Sankarabharanam
Encyclopedia
Sankarabharanam is a 1979 Telugu film, directed by Dr. K. Vishwanath
and produced by Poornodaya Movie Creations. Its music composed by KV Mahadevan was well received and led to the revival of Indian classical music in South India
. The film deals with two main issues - decline in popularity of Carnatic music and the teacher-student relationship. The film is considered to be one of the best films ever emerged from Telugu film industry. It won five National Film Awards
.
"Sankarabharanam" Sankara Sastri is a very popular Carnatic singer
. He is immersed in sangeetha rasaamrutha (Nectar of Music) with his nirantara saadhana (uninterrupted practice). People come in huge numbers to listen his voice and consider him a great man. He has mastered the raga Sankarabharanam, and hence is eponymous with the same. Tulasi, (Manju Bhargavi
)
) is a prostitute's daughter who has great interest in music and dance. She is also an admirer of Sastri and learns music from him when he used to teach his own daughter along the riverside. But her mother wants her to become a prostitute to earn money. One day a rich client of her mother's rapes Tulasi. He insults Sastri saying that now that he was done with Tulasi, she could go and flirt with Sastri all she wanted. Enraged by the disgrace towards Sastri, her guru
, she kills the client. Her mother was sent to jail because of Sastriji's friend, a lawyer (Allu Ramalingaiah) and was saved from jail but has found out that she is pregnant. Sastri tries to save her by consulting a lawyer who wins the case in Tulasi's favour.
Then Sastri brings her to his home where other people insult him as Tulasi is a murderer and daughter of a prostitute while Sastri is a devout Brahmin
. Tulasi moves out of his house as she does not want him to face insults because of her but hopes to show her gratitude towards him.
Ten years pass by, pop music
is now popular in India and Sastri loses his classical music lovers. He now lives in a small house with his grown up daughter. When Tulasi comes to know of Sastri's plight she tries to help him monetarily but gives the money through someone else. Tulasi inherits all of her mother's property and utilizes all of it to help him. She also asks her son to go to Sastri's home and learn classical music from him. After managing to get an entry to Sastri's home, he starts learning Carnatic music from the maestro.
Chandra Mohan
, a dilettante
falls in love with Sastri's daughter. Although Sastri rejects the marriage proposal at first, he later agrees after knowing the man's interest in classical music. Tulasi, then arranges for a concert on the very day of his daughter's wedding, where Sastri once again finds his lost audience come back to see hear his voice. Sastri sings at the concert and halfway through it suffers a heart attack and finds his new disciple, Tulasi's son, take over the concert from him. As he watches him with pride, he also sees Tulasi and finds out that the boy is indeed, Tulasi's son. After the performance, he symbolically anoints the boy as heir to his music and dies. Tulasi comes to her guru and falls down at his feet and also passes away, that very moment, along with him. The film ends with both Sastri and Tulasi dead on the stage.
based, was composed by K.V. Mahadevan.
Mangalampalli was the original choice for the male playback singer, due to the heavy classical content of the compositions. But K.V. Mahadevan, having faith in the mettle of S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
, insisted on him taking up this challenge.
Kasinadhuni Viswanath
Kasinadhuni Vishwanath is an Indian film director and actor from Telugu Cinema. He is a multiple winner of National Film Award and Nandi Award...
and produced by Poornodaya Movie Creations. Its music composed by KV Mahadevan was well received and led to the revival of Indian classical music in South India
South India
South India is the area encompassing India's states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu as well as the union territories of Lakshadweep and Pondicherry, occupying 19.31% of India's area...
. The film deals with two main issues - decline in popularity of Carnatic music and the teacher-student relationship. The film is considered to be one of the best films ever emerged from Telugu film industry. It won five National Film Awards
National Film Awards
The National Film Awards is the most prominent film award ceremony in India. Established in 1954, it is administered, along with the International Film Festival of India and the Indian Panorama, by the Indian government's Directorate of Film Festivals since 1973.Every year, a national panel...
.
