Siva (1989 Telugu film)

Siva
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Ram Gopal Varma
Produced by	Akkineni Venkat Yarlagadda Surendra
Written by	Tanikella Bharani (dialogues)
Screenplay by	Ram Gopal Varma
Story by	Ram Gopal Varma
Starring	Akkineni Nagarjuna Amala Akkineni
Music by	Ilaiyaraaja
Cinematography	S. Gopala Reddy
Edited by	Sattibabu
Production company	Annapurna Studios S. S. Creations
Release dates	5 October 1989 (1989-10-05)
Running time	142 minutes
Country	India
Language	Telugu

Siva (Telugu: శివ) is a 1989 Telugu action film based on student politics in Mafia backdrop, written and directed by Ram Gopal Varma in his debut. The film was produced by Akkineni Venkat, starring Akkineni Nagarjuna, Amala Akkineni, and Raghuvaran in lead roles, with soundtrack composed by Ilaiyaraaja. The film was premiered at the 13th International Film Festival of India on January 19, 1990 at the Empire Theater in Kolkata.^[1] Upon release, the film received very positive reviews and remained a cult classic blockbuster.^[2]

The film has garnered state Nandi Awards for Best direction, Best First Film of a director and Best dialogue writer. The film has also garnered the Filmfare Award for Best Film – Telugu. The film is listed among CNN-IBN's 100 greatest Indian films of all time.^[3] The film's original soundtrack was composed by Ilaiyaraaja, which remained a chartbuster.^[4] The film was also dubbed into Tamil as Udhayam. The college campus depicted was shot at Keys High School, in Secunderabad. In 1990, The film was completely remade in Hindi as Shiva, with few changes in the climax of the film. The Hindi version became an instant hit at the box office. The Telugu version is now available in a 2014 digitally restored and remastered format for home video, marking the film's Silver Jubilee.^[5]

This film was path breaker for Tollywood at that time. This was the Indian film shot using Steady cam. This was the first telugu film and second Indian film to be documented. The documentary too got huge response. Here is the link of that documentary. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSx5WFj-XXw

Synopsis

The film opens with a bunch of gangsters, led by Ganesh, waiting outside the (fictional) VAS college of Arts & Sciences. A college student JD (JD Chakravarthy) gestures to the goons and they proceed to savagely assault another student and his friends.

It turns out that JD is a student leader, a big-man-on-campus , who is the (unopposed) President of the Student Union at the college. He is also the lowest rung in a gang ladder that reaches through Ganesh, the local goon, to Bhavani (Raghuvaran). Bhavani uses this network to provide political (and criminal, as needed) muscle to the local politician Machiraju (Kota Srinivasa Rao).

Siva (Nagarjuna) is a new student at college. He joins a small group of friends including Malli (Subhalekha Sudhakar) and Asha (Amala). JD is known to cause petty troubles (such as leering at the girls and insulting the professors). He falls upon Siva in a chance encounter. When he provokes Siva, Siva hits back. Further, Siva chases JD across campus in plain sight and inflicts vicious punishment. JD is shocked as nobody has previously confronted him like this for fear of his gang connections.

This incident sparks two things. JD fetches Ganesh to sort out Siva, and, Malli and the other students, now encouraged by Siva's actions , implore Siva to run for President at the next election. Siva proposes that the more qualified, but nerdy Naresh (Jagan) run instead. Ganesh first attempts to talk Siva out of it. But Siva tells him off, claiming that college matters are to be kept within the campus community and that lowly gangsters from outside need not interfere.

When Ganesh attempts to use force, Siva beats him back too. The matter comes before Bhavani. Bhavani is mildly annoyed, but he studies Siva as a potential replacement for JD since he is fed up of JD coming to him for every small problem and thinks to have JD as his right hand will not work because he is weak. At his behest, Naresh is assaulted and rendered unable to run. At this point, Siva accepts the nomination and decides to run.

Meanwhile, Bhavani has other troubles. He refuses to side with a worker's union leader Krishna Reddy. Krishna Reddy takes his plight to Siva; Siva agrees to help in return for muscle, and Krishna Reddy provides this by calling upon the workers. Around this time, Asha expresses a romantic interest in Siva. The friendship progresses and they eventually marry.

The stage is now set. Bhavani launches a set of sniper attacks on those close to Siva. Siva retaliates in kind and takes out many of Bhavani's leaders. Machiraju notices that Siva is launching a fitting response to Bhavani and decides to stop supporting Bhavani. Angered, humiliated and defeated, Bhavani strikes Siva's home and kills Machiraju.

A final fight ensues in which eventually, Siva manages to kill Bhavani, ridding the city of one of its most terrifying anti-social elements, while personally coming to terms with the fact that Siva kills Bhavani but loses Keerthi, his niece in the bargain.

Cast

Reception

The movie received rave reviews from critics and overwhelming response from audience. The movie was lauded for its realistic portrayal of involvement of local mafia in college politics. It showed Hero and Villain characters in entirely new dimensions which were away from being dramatic. Most of the college students got connected to the characters in this film . It was even observed that some students used to roam in colleges wearing cycle chains to their hands. It marked the entry of many talented technicians like Ram Gopal Varma.

Soundtrack

Shiva
Film score by Ilaiyaraaja
Released	1989
Genre	Soundtrack
Length	22:50
Label	Echo Music
Producer	Ilaiyaraaja
Ilaiyaraaja chronology
Geethanjali (1989) Shiva (1989) Indrudu Chandrudu (1989)

The film songs composed by Ilaiyaraaja. All the songs are blockbusters. Music released on ECHO Audio Company.

The soundtrack was composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja. Initially it was speculated that M.M. Keeravani would compose music for this film but was later reported that Ilaiyaraaja would compose score and soundtrack for this film. Soundtrack proved extremely successful with songs like "Botony Paathamundi" still being very popular. Background Score by Ilaiyaraaja played very important role in film's success and was also highly appreciated.

Awards

• Ram Gopal Varma - Nandi Award for Best Director
• Ram Gopal Varma - Nandi Award for Best First Film of a Director^[6]
• Tanikella Bharani - Nandi Award for Best Dialogue Writer
• Akkineni Venkat & Yarlagadda Surendra - Filmfare Best Film Award (Telugu)

Box Office

Siva was a super success in Andhra Pradesh. Its Tamil dubbed version titled as Udhayam was a major hit in Tamil Nadu and the same Tamil version done excellent business in Kerala as well.

References

External links

• Shiva at the Internet Movie Database