Swarnakamalam
| Swarnakamalam | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical Release poster | |
| Directed by | K. Viswanath |
| Written by | Sainath Thotapalli (dialogue) |
| Screenplay by | K. Viswanath |
| Story by | K. Viswanath |
| Produced by | C. H. V. Appa Rao K. S. Rama Rao (presenter) |
| Starring | Venkatesh Bhanupriya Sharon Lowen |
| Cinematography | Lok Singh |
| Edited by | G. G. Krishna Rao |
| Music by | Ilayaraja |
Production company | Bhanu Art Creations |
Release date |
|
Running time | 143 minutes |
| Country | India |
| Language | Telugu |
Swarnakamalam (Template:Lang-en) is a 1988 Telugu dance film, written and directed by Kasinathuni Viswanath.[1] The film starred Venkatesh, Bhanupriya, and Sharon Lowen in the lead roles.[2] The song sequences were choreographed by Kelucharan Mohapatra with soundtrack by Ilayaraja.[3][1]
The film was screened at the Indian panorama section of the 1988 International Film Festival of India,[4] the Asia Pacific Film Festival and the Ann Arbor Film Festival.[5][6][2] The film received three state Nandi Awards, three Cinema Express Awards, and two South Filmfare Awards, including Nandi Award for Best Feature Film and Filmfare Best Film Award (Telugu).[7][8]
Plot
Meenakshi (Bhanupriya) and Savitri (Devilalita) are daughters of a Kuchipudi doyen, Seshendra Shastry. While a highly accomplished artist in his field, Seshendra Shastry is not well-off and has not been able to afford his daughters a conventional education. Both of them have achieved a respectable degree of proficiency — Savitri in Carnatic classical music and Meenakshi in classical dance.
Savitri is grateful for her knowledge and interest and looks forward to a life that will require her to hone her skills in the same art. Meenakshi, on the other hand, is bitter about the lack of opportunity that she feels in the field of classical dance in India and resolves to make a simpler and more pleasurable life for herself as soon as possible, while confiding her ambitions only to her sister.
Chandrasekhar (Venkatesh) is a tenant who has just moved in next door. He is a painter and is shown to be handling movie promotions as a large chunk of his work. He develops an interest in the neighbors and tries to help them in whatever way he can, partly because of his (unconfessed) interest in Meenakshi and partly because of his interest in the art which seems to be slowly fading away from public life.
The rest of the film is largely built around Meenakshi's journey from skepticism to devotion in her pursuit of dance. Chandrasekhar is shown to be an important catalyst in this transformation. Meenakshi becomes an accomplished dancer through the direction of renowned Odissi dancer Sharon Lowen, and gets the opportunity to go to the United States and perform. She learns of Chandrasekhar's love for her, and finally unites with Chandrasekhar, confessing her love for him as well.
Cast
- Venkatesh as Chandu / Chandra Shekar
- Bhanupriya as Meenakshi
- Shanmukha Srinivas as Srinivas
- Sakshi Ranga Rao as Omkaram
- Sri Lakshmi as Akhilam
- S. K. Misro as Government official
- Devilalita as Savitri
- Dubbing Janaki
- Sharon Lowen as herself
- K. V. satyanarayana
- Vinnakota Vijayaram
- N. Sivarama Krishnaiah
- K. S. T. Sai
- S. S. Vajpayee
Production
The production design was helmed by Arun D. Ghodgaonkar with cinematography by Lok Singh.[9] Casting was done by K. Viswanath, including american dancer Sharon Lowen who portrayed herself as a veteran Odissi artist.[2] The song sequences demanded locations that were spread across Puri, the Himalayas, the Valley of Flowers National Park, the stupa at Dhauli Odisha, and Visakhapatnam.[9]
Soundtrack
The music for the film was composed by Ilaiyaraaja and released on ECHO Music Company.
| No. | Title | Lyrics | Singer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Ghallu Ghallu" | Sirivennela Sitaramasastri | P. Susheela, S. P. Balu | 5:02 |
| 2. | "Aakasamulo" | Sirivennela Sitaramasastri | S. Janaki | 4:29 |
| 3. | "Kothaga Rekka" | Sirivennela Sitaramasastri | SP Balu, S. Janaki | 4:29 |
| 4. | "Koluvai Vunnade" | Sirivennela Sitaramasastri | P. Susheela, S. P. Balu | 4:57 |
| 5. | "Andela Ravamidhi" | Sirivennela Sitaramasastri | S. P. Balu, Vani Jairam | 6:59 |
| 6. | "Shiva Poojaku" | Sirivennela Sitaramasastri | P. Susheela, S. P. Balu | 6:04 |
| 7. | "Cheri Yasodaku" | Annamayya Keerthana | S. P. Sailaja | 4:35 |
| 8. | "Aathmathvam" | Siva Manasa Puja | S. Janaki | 3:07 |
| 9. | "Sakhihey" | Bhuvaneswar Misra | Jayadev Ashtapadhi | 1:19 |
| Total length: | 44:39 | |||
| Untitled | |
|---|---|
Awards
- Nandi Awards- 1988
- Best Feature Film - (Gold) - Ch.V. Appa Rao
- Best Actress - Bhanupriya
- Special Jury Award - Venkatesh
- Filmfare Awards South- 1988
- Best Film – Telugu - Ch.V. Appa Rao[10]
- Best Actress – Telugu - Bhanupriya
- Cinema Express Awards Best Film - Ch.V. Appa Rao [11]
- Cinema Express Awards Best Director - K. Viswanath[11]
- Cinema Express Awards Best Actress - Bhanupriya[11]
References
- ^ a b Ranjana Dave (30 June 2011). "The meaning in movement". The Asian Age. Retrieved 4 September 2012.
- ^ a b c Kumar, Ranee. "Sharon Lowen, an envoy of Indian culture".
- ^ http://www.paadal.com/composer/ilayaraja
- ^ "Directorate of Film Festival".
- ^ "Dance without frontiers: K Viswanath – Director who aims to revive classical arts". 2 May 2017.
- ^ 30 Jun 2011 - Ranjana Dave (30 June 2011). "The meaning in movement". The Asian Age. Retrieved 4 September 2012.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Subramanium (5 September 2005). "`So many parallels in our life". p. 01 – via The Hindu.
- ^ "Directorate of Film Festival" (PDF).
- ^ a b http://www.indianbackgroundscore.com/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=164 indianbackgroundscore.com
- ^ https://books.google.com/books/about/Vidura.html?id=S5ZZAAAAMAAJ. C. Sarkar., 1989 - Journalism
- ^ a b c Express News Service (11 March 1989), "Cinema Express readers choose Agni Nakshathiram", The Indian Express, p. 4, retrieved 7 October 2016