Annamayya (film)

Annamayya is a 1997 Indian Telugu-language biographical devotional film produced by V. Doraswamy Raju under the VMC Productions banner, directed by K. Raghavendra Rao. It stars Akkineni Nagarjuna, Mohan Babu, Suman, Ramya Krishna, Bhanupriya, Roja, Kasthuri playing the lead roles and music composed by M. M. Keeravani. The film was recorded as a Blockbuster at the box office. Later in the year 2006 the movie was dubbed in Hindi by Tirupati Shree Balaji . The film portrays the life of the 15th century composer, Annamacharya. Upon release, the film received positive reviews and won eight Nandi Awards, three Filmfare Awards and two National Film Awards.[1][2] The film was premiered at the 1998 International Film Festival of India in the mainstream section.[3]

For the famous composer, see Annamacharya.

Annamayya
Theatrical release poster
Directed byK. Raghavendra Rao
Produced byV. Doraswamy Raju
Written byJ. K. Bharavi
(Story / Dialogues)
Screenplay byK. Raghavendra Rao
Starring
Music byM. M. Keeravani
Cinematography
Edited byA. Sreekar Prasad
Production
company
Release date
  • 22 May 1997 (1997-05-22)
Running time
147 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageTelugu

Plot
External video
Annamayya on YouTube.

Lord Vishnu listens to requests from his consort Lakshmi, that there weren't many people singing songs in praise of the Lord in Telugu language. In response, the Lord sends his sword Nandaka, to be born as Annamacharya (Annamayya) to a childless couple - Narayana Suri and Lakkamba in Tallapaka village, Kadapa District. Growing as a normal young man, Annamayya is in love with his 2 cousins Timakka and Akkalamma and thinks that his cousins are the most beautiful creations of god.

Lord Vishnu appears in front of Annamayya in disguise and accepts a challenge from him to show someone more beautiful than his cousins - God in the form of Lord Venkateswara in a temple in his village. Upon discovering the beauty of the Lord, Annamayya is lost in a different world and ends up making a pilgrimage to Tirumala Venkateswara Temple without planning or informing his parents. As he finds pilgrims entering the holy hills (Saptagiri- seven hills), he embarks his journey towards Him. But, he is lost and is helped by Goddess Lakshmi herself in the form of an old lady by informing him that his footwear was preventing his progress. Also weakened by fasting, Annamayya accepts Laddu - a prasadam from the food consecrated by the Lord himself. Upon reaching Tirumala, he is enthralled by the beauty of God and settles there to write and sing hymns in praise of the Lord.

Meanwhile, Annamayya's parents get worried regarding Annamayya's whereabouts. Then, the Lord Venkateshwara, hearing the prayers of Lakkavaamba (Annamayya's mother), himself comes in the disguise of a Hunter along with his consorts and tells them that Annamayya lives in Tirumala. Then, Annamayya's parents, cousins, aunt, uncle and his 2 friends come to Tirumala and watch him worship the Lord.

When Annamayya is asked to marry his 2 cousins, he refuses saying that his life is dedicated to the service of the Lord and marriage would become a hindrance to it. But, he is then convinced by the Lord himself who has now taken the form of a Brahmin. The Lord personally conducts the wedding of Annamayya with his cousins - Timakka and Akkalamma. After the birth of children, Annamayya settles in Tirumala leaving his children in the care of his parents. Through encounters with the local administrator (Tanikella Bharani), he comes in contact with the ruler of the country - Saluva Narasimha (Mohan Babu), who becomes a fan of his songs and make him the court poet. On hearing a Sringara Sankeertan, the King and Queen (Roja) request that Annamayya sing a sankeertan in their praise as well, something Annamayya rejects as he would sing only for the Lord and not for any human being. Jailed for not heeding the King, Annamayya invokes the Lord in the form of Lord Narasimha (human-lion) and to the surprise of the King, jailors and everyone - the iron rods burst into flames and release Annamayya.

Realizing that their husband was born for humanity and Lord's service, his wives give up their lives freeing Annamayya of any earthly attachment. Annamayya, realizing the divine order, takes to writing poems and sankirtans and reaches old age. Priests and Brahmins unhappy with his social inclusion of lower caste people in the temple try to destroy his writings. When Annamayya decides to sacrifice his life because all his works were lost, a significant portion of his work is saved by Lord's grace from the fire. Saluva Narasimha and Annamayya's son's convert his work from palm to copper inscriptions thus preserving his works for eternity. On completion and dedication of the work in the temple sanctum sanctorum, the Lord and his consorts appear one last time, in their divine form. The Lord grants salvation and Annamayya's soul returns as Nandaka.

