1960 Indian film
| Sri Venkateswara Mahatmyam | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | P. Pullaiah |
| Screenplay by | Acharya Aatreya |
| Based on | Avatar of Lord Venkateswara (Balaji) |
| Produced by | V. Venkateswarlu |
| Starring | N. T. Rama Rao S. Varalakshmi Savitri |
| Cinematography | P. L. Roy |
| Edited by | K. A. Sriramulu |
| Music by | Pendyala Nageswara Rao |
| Production company | Padmasri Pictures |
| Release date |
|
| Running time | 180 mins |
| Country | India |
| Language | Telugu |
Sri Venkateswara Mahatmyam is 1960 Indian Telugu-language Hindu mythological film directed by P. Pullaiah and produced by V. Venkateswarlu. It is based on the Venkateswara avatar of Vishnu at Tirumala. It stars N. T. Rama Rao, Savitri, and S. Varalakshmi with music composed by Pendyala Nageswara Rao. The film was dubbed into Tamil and released as Srinivasa Kalyanam.
Plot
The film begins with the advent of Kaliyuga. The earth faces threats of all sorts. To reduce it, Saptarshi, helmed by Kashyapa, performs a Yagna when Narada arrives and asks who the patron deity of the sacrifice is. Since they cannot answer, Bhrigu moves to test Trimurthi. After Siva & Brahma become the victims of his curse, he approaches Vaikuntha when Vishnu & Lakshmi are immersed in love and ignore him. So, furious, Bhrigu kicks Vishnu in the chest. To pacify the sage, Vishnu held his legs and pressed the eye in his foot to symbolize his egotism when the sage sought to apologize. With a shattered ego, Lakshmi quits when Vishnu is behind her, first step on the earth at Tirumala, and settles in an anthill without food & water. Taking pity, Brahma & Siva assumed the forms of a cow & calf to serve him. Lakshmi sold them to the King, and they fed him.
Meanwhile, the cow does not yield milk at the palace, so the queen chastises the cow herder Sarabha. So, he follows it secretly, discovers the cause, and flung his axe. Here, Vishnu rose after receiving the blow and cursed Sarabha to be a ghost until he formed a deity at that place. After that, Vishnu landed at his ardent devotee Vakala's Ashram; she called him Srinivasa and provided hospitality. Once, Srinivasa chases a wild elephant led into a garden, where he meets Padmavati, daughter of Aakasa Raju, and the two crushes. After hesitation, Aakasa Raju and his wife, Dharani Devi, accept the proposal for its expenses, Srinivasa debts from Kubera, and say they will repay only the interest till the end of Kaliyuga. Narada briefs Lakshmi about the wedlock, and fuming, she confronts Vishnu. Then, a clash between his two consorts leads Srinivasa to become a statue. Following, Padmavathi comes to his side, and Vakula Devi as a garland.
The entire universe is blissful for launching a deity to protect the earth. Generations pass by, and Bhavaji, an ardent devotee, arrives and calls Balaji. However, temple authorities hinder his entrance. From there, the Lord visits him every night to spend time playing dice. One day, Balaji loses his ornament in the bet when the public spot opens doors and accuses Bhavaji of theft. The King arrives to conduct an interrogation, and Bhavaji explains the truth. Hence, the King tests his spirituality by keeping him in prison, full of sugar cane, and asks him to eat before dawn. At this point, the Lord appears as an elephant and finishes it within moments. In the morning, the people are astounded to see the miracle. Since then, he has been eminent as Hathiram Bhavaji, and the King endorses his temple authority. At last, generations pass, and the number of devotees to the temple increases. Finally, the movie ends by showing Srivari Brahmotsavam.
Cast
- N. T. Rama Rao as Vishnu / Venkateswara
- S. Varalakshmi as Lakshmi
- Savitri as Padmavathi
- V. Nagayya as Hathiram Bhavaji
- Gummadi as Bhrigu Maharshi
- Relangi
- Ramana Reddy as Sarabha
- Rajanala
- Vangara
- Valluri Balakrishna
- Peketi Sivaram
- P. Suri Babu as Narada Maharshi
- Ghantasala as Guest role in the song
- Sr. A V Subbarao as Akasa Raju
- Jr. A V Subbarao as Lord Brahma
- Vempati Peda Satyam as Lord Siva
- Lanka Satyam as Yatrikudu
- Rushyendramani as Dhaaranidevi
- Santha Kumari as Vakula Devi
- Showkar Janaki as Yerukalasani
- Surabhi Balasaraswathi as Sarabha's wife
- Sandhya as Goddess Saraswathi
Soundtrack
| Sri Venkateswara Mahatyam | |
|---|---|
| Film score by Pendyala Nageshwara Rao | |
| Released | 1959 |
| Genre | Soundtrack |
| Producer | Pendyala Nageshwara Rao |
Music composed by Pendyala Nageshwara Rao. Music released by Audio Company.
