Mala Pilla (1938)
Plot
Mala Pilla, or Malapilla, (English: Girl from Mala caste) is a 1938 Indian Telugu-language social problem film directed by Gudavalli Ramabrahmam and written by Tapi Dharma Rao. The film was produced by Raja of Challapalli, Yarladadda Sivarama Prasad, under the Sarathi Films banner. It featured Kanchanamala in the title role, with Gali Venkateswara Rao, Govindarajula Subba Rao, P. Suribabu, and Sundaramma in other prominent roles. It is a social drama depicting the love story between a Brahmin boy and a Dalit girl. The film dealt with themes like untouchability, taboos on entry into temples for Dalits, Gandhism, and nationalism in pre-independent India. The film was dedicated to the Maharajah of Travancore, Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma, who had passed a law allowing members of all castes to enter temples. Malapilla was released in a record 12 centres on September 25, 1938, and was an industry hit. On its release, the film caused a sensation, rejecting the stage-derived mythological genre dominating Telugu cinema in the 1930s. The film's success kindled interest in other Telugu filmmakers to make films based on social themes. Malapilla was also the 50th talkie film made in Telugu
Mala Pilla details
| Industry | Telugu |
|---|---|
| Year | 1938 |
| Genres | Drama |
| Runtime | 2h 55m |
| Rating | Not rated |
| Director | Gudavalli Ramabrahmam |
| Status | Released |
| Language | te |
| Record verified | 2026-09-21 |
| Source | Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0) |
Where to watch Mala Pilla
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Mala Pilla cast & crew
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Mala Pilla — questions
What is Mala Pilla about?
Mala Pilla, or Malapilla, (English: Girl from Mala caste) is a 1938 Indian Telugu-language social problem film directed by Gudavalli Ramabrahmam and written by Tapi Dharma Rao. The film was produced by Raja of Challapalli, Yarladadda Sivarama Prasad, under the Sarathi Films banner. It featured Kanchanamala in the title role, with Gali Venkateswara Rao, Govindarajula Subba Rao, P. Suribabu, and Sundaramma in other prominent roles. It is a social drama depicting the love story between a Brahmin boy and a Dalit girl. The film dealt with themes like untouchability, taboos on entry into temples for Dalits, Gandhism, and nationalism in pre-independent India. The film was dedicated to the Maharajah of Travancore, Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma, who had passed a law allowing members of all castes to enter temples. Malapilla was released in a record 12 centres on September 25, 1938, and was an industry hit. On its release, the film caused a sensation, rejecting the stage-derived mythological genre dominating Telugu cinema in the 1930s. The film's success kindled interest in other Telugu filmmakers to make films based on social themes. Malapilla was also the 50th talkie film made in Telugu
Who is in the cast of Mala Pilla?
Mala Pilla stars Kanchanamala, Govindarajula Subba Rao and is directed by Gudavalli Ramabrahmam. The full credited cast is listed above.
Where can I watch Mala Pilla online?
We currently have no streaming platform listed for Mala Pilla. It may be between rights deals, or only available on a service we do not track yet. This page was last checked on 2026-09-21.
How long is Mala Pilla?
Mala Pilla runs 2h 55m (175 minutes).
Who directed Mala Pilla?
Mala Pilla was directed by Gudavalli Ramabrahmam.
Can I download Mala Pilla?
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