Ali Baba 40 Dongalu 1970

In Baghdad, a band of 40 thieves sows chaos and camouflages their treasure in a hidden cave known as Sesame. The Sardar entrusts his acolyte Kaikala Satyanarayana as Chotu and his daughter Jayalalithaa J Marjiana to uncover the town’s wealth and bring it to light. Among the sprawling schemes and shadows, Alibaba, a bold young man N.T. Rama Rao who already knows Marjiana, falls for her and the two share a quiet bond that blossoms into love. Alibaba’s life unfolds under the roof of his mother, Chandbibi Hemalatha, while they live with his stingy brother Kasim Khan Nagabhushanam and Kasim’s sharp wife, Sultana Suryakantham. To keep things moving, Kasim sends Alibaba out with two donkeys to gather wood, a routine task that will soon reveal a far more extraordinary secret.

The cave’s chant and the treasure become a turning point. One day, Alibaba overhears Chotu chanting by the cave—the same incantation that opens the hidden portal. When Alibaba repeats the chant, the entrance swings wide, revealing a trove of wealth that dazes him and transforms him into a local tycoon. The sudden fortune fuels envy in Kasim, who, crafty and determined, discovers the secret and makes a bid to reach the treasure himself. Yet danger quickens the pace: burglars seize Kasim, take him to their fort, and subject him to torture. Alarmed by Kasim’s peril, Alibaba rushes back, navigates the cave’s path to the fort, and, with Marjiana’s help, confronts the threats and rescues him.

Tensions rise, loyalties are tested, and a perilous ruse is uncovered. After Kasim is saved, Chotu grows more desperate and even schemes to kill Marjiana when the old Sardar dies, a twist that heightens the peril for Alibaba’s circle. To shield Kasim and his family, Alibaba cleverly blinds the conspirators by misdirecting their doctor and keeping Kasim hidden in the shadows. The doctor’s ominous signs only intensify the chase as Marjiana uses a keen sense of tracking—marking a pattern that mirrors the danger and points toward Alibaba’s residence.

A cunning oil-merchant plot is thwarted. Chotu steps up with a new ploy: he disguises himself as an oil merchant, carrying a caravan of 39 barrels and hiding his accomplices among them. Alibaba welcomes the merchant, but Marjiana, noticing the pattern and the suspicious emptiness of the kitchen, recognizes the ruse. She follows the trail, and when the hidden plot is exposed, Alibaba acts decisively and sets fire to the barrels to flush out the intruders, forcing Chotu to flee.

Justice, generosity, and a happy union conclude the tale. With the danger behind them, Alibaba chooses to share the vast treasure with the underprivileged, turning wealth into a common good. The story closes on a celebratory note as Alibaba and Marjiana—whose bond endured through hardship and peril—are united in marriage, signaling a hopeful and harmonious future for all who stood by them.