instant support from the other members. It was decided to approach actress Savitri to be the director. Sarojini met Savitri and revealed the idea of an all-women production. Savitri was hesitant to accept the offer of turning director, but after consulting her husband Gemini Ganesan who encouraged her to accept Sarojini's offer, she promptly did so, making her directorial debut. Shortly thereafter the production company Sri Mata Pictures was established and its inaugural production Chinnari Papalu was launched. Besides producing, Sarojini also wrote the film's story. Rajasulochana was assigned as the dance choreographer, P. Leela as the music director, and Mohana as the art director. Despite Sarojini's initial desire to make the film an all-women production, some of the crew were men: Mullapudi Venkata Ramana who wrote the dialogues alongside Sarojini, Singh and Sekhar who handled the cinematography, and M. S. N. Murthy who was the editor. Principal photography began on 12 October 1967 at Vauhini Studios. Though Savitri was initially signed on only to direct the film, she soon found herself having to manage its financial matters. Soundtrack Release and reception Chinnari Papalu was released on 21 June 1968. The Indian Express wrote, "Jamuna is comely as the "wild" heroine. But it is Sowcar Janaki, Jaggaiah and S. V. Ranga Rao, who impress with intense performances. These few scenes, with reactions flying between the three, are the life of the film." Although the film became a box-office bomb since it failed to recover even one fourth of its investment, it received critical acclaim and won the Nandi Award for Second Best Feature Film in 1968. The film was later remade in Tamil as Kuzhandai Ullam (1969) with Savitri returning as director. Awards Nandi Award for Second Best Feature Film - Silver won by Matha Pictures (1968) References External links 1960s Telugu-language films 1968 films Indian drama films Telugu films remade in other languages 1968 directorial debut films 1968 drama films