Bhakta Tukaram
Encyclopedia
Bhakta Tukaram is a 1973 Telugu Biographical film
produced by Anjali Pictures
based on the life of saint poet Tukaram
. Akkineni Nageswara Rao
played the title role with great devotion. The music score of P. Adinarayana Rao
and songs of Ghantasala
and others is one of the highest levels in Indian films.
. Tukaram (ANR) is a small time trader with two wives Rukma Bai and Avali Bai (Anjali Devi). Tukaram is however not interested in worldly matters and is always immersed in God. He is a fervent devotee of Panduranga, whose praises he sings daily. He faces a lot of problems because of his devotion. People take advantage of his nature, and cheat him. His family suffers, and his first wife Rukma dies of starvation during a famine. His family falls on hard times, and he questions the very existence of God. When he tries to commit suicide in despair, he experiences Divine Enlightenment, and becomes totally devoted to God. He starts writing kirtans or Abhangs devoted to the God. This is not liked by the orthodox priests, as he belonged to a lower caste. They make him throw all his work into the Indrayani river. When the river Goddess miraculously gives him back all his work, the people of the village are convinced of his divine nature. His fame spreads to such an extent, that even the great emperor Shivaji (Sivaji Ganesan) comes down to meet him.
Biographical film
A biographical film, or biopic , is a film that dramatizes the life of an actual person or people. They differ from films “based on a true story” or “historical films” in that they attempt to comprehensively tell a person’s life story or at least the most historically important years of their...
produced by Anjali Pictures
Anjali Pictures
Anjali Pictures is an Indian film production house owned by famous music director P. Adinarayana Rao and versatile film actress Anjali Devi.-Films Produced:* Pardesi * Poongothai , Tamil version of Pardesi.* Anarkali...
based on the life of saint poet Tukaram
Tukaram
Sant Tukaram was a prominent Varkari Sant and spiritual poet during a Bhakti movement in India.Sant Tukaram was born and lived most of his life in Dehu, a town close to Pune in Mahārāshtra, India. He was born to a couple with the family name "More", the descendent of the Mourya Clan with first...
. Akkineni Nageswara Rao
Akkineni Nageswara Rao
Akkineni Nageswara Rao , also known as ANR, is a Telugu cinema actor from Gudivada, Andhra Pradesh. Nageswara Rao has worked in several genres of films in his 70-year acting career, including mythological, social, and drama films...
played the title role with great devotion. The music score of P. Adinarayana Rao
P. Adinarayana Rao
Penupatruni Adinarayana Rao , also known as P. Adinarayana Rao was a reputed Telugu music director, film producer, lyricist and play writer from south Indian film industry....
and songs of Ghantasala
Ghantasala (singer)
Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao was a famous & popular Indian Playback Singer and music composer of Telugu films and many other languages such as Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, Tulu and Hindi. He is the recipient of the Padmashree award, India's fourth highest civilian award. For nearly a quarter of a...
and others is one of the highest levels in Indian films.
Story
The movie is based on the story of TukaramTukaram
Sant Tukaram was a prominent Varkari Sant and spiritual poet during a Bhakti movement in India.Sant Tukaram was born and lived most of his life in Dehu, a town close to Pune in Mahārāshtra, India. He was born to a couple with the family name "More", the descendent of the Mourya Clan with first...
. Tukaram (ANR) is a small time trader with two wives Rukma Bai and Avali Bai (Anjali Devi). Tukaram is however not interested in worldly matters and is always immersed in God. He is a fervent devotee of Panduranga, whose praises he sings daily. He faces a lot of problems because of his devotion. People take advantage of his nature, and cheat him. His family suffers, and his first wife Rukma dies of starvation during a famine. His family falls on hard times, and he questions the very existence of God. When he tries to commit suicide in despair, he experiences Divine Enlightenment, and becomes totally devoted to God. He starts writing kirtans or Abhangs devoted to the God. This is not liked by the orthodox priests, as he belonged to a lower caste. They make him throw all his work into the Indrayani river. When the river Goddess miraculously gives him back all his work, the people of the village are convinced of his divine nature. His fame spreads to such an extent, that even the great emperor Shivaji (Sivaji Ganesan) comes down to meet him.
