Salangai Oli
Encyclopedia
Salangai Oli directed by K. Viswanath and produced by Edida Nageshwara Rao
, starring Kamal Haasan
and Jayaprada in lead roles. The original movie made in Telugu and later got dubbed in Tamil. This movie got dubbed in Malayalam as well.
) is an economically disadvantaged but multi-talented dancer, adept at the Indian classical dances of Kuchipudi
, Bharatanatyam
, Kathak
etc. His simple and honest soul does not permit him to attain professional success in the commercial world that requires a certain level of moral laxness. Madhavi (Jayaprada), a wealthy young woman and a patron of the dances, notices his talent and acts as his benefactress, helping him secure his life-long opportunity of participating in a high-level classical dance festival.
Prior to the fulfillment of this ambition, Balu's aging mother passes away from the afflictions of poverty just two days before the performance. Balu, who was very attached to her, is emotionally devastated and as a result fails to participate in the dance festival. Madhavi nevertheless gives him support and encouragement and sets him on the mend. Balu, on the other hand, gradually develops a fondness for Madhavi as their relationship grows. Balu however hides his love for her, but eventually picks up the courage to express it, and discovers that while Madhavi shares his feelings, she is an already-married woman separated from her husband.
The husband later returns to unite Madhavi and Balu but Balu decides to sacrifice his love showing respect for the institution of marriage.
The years pass by, and Balu, a disappointed man, had become an inconsolable alcoholic and a newspaper journalist/art critic. Meanwhile, Madhavi's husband dies, and she hears about Balu's condition as a desolate and ailing alcoholic. In a bid to revive his will to live and his passion for his art, she tends to his medical needs, through his friend, Raghu (Sarath Babu
) and solicits Balu to be the dance master for her daughter, Sailaja (SP Sailaja).
The film ends with Madhavi's daughter's stage performance with Balu watching her in a wheelchair, his health having completely deteriorated. While watching the performance, he passes away. Raghu and Madhavi are seen taking him away quietly, without interrupting the performance, back to the hospital.
Edida Nageshwara Rao
Edida Nageswara Rao is an Indian film producer in Telugu Cinema. He owns the 30 yr old film production house Poornodaya Movie Creations in Tollywood.-Career:...
, starring Kamal Haasan
Kamal Haasan
Kamal Haasan is an Indian film actor, screenwriter and director, considered to be one of the leading method actors of Indian cinema. He is widely acclaimed as an actor and is well known for his versatility in acting...
and Jayaprada in lead roles. The original movie made in Telugu and later got dubbed in Tamil. This movie got dubbed in Malayalam as well.
Box Office
The film is a cult classic over the years, doing great business in all the Southern languages. The film remains as, Kamal Haasan's evergreen Classic Blockbuster.Plot
Balu, short for Balakrishna, (Kamal HaasanKamal Haasan
Kamal Haasan is an Indian film actor, screenwriter and director, considered to be one of the leading method actors of Indian cinema. He is widely acclaimed as an actor and is well known for his versatility in acting...
) is an economically disadvantaged but multi-talented dancer, adept at the Indian classical dances of Kuchipudi
Kuchipudi
Kuchipudi is a Classical Indian dance form Andhra Pradesh, India. It is also popular all over South India. Kuchipudi is the name of a village in the Divi Taluka of Krishna district that borders the Bay of Bengal and with resident Brahmins practicing this traditional dance form, it acquired the...
, Bharatanatyam
Bharatanatyam
Bharata Natyam or Chadhir Attam, is a classical dance form from the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu, practiced predominantly in modern times by women. The dance is usually accompanied by classical Carnatic music...
, Kathak
Kathak
Kathak is one of the eight forms of Indian classical dances, originated from Uttar Pradesh, India. This dance form traces its origins to the nomadic bards of ancient northern India, known as Kathaks, or storytellers...
etc. His simple and honest soul does not permit him to attain professional success in the commercial world that requires a certain level of moral laxness. Madhavi (Jayaprada), a wealthy young woman and a patron of the dances, notices his talent and acts as his benefactress, helping him secure his life-long opportunity of participating in a high-level classical dance festival.
Prior to the fulfillment of this ambition, Balu's aging mother passes away from the afflictions of poverty just two days before the performance. Balu, who was very attached to her, is emotionally devastated and as a result fails to participate in the dance festival. Madhavi nevertheless gives him support and encouragement and sets him on the mend. Balu, on the other hand, gradually develops a fondness for Madhavi as their relationship grows. Balu however hides his love for her, but eventually picks up the courage to express it, and discovers that while Madhavi shares his feelings, she is an already-married woman separated from her husband.
