Devaraagam

Devaraagam
Directed by	Bharathan
Screenplay by	Bharathan
Story by	S. S. Mani
Produced by	Bharathan
Starring	Arvind Swamy Sridevi Nedumudi Venu Kozhikode Narayanan Nair Zeenath Narendra Prasad Chippy KPAC Lalitha
Cinematography	Ravi Yadav
Edited by	B. Lenin V. T. Vijayan
Music by	M. M. Keeravani
Release date	6 April 1996 (1996-04-06)
Country	India
Language	Malayalam

Devaraagam is a 1996 Indian Malayalam-language film directed by Bharathan and starring Arvind Swamy and Sridevi in the lead roles. It also had KPAC Lalitha, Kozhikode Narayanan Nair, Zeenath and Nedumudi Venu in supporting roles. The film music was composed by M. M. Keeravani. A Tamil dubbed version of the film was also released.

Plot

The film opens with a young child climbing into a bullock cart and insisting that he also go with the cart to pick up the 'Shavundi' - a person who performs funeral rites and lives amongst the cremation grounds. Though essential to the funeral ceremonies, he is often considered frightening or unlucky. He certainly looks that way too - covered in ash and grime, sleeping in a bat-infested grove and given ominous background music. The 'Shavundi' and child begin talking in the cart ride to the funeral, and then a flashback takes us to meet Lakshmi.

Life for Lakshmi (Sridevi) turns head over heels when Vishnu (Aravind Swamy) the new priest's son and priest-in-training, shows up in her village. Lakshmi is instantly intrigued by the new young man in town, and strives to start a relationship with him. Certain antics and innocent clashes follow and both of them fall in love. Later, problems arose due to Vishnu's status in society; i. e. he is a bramhachari and cannot marry. Meanwhile, Lakshmi's marriage is fixed with her cousin and she has to go through the ordeal.

Cast

• Aravind Swamy as Vishnu
• Sridevi as Lakshmi (Voice over by Revathi)
• KPAC Lalitha
• Nedumudi Venu
• Chippy
• Janardanan
• Kaveri
• M. S. Thripunithura
• Kozhikode Narayanan Nair
• Narendra Prasad
• Priyanka Anoop
• Reena
• Ravi Menon
• Zeenath
• Ravali
• Par
• Rajiv Krishna as Parthasarathy

Soundtrack

The music was composed by M. M. Keeravani and lyrics was penned down by M. D. Rajendran.

Malayalam version

No.	Song	Singers	Lyrics	Length (m:ss)
1	Devapaadam	KS Chithra	MD Rajendran
2	Entharo Mahaanu Bhaavulu	Arundhathi	Tyagaraja
3	Karivari vandukal	P Jayachandran	MD Rajendran
4	Shashikala Chaarthiya	KS Chithra, MM Keeravani, Master Don Vincent	MD Rajendran
5	Shishirakaala Meghamidhuna	P Jayachandran, KS Chithra	MD Rajendran
6	Thaazhampoo	KS Chithra, Sindhu	MD Rajendran
7	Ya ya ya yadava	KS Chithra, P. Unnikrishnan	MD Rajendran

Tamil version (Dubbed)

No.	Song	Singers
1	Chinna Chinna	KS Chithra, SPB
2	Entharo Mahaanu Bhaavulu	Arundhathi
3	Azhagiya Karthigai	K.S.Chithra
4	Karuvanna Vandugal	K.S.Chithra
5	Ya Ya Yadava	K.S.Chithra, SPB
6	Thaazhampoo	Sujatha, Nirmala

Telugu version (Dubbed)

No.	Song	Singers	Length (m:ss)
1	Neela Varna	M. M. Keeravani	02:28
2	Prema Raagam	K.S.Chitra, Chorus	04:19
3	Sravanala Meghamaala	S.P.Balasubrahmanyam, M. M. Srilekha	05:04
4	Kannula Karthika	K.S.Chitra, P. Jayachandran & Chorus	04:55
5	Sirimalle Mogga Meeda	K.S.Chitra & Chorus	04:29

Awards

K.S.Chithra won the 1996 Kerala State Film Awards for Best Play Back Singer for the song "Sasikala Charthiya".

Reception

The film was not well-received at the box-office and was mostly panned by film-critics. However, the film's music was universally praised and the lead cast received mostly favorable reviews. The last Malayalam film of veteran Indian actress Sridevi Kapoor as heroine, it was a return to form for Sridevi who started her career as a child-star in several Malayalam films. Sridevi's performance in the film, her look (especially her effortless, glamorous song and dance routines) was well-appreciated by the audience.

External links

• Devaraagam at IMDb
• Devaraagam Soundtrack at Raaga