards Suguna diminishes. Vengalappa (Relangi) adopts suguna. She becomes a doctor and loves Chandram (ANR). Chandram develops Tuberculosis and forces Suguna to marry doctor Raghunath (Jaggayya). Dr. Raghunath expires in an accident. Chandram is cured of TB and returns. Suguna decides to dedicate her life to social work. She convinces Chandram to marry Varalakshmi. Kanaka Durga creates problems in the relations. Suguna corrects them.
The movie revolves around a Joint family with its many problems and advantages and explicitly show how some people take advantage of the situation to create confusion. But Unity is Strength is the principle motivating factor. Kutumba Rao (SV Rangarao) and his wife Kamala (Kannamba) played the role of the eldest members of the family. Satyam (ANR) and his wife, Suseela (Savitri), imposes strict rules on the family and takes care of the well being of everybody in it. Ramanayya's wife, Anasuya (Suryakantham) grows jealous of Suseela. Her distant relative Vaikuntam (Jaggaiah) starts spreading his evil influence over the family. Satyam fights for the family and brings about the evil-doings of Vaikuntam to the notice of Kutumba Rao. The family reunites to live together at the end.