Sri Ramadasu
Encyclopedia
Sri Ramadasu is an epic Telugu
film released on 30 March 2006 and was directed by K. Raghavendra Rao
. The film stars Akkineni Nagarjuna
in the lead role and Sneha, Akkineni Nageswara Rao
, Nassar
and Nagendra Babu
in the supporting roles. Music was composed by M. M. Keeravani, who composed 19 songs for the film. Cinematography and editing were handled by S. Gopal Reddy
and Sreekar Prasad respectively. Along with being critically acclaimed, the film became a major hit at box office.
and his cousin Kamala fall in love and marry after a small conflict with their parents. After the marriage, Tanisha, the emperor of Golconda
, with the recommendation of Akkanna and Madanna (the uncles of Gopanna), appoints Gopanna as Tehsildar of Husnabad. Thus, a Muslim who had been the Tehsildar to the place is dethroned for the sake of Gopanna. That ignites disgust among a few groups who attempt to murder Gopanna. However, Dammakka saves him while he lies unconscious on the bank of Godavari. She shows him the place of Bhadragiri and Gopanna becomes an ardent devotee of Rama. After a series of incidents, he decides to construct the Rama Mandir on the hill. He collects funds from people and with the help of Kabirdas, his guru, completes the construction of temple. Lord Rama, Lakshmana, Seetha and Anjaneya live in invisible forms in the place during the construction. They keep on guarding Gopanna until he accomplishes his mission. Thus, with immense bhakthi on Lord Rama, Gopanna becomes Ramadasu.
The enemies of Ramadasu pass on negative message to Tanisha about him, stating that he constructed the temple with money taken from other people without the king's permission. Exasperated, Tanisha imprisons Ramadasu. After many ordeals faced by Ramadasu in prison, Lord Rama and Lakshmana appear to Tanisha in a dream and pay the required amount to him. Then Tanisha releases Ramadasu from prison and discovers that the two who cleared the debt were Lord Rama and Lakshmana. After being released from prison, Ramadasu is frustrated that he never obtained a darshanam (appearance/glimpse) of Rama. He realizes that Rama is in his heart and cuts open his chest. Sri Rama and Sitamma appear from his heart and heal his wounds. Rama offers Gopanna the chance to go to Vaikunta as a living man, a boon granted to few. When Gopanna asks what is there in Vaikunta (Heaven), Rama says there is only happiness and no need to pray. However, Gopanna can only find happiness in saying Rama's name. As the only man ever to refuse heaven, Rama grants his wish: Ramadasu's spirit will remain forever in the Bhadrachalam Temple
. The movie ends with Kancherla Gopanna
, now Sri Ramadasu, looking down fondly at the temple in modern day.
18 in Karnataka
, two in Chennai
, one in Mumbai
and 25 overseas.
Telugu language
Telugu is a Central Dravidian language primarily spoken in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India, where it is an official language. It is also spoken in the neighbouring states of Chattisgarh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Orissa and Tamil Nadu...
film released on 30 March 2006 and was directed by K. Raghavendra Rao
K. Raghavendra Rao
Kovelamudi Raghavendra Rao shortly K. Raghavendra is a renowned director. He is one of the most commercially successful directors of Telugu cinema, and many believe that his contribution has been instrumental to the success of Telugu cinema. As of 2006, Raghavendra Rao has directed 103 films...
. The film stars Akkineni Nagarjuna
Akkineni Nagarjuna
Akkineni Nagarjuna is an Indian film actor in Tollywood and Bollywood. He is a producer and one of the lead actors in Telugu cinema.- Early life :...
in the lead role and Sneha, Akkineni Nageswara Rao
Akkineni Nageswara Rao
Akkineni Nageswara Rao , also known as ANR, is a Telugu cinema actor from Gudivada, Andhra Pradesh. Nageswara Rao has worked in several genres of films in his 70-year acting career, including mythological, social, and drama films...
, Nassar
Nassar
Nassar is a Tamil actor, producer, writer, director, lyricist, and singer. He has appeared in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Hindi and English films. He is often cited as part of India's specialist character actors, along with the likes of Naseeruddin Shah, Om Puri and Nana Patekar...
and Nagendra Babu
Nagendra Babu
Nagendra Babu Konidela is a Telugu film actor and producer. He acts mainly in supporting character roles and villain roles, though he has also played the hero in some films. He recently acted in 143, Anji, Shock , Sri Ramadasu , Chandamama and Orange...
in the supporting roles. Music was composed by M. M. Keeravani, who composed 19 songs for the film. Cinematography and editing were handled by S. Gopal Reddy
S. Gopal Reddy
S. Gopala Reddy is a cinematographer in the Indian film industry and a producer in Tollywood. He established Durga Arts with Dr. K.L Narayana and produced Santosham. He is married to Rasool Ellore's sister, Michaela, and has a son and daughter...
and Sreekar Prasad respectively. Along with being critically acclaimed, the film became a major hit at box office.
Plot
The film starts with the penance of Sage Bhadra who becomes a hill with the blessings of Lord Rama. In later centuries, Dammakka, the tribal lady and worshiper of Lord Rama unearths and looks after the idols of Rama on the hill and awaits someone who can construct a temple there. On the other hand, GopannaKancherla Gopanna
Kancherla Gopanna , popularly known as Bhadradri Ramadasu or Bhadrachala Ramadasu, was a 17th century Indian devotee of Rama and a composer of Carnatic music. He is one among the famous vaggeyakaras in the Telugu language, the others being Tyagaraja, Annamayya, Kshetryya...
and his cousin Kamala fall in love and marry after a small conflict with their parents. After the marriage, Tanisha, the emperor of Golconda
Golkonda
Golkonda or Golla konda a ruined city of south-central India and capital of ancient Kingdom of Golkonda , is situated 11 km west of Hyderabad.The most important builder of Golkonda was a Hindu Kakatiya King...