The husband later returns to unite Madhavi and Balu but Balu decides to sacrifice his love showing respect for the institution of marriage.
The years pass by, and Balu, a disappointed man, had become an inconsolable alcoholic and a newspaper journalist/art critic. Meanwhile, Madhavi's husband dies, and she hears about Balu's condition as a desolate and ailing alcoholic. In a bid to revive his will to live and his passion for his art, she tends to his medical needs, through his friend, Raghu (Sarath Babu
Sarath Babu
Sarath Babu is an Indian film actor, who has acted in almost all the major south Indian languages - Telugu, Tamil, Kannada and Malayalam. He has been in the industry for nearly 37 years and has acted in more than 200 movies, most of them in a supporting role. He has acted in 80 films each in...
) and solicits Balu to be the dance master for her daughter, Sailaja (SP Sailaja).
The film ends with Madhavi's daughter's stage performance with Balu watching her in a wheelchair, his health having completely deteriorated. While watching the performance, he passes away. Raghu and Madhavi are seen taking him away quietly, without interrupting the performance, back to the hospital.
Cast
- Kamal HaasanKamal HaasanKamal Haasan is an Indian film actor, screenwriter and director, considered to be one of the leading method actors of Indian cinema. He is widely acclaimed as an actor and is well known for his versatility in acting...
... Balakrishna - Jaya PradaJaya PradaJaya Prada is an Indian film actress and politician. She has starred in hundreds of Telugu, Hindi, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, Bengali and Marathi films.-Early life:...
... Madhavi - Sarath BabuSarath BabuSarath Babu is an Indian film actor, who has acted in almost all the major south Indian languages - Telugu, Tamil, Kannada and Malayalam. He has been in the industry for nearly 37 years and has acted in more than 200 movies, most of them in a supporting role. He has acted in 80 films each in...
... Ragupathy - S. P. SailajaS. P. SailajaSripathi Panditaradhyula Sailaja , is a versatile Indian singer. She lent her voice to Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam and Kannada films. She has sung about 5000 songs to date.-Early life:She was born in Konetammapeta in the Nellore district of Andhra Pradesh...
... Sailaja - 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...
- Potti Prasad
- Jit Mohan Mitra ... Film Choreographer
- Manju BhargaviManju BhargaviManju Bhargavi is an actress and dancer, best known for her performance in the Telugu blockbuster film Shankarabharanam .-Early life:Manju Bhargavi parents originally hail from Andhra Pradesh but settled in Madras...
- Geetha ... Dancer
Crew
- Director : K. Vishwanath
- Writers: JandhyalaJandhyalaJandhyala Veera Venkata Durga Siva Subramanya Sastry was an Indian film Screenwriter, Director and Actor from Telugu Cinema. He is revered as a Comic genius and has directed several successful comedy movies in Telugu...
(dialogue) and K. Vishwanath (story) - Lyrics: Veturi Sundararama Murthy
- Producer : Edida Nageshwara RaoEdida Nageshwara RaoEdida Nageswara Rao is an Indian film producer in Telugu Cinema. He owns the 30 yr old film production house Poornodaya Movie Creations in Tollywood.-Career:...
- Original Music : Ilayaraja
- Cinematography : P. S. NivasP. S. NivasP. S. Nivas , , born in Kozhikode, Kerala, India) is an Indian cinematographer, film director, and film producer who has worked Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi cinema.-Early life and education:...
- Film Editing : G.G. Krishna Rao
- Art Direction : Thota Tharani
- Makeup Department : Babu, R. Sundara Moorthy, M. Sathyam, Venkateswara Rao
- Assistant Director : N.V. Vijay
- Sound Department : Raghawachari, Ramaswamy
- Camera and Electrical Department : K. Satyanarayana
- Costume and Wardrobe Department : Surya Rao
- Music Department : S. JanakiS. JanakiS. Janaki is an Indian female playback singer. Renowned for her voice modulation abilities, she has sung in many Indian languages, most frequently in Kannada, Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi. Throughout a career spanning more than five decades, she has won four National Film Awards and 35...
, S. P. Balasubramaniam S. P. SailajaS. P. SailajaSripathi Panditaradhyula Sailaja , is a versatile Indian singer. She lent her voice to Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam and Kannada films. She has sung about 5000 songs to date.-Early life:She was born in Konetammapeta in the Nellore district of Andhra Pradesh... - Associate directors : Velagapudi Chandrasekar, Geetha Krishna
- Publicity designer : Gangadhar, Panni, Soma
- Choreographer : V. Seshu Parupalli
- Production Companies : Poornodaya Movie Creations