Plot
The movie starts with an introduction by Viswanath, "'Sisurvetti pasurvetti, vetti gana rasam phanihi' (Music is enjoyed equally by babies, animals and even snakes) We hope you appreciate our effort in bringing you the Jeeva Dhara of Indian classical music.""Sankarabharanam" Sankara Sastri is a very popular Carnatic singer
Carnatic music
Carnatic music is a system of music commonly associated with the southern part of the Indian subcontinent, with its area roughly confined to four modern states of India: Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu...
. He is immersed in sangeetha rasaamrutha (Nectar of Music) with his nirantara saadhana (uninterrupted practice). People come in huge numbers to listen his voice and consider him a great man. He has mastered the raga Sankarabharanam, and hence is eponymous with the same. Tulasi, (Manju Bhargavi
Manju Bhargavi
Manju 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...
)
) is a prostitute's daughter who has great interest in music and dance. She is also an admirer of Sastri and learns music from him when he used to teach his own daughter along the riverside. But her mother wants her to become a prostitute to earn money. One day a rich client of her mother's rapes Tulasi. He insults Sastri saying that now that he was done with Tulasi, she could go and flirt with Sastri all she wanted. Enraged by the disgrace towards Sastri, her guru
Guru
A guru is one who is regarded as having great knowledge, wisdom, and authority in a certain area, and who uses it to guide others . Other forms of manifestation of this principle can include parents, school teachers, non-human objects and even one's own intellectual discipline, if the...
, she kills the client. Her mother was sent to jail because of Sastriji's friend, a lawyer (Allu Ramalingaiah) and was saved from jail but has found out that she is pregnant. Sastri tries to save her by consulting a lawyer who wins the case in Tulasi's favour.
Then Sastri brings her to his home where other people insult him as Tulasi is a murderer and daughter of a prostitute while Sastri is a devout Brahmin
Brahmin
Brahmin Brahman, Brahma and Brahmin.Brahman, Brahmin and Brahma have different meanings. Brahman refers to the Supreme Self...
. Tulasi moves out of his house as she does not want him to face insults because of her but hopes to show her gratitude towards him.
Ten years pass by, pop music
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
is now popular in India and Sastri loses his classical music lovers. He now lives in a small house with his grown up daughter. When Tulasi comes to know of Sastri's plight she tries to help him monetarily but gives the money through someone else. Tulasi inherits all of her mother's property and utilizes all of it to help him. She also asks her son to go to Sastri's home and learn classical music from him. After managing to get an entry to Sastri's home, he starts learning Carnatic music from the maestro.
Chandra Mohan
Chandra Mohan (actor)
Chandra Mohan or Chandramohan is a Telugu film actor. He acted as Hero, comedy, support character roles in many Telugu films.-Early life:...
, a dilettante
Amateur
An amateur is generally considered a person attached to a particular pursuit, study, or science, without pay and often without formal training....
falls in love with Sastri's daughter. Although Sastri rejects the marriage proposal at first, he later agrees after knowing the man's interest in classical music. Tulasi, then arranges for a concert on the very day of his daughter's wedding, where Sastri once again finds his lost audience come back to see hear his voice. Sastri sings at the concert and halfway through it suffers a heart attack and finds his new disciple, Tulasi's son, take over the concert from him. As he watches him with pride, he also sees Tulasi and finds out that the boy is indeed, Tulasi's son. After the performance, he symbolically anoints the boy as heir to his music and dies. Tulasi comes to her guru and falls down at his feet and also passes away, that very moment, along with him. The film ends with both Sastri and Tulasi dead on the stage.
Cast
- J. V. SomayajuluJ. V. SomayajuluJ. V. Somayajulu was an Indian theatre and film actor. His most notable role was as Sankar Sastry in the Telugu movie Shankarabharanam he has won Filmfare Best Actor Award ....
as Shankarabharanam Sankara Sastry - 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...
as Tulasi - Chandra MohanChandra MohanChandramohan or Chandra Mohan is an Indian name:* Chandra Mohan , is a popular Telugu film actor.* Chandra Mohan was a popular Hindi film actor....
