# Dr. Chakravarthy
**Dr. Chakravarthy** (డాక్టర్ చక్రవర్తి) is a 1964 Telugu-language drama film directed by Adurthi Subba Rao and starring [Akkineni Nageswara Rao](https://www.edgepedia.org/akkineni-nageswara-rao) as a doctor devoted to serving patients, with Savitri, Kongara Jaggaiah, and [Sowcar Janaki](https://www.edgepedia.org/sowcar-janaki) in principal roles.[1](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/Telugu/movie-details/Dr.-Chakravarthy/movieshow/67176909.cms) Produced by D. Madhusudhana Rao for Annapoorna Pictures, the film won the first Nandi Award for Best Feature Film instituted by the [Government of Andhra Pradesh](https://www.edgepedia.org/government-of-andhra-pradesh) and a National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu, and it is remembered as a classic that inspired many young viewers of its generation to take up medicine.[2](https://www.moviebuff.com/dr-chakravarthi)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Film | Telugu drama, black and white, produced by Annapoorna Pictures[3](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0260868/) |
| Director / producer | Adurthi Subba Rao; D. Madhusudhana Rao[1](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/Telugu/movie-details/Dr.-Chakravarthy/movieshow/67176909.cms) |
| Source | Koduri Kousalya Devi's novel *Chakra Bhramanam*, first-prize winner in a 1962 Andhra Prabha weekly competition[4](https://www.bestoftolly.com/doctor-chakravarthy-1964-first-film-to-win-the-nandi-award-telugucinemahistory/) |
| Music | Saluri Rajeswara Rao; playback by Ghantasala, P. Susheela, S. Janaki, PB Srinivas, Madhavapeddi Satyam, and B. Vasantha[2](https://www.moviebuff.com/dr-chakravarthi) |
| Awards | Golden Nandi, the first Nandi Award for Best Feature Film (1964), with Rs 50,000 prize money; National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu[4](https://www.bestoftolly.com/doctor-chakravarthy-1964-first-film-to-win-the-nandi-award-telugucinemahistory/) • [2](https://www.moviebuff.com/dr-chakravarthi) |
| Release | 1964; sources give July 10, September 10, and January 1 as the date[3](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0260868/) • [1](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/Telugu/movie-details/Dr.-Chakravarthy/movieshow/67176909.cms) |
| Runtime | 2h 47m (167 min) per IMDb; 2h 34m per Times of India; 2h 45m per Moviebuff[3](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0260868/) • [1](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/Telugu/movie-details/Dr.-Chakravarthy/movieshow/67176909.cms) |
## Spoilers
### Story
The film follows Dr. Chakravarthy, a service-minded doctor dedicated to saving lives, whose deepest personal attachment is to his sister Sudha (played by Geetanjali). When Sudha dies of cancer, he is shattered.[12](https://businessofcinema.com/videos/dr-chakravarthy-full-length-telugu-movie-anr-mahanati-savitri-sowcar-janaki-teluguone/434498) He forms a close bond with Madhavi (Savitri), a married woman who, like Sudha, loves to write poetry and reminds him of his sister. Madhavi's husband misunderstands their relationship and suspects the two are lovers; the misunderstandings are eventually cleared when he realizes his mistake.[3](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0260868/) • [2](https://www.moviebuff.com/dr-chakravarthi)
The supporting cast includes Jaggaiah as Ravindra, Sowcar Janaki as Nirmala, Krishna Kumari as Dr. Sridevi, Gummadi as DSP Sridhar, Padmanabham as Venkata Swamy, Suryakantham, Chalam as Venkata Ramana, and Jayanthi.[5](https://www.justwatch.com/in/movie/dr-chakravarthy) • [6](https://telugucineblitz.blogspot.com/2011/06/doctor-chakravarthi-1964.html)
## Production
The film adapts the novel *Chakra Bhramanam* (చక్రభ్రమణం) by Koduri Kousalya Devi, which won first prize in a competition run by the Andhra Prabha weekly in 1962 and gained wide readership; producer Dukkipati Madhusudhana Rao, head of Annapoorna Pictures, acquired the film rights.[4](https://www.bestoftolly.com/doctor-chakravarthy-1964-first-film-to-win-the-nandi-award-telugucinemahistory/) Annapoorna Pictures had been founded by the actor Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Dukkipati Madhusudhana Rao, and other friends.[7](https://www.gotelugu.com/teluguarticles/view/10989/-1)
