Subhalekha () is a 1982 Telugu-language comedy-drama film, produced by Allu Aravind and V. V. Sastry under the Prasanthi Creations banner and directed by K. Viswanath. It stars Chiranjeevi and Sumalata , with music composed by K. V. Mahadevan. The film was recorded as a Super Hit at the box office. It was the first time they worked together; after this success, they went on to make two more movies: Swayamkrushi in 1987 and Aapadbandhavudu in 1992. The film was made at a time when Chiranjeevi had started getting lead actor roles and followed the immensely successful film Intlo Ramayya Veedilo Krishnayya. After making Saptapadi, in which he dealt with the social stigma of the caste system, K. Viswanath followed up with this film in which he dealt with the social malady of the dowry system and is inspired by famous writer Gurazada Venkata Apparao's work Kanyasulkam. The film is the debut of famous actor Subhalekha Sudhakar, his character in the film became so popular that after that, he has been credited with this feature title before his name. Plot Narasimha Murthy (Chiranjeevi) is a multi-talented person who works as a waiter in a star hotel, (filming location: Dolphin Hotel, Visakhapatnam) since he is unable to pass his B.A. exams. He meets Sujatha (Sumalata), a lecturer who works in a college run by councilor Ankella Adiseshayya (Satyanarayana). Mohan (Girish), who is an engineer and elder son of Adiseshayya, comes to Sujatha's place with his father for a marriage proposal. During this, Sujata stands up and has an argument with Adiseshayya when the latter demands exorbitant amounts as dowry. This creates a rift between Sujata and her parents who fear that this act of Sujatha might ostracize them from society. Adiseshayya also dismisses Sujatha from her job. During this difficult phase, Murthy, as a friend, provides solace to Sujatha; their relationship is mistaken as an affair and Sujatha is forced to leave her home. Murthy creates a big ruckus during the felicitation function of Adiseshayya and humiliates him. Adiseshayya retaliates by hiring goons to beat up Murthy and also gets him dismissed from his job. Left with no choice, Murti takes Sujatha to Hyderabad and meets Rao (Arun), whom he had met during the latter's stay in the hotel where Murti worked. Rao, who is in a senior post in Allwyn, hires Sujatha. Back home, Lakshmi (Tulasi), younger sister of Sujatha,