Kanyasulkam is a 1955 Indian Telugu-language philosophical film directed by P. Pullaiah and produced by D. L. Narayana for his production company Vinodha Pictures. The film stars N. T. Rama Rao, Savitri and Sowcar Janaki, with soundtrack and score by Ghantasala. N. Prakash and R. Hanumantha Rao served as the cinematographer and editor respectively. This film marked the screen debut of actress, Urvashi Sharada who made a cameo appearance for a three-minute song sequence as a child artist- the latter later making her acting debut (six years later) with the Telugu film, Iddaru Mitrulu (1961) and it had starred opposite Akkineni Nageswara Rao & E. V. Saroja in the leading roles. Written by Vempati Sadasivabrahmam, Kanyasulkam is based on a play of the same name by Gurajada Apparao, and is set during the Pre-Independence era in the Vizianagaram area of the Madras Presidency of British India. The film focuses on a group of Brahmin caste individuals and their attempts to earn easy money by conning the women around them, including a young widow and a nine-year-old bride. Principal photography was conducted in sets erected at Narasu, Revathi and Venus Cine Studios in Kodambakkam, Madras (now Chennai). The post-production activities were completed at Vijaya Laboratory Film Centre Pvt. Ltd. in Madras. Kanyasulkam was released theatrically on 26 August 1955 and opened to negative reviews from both the critics and the audience, who criticized the changes made to the play while adapting it to film. During its later re-released in 1983, 1986 and 1993 limitedly across Andhra Pradesh, Kanyasulkam completed a 100-day run every time, making it the only Indian film to do so.

Plot

The film is set during the Pre-Independence era in the Vizianagaram area of the Madras Presidency of British India. Gireesham, an educated conman, lives at the expense of Putakoollamma who runs a mess. He befriends a prostitute Madhuravani, to whom Ramappa Panthulu of Ramachandrapuram is attracted to. Ramappa Panthulu is an unmarried miser who is well known among the Brahmin community in Ramachandrapuram. In an attempt to earn good money, Ramappa Panthulu encourages a 60-year-old man named Lubdhavadhanulu to remarry and suggests an alliance with Agnihotravadhanulu of Krishnarayapuram. Agnihotravadhanulu agrees to perform the marriage of his nine-year-old daughter Subbamma to Lubdhavadhanulu, despite pleas from his wife Venkamma, so that he can grab the money as dowry.