Daana Veera Soora Karna

Daana Veera Soora Karna
Theatrical release poster
Directed byN. T. Rama Rao
Written byN. T. Rama Rao
(story & screenplay)
Kondaveeti Venkatakavi (dialogues)
Based onLife of Karna
Produced byN. T. Rama Rao
StarringN. T. Rama Rao
Nandamuri Balakrishna
Nandamuri Harikrishna
B. Saroja Devi
Prabha
CinematographyM. Kannappa
Edited byG. D. Joshi
Music byPendyala Nageswara Rao
Production
company
Distributed byMayuri
Release date
  • 14 January 1977 (1977-01-14)
CountryIndia
LanguageTelugu
Budget10 lakh
Box officeest. 1.5–2 crore

Daana Veera Soora Karna (transl.Generous, heroic, and valiant Karna) is a 1977 Indian Telugu-language Hindu mythological film co-written, produced and directed by N. T. Rama Rao under his banner Ramakrishna Cine Studios. Based on the life of Karna from the Mahabharata, the film stars Rama Rao in three roles: the title character Karna, Duryodhana, and Krishna. The music was composed by Pendyala Nageswara Rao.

The film focuses on Karna's life, his deep loyalty to Duryodhana, and the moral dilemmas he faces. Duryodhana, traditionally portrayed as an antagonist in the Mahabharata, is shown here in a more positive light as a knowledgeable and loyal friend to Karna. This sympathetic portrayal of Duryodhana, first introduced in Rama Rao's earlier film Sri Krishna Pandaveeyam (1966), is expanded upon in Daana Veera Soora Karna.

Produced on a budget of ₹10 lakh, Daana Veera Soora Karna became a significant commercial success, emerging as the highest-grossing Telugu film of its time with a distributor share of ₹1.5–2 crore. It is regarded as a classic in Telugu mythological cinema.