Cast
- Akkineni Nageshwara Rao ... Tukaram
- RamakrishnaRamakrishnaRamakrishna , born Gadadhar Chattopadhyay , was a famous mystic of 19th-century India. His religious school of thought led to the formation of the Ramakrishna Mission by his chief disciple Swami Vivekananda – both were influential figures in the Bengali Renaissance as well as the Hindu...
... Lord Vishnu - Anjali DeviAnjali DeviAnjali Devi is a veteran Telugu actress and producer. She is well known for her mythological role as Sita in Lava Kusha and roles in movies like Suvarna Sundari and Anarkali.- Biography :...
... Avali Bai - Shivaji Ganesan ... SivajJr Sriranjani (actress)|Kanchana]] ... Rukma Bai
- C. Nagabhushanam
- Dhulipala Seetharama SastryDhulipala Seetharama SastryDhulipala Seetharama Sastry , popularly known as Dhulipala is a veteran Telugu film and Stage Actor of Andhra Pradesh, India....
- Vanisree
- Sakshi Ranga RaoSakshi Ranga RaoSakshi Ranga Rao was a Character actor in Theater arts and South Indian Cinema.He was born to Lakshmi Narayana and Ranganayakamma as Rangavajhula Ranga Rao of Kondiparru village near Gudivada. He began his career as a stenographer in Andhra University, Visakhapatnam. He showed passion for theater...
- Baby Sridevi
Crew
- Director: V. Madhusudan Rao
- Associate Director: G. C. Sekhar
- Producer: Anjali DeviAnjali DeviAnjali Devi is a veteran Telugu actress and producer. She is well known for her mythological role as Sita in Lava Kusha and roles in movies like Suvarna Sundari and Anarkali.- Biography :...
- Production company: Anjali PicturesAnjali PicturesAnjali Pictures is an Indian film production house owned by famous music director P. Adinarayana Rao and versatile film actress Anjali Devi.-Films Produced:* Pardesi * Poongothai , Tamil version of Pardesi.* Anarkali...
- Dialogues: VeturiVeturiVeturi Sundararama Murthy , popularly known as Veturi, was a Telugu writer mostly popular for his film songs. His career in the Telugu film industry spanned more than four decades.-Early life:...
- Cinematography: V. S. R. Swamy
- Operative Cameraman: S. Gopal ReddyS. Gopal ReddyS. Gopala Reddy is a cinematographer in the Indian film industry and a producer in Tollywood. He established Durga Arts with Dr. K.L Narayana and produced Santosham. He is married to Rasool Ellore's sister, Michaela, and has a son and daughter...
- Choreography: Heeralal
- Art Direction: G. V. Subba Rao and VaaliVaaliVaali is a 1999 Tamil thriller film written and directed by S. J. Suryah. The film stars Ajith Kumar in a dual role with Simran appearing in another leading role. The supporting cast of the film include Jyothika in her debut venture, Livingston and Vivek. The film's music is composed by the music...
- Film Editing: N. S. Prakasam
- Original Music: P. Adinarayana RaoP. Adinarayana RaoPenupatruni Adinarayana Rao , also known as P. Adinarayana Rao was a reputed Telugu music director, film producer, lyricist and play writer from south Indian film industry....
- Lyricists: Devulapalli Krishna Sastry, C. Narayana Reddy, VeturiVeturiVeturi Sundararama Murthy , popularly known as Veturi, was a Telugu writer mostly popular for his film songs. His career in the Telugu film industry spanned more than four decades.-Early life:...
, DasaradhiDasaradhiDasaradhi Krishnamacharyulu mononymously known as Dasaradhi was an Indian poet and political activist. He was a great pundit in the Telugu, Sanskrit, and Tamil languages and puranas .-Early life:...
- Playback singers: Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao, V. RamakrishnaV. RamakrishnaV. Ramakrishna is a playback singer in South India. Some of his Bhakti Songs are memorable.-Life sketch: He was born to V. Rangasai and Ratnam on August 20, 1947. He is also related to P. Susheela.He graduated from B.Sc in his young age. Impressed by Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao he took up to...
