Gundamma's story) is a 1962 Indian Telugu-language comedy drama film directed by Kamalakara Kameswara Rao and co-produced by Nagi Reddi and Chakrapani under their banner Vijaya Productions.

Partially inspired by William Shakespeare's comedy The Taming of the Shrew, Gundamma Katha is an official remake of the Kannada film Mane Thumbida Hennu (1958).

The film's centrepiece is formed by the way Lakshmi's suitor Anjaneya "Anji" Prasad and Saroja's lover Raja bring a change to Gundamma's life after the couples' marriages.

The production phase lasted for a year; it was filmed in and around Madras, mainly on sets at Vijaya Vauhini Studios.

Released on 7 June 1962, Gundamma Katha received praise for its story, screenplay and cast performances, and criticism for its poor character development.

The film's Tamil remake of the same year Manithan Maravillai, also produced by Vijaya Productions, had Nageswara Rao, Savitri, and Jamuna reprising their roles.

Gundamma is a rich widow who ill-treats her stepdaughter Lakshmi, a selfless person who is reduced to working as a maid.

Gundamma decides to marry off Lakshmi to a vagabond and Saroja to the son of Ramabhadrayya, a wealthy man living in a faraway town, Veerapuram.

[2] Chakrapani decided to retain only the background of Gundamma's family from the original and rewrote the remaining script, taking inspiration from William Shakespeare's comedy, The Taming of the Shrew.

[2] Nagi Reddi's family members and the employees of the Vijaya Vauhini Studios used to ask him "Gundamma Katha Entha varaku vachchindi?"

[2][5] A house set was erected in Vijaya Vauhini Studios, Madras (now Chennai) where scenes featuring Gundamma and other key characters were filmed.

[3] Since Vijayalakshmi was a trained dancer, an elaborate dance sequence with no connection to the film's story was introduced as a stage performance and Nageswara Rao, Jamuna, and Haranath were made to sit along with the audience.

[12] Most of the film's dialogue, especially that between Ramana Reddy and Allu Ramalingaiah, are satirical and provide references to Indian society during the 1960s.

[11] The official soundtrack of Gundamma Katha was composed by Ghantasala; it consists of eight songs whose lyrics were written by Pingali.

[9] "Lechindi Nidra", "Kolu Koloyanna", "Aligina Velane Choodali", and "Prema Yatralaku" achieved cult status in Telugu cinema, particularly for their lyrics.

[16][6] The silver-jubilee celebrations were not held, and the planned budget for the event was donated to a fundraiser who was active during the Sino-Indian War.

[9] Upon release, many critics praised Gundamma Katha for its story, screenplay and performances of the lead cast, while some criticised its poor character development.

"[20] In an essay by V. Chakravarty writing for Eenadu in 2012, it was expressed that the characters played by Jamuna and Suryakantham were poorly written and under-developed.

Similar views were expressed after a special screening at L. V. Prasad's residence but Chakrapani was confident of the film's success when he saw children clapping in response to Rama Rao's performance in comical sequences.

[4] Narasimham wrote in his review of the film for The Hindu in 2016, "With more emphasis on banter in the story, the actors, without straining a nerve, sailed smoothly through their characters.

[25][26] In April 2016, Mohan Babu expressed interest in remaking the film with his son Vishnu Manchu and Raj Tarun .

In 1982, Rama Rao and Krishna acted in a film, Vayyari Bhamalu Vagalamari Bhartalu, whose story resembled "Gundamma Gari Kootulla Katha".

[10][22] In commemoration of the Centenary of Indian Cinema, The Hindu listed Gundamma Katha, Pathala Bhairavi (1951), Missamma (1955), Mayabazar, Maduve Madi Nodu (1965), Ram Aur Shyam (1967), Julie (1975), and Shriman Shrimati (1982) as the iconic films produced by Nagi Reddi.

[33] Various words and phrases, such as "dush propaganda" and "alludirikam" (Mother-in-law staying at son-in-law's house), later became part of Telugu vernacular.

[34] In May 2012, Radhika Rajamani of Rediff.com mentioned Gundamma Katha for the letter G in her list, "The A to Z of Telugu Cinema", calling it an "unforgettable film".

The commentator for The Times stated that Gundamma Katha "touches many layers of human [emotions] and situations" and features "top class actors, a strong script, melodious and meaningful songs".

[a][37] Seethamma Vakitlo Sirimalle Chettu (2013), which was rumoured to be a remake of Gundamma Katha,[38] adapted the style of its opening credits—use of images rather than text to credit its principal cast.

[9][39] In their 2013 book Routledge Handbook of Indian Cinemas, K. Moti Gokulsing and Wimal Dissanayake wrote that Gundamma Katha, along with Appu Chesi Pappu Koodu (1959), Missamma and Ramudu Bheemudu (1964), "represented the scope comedy had in the 1950s and 60s.

The filmmaker K. V. Reddy stated that Gundamma Katha had good dialogue and production design but lacked a proper story to narrate.

[42] During the promotion of Soukhyam (2015), its director A. S. Ravikumar Chowdary said comedy is a dominant element in Telugu films, citing Gundamma Katha and Aha Naa-Pellanta!