The credited crew includes Gollapudi Maruthi Rao and Athreya for dialogues, lyrics by Athreya, Arudra, Sri Sri, Dasarathi, and Kosaraju, cinematography by P. S. Selvaraj, editing by T. Krishna, art by G. V. Subba Rao, choreography by Hiralal and Pasumarthi Krishna Murthy, and [K. Viswanath](https://www.edgepedia.org/k-viswanath) as assistant director.[6](https://telugucineblitz.blogspot.com/2011/06/doctor-chakravarthi-1964.html)
## Music
Saluri Rajeswara Rao composed the score. Notable songs include "Manasuna Manasai" (lyrics by [Sri Sri](https://www.edgepedia.org/sri-sri), sung by Ghantasala), "Ee Mounam Ee Bidiyam" (Arudra; Ghantasala and [P. Susheela](https://www.edgepedia.org/p-susheela)), "Neevuleka Veena Palukalenannadi" (Aacharya Aatreya; P. Susheela), "Paadamani Nannadagavalena" (Aatreya; P. Susheela), "Nijam Cheppave Pilla" (B. Vasantha and P. Susheela), "O! Ungarala Mungurula Raja" (Madhavapeddi Satyam and P. Susheela), and "Ontiga Samayam" (Kosaraju Raghavaiah; [S. Janaki](https://www.edgepedia.org/s-janaki) and P. B. Srinivas).[2](https://www.moviebuff.com/dr-chakravarthi) A contemporary retrospective credits the songs with a special role in the film's success.[8](https://telugu.asianetnews.com/gallery/movie-reviews/doctor-chakravarthy-review-savitri-anr-sister-role-classic-telugu-film-p3pmfxt)
## Awards and legacy
The film was recorded as an industry hit at the box office and won the Golden Nandi in the [Nandi Awards](https://www.edgepedia.org/nandi-awards) announced by the [Andhra Pradesh](https://www.edgepedia.org/andhra-pradesh) government for 1964, the first year the awards were instituted, together with Rs 50,000 in prize money. With that money as investment, Akkineni and Adurthi made the purposeful films *Sudigundalu* and *Maro Prapancham* under the Chakravarthi Chitra banner.[4](https://www.bestoftolly.com/doctor-chakravarthy-1964-first-film-to-win-the-nandi-award-telugucinemahistory/) The Times of India lists two National Awards for 1964, President's Silver Medals for Best Feature Film recorded for Adurthi Subba Rao and D. Madhusudhana Rao.[1](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/Telugu/movie-details/Dr.-Chakravarthy/movieshow/67176909.cms) According to Moviebuff, the film's accolades include a [National Film Award for Best Feature Film](https://www.edgepedia.org/national-film-award-for-best-feature-film) in Telugu as well as the inaugural Nandi Award for Best Feature Film.[2](https://www.moviebuff.com/dr-chakravarthi) The film is also credited with inspiring many youngsters of its generation to become doctors, and Akkineni Nageswara Rao won his first Filmfare Award with it.[2](https://www.moviebuff.com/dr-chakravarthi) • [8](https://telugu.asianetnews.com/gallery/movie-reviews/doctor-chakravarthy-review-savitri-anr-sister-role-classic-telugu-film-p3pmfxt)
The film's afterlife has been long-lived. It is available for streaming on VI movies and tv and free with ads on JioHotstar,[5](https://www.justwatch.com/in/movie/dr-chakravarthy) and on September 20 and 21, 2025, marking Akkineni Nageswara Rao's 101st birth anniversary, it was screened free in theaters across Andhra Pradesh and [Telangana](https://www.edgepedia.org/telangana) alongside *Premabhishekam*.[9](https://tv9telugu.com/entertainment/tollywood/on-the-occasion-of-anr-101st-birth-anniversary-film-dr-chakravarthy-and-premabhishekam-are-re-released-with-free-tickets-1632105.html)
## Release-date and runtime discrepancies
The reference sources disagree on basic release data. IMDb gives July 10, 1964, with a runtime of 2h 47m (167 min);[3](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0260868/) the Times of India gives September 10, 1964, with a runtime of 2h 34m;[1](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/Telugu/movie-details/Dr.-Chakravarthy/movieshow/67176909.cms) Moviebuff gives January 1, 1964, with a runtime of 2h 45m;[2](https://www.moviebuff.com/dr-chakravarthi) and the Telugu lyrics archive lists the release date as 10.07.1964.[10](https://www.telugulyricsworld.in/2017/07/doctor-chakravarty-1964.html) The year 1964 is consistent across all sources.
