Annamayya (film)
| Annamayya | |
|---|---|
| File:Annamayya film.jpg | |
| Directed by | K. Raghavendra Rao |
| Written by | J. K. Bharavi (story / dialogues) |
| Screenplay by | K. Raghavendra Rao |
| Produced by | V. Doraswamy Raju |
| Starring | Akkineni Nagarjuna Mohan Babu Suman Ramya Krishna Roja Bhanupriya Kasturi Srikanya |
| Cinematography | A. Vincent |
| Edited by | A. Sreekar Prasad |
| Music by | M. M. Keeravani |
Production company | |
Release date |
|
Running time | 147 minutes |
| Country | India |
| Language | Telugu |
Annamayya is a 1997 Telugu biographical devotional film produced by V. Doraswamy Raju on VMC Productions banner, directed by K. Raghavendra Rao. Starring Akkineni Nagarjuna, Mohan Babu, Suman, Ramya Krishna, Bhanupriya, Roja, Kasturi played the lead roles and music composed by M. M. Keeravani. The film recorded as Blockbuster at box-office. The film is cinematic of life of 15th century composer, Annamacharya. Upon release, The film has received positive reviews and won eight Nandi Awards and two National Film Awards.[1][2] The film was premiered at the 1998 International Film Festival of India in the mainstream section.[3]
Plot
| External videos | |
|---|---|
 Annamayya on YouTube. |
Lord Vishnu (Suman) listens to requests from his consort Lakshmi (Bhanupriya) that there weren't many people singing songs in praise of the Lord in Telugu language. In response, the Lord sends Nandaka (His sword) to be born as Annamacharya to a childless couple in Tallapaka village, Kadapa District. Growing as a normal young man, Annamayya (Akkineni Nagarjuna) is in love with his 2 cousins Timakka and Akkalamma (Ramya Krishnan and Kasturi) and thinks that his cousins are the most beautiful creations of god.
Lord Vishnu appears in front of Annamayya in disguise and accepts a challenge from him to show someone more beautiful than his cousins - GOD in the form of Lord Venkateswara in a temple in his village. Upon discovering the beauty of Lord, Annamayya is lost in a different world and ends up making a pilgrimage to Tirumala Venkateswara Temple without planning or informing his parents. As his find pilgrims enter the holy hills, he is lost and is helped by Goddess Lakshmi herself in the form of an old lady by informing him that his footwear was preventing his progress. Also weakened by fasting, Annamayya accepts Laddu - a prasadam from the food consecrated by the Lord himself. Upon reaching Tirumala, he is enthralled by the beauty of God and settles there to write and sing hymns in praise of the Lord.
Meanwhile, Annamayya's parents get worried regarding Annamayya's whereabouts. Then, the Lord Venkateshwara, hearing the prayers of Lakkavaamba (Annamayya's mother), himself comes in the disguise of a Hunter along with his consorts and tells them that Annamayya lives in Tirumala. Then, Annamayya's parents, cousins, aunt, uncle and his 2 friends come to Tirumala and watch him worship the Lord.
When Annamayya is asked to marry his 2 cousins, he refuses saying that his life is dedicated to the service of the Lord and marriage would become a hindrance to it. But, he is then convinced by the Lord himself who has now taken the form of a Brahmin. The Lord personally conducts the wedding of Annamayya with his cousins - Timakka and Akkalamma. After the birth of children, Annamayya settles in Tirumala leaving his children in the care of his parents. Through encounters with the local administrator (Tanikella Bharani), he comes in contact with the ruler of the country - Saluva Narasimha(Mohan Babu) who becomes a fan of his songs and make him the court poet. On hearing a Sringara Sankeertan, the King and Queen (Roja) request that Annamayya sing a sankeertan in their praise as well, something Annamayya rejects as he would sing only for the Lord and not for any human being. Jailed for not heeding to the King, Annamayya invokes Lord in the form of Narashima (human-lion) and to the surprise of the King, jailors and everyone - the iron rods burst into flames and releases Annamayya.
Realizing that their husband was born for humanity and Lord's service, his wives give up their lives freeing Annamayya of any earthly attachment. Annamayya realizing the divine order takes to writing poems and sankirtans and reaches old age. Priests and Brahmins unhappy with his social inclusion of lower caste people in the temple try to destroy his writings. When Annamayya decides to sacrifice his life because all his works were lost, a significant portion of his work is saved by Lord's grace from the fire. Saluva Narasimha and Annamayya's son's convert his work from palm to copper inscriptions thus preserving his works for eternity. On completion and dedication of the work in the temple sanctum sanctorum, the Lord and his consorts appears one last time, in their divine form. The Lord grants salvation and Annamayya's soul returns as Nandaka (Sword).