, S. P. BalasubrahmanyamS. P. BalasubrahmanyamSripathi Panditaradhyula Balasubrahmanyam is a multilingual Indian playback singer, actor, music director, voice actor and a film producer. He is referred to as S. P. B. or Balu by the media. He has won the National Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer six times closely following K. J. Yesudas...
and P. SusheelaP. SusheelaPulapaka Susheela is an Indian playback singer. In a career spanning more than four decades, she has recorded songs in many Indian languages including Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada, Hindi, Bengali, Oriya, Sanskrit, Tulu, Badaga and Sinhalese.-Personal life:She is the daughter of Pulapaka...
Songs
- Bhale Bhale Andalu Srustinchavu Ila Muripinchavu (Lyricist: VeturiVeturiVeturi Sundararama Murthy , popularly known as Veturi, was a Telugu writer mostly popular for his film songs. His career in the Telugu film industry spanned more than four decades.-Early life:...
; Singer: GhantasalaGhantasala (singer)Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao was a famous & popular Indian Playback Singer and music composer of Telugu films and many other languages such as Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, Tulu and Hindi. He is the recipient of the Padmashree award, India's fourth highest civilian award. For nearly a quarter of a...
) - Chindulu Veyakuraa (Lyricist: VeturiVeturiVeturi Sundararama Murthy , popularly known as Veturi, was a Telugu writer mostly popular for his film songs. His career in the Telugu film industry spanned more than four decades.-Early life:...
; Singers: GhantasalaGhantasala (singer)Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao was a famous & popular Indian Playback Singer and music composer of Telugu films and many other languages such as Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, Tulu and Hindi. He is the recipient of the Padmashree award, India's fourth highest civilian award. For nearly a quarter of a...
, V. RamakrishnaV. RamakrishnaV. Ramakrishna is a playback singer in South India. Some of his Bhakti Songs are memorable.-Life sketch: He was born to V. Rangasai and Ratnam on August 20, 1947. He is also related to P. Susheela.He graduated from B.Sc in his young age. Impressed by Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao he took up to...
) - Dhaanya Lakshmi (Lyricist: VeturiVeturiVeturi Sundararama Murthy , popularly known as Veturi, was a Telugu writer mostly popular for his film songs. His career in the Telugu film industry spanned more than four decades.-Early life:...
; Singer: P. SusheelaP. SusheelaPulapaka Susheela is an Indian playback singer. In a career spanning more than four decades, she has recorded songs in many Indian languages including Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada, Hindi, Bengali, Oriya, Sanskrit, Tulu, Badaga and Sinhalese.-Personal life:She is the daughter of Pulapaka...
) - Ghana Ghana Sundaraa Karuna Rasa Mandiraa (Lyricist: Devulapalli Krishna Sastry; Singer: GhantasalaGhantasala (singer)Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao was a famous & popular Indian Playback Singer and music composer of Telugu films and many other languages such as Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, Tulu and Hindi. He is the recipient of the Padmashree award, India's fourth highest civilian award. For nearly a quarter of a...
) - Kaliyugam Kaliyugam Kalushalaku Idi Nilayam (Lyricist: Atreya; Singer: S. P. BalasubrahmanyamS. P. BalasubrahmanyamSripathi Panditaradhyula Balasubrahmanyam is a multilingual Indian playback singer, actor, music director, voice actor and a film producer. He is referred to as S. P. B. or Balu by the media. He has won the National Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer six times closely following K. J. Yesudas...
) - Karunamaya Devaa (Lyricist: Dasarathi; Singer: V Ramakrishna)
- Kesava Madhava - Paramayogulu (Lyricist: VeturiVeturiVeturi Sundararama Murthy , popularly known as Veturi, was a Telugu writer mostly popular for his film songs. His career in the Telugu film industry spanned more than four decades.-Early life:...
; Singers: GhantasalaGhantasala (singer)Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao was a famous & popular Indian Playback Singer and music composer of Telugu films and many other languages such as Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, Tulu and Hindi. He is the recipient of the Padmashree award, India's fourth highest civilian award. For nearly a quarter of a...
, V. RamakrishnaV. RamakrishnaV. Ramakrishna is a playback singer in South India. Some of his Bhakti Songs are memorable.-Life sketch: He was born to V. Rangasai and Ratnam on August 20, 1947. He is also related to P. Susheela.He graduated from B.Sc in his young age. Impressed by Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao he took up to...