- Rajya Lakshmi as Sankara Sastry's daughter Sarada
- Allu Ramalingaiah as Lawyer and Sankar Sastry`s friend
- NirmalammaNirmalammaNirmalamma was one of the most versatile and natural character artists in the Telugu film industry of India. She has acted in more than 800 films. She was well known for her grandmother roles in several films.-Film career:...
- 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 Tulasi as Tulasi's son
- Jhansi as Tulasi's mother
Box office performance
- The film released in only one theatre and opened to empty hall. But it later turned out to be one of the biggest hits of 1979 owing to the positive feedback from the audience.
- The film had a 216 day run at Royal theatre, Hyderabad.
- The success of this film triggered a sequence of other art movies in Telugu, including TyagayyaTyagayya (1981 film)Tyagayya is a 1981 Telugu film directed by Bapu. The cast included J.V. Somayajulu in the lead role. The film is based on the life of Tyagaraja....
(by BapuBapu (artist)Bapu is an Indian film director, known for his works in Telugu cinema.He is a music artist, painter, cartoonist, and designer...
), MeghasandesamMeghasandesamMeghasandesam is an Indian Telugu-language movie directed by Dasari Narayana Rao....
(by Dasari N. Rao), and Viswanath's own follow-ups to Sankaraabharanam: Saagara SangamamSaagara SangamamSagara Sangamam is a National Award–winning 1983 Telugu film directed by K. Viswanath and produced by Edida Nageshwara Rao, starring Kamal Haasan, Jayaprada, Geetha, Sarath Babu, S. P. Sailaja and Chakri Toleti. The movie was dubbed into Tamil as Salangai Oli...
, Sruthi Layalu, Swarna Kamalam, SirivennelaSirivennelaSirivennela is a 1986 Telugu film based on Arts and was released in India in 1986. The movie was directed by K. Viswanath who is known for his presentation in the classical arts in the current societal status of India.-Plot:...
, and Swathi KiranamSwathi KiranamSwathi Kiranam is a 1992 Telugu Musical hit film directed by Dr.K.Viswanath. The movie starred Mammootty, Master Manjunath, and Radhika. The movie is about an egoistic music teacher unable to tolerate the extraordinary talent of his prodigious young disciple.-Plot:The film starts with a shabby old...
. - It was remade in Hindi as "Sur Sangam" (1986) with Jayaprada.
- The film was Dubbed in Tamil and Malayalam as the same title.
Critical response
- Film critic Gudipoodi Srihari called it as the best Telugu film he has seen after MayabazarMayabazarMayabazar is a folklore Telugu Cinema first released in Andhra Pradesh, India on 27 March 1957, produced by B.Nagi Reddy and Alur Chakrapani. It was also dubbed in Tamil , and the Telugu version was later dubbed in Kannada. The story, dialogues, and song lyrics were written by Pingali Nagendra...
.
Awards
- Filmfare Best Actor Award (Telugu) - J. V. SomayajuluJ. V. SomayajuluJ. V. Somayajulu was an Indian theatre and film actor. His most notable role was as Sankar Sastry in the Telugu movie Shankarabharanam he has won Filmfare Best Actor Award ....
- National Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome EntertainmentNational Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome EntertainmentThe National Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment winners:1981 to 1984 and 1992, 1986 & 1977 No Award was given....
(1980) - 'Golden Lotus Award' - National Film Award for Best Feature Film in TeluguNational Film Award for Best Feature Film in TeluguThe National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu Cinema winners: The awards received by the films released in the previous year are listed below...
(1980) - National Film Award for Best Music DirectionNational Film Award for Best Music DirectionThe National Film Award for Best Music Direction are given annually. In years 1994, 1995 and 2010, an award for Best Background Score was instituted by the Jury, which was won by Johnson and by Ilaiyaraaja . Ilaiyaraaja and A. R...