Reception
This movie was considered as Box office super hit. It is one of the biggest hits in Akkineni Nagarjuna film career. Though there have been few changes in the original life history of Shri Tallapaka Annamacharya, one could understand these changes helped the movie to become commercially a big hit.[4]
Cast
- Akkineni Nagarjuna as Annamayya
- Suman as Lord Venkateshwara
- Mohan Babu as Saluva Narasimha Rayalu
- M. Balayya as Narayana Suri
- Kota Srinivasa Rao
- Brahmanandam
- Babu Mohan
- Tanikella Bharani
- Mallikarjuna Rao
- AVS
- Gundu Hanumantha Rao
- Chitti Babu
- Ananth Babu
- Suthi Velu
- "Fight Master" Raju
- Jenny
- Ramya Krishna as Timakka
- Kasturi as Akkalamma
- Roja as Saluva Narasimha Rayalu's wife
- Bhanupriya as Goddess Padmavati
- Sri Kanya as Goddess Alamelumanga
- Subha as Lakkamamba
- Siva Parvathi
Soundtrack
| Untitled | |
|---|---|
Music released on T-Series Audio company. All songs are blockbusters. The audio was initially released in two volumes (Vol. 1 & Vol. 2) in the Audio cassette format.[5]
All music is composed by M. M. Keeravani
| No. | Title | Lyrics | Artist(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Vinaro Bhagyamu" | Annamayya keerthana | SP Balu, Srilekha, Keeravani, Anuradha, Anand, Gangadhar, Renuka, Purnachandar, Sujatha, Anand Bhattacharya | 3:32 |
| 2. | "Telugu Padaniki" | Veturi | SP Balu, Sujatha, Renuka | 3:56 |
| 3. | "Ele Ele Maradala" | Veturi | SP Balu, Sujatha, Anuradha | 4:26 |
| 4. | "Padhaharu Kalalaku" | J. K. Bharavi | Mano | 2:16 |
| 5. | "Kalaganti Kalaganti" | Annamayya keerthana | SP Balu | 2:53 |
| 6. | "Adhivo Alladivo" | Annamayya keerthana | SP Balu | 3:57 |
| 7. | "Podagantimayya" | Annamayya keerthana | SP Balu | 4:10 |
| 8. | "Vinnapalu Vinavale" | Annamayya keerthana | SP Balu, Renuka, Srilekha | 4:08 |
| 9. | "Sobhaname Sobhaname" | Annamayya keerthana | Mano | 1:32 |
| 10. | "Moosina Muthyalake" | Annamayya keerthana | SP Balu, K. S. Chitra | 3:22 |
| 11. | "Asmadeeya" | Veturi | Mano, K. S. Chitra | 3:57 |
| 12. | "Kondalalo Nelakonna" | Annamayya keerthana | SP Balu | 1:31 |
| 13. | "Emoko" | Annamayya keerthana | SP Balu | 4:22 |
| 14. | "Palanethralu" | Veturi | SP Balu | 1:26 |
| 15. | "Nigama Nigamantha" | Annamayya keerthana | SP Balu, K. S. Chitra | 3:59 |
| 16. | "Govindaa Sritha" | Annamayya keerthana | SP Balu, Keeravani, Anand Bhattacharya, Anuradha | 8:02 |
| 17. | "Nanati Bathuku" | Annamayya keerthana | Mano | 1:06 |
| 18. | "Dachuko Nee Padaalaku" | Annamayya keerthana | SP Balu, S. P. Sailaja | 0:46 |
| 19. | "Antharyami" | Annamayya keerthana | SP Balu, S. P. Sailaja | 4:15 |
| 20. | "Brahma Kadigina Padamu" | Annamayya keerthana | Poorna chandar, Sriram, K. S. Chitra, Anuradha, Sujatha, Radhika | 2:05 |
| Total length: | 65:51 | |||
Box-office
- The film turned out to be a hit with a 100-day run in 42 centres.[6]
- The film had a 176-day run in 2 centres.[7]
- The film was a big hit in Karnataka too.[8]
- The film album is the highest sold Telugu music album till date.[9]
- It was dubbed in Hindi as Tirupathi Sri Balaji.[10][11]
Awards
- Nandi Awards - 1997
- Best Feature Film (Gold) - Doraswamy Raju
- Best Actor - Nagarjuna
- Best Director - K.Raghavendra Rao
- Best Male Dubbing Artist - S.P.Balasubrahmanyam
- Best Costume Designer - Thota Babu Rao
- Best Makeup Artist - T.Mallikarjuna Rao
- Best Art Director - V.Bhaskara Raju
- Best Cinematographer - A. Vincent
References
- ^ "CineGoer.com - Box-Office Records And Collections - Two Successive Silver Jubilees".
- ^ "తెలుగుసినిమా చరిత్ర: Andhra Pradesh State Nandi Film Awards(1997-2000)".
- ^ "Directorate of Film Festival" (PDF).
- ^ Annamayya film Review in IMDB.com
- ^ "Annamayya (1997) Telugu Movie Review, Cast and Crew, Posters, Wallpapers, Audio covers, Song books, Full Movie, Video Songs, Lyrics, Story".
- ^ Telugu cinema - Nagarjuna - bio data
- ^ CineGoer.com - Box-Office Records And Collections - Nagarjuna's 175-Day Centres List
- ^ Rediff On The Net, Movies: Nagarjuna plays a religious poet in Annamayya
- ^ Keeravani on Sri Ramadasu songs - Telugu and Hindi film music director
- ^ `Annamayya` in Hindi! - Sify.com
- ^ TotalTollywood - Destination Telugu Cinema - One stop for Telugu Movies and Music Archived 4 January 2007 at the Wayback Machine
