Based on a real time incident where a sensational judgment was passed, a Bollywood film named Dushman was made starring Rajesh Khanna and Mumtaz in the lead roles. This successful film was remade in Telugu as Khaidi Babai with Sobhan Babu and Vanisri reprising the lead roles. Shaavukaru Janaki played the role of a suspicious and hatred filled housewife who despises the hero Sobhan Babu. The hero Sobhan Babu did a role reminding the viewer of Maanavudu Daanavudu as a rough lorry driver.
Story Details:
The hero (Sobhan Babu) is a rash lorry driver who has all sorts of bad habits. One day, he hits a farmer on highway with careless driving. Unfortunately, the farmer dies in the accident. The case goes to court and the farmer’s wife (Shaavukaru Janaki) painfully explains about her family’s poverty and issues in front of the judge (Jaggaiah). As a result, the judge passes a sensational judgment in which the hero has to go to the affected family and do service to them instead of getting imprisonment. The judge even orders that the hero should look after the family as his own and live like a farmer. This judgment doesn’t give any happiness to the villagers or the affected wife. Rightfully, the hero enters the village and faces lot of opposition initially. Even the farmer’s family despises him. But the unnerved hero decides to win over them with patience and love. As a result, he dedicates himself to the farmer’s family and children. He does agriculture and cultivates the land. Meanwhile he meets a rural woman (Vanisri) and falls in love with her. The hero simultaneously earns love from the rural woman and affection from the affected farmer’s wife and family. When the punishment duration completes, the time arrives for the hero to leave the village. But everyone in the village stops him from doing so. The story ends on a happy note with the hero staying back in the village by marrying his lady love.
Performances:
Sobhan Babu is extremely believable in two contrasting roles- one of the rough lorry driver and a transformed person. His looks and great histrionics add much to the role. Shaavukaru Janaki gives a memorable performance as a housewife who gets affected by the accident, and later an affectionate person who understands the hero’s dedication. Vanisri is sweet as the female lead and shares a good chemistry with Sobhan Babu on screen.
Technical Aspects:
Dialogues by Athreya touch various aspects of justice system along with agricultural issues throughout the film. The questions and lines spoken by the characters are realistic and heart touching. K.V.Mahadevan is a composer adept in giving village styled folk songs and the songs Biscope Pillocchindhi, Olammi Chebuthanu became good hits. Though it is a remake, the film has been made with good indigenous touches to suit the Telugu Audience.