Annamayya

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Annamayya
Directed by	K. Raghavendra Rao
Starring	Akkineni Nagarjuna Ramya Krishnan Mohan Babu
Music by	Keeravani
Release date(s)	1997
Running time	130 min
Country	Template:Filmicon India
Language	Telugu
IMDb profile

This article is about the film. For the famous composer, click here.

Annamayya (Telugu: అన్నమయ్య) is a 1997 Tollywood film directed by K. Raghavendra Rao starring Akkineni Nagarjuna, Ramya Krishnan, Mohan Babu, and Roja. The music director is Keeravani. It is the cinematic of life of the famous composer, Annamacharya.

1 Synopsis
2 Box-office
3 Awards
4 Trivia
5 Footnotes
6 External links

[edit] Synopsis

One day;Lord Vishnu's(Suman) wife Lakshmi complains that there are no people who sing songs in praise of Him in Telugu language.To find a solution to the problem;he sends Nandaka(His sword) to be born as Annamayya to a childless couple.Now;at the age of 16;Annamayya(Nagarjuna) is in love with his 2 cousins(Ramyakrishnan and another);but he still possesses the element of devotion to God.Annamayya always thinks that no one are more beautiful than his 2 cousins.(Who were promised to be married to Annamayya.)Now;Venkateshwara(Vishnu) comes in a disguise and asks Annamayya what will he do if he finds anyone more beautiful than his own cousins;he says that he will never see anyone other than that person.Now;this man takes Annamayya to a Vishnu Temple in Annamayya's own place, "tallapaka" and to Annamayya's shock;he finds the Lord Venkateshwara more handsome.Now;he feels ashamed of himself for blindly running behind his 2 cousins;instead of concentrating upon God.Now;when Annamayya was asked to bring dry grass for Yagna from the forests(Near Tirumala.);he intrinsically feels like joining the Tirumala pilgrims's group.However;he finds it difficult to walk many steps of the Tirumala and also feels hungry.Then Padmavathi or Lakshmi(Bhanupriya) comes in the disguise of an old woman and tells Annamayya to remove his sandals and walk bare-footed and gives him food.Once again;he resumes his journey and when he reaches the temple;he starts singing songs in praise of the Lord Venkateshwara and he remains there for many days. Meanwhile; Annamayya's kith and kin go in search of Annamayya;his parents feel broken-hearted as their lineage will get eliminated if Annamayya does not marry.Taking pity on the parents;Venkateswara comes in a common man's disguise and tells Annamayya that one can live a saintly life even in a marriage life and asks him not to disrespect his parents;and he says even his Lord has 2 wives.This seems convincing to Annamayya and hence;he marries his 2 cousins;but on condition that he after 2 sons are born to him;he will go along with his wifes to seek Venkateshwara's grace.After his wifes give birth to 2 sons;he and his wifes will look after the children for 10 years and submit them to Annamayya's parents' care.Then;go to Tirumala where Annamayya recites the songs while his 2 wives write them.He catches the attention of many devotees due to his kirtanas.Now;the ruler Saluva Narasimha(Mohan Babu) too gets charmed by his songs and make him the court poet.One day;the ruler asks him to recite a song in his praise;but Annamayya rejects it saying he would sing only for the Lord Venkateshwara!Now;the ruler sends him to jail where he tied by iron rods and beaten badly by the guards.But;Venkateswara rescues him by breaking the iron rods;much to the shock of the jailors and Saluva Narasimha.Now;Saluva Narasimha realises Annamayya's greatness and begs for pardon.He then allows him to venture anywhere and also can ask help anytime from him.This offer turns out to be helpful for him;for at a later time;when his enemies attempt to destroy his writings;Saluva comes to Annamayya's rescue and sees that his writings are published and stored for the future.Now;at the age of 95;having seen and been to many pilgrimage places dedicated to Vishnu;he prefers to go to the Tirumala temple and fall at Lord Venkateswara's feet.But;to his surprise;the Lord himself leaves his abode to greet him at the temple entrance.This makes him feel emotional and dies in front of the Lord ;who will accept his great devotee Annamayya to stay at His abode(Vaikuntha);meant for the great and divine.

[edit] Box-office

The film turned out to be a hit with a 100 day run in 42 centres^[1].
The film had a 176-day run in 2 centres.^[2]
The film was a big hit in Karnataka too.^[3]
The film album is the highest sold Telugu music album till date.^[4]
It was dubbed in Hindi as Tirupathi Sri Balaji^[5].

[edit] Awards

National Film Award for Best Music Direction (1997) for Keeravani M.M..
Nandi Award for Best Actor (1997) for Nagarjuna.
Nandi Award for Special Jury Award (1997) for Suman

[edit] Trivia

Many directors;including Jandhyala ventured on making a movie on Annamacharya;which however turned out to be unfruitful.^[6].
The producer of the film Doraiswamy Raju was a TDP legislator.^[7]