Balaraju (1948) Review – Rating, Verdict & Box Office | Tollybo
Last updated: 11 Apr 2026
Balaraju (1948) Review
Balaraju (1948), a Telugu drama, musical movie starring Nageshwara Rao Akkineni, Anjali Devi, S. Varalakshmi, is reviewed here. Directed by Ghantasala Balaramayya. The story begins in heaven a Devakanya Mohini and a Yaksha are in love. Indra, the ruler of Suvarloka, has an interest in Mohini. His emissary Kubera, unable to separate the lovers, curses Yaksha to be born as a human. Mohini refuses to bow to the wish of Indra, who then curses her to be born as a h... Our Rating: 4/5. Verdict: INDUSTRY HIT. Released: 26 Feb 1948. Runtime: 2h 43m.
Balaraju(1948)
Telugu · Drama, Musical
2h 43m · 26 Feb 1948
Writer: Prayaaga
Ratings
Our Rating
4
📖 Story
A celestial Yaksha is cursed by Indra to be born as a mortal on Earth. He is born as Balaraju and falls in love with Sitara. The story follows their romantic journey, the obstacles posed by a demoness named Mohini, and their eventual reunion through divine intervention.
Nageshwara Rao Akkineni: A career-defining role that established him as a romantic hero and a major star in Telugu cinema.
S. Varalakshmi: Delivered a graceful performance as Sitara and contributed significantly with her playback singing.
Anjali Devi: Portrayed the role of Mohini with great screen presence, marking one of her early significant roles.
Ghantasala Balaramayya: Provided effective comic relief which was highly popular with the audience of that era.
💪 Strengths & Weaknesses
Strengths
- ✓First Silver Jubilee film in Telugu cinema history
- ✓Memorable music score by Galipenchala Prasada Rao and Ghantasala
- ✓ANR's breakthrough performance
- ✓Strong folklore elements and storytelling
Weaknesses
- ✕Dated technical values by modern standards
- ✕Slow pacing in the narrative
🎬 Direction & Writing
Ghantasala Balaramayya demonstrated a keen understanding of the folklore genre, blending music, drama, and fantasy effectively to create a commercial template for future Telugu films.
📰 Critic Reviews
📰 Ratings Sources
| Source | Rating |
|---|---|
| 6.8 | |
| 0 |
Our Rating
💰 Box Office Collection
No collection data available yet.
🏛️ Centers & 🏅 Awards
No centers data available.
No awards data available.
🏆 Records & Box Office
- - Ran for over 25 weeks (Silver Jubilee) in several centers including Vijayawada and Guntur.
- - First Telugu film to achieve such massive theatrical longevity.
😊 Sentiment Breakdown & 🧠 Critics
| Type | Value |
|---|---|
| Positive | 95% |
| Neutral | 5% |
| Negative | 0% |
Critics
The film was a monumental success in its time. While modern numeric ratings from contemporary websites are not available for this 1948 release, historical records and archives describe it as a 'trendsetter' and a 'phenomenal hit' that revolutionized the Telugu film industry.
Final Box-Office Result
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
When did Balaraju release in theatres?▾
Balaraju released on 26 February 1948 (1948).
Is Balaraju a hit or flop?▾
Balaraju is declared a INDUSTRY HIT at the box office.
Where to watch Balaraju online? OTT release date?▾
Balaraju is available on Vi Movies and TV, Eros Now. OTT date will be updated soon.
Who directed Balaraju?▾
Balaraju directed by Ghantasala Balaramayya. Produced by Ghantasala Balaramayya.
Who are the main cast members of Balaraju?▾
Balaraju stars Nageshwara Rao Akkineni, Anjali Devi, S. Varalakshmi.
What is the Tollybo rating for Balaraju?▾
Tollybo rates Balaraju 4/5. Verdict: INDUSTRY HIT.
What is the genre and runtime of Balaraju?▾
Balaraju — Genre: Drama, Musical, Runtime: 163 minutes, Language: Telugu.