Swarnakamalam

Swarnakamalam
Theatrical Release poster
Directed by K. Viswanath
Produced by C. H. V. Appa Rao
K. S. Rama Rao (presenter)
Written by Sainath Thotapalli (dialogue)
Screenplay by K. Viswanath
Story by K. Viswanath
Starring Venkatesh
Bhanupriya
Sharon Lowen
Music by Ilayaraja
Cinematography Lok Singh
Edited by G. G. Krishna Rao
Production
company
Bhanu Art Creations
Release date
  • 15 July 1988 (1988-07-15)
Running time
 143 minutes
Country India
Language Telugu

Swarnakamalam (The Golden Lotus) is a 1988 Telugu dance film, written and directed by Kasinathuni Viswanath.[1] The film starred Venkatesh, Bhanupriya and Sharon Lowen in the lead roles.[2] The song sequences were choreographed by Kelucharan Mohapatra, with a soundtrack by Ilaiyaraaja.[3][1]

The film was screened at the Indian panorama section of the 1988 International Film Festival of India,[4] the Asia Pacific Film Festival and the Ann Arbor Film Festival.[5][6][2] The film received three state Nandi Awards, three Indian Express Awards and two South Filmfare Awards, including Nandi Award for Best Feature Film and Filmfare Best Film Award (Telugu).[7][8]

Plot

Shanti Stupa at Dhauli, where the song "Shiva Poojaku" was filmed
Pushpawati River rushing out at the Valley of Flowers National Park, where the song "Ghallu Ghallu" was shot
Bhanu Priya's painting in the film

Meenakshi (Bhanupriya) and Savitri (Devilalita) are daughters of a Kuchipudi doyen, Vedantam Seshendra Sharma. While a highly accomplished artist in his field, Seshendra Sharma is not well-off and has not been able to afford for his daughters, a conventional education. Both of them have achieved a respectable degree of proficiency — Savitri in Carnatic classical music and Meenakshi in classical dance.

Savitri is grateful for her knowledge and interest and looks forward to a life that will require her to hone her skills in the same art. Meenakshi, on the other hand, is bitter about the lack of opportunity that she feels in the field of classical dance in India and resolves to make a simpler and more pleasurable life for herself as soon as possible, while confiding her ambitions only to her sister.

Chandrasekhar (Venkatesh) is a tenant who has just moved in next door. He is a painter and is shown to be handling movie promotions as a large amount of his work. He develops an interest in the neighbors and tries to help them in whatever way he can, partly because of his (unconfessed) interest in Meenakshi and partly because of his interest in the art which seems to be slowly fading away from public life.

The rest of the film is largely built around Meenakshi's journey from skepticism to devotion in her pursuit of dance. Chandrasekhar is shown to be an important catalyst in this transformation. Meenakshi becomes an accomplished dancer through the direction of renowned Odissi dancer Sharon Lowen, and gets the opportunity to go to the United States and perform. She learns of Chandrasekhar's love for her, and finally unites with Chandrasekhar, confessing her love for him as well.

Cast

Production

The production design was helmed by Arun D. Ghodgaonkar, with cinematography by Lok Singh.[9] Casting was done by K. Viswanath, including American dancer Sharon Lowen, who portrayed herself as a veteran Odissi artist.[2] The song sequences demanded locations that were spread across Puri, the Himalayas, the Valley of Flowers National Park, the stupa at Dhauli Odisha and Visakhapatnam.[9]

Soundtrack

The music for the film was composed by Ilaiyaraaja and released on ECHO Music Company.

No.TitleLyricsSinger(s)Length
1."Ghallu Ghallu"Sirivennela SitaramasastriP. Susheela, S. P. Balu5:02
2."Aakasamulo"Sirivennela SitaramasastriS. Janaki4:29
3."Kothaga Rekka"Sirivennela SitaramasastriSP Balu, S. Janaki4:29
4."Koluvai Vunnade"Shahuji_I[10]P. Susheela, S. P. Balu4:57
5."Andela Ravamidhi"Sirivennela SitaramasastriS. P. Balu, Vani Jairam6:59
6."Shiva Poojaku"Sirivennela SitaramasastriP. Susheela, S. P. Balu6:04
7."Cheri Yasodaku"Annamayya KeerthanaS. P. Sailaja4:35
8."Aathmathvam"Siva Manasa PujaS. Janaki3:07
9."Sakhihey"Bhuvaneswar MisraJayadev Ashtapadhi1:19
Total length:44:39
Swarnakamalam
Film score by Ilaiyaraaja
Released 1988
Genre Soundtrack
Length 44:39
Label Echo Music
Producer Ilaiyaraaja
Ilaiyaraaja chronology
Rudra Veena
(1988)Rudra Veena1988		 Swarnakamalam
(1988)		 Varasudochhadu
(1988)Varasudochhadu1988

Awards

Nandi Awards- 1988
Filmfare Awards South- 1988
Cinema Express Awards - 1988

References

  1. 1 2 Ranjana Dave (2011-06-30). "The meaning in movement". The Asian Age. Retrieved 2012-09-04.
  2. 1 2 3 Kumar, Ranee. "Sharon Lowen, an envoy of Indian culture".
  3. ↑ http://www.paadal.com/composer/ilayaraja
  4. ↑ "Directorate of Film Festival".
  5. ↑ "Dance without frontiers: K Viswanath – Director who aims to revive classical arts". 2 May 2017.
  6. ↑ 30 Jun 2011 - Ranjana Dave (2011-06-30). "The meaning in movement". The Asian Age. Retrieved 2012-09-04.
  7. ↑ Subramanium (5 September 2005). "`So many parallels in our life". p. 01 – via The Hindu.
  8. ↑ "Directorate of Film Festival" (PDF).
  9. 1 2 http://www.indianbackgroundscore.com/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=164 indianbackgroundscore.com
  10. ↑ Shahaji Maharaja of Tanjore (1955-12-20). "Pallaki Seva Prabandham" (PDF). Saraswati Mahal Library. Retrieved 2018-04-15.
  11. ↑ https://books.google.com/books/about/Vidura.html?id=S5ZZAAAAMAAJ. C. Sarkar., 1989 - Journalism
  12. 1 2 3 Express News Service (1989-03-11), "Cinema Express readers choose Agni Nakshathiram", The Indian Express, p. 4, retrieved 2016-10-07
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