| Sankarabharanam | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | K. Viswanath |
| Produced by | Poornodaya Movie Creations |
| Written by | K. Viswanath, Jandhyala (dialogues) |
| Starring | J.V. Somayajulu Manju Bhargavi Chandra Mohan |
| Music by | KV Mahadevan |
| Cinematography | Balu Mahendra |
| Release date(s) | 1979 |
| Running time | 143 min |
| Language | Telugu |
Sankarabharanam (Telugu: శంకరాభరణం, English: Shankara's ornament) is a 1979 blockbuster, Telugu film, directed by K. Viswanath and produced by Poornodaya Movie Creations. The soundtrack was composed by KV Mahadevan which 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, having won four National Film Awards and five Nandi Awards, and traveled to many international film festivals, especially the Indian panorama in the 8th International Film Festival of India in 1980, and Moscow Film Festival[1][2]
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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. 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.
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The music, largely Carnatic 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.
| Song | Singer | Lyricist |
|---|---|---|
| Omkaara Naadaanu | S. Janaki, S. P. Balasubrahmanyam | Veturi Sundararama Murthy |
| Raagam Taanam Pallavi | S.P. Balasubramanyam | Veturi Sundararama Murthy |
| Shankaraa Naadasareeraparaa | S.P. Balasubramanyam | |
| Ye Teeruga Nanu | Vani Jayaram | Bhadrachala Ramadaasu |
| Brochevaarevaruraa | S.P. Balasubramanyam, Vani Jayaram | Mysore Vasudevachar |
| Manasa Sancharare | S.P. Balasubramanyam, Vani Jayaram | Sadasiva Brahmendra |
| Saamaja Varagamana | S. Janaki, S.P. Balasubramanyam | Veturi Sundararama Murthy |
| Maanikya Veena | S.P. Balasubramanyam | Mahakavi Kalidasu |
| Paluke Bangaaramaayena | S.P. Balasubramanyam, Vani Jayaram | Bhadrachala Ramadaasu |
| Dorakunaa Ituvanti Seva | S.P. Balasubramanyam. Vani Jayaram | Veturi Sundararama Murthy |
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