| S.No | Song Title | Lyrics | Singers | length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jaya Jaya Jaganayaka | Malladi Ramakrishna Sastry | Chorus | 6:51 |
| 2 | Sridevini | Aarudhra | S. Varalakshmi | 3:17 |
| 3 | Pavanambayya | Narapa Reddy | Ghantsala | 0:44 |
| 4 | Kannula | Narapa Reddy | Madhavapeddi Satyam | 0:40 |
| 5 | Namo Narayanaya | Narapa Reddy | Madhavapeddi Satyam | 0:23 |
| 6 | Chilipi Chestala | Narapa Reddy | Ghantasala | 0:45 |
| 7 | Anyuledutanu | Narapa Reddy | P. Suri Babu | 0:39 |
| 8 | Ee Neradarana | Narapa Reddy | S. Varalakshmi | 0:47 |
| 9 | Varala Beramayya | Acharya Aatreya | S. Varalakshmi | 3:02 |
| 10 | Chilako Chikkave | Acharya Aatreya | Pithapuram, Swarnalatha | 2:09 |
| 11 | Gopaala Nandha Gopaala | Acharya Aatreya | Santha Kumari | 3:49 |
| 12 | Ontivaadu | Narapa Reddy | Ghantasala | 0:40 |
| 13 | Naa Kutiramandu | Narapa Reddy | Santha Kumari | 0:52 |
| 14 | Giliginthalu | Acharya Aatreya | P. Susheela, S. Janaki, Vaidehi | 5:24 |
| 15 | Evaro Atadevaro | Acharya Aatreya | Ghantasala, P. Susheela | 4:14 |
| 16 | Chiru Chiru Nagavula | Acharya Aatreya | Santha Kumari, Swarnalatha | 3:21 |
| 17 | Chinnari O Chiluka | Acharya Aatreya | P. Susheela | 3:13 |
| 18 | Kalyana Vaibhavam | Acharya Aatreya | P. Leela, Jikki | 5:27 |
| 19 | Sakala Kalyanabhusha | Narapa Reddy | Madhavapeddi Satyam | 0:37 |
| 20 | Velliraa Maathalli | Acharya Aatreya | P. Leela, Vaidehi | 5:10 |
| 21 | Kalaga Kammanikalaga | Acharya Aatreya | Ghantasala, P. Susheela | 3:25 |
| 22 | Kalayo | Narapa Reddy | P. Susheela | 0:39 |
| 23 | Ee Srinivasudu | Narapa Reddy | P. Suri Babu | 1:46 |
| 24 | Lakshmi Nivasa | Suprabhatam | Ghantasala | 0:49 |
| 25 | Vega Raava | Acharya Aatreya | Madhavapeddi Satyam | 2:44 |
| 26 | Pahihare | Acharya Aatreya | Madhavapeddi Satyam | 1:21 |
| 27 | Padave Podamu Gouri | Acharya Aatreya | Madhavapeddi Satyam | 1:34 |
| 28 | Sesha Saila Vaasa | Acharya Aatreya | Ghantasala | 3:03 |
Box office and impact
It released with twenty prints and had a 100-day run in 16 centers and 175 days in Hyderabad and Vijayawada centers. The deification of Rama Rao began and his residence in Madras became a shrine for pilgrims, who would visit him after a trip to Tirupati. NTR fans waited in long queues outside his house for a darshan of their "living god". They used to apprise him of their problems back home in their villages and he listened to them patiently before rushing to the studio in the morning.
References
- "P Pulliah's Evergreen Magnum Opus (Venkateswara Mahathyam)". CineGoer. 22 April 2009. Archived from the original on 22 April 2009. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
- Narasimham, M. L. (17 December 2015). "Sri Venkateswara Mahathyam (1960)". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 10 January 2018. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
- "N.T. Rama Rao (1923–1995): A messiah of the masses". The Hindu. 9 December 2002. Archived from the original on 14 January 2021. Retrieved 13 January 2021.