Reception

This movie was considered as a Box office super hit. It is one of the biggest hits in Akkineni Nagarjuna's film career. Though there have been few changes in the original life history of Shri Tallapaka Annamacharya, one could understand these changes helped the movie to become commercially a big hit.[4]

Cast

Soundtrack
Annamayya
Soundtrack album by
M. M. Keeravani
Released1997
GenreSoundtrack Stereo
Length65:51
LabelT-Series
ProducerM. M. Keeravani
M. M. Keeravani chronology
Pavitra Bandham
(1996)		 Annamayya
(1997)		 Priyaragalu
(1997)

Music released on T-Series Audio company. All songs are blockbusters. The audio was initially released in two volumes (Vol. 1 & Vol. 2) in the Audio cassette format.[5]

All music is composed by M. M. Keeravani.

No.TitleLyricsArtist(s)Length
1."Vinaro Bhagyamu"Annamayya KeerthanaSP Balu, Srilekha, Keeravani, Anuradha, Anand, Gangadhar, Renuka, Purnachandar, Sujatha, Anand Bhattacharya3:32
2."Telugu Padaniki"VeturiSP Balu, Sujatha, Renuka3:56
3."Ele Ele Maradala"VeturiSP Balu, Sujatha, Anuradha4:26
4."Padhaharu Kalalaku"J. K. BharaviMano2:16
5."Kalaganti Kalaganti"Annamayya KeerthanaSP Balu2:53
6."Adhivo Alladivo"Annamayya KeerthanaSP Balu3:57
7."Podagantimayya"Annamayya KeerthanaSP Balu4:10
8."Vinnapalu Vinavale"Annamayya KeerthanaSP Balu, Renuka, Srilekha4:08
9."Sobhaname Sobhaname"Annamayya KeerthanaMano1:32
10."Moosina Muthyalake"Annamayya KeerthanaSP Balu, K.S. Chitra, Sujatha3:22
11."Asmadeeya"VeturiK.S. Chitra, Mano3:57
12."Kondalalo Nelakonna"Annamayya KeerthanaSP Balu1:31
13."Emoko"Annamayya KeerthanaSP Balu4:22
14."Palanethralu"VeturiSP Balu1:26
15."Nigama Nigamantha"Annamayya KeerthanaSP Balu, K. S. Chitra3:59
16."Govindaa Sritha"Annamayya KeerthanaSP Balu, Keeravani, Anand Bhattacharya, Anuradha8:02
17."Nanati Bathuku"Annamayya KeerthanaMano1:06
18."Dachuko Nee Padaalaku"Annamayya KeerthanaSP Balu, S. P. Sailaja0:46
19."Antharyami"Annamayya KeerthanaSP Balu, S. P. Sailaja4:15
20."Brahma Kadigina Padamu"Annamayya KeerthanaK.S. Chitra, Keeravani, Poorna chandar, Sriram, Anuradha, Sujatha, Radhika2:05
Total length:65:51

Box-office
  • The film turned out to be a hit with a 100-day run in 42 centres.[6]
  • The film had a 176-day run in 2 centres.[7]
  • The film was a big hit in Chennai too.[8]
  • The film album is the highest sold Telugu music album till date.[9]
  • It was dubbed in Hindi as Tirupathi Sri Balaji.[10][11]

Awards
45th National Film Awards
Filmfare Awards South
Nandi Awards - 1997

References
  1. "CineGoer.com - Box-Office Records And Collections - Two Successive Silver Jubilees". Archived from the original on 27 January 2013.
  2. "తెలుగుసినిమా చరిత్ర: Andhra Pradesh State Nandi Film Awards(1997-2000)".
  3. "Directorate of Film Festival" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 30 September 2014.
  4. Annamayya film Review in IMDB.com
  5. "Annamayya (1997) Telugu Movie Review, Cast and Crew, Posters, Wallpapers, Audio covers, Song books, Full Movie, Video Songs, Lyrics, Story".
  6. Telugu cinema - Nagarjuna - bio data
  7. "CineGoer.com - Box-Office Records And Collections - Nagarjuna's 175-Day Centres List". Cinegoer. 23 February 2007. Archived from the original on 23 February 2007.
  8. Rediff On The Net, Movies: Nagarjuna plays a religious poet in Annamayya
  9. "Keeravani on Sri Ramadasu songs - Telugu and Hindi film music director". Archived from the original on 2 March 2009. Retrieved 12 December 2006.
  10. "`Annamayya` in Hindi! - Sify.com". Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 31 October 2006.
  11. "TotalTollywood - Destination Telugu Cinema - One stop for Telugu Movies and Music". Total Tollywood. 4 January 2007. Archived from the original on 4 January 2007.
  12. https://archive.is/20170205065518/https://archive.org/details/45thFilmfareSouthBestFilmsWinners
  13. https://archive.is/20170205072547/https://archive.org/details/45thFilmfareSouthBestDirectorAwards
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