(1980) - K. V. MahadevanK. V. MahadevanKrishnankoil Venkatachalam Mahadevan was a South Indian music composer.-Career:K.V.Mahadevan was born in Tamil Iyer family in 1918 in Krishnancoil, Kanyakumari district. A contemporary of M. S. Viswanathan, T. K. Ramamoorthy, KVM has scored music for over 600 films, spanning four decades, after... - National Film Award for Best Male Playback SingerNational Film Award for Best Male Playback SingerThe following is a list of winners of the National Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer. The singer with the most awards in this category is K. J. Yesudas with seven wins, whereas S. P. Balasubrahmanyam won six times for 4 different languages; Hindi, Kannada, Tamil and Telugu.-Superlatives:...
(1980) - 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... - National Film Award for Best Female Playback SingerNational Film Award for Best Female Playback SingerThe National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer winners are given below. Lata Mangeshkar is the oldest winner in this category, whereas Anjali Marathe is the youngest winner; while K. S. Chithra been awarded for the maximum number of times .-Superlatives:...
(1980) - Vani JayaramVani JayaramVani Jayaram , the unmatched nightingle of India, is a prominent Indian female playback singer. She has recorded more than 8,000 songs in 14 different languages including Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Marathi and Hindi...
Soundtrack
The music, largely CarnaticCarnatic music
Carnatic music is a system of music commonly associated with the southern part of the Indian subcontinent, with its area roughly confined to four modern states of India: Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu...
based, was composed by K.V. Mahadevan.
Mangalampalli was the original choice for the male playback singer, due to the heavy classical content of the compositions. But K.V. Mahadevan, having faith in the mettle of S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Sripathi 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...
, insisted on him taking up this challenge.
| Song | Singer | Lyricist |
|---|---|---|
| Omkaara Naadaanu | S. Janaki S. Janaki S. 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. Balasubrahmanyam S. P. Balasubrahmanyam Sripathi 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... |
Veturi Sundararama Murthy |
| Raagam Taanam Pallavi | S.P. Balasubramanyam | Veturi Sundararama Murthy |
| Shankaraa Naadasareeraparaa | S.P. Balasubramanyam | |
| Ye Teeruga Nanu | Vani Jayaram Vani Jayaram Vani Jayaram , the unmatched nightingle of India, is a prominent Indian female playback singer. She has recorded more than 8,000 songs in 14 different languages including Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Marathi and Hindi... |
Bhadrachala Ramadaasu Kancherla Gopanna Kancherla Gopanna , popularly known as Bhadradri Ramadasu or Bhadrachala Ramadasu, was a 17th century Indian devotee of Rama and a composer of Carnatic music. He is one among the famous vaggeyakaras in the Telugu language, the others being Tyagaraja, Annamayya, Kshetryya... |
| Brochevaarevaruraa | S.P. Balasubramanyam, Vani Jayaram | Mysore Vasudevachar |
| Manasa Sancharare | S.P. Balasubramanyam, Vani Jayaram | Sadasiva Brahmendra Sadasiva Brahmendra Sadasiva Brahmendra was a saint, a composer of Carnatic music and an Advaita philosopher who lived near Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu during the 18th century. He composed mainly in Sanskrit. Only a few of his compositions have survived but they are recognised as great compositions of Carnatic Music.-... |
| Saamaja Varagamana | S. Janaki, S.P. Balasubramanyam | Veturi Sundararama Murthy |
| Maanikya Veena | S.P. Balasubramanyam | Mahakavi Kalidasu Kalidasa Kālidāsa was a renowned Classical Sanskrit writer, widely regarded as the greatest poet and dramatist in the Sanskrit language... |
| Paluke Bangaaramaayena | S.P. Balasubramanyam, Vani Jayaram | Bhadrachala Ramadaasu |
| Dorakunaa Ituvanti Seva | S.P. Balasubramanyam. Vani Jayaram | Veturi Sundararama Murthy |
External links
- Sankara Bharanam - a review of the film from the Telugu film site idlebrain.com
- Legend Sankarabharanam