## Other films of the same name
A separate [Telugu drama](https://www.edgepedia.org/telugu-drama) titled *Dr. Chakravarty* (2017), directed by Sekhar Suri and starring [Richard Rishi](https://www.edgepedia.org/richard-rishi), Sonia Mann, and Lena, shares the Telugu title డాక్టర్ చక్రవర్తి with the 1964 film but is otherwise unrelated.[11](https://www.moviebuff.com/dr-chakravarty)
## References
1. [Dr. Chakravarthy Movie Details, eTimes, Times of India](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/Telugu/movie-details/Dr.-Chakravarthy/movieshow/67176909.cms)
2. [Dr Chakravarthi (1964), Moviebuff.com](https://www.moviebuff.com/dr-chakravarthi)
3. [Dr. Chakravarthy (1964), IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0260868/)
4. [Doctor Chakravarthy (1964): First Film to win the Nandi Award, Best of Telugu Cinema](https://www.bestoftolly.com/doctor-chakravarthy-1964-first-film-to-win-the-nandi-award-telugucinemahistory/)
5. [Doctor Chakravarthy streaming, JustWatch](https://www.justwatch.com/in/movie/dr-chakravarthy)
6. [Doctor Chakravarthy (1964), Telugu Cinema Prapamcham](https://telugucineblitz.blogspot.com/2011/06/doctor-chakravarthi-1964.html)
7. [తెలుగు సినీ నిర్మాణ సంస్ధలు, Gotelugu.com](https://www.gotelugu.com/teluguarticles/view/10989/-1)
8. [Doctor Chakravarthy Review, Asianet News Telugu](https://telugu.asianetnews.com/gallery/movie-reviews/doctor-chakravarthy-review-savitri-anr-sister-role-classic-telugu-film-p3pmfxt)
9. [ANR 101st birth anniversary free re-release, TV9 Telugu](https://tv9telugu.com/entertainment/tollywood/on-the-occasion-of-anr-101st-birth-anniversary-film-dr-chakravarthy-and-premabhishekam-are-re-released-with-free-tickets-1632105.html)
10. [Doctor Chakravarty (1964), Telugu Lyrics World](https://www.telugulyricsworld.in/2017/07/doctor-chakravarty-1964.html)
11. [Dr. Chakravarty (2017), Moviebuff.com](https://www.moviebuff.com/dr-chakravarty)
12. [Dr. Chakravarthy Full Length Telugu Movie, ANR, Mahanati Savitri, Sowcar Janaki - TeluguOne](https://businessofcinema.com/videos/dr-chakravarthy-full-length-telugu-movie-anr-mahanati-savitri-sowcar-janaki-teluguone/434498)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Individual films by title and year › Indian films (individual works) › Telugu films before 2000*
*Initially written Oct 3, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license