Iddaru Mitrulu

Iddaru Mitrulu (“Two Friends”) is a 1961 Telugu drama directed by Adurthi Subba Rao and produced by D. Madhusudhana Rao for Annapurna Pictures. Akkineni Nageswara Rao plays a double role, opposite Rajasulochana and E. V. Saroja, and S. Rajeswara Rao composed the music. It was released on 29 December 1961 and runs 165 minutes. The film was also made in Tamil as Ennai Pol Oruvan.

What the story is about

Ajay and Vijay are lookalikes who meet in an accident and compare their troubles. Ajay is a rich young man who has come home from studies abroad after his father’s death, only to find his scheming manager Bhanoji Rao, who pretends to be loyal, driving the estate into debt so that he can take it over. Vijay is a poor graduate who cannot find work; his sister Meena has been sent home by her in-laws over dowry, and his father is no help. The two agree to swap lives for a year. Ajay finds the warmth of a family in Vijay’s home, while Vijay, in Ajay’s place, takes on Bhanoji Rao, who is pressing a document that says Ajay must marry his daughter Sarala. The comedy and drama come from each man living the other’s life.

Cast and crew

• Akkineni Nageswara Rao as Ajay Babu and Vijay Kumar
• Rajasulochana as Sarala
• E. V. Saroja as Padma
• Gummadi as Bhanoji Rao
• Sharada as Meena
• Relangi as Parandhamaiah and Padmanabham as Bujji
• Ramana Reddy as Ramadasu and G. Varalakshmi as Ajay’s aunt
• Allu Ramalingaiah, Suryakantham and Potti Prasad in supporting roles

Director: Adurthi Subba Rao. Producer: D. Madhusudhana Rao. Music: S. Rajeswara Rao.

Why it is remembered

Besides Nageswara Rao’s double role, the film is noted as Sharada’s first significant adult role in Telugu cinema, playing Vijay’s sister Meena. We have no box-office figures or contemporary reviews for it from a named outlet.

Where to watch Iddaru Mitrulu (1961)

We do not have a confirmed streaming listing for this Iddaru Mitrulu on file. If we verify one with a platform, it will appear on this page.

Sources: the Wikipedia article on Iddaru Mitrulu (1961); our own cast and crew records.