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Saptapadi
Theatrical Release poster
Directed by	K. Viswanath
Screenplay by	K. Viswanath
Dialogue by	Jandhyala
Story by	K. Viswanath
Produced by	Bhimavarapu Buchhireddy
Starring	J.V. Somayajulu Allu Rama Lingaiah P. Ravi Shankar Sabita Bhamidipati RaviKanth Dubbing Janaki Girish Pradhan
Cinematography	Kasthuri
Edited by	G. G. Krishna Rao
Music by	K. V. Mahadevan
Production company	Jyothy Art Creations
Release date	26 June 1981 (1981-06-26)
Country	India
Language	Telugu

Saptapadi (transl. Seven steps) is a 1981 Indian Telugu-language drama film written and directed by K. Viswanath. Upon release, the film received widely positive reviews and won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration, four state Nandi Awards, and the Filmfare Award for Best Telugu film. The film was featured retrospectively at the AISFM film festival. In 1984 Viswanath directed the Hindi version Jaag Utha Insan.

Premise

The film is not only about the seven steps that one takes during a Hindu wedding that completes the act of shedding bachelorhood and entering a more stable married state but also talks about an individual's journey breaking away from the shackles of conservatism to finding a path of understanding, encompassing and enlightenment.

Plot

Saptapadi deals with the transformation of an individual so devoted to the concept of rituals, that it takes an act of God for him to realise the true spirit behind the rituals and true meaning of the prayers. Yajulu is a man of great conviction. According to him rules and customs, that have been passed down generations thus standing the test of the time, are there for a reason and hence are immutable; traditions are trademarks of culture and customs, its signature. He does not mind losing his daughter for his principles.

He is well into his twilight years which give him even more reason to not mend his ways. In his footsteps follows Gaurinadha (son of his son), gearing up to be head priest at the local temple. Yajulu's will prevails over Hema's (daughter of his daughter) wish and Gauri and Hema end up being married. However, Hema is secretly in love with a flutist, who is not of her caste. The brilliance of Viswanath comes full fore at this point, when on the couple's first night, Gaurinadha witnesses Durga Devi in Hema, and walks out of the room completely shaken. Gaurinadha, an ardent devotee of the Devi, realises that his wife is in love with another man, and is like a mother to him, nothing more, nothing less. This act of God triggers Yajulu's thought process to seriously question, for the first time in his life, the validity of his position on matters that involve caste, creed and religion, justifying the steps that Yajulu takes one a time, from the first one in trying to understand Hema's real interests till the last one when he sees her off with her love interest on the boat.

Cast

• J. V. Somayajulu as Yajulu
• Allu Ramalingayya as Raju
• J. V. Ramana Murthy as Avadhani, Yajulu's son
• Dubbing Janaki as Annapurna, Avadhani's wife
• Ravikanth as Gaurinadha Sastry, Yajulu's grandson
• Bhamidipati Sabita as Hema
• Girish Pradhaan as Haribabu
• Jhansi as Katyayani
• Prameela Rani as Karuna
• Sivaparvathi as Raju's daughter
• Sakshi Ranga Rao as Chayanulu
• Mallikarjuna Rao

Production

While filming Sankarabharanam, Viswanath wanted to make a film on the institution of marriage and Saptapadi was born out of such an idea. The film's producer Bhimavaram Bucchi Reddy met Viswanath during the music sittings of Sankarabharanam and approached him to make a film for him.

The real-life brothers J. V. Somayajulu and J. V. Ramanamurthy were featured as father and son in this film. Reddy and Viswanath were scouting for actresses around six months and chosen Alekhya for the role but since Viswanath did not found her suitable foe the role, he eventually chosen debutant Sabita which remained the only film she acted in her career. The debutants Girish, then student of Madras Film Institute portrayed Haribabu and Ravikanth, who is a Telugu lecturer from Amalapuram did the role Viswanatha Sastry. The voice for Girish was dubbed by Viswanath. Kasthuri, who assisted Balu Mahendra in Sankarabharanam was chosen as the film's cinematographer. Ravishankar who went on to become an actor and voice artist appeared as a child artist.

As Viswanath wanted a temple on the river banks with stairs going straight from the river to the temple, team found a temple at Amaravathi which was being renovated for an event. In order for shooting properly, we had to tear down the wall of the house and that some of the temple walls were taken down too in order to show the river. The filming was done in a single schedule within fifty five days while the song "Nemaliki Nerpina" was shot at Tummalapalli Kalakshestram in Vijayawada.

Soundtrack

Soundtrack was composed by K. V. Mahadevan and lyrics by Veturi. The music was completed even before the film was started while the soundtrack was completed four months before the audio launch.

All music is composed by K. V. Mahadevan

Awards

Release

When the film was shown to the film circle, they found it artistic and disliked the climax. Despite this, the producer released this version in theatres. According to Reddy, the film was a decent hit.

References

1. Subramani, A (9 November 2015). "Self-respect marriages in Tamil Nadu can't be declared illegal, rules Madras HC". Times of India. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
2. "సప్తపది: వర్ణాంతర వివాహానికి వినూత్న విచారం" (PDF). Zamin Ryot. 10 July 1981. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
3. The films of K. Viswanath — AISFM Blog
4. ^ Sri (28 November 2010). "Articles : Movie Retrospect : Retrospect : Saptapadi (1981)". Telugucinema.com. p. 2. Archived from the original on 13 November 2011. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
5. ^ Sri (28 November 2010). "Retrospect: Saptapadi (1981)". Telugucinema.com. p. 1. Archived from the original on 30 December 2010. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
6. "Retrospect: Saptapadi (1981)". Telugucinema.com. 28 November 2010. p. 3. Archived from the original on 30 December 2010. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
7. "నంది అవార్డు విజేతల పరంపర (1964–2008)" [A series of Nandi Award Winners (1964–2008)] (PDF). Information & Public Relations of Andhra Pradesh. Retrieved 21 August 2020.(in Telugu)

External links

• Saptapadi at IMDb

• 1981 films
• Indian romantic drama films
• 1980s Telugu-language films
• Films directed by K. Viswanath
• 1980s feminist films
• Films scored by K. V. Mahadevan
• Films about Indian slavery
• Films about women in India
• Films about social realism
• Indian feminist films
• Films about Indian weddings
• Indian nonlinear narrative films
• Films about the caste system in India
• Films shot in Vijayawada
• Telugu films remade in other languages
• Best Film on National Integration National Film Award winners
• 1981 romantic drama films