Malli Pelli (1939) Review – Rating, Verdict & Box Office | Tollybo
Last updated: 10 Apr 2026
Malli Pelli (1939) Review
Malli Pelli (1939) is a Telugu drama film directed by Y. V. Rao, starring Kanchanamala, Y. V. Rao, Balijepalli Lakshmikantha Kavi. Janardhanarao Panthulu has his 6-year-old daughter Lalitha married to an old man who dies shortly after. Lalitha is brought up by her father under the strictures of widowhood. Our Rating: 4/5. Verdict: CLASSIC. Released: 17 Dec 1939. Runtime: 2h 1m.
Malli Pelli(1939)
Telugu · Drama
2h 1m · 17 Dec 1939
DOP: Jiten Bannerjee | Writer: Y. V. Rao, Balijepalli Lakshmikantha Kavi
Ratings
Our Rating
4
📖 Story
A progressive social drama that advocates for widow remarriage. The story revolves around a young widow and the societal challenges she faces, eventually finding support from a reformist who believes in her right to a second life and happiness.
Kanchanamala: Delivered a poignant and emotionally charged performance as the young widow, solidifying her status as one of the earliest superstars of Telugu cinema.
Y. V. Rao: Balanced his roles as both the lead actor and director effectively, portraying the reformist character with conviction.
Balijepalli Lakshmikantha Kavi: Provided a strong supporting performance that added depth to the social conflict presented in the film.
💪 Strengths & Weaknesses
Strengths
- ✓Bold and progressive social theme for its time
- ✓Soulful music and classical songs
- ✓Powerful performance by Kanchanamala
- ✓Realistic portrayal of contemporary social issues
Weaknesses
- ✕Slow pacing by modern standards
- ✕Technical limitations inherent to the 1930s era
- ✕Melodramatic tone in certain sequences
🎬 Direction & Writing
Y. V. Rao showed great courage in picking a controversial subject like widow remarriage in the 1930s. His direction focused on realism and social reform, making the film a landmark in Telugu social cinema.
📰 Critic Reviews
📰 Ratings Sources
| Source | Rating |
|---|---|
| 0 |
Our Rating
💰 Box Office Collection
No collection data available yet.
🏛️ Centers & 🏅 Awards
No centers data available.
| Award | Category | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Historical Recognition | Social Reform Cinema | Recognized by film historians as a pioneer in the social drama genre of Telugu cinema. |
🏆 Records & Box Office
- - The film was a significant commercial success during its original release, running for several weeks in major centers.
😊 Sentiment Breakdown & 🧠 Critics
| Type | Value |
|---|---|
| Positive | 95% |
| Neutral | 5% |
| Negative | 0% |
Critics
Historically, the film was hailed as a revolutionary step in South Indian cinema. While modern numeric reviews from the requested sources do not exist for this 1939 release, film historians regard it as a masterpiece of the social reform genre.
Final Box-Office Result
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
When did Malli Pelli release in theatres?▾
Malli Pelli released on 17 December 1939 (1939).
Is Malli Pelli a hit or flop?▾
Malli Pelli is declared a CLASSIC at the box office.
Where to watch Malli Pelli online? OTT release date?▾
Malli Pelli is available on Vi Movies and TV, Eros Now, Hungama Play. OTT date will be updated soon.
Who directed Malli Pelli?▾
Malli Pelli directed by Y. V. Rao.
Who are the main cast members of Malli Pelli?▾
Malli Pelli stars Kanchanamala, Y. V. Rao, Balijepalli Lakshmikantha Kavi.
What is the Tollybo rating for Malli Pelli?▾
Tollybo rates Malli Pelli 4/5. Verdict: CLASSIC.
What is the genre and runtime of Malli Pelli?▾
Malli Pelli — Genre: Drama, Runtime: 121 minutes, Language: Telugu.