) - Manasuna Neeve (Lyricist: Dasarathi; Singer: V. RamakrishnaV. RamakrishnaV. Ramakrishna is a playback singer in South India. Some of his Bhakti Songs are memorable.-Life sketch: He was born to V. Rangasai and Ratnam on August 20, 1947. He is also related to P. Susheela.He graduated from B.Sc in his young age. Impressed by Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao he took up to...
) - Neeve Aadi Daivamu (Lyricist: Dasarathi; Singer: V. RamakrishnaV. RamakrishnaV. Ramakrishna is a playback singer in South India. Some of his Bhakti Songs are memorable.-Life sketch: He was born to V. Rangasai and Ratnam on August 20, 1947. He is also related to P. Susheela.He graduated from B.Sc in his young age. Impressed by Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao he took up to...
) - Panduranga Naamam (Lyricist: VeturiVeturiVeturi Sundararama Murthy , popularly known as Veturi, was a Telugu writer mostly popular for his film songs. His career in the Telugu film industry spanned more than four decades.-Early life:...
; Singer: V. RamakrishnaV. RamakrishnaV. Ramakrishna is a playback singer in South India. Some of his Bhakti Songs are memorable.-Life sketch: He was born to V. Rangasai and Ratnam on August 20, 1947. He is also related to P. Susheela.He graduated from B.Sc in his young age. Impressed by Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao he took up to...
) - Pilupu Vinagaleva (Lyricist: Dasarathi; Singer: V. RamakrishnaV. RamakrishnaV. Ramakrishna is a playback singer in South India. Some of his Bhakti Songs are memorable.-Life sketch: He was born to V. Rangasai and Ratnam on August 20, 1947. He is also related to P. Susheela.He graduated from B.Sc in his young age. Impressed by Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao he took up to...
) - Poojaku Veleyara - Dailogues (Lyricist: Dr C. Narayan Reddy; Singers: GhantasalaGhantasala (singer)Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao was a famous & popular Indian Playback Singer and music composer of Telugu films and many other languages such as Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, Tulu and Hindi. He is the recipient of the Padmashree award, India's fourth highest civilian award. For nearly a quarter of a...
, P. SusheelaP. SusheelaPulapaka Susheela is an Indian playback singer. In a career spanning more than four decades, she has recorded songs in many Indian languages including Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada, Hindi, Bengali, Oriya, Sanskrit, Tulu, Badaga and Sinhalese.-Personal life:She is the daughter of Pulapaka...
) - Sari Sari Vagalu Telisera Gadasari (Lyricist: Dr C. Narayan Reddy; Singer: P. SusheelaP. SusheelaPulapaka Susheela is an Indian playback singer. In a career spanning more than four decades, she has recorded songs in many Indian languages including Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada, Hindi, Bengali, Oriya, Sanskrit, Tulu, Badaga and Sinhalese.-Personal life:She is the daughter of Pulapaka...
) - Shyama Sundara I (Lyricist: Dasarathi; Singer: V. RamakrishnaV. RamakrishnaV. Ramakrishna is a playback singer in South India. Some of his Bhakti Songs are memorable.-Life sketch: He was born to V. Rangasai and Ratnam on August 20, 1947. He is also related to P. Susheela.He graduated from B.Sc in his young age. Impressed by Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao he took up to...
) - Shyama Sundara II (Lyricist: Dasarathi; Singer: P. SusheelaP. SusheelaPulapaka Susheela is an Indian playback singer. In a career spanning more than four decades, she has recorded songs in many Indian languages including Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada, Hindi, Bengali, Oriya, Sanskrit, Tulu, Badaga and Sinhalese.-Personal life:She is the daughter of Pulapaka...
) - Unnavaa Asalunnavaa Unte Kallu Moosukunnavaa (Lyricist: AathreyaAathreyaAacharya Aathreya born Kilambi Venkata Narasimhacharyulu was a versatile playwright, lyric writer and story writer in Telugu cinema.-Life:...
; Singer: GhantasalaGhantasala (singer)Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao was a famous & popular Indian Playback Singer and music composer of Telugu films and many other languages such as Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, Tulu and Hindi. He is the recipient of the Padmashree award, India's fourth highest civilian award. For nearly a quarter of a...
) - Padavelli Potondira (Lyricist:Aathreya ;Singer V.Ramakrishna