, with the recommendation of Akkanna and Madanna (the uncles of Gopanna), appoints Gopanna as Tehsildar of Husnabad. Thus, a Muslim who had been the Tehsildar to the place is dethroned for the sake of Gopanna. That ignites disgust among a few groups who attempt to murder Gopanna. However, Dammakka saves him while he lies unconscious on the bank of Godavari. She shows him the place of Bhadragiri and Gopanna becomes an ardent devotee of Rama. After a series of incidents, he decides to construct the Rama Mandir on the hill. He collects funds from people and with the help of Kabirdas, his guru, completes the construction of temple. Lord Rama, Lakshmana, Seetha and Anjaneya live in invisible forms in the place during the construction. They keep on guarding Gopanna until he accomplishes his mission. Thus, with immense bhakthi on Lord Rama, Gopanna becomes Ramadasu.
The enemies of Ramadasu pass on negative message to Tanisha about him, stating that he constructed the temple with money taken from other people without the king's permission. Exasperated, Tanisha imprisons Ramadasu. After many ordeals faced by Ramadasu in prison, Lord Rama and Lakshmana appear to Tanisha in a dream and pay the required amount to him. Then Tanisha releases Ramadasu from prison and discovers that the two who cleared the debt were Lord Rama and Lakshmana. After being released from prison, Ramadasu is frustrated that he never obtained a darshanam (appearance/glimpse) of Rama. He realizes that Rama is in his heart and cuts open his chest. Sri Rama and Sitamma appear from his heart and heal his wounds. Rama offers Gopanna the chance to go to Vaikunta as a living man, a boon granted to few. When Gopanna asks what is there in Vaikunta (Heaven), Rama says there is only happiness and no need to pray. However, Gopanna can only find happiness in saying Rama's name. As the only man ever to refuse heaven, Rama grants his wish: Ramadasu's spirit will remain forever in the Bhadrachalam Temple
Bhadrachalam Temple
Lord Sree Sita Ramachandra Swamy Temple in Badrachalam is a Hindu temple of Lord Rama located in Andhra Pradesh, India...
. The movie ends with Kancherla Gopanna
Kancherla Gopanna
Kancherla Gopanna , popularly known as Bhadradri Ramadasu or Bhadrachala Ramadasu, was a 17th century Indian devotee of Rama and a composer of Carnatic music. He is one among the famous vaggeyakaras in the Telugu language, the others being Tyagaraja, Annamayya, Kshetryya...
, now Sri Ramadasu, looking down fondly at the temple in modern day.
Crew
- Director: K. Raghavendra RaoK. Raghavendra RaoKovelamudi Raghavendra Rao shortly K. Raghavendra is a renowned director. He is one of the most commercially successful directors of Telugu cinema, and many believe that his contribution has been instrumental to the success of Telugu cinema. As of 2006, Raghavendra Rao has directed 103 films...
- Producer: Konda Krishnam Raju
- Story: J.K. Bharavi
- Screenplay: K. Raghavendra RaoK. Raghavendra RaoKovelamudi Raghavendra Rao shortly K. Raghavendra is a renowned director. He is one of the most commercially successful directors of Telugu cinema, and many believe that his contribution has been instrumental to the success of Telugu cinema. As of 2006, Raghavendra Rao has directed 103 films...
- Dialogues: J.K. Bharavi
- Cinematography: S. Gopal ReddyS. Gopal ReddyS. Gopala Reddy is a cinematographer in the Indian film industry and a producer in Tollywood. He established Durga Arts with Dr. K.L Narayana and produced Santosham. He is married to Rasool Ellore's sister, Michaela, and has a son and daughter...
- Music: M. M. Keeravani
- Editing: A. Sreekar PrasadA. Sreekar PrasadAkkineni Sreekar Prasad better known as Sreekar Prasad is an National Award winning Indian film editor.-Brief lifesketch:He was born to editor A. Sanjivi. Veteran L. V. Prasad was his maternal uncle. He was a graduate in Literature and started his film editing career in Telugu films...
- Art Director: Bhaskara Raju
Cast
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Nagarjuna Akkineni Nagarjuna Akkineni Nagarjuna is an Indian film actor in Tollywood and Bollywood. He is a producer and one of the lead actors in Telugu cinema.- Early life :... |
Kancherla Gopanna/Bhakta Ramadasu |
| Sneha Sneha Suhasini Rajaram Naidu , known mononymously as Sneha, is an Indian film actress, who has acted in mostly Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam films and also one Kannada language film. She debuted in the 2001 Malayalam film Ingane Oru Nilapakshi, directed by Anil and had her first commercial success with... |
Kamala |
| Akkineni Nageswara Rao Akkineni Nageswara Rao Akkineni Nageswara Rao , also known as ANR, is a Telugu cinema actor from Gudivada, Andhra Pradesh. Nageswara Rao has worked in several genres of films in his 70-year acting career, including mythological, social, and drama films... |
Kabirdas |
| Suman Suman Kabir Suman is a Kolkata-based modern Bengali singer-songwriter, musician, poet, journalist, politician, TV presenter, and occasional film actor... |
Lord Rama |
| Veda Sastry Veda Sastry Veda Archana Sastry is an Indian film actress, who has appeared in numerous South Indian-language films, predominantly in Telugu. Debuting as Archana in Tapana, she subsequently changed her stage name to Veda, by which she was more popularly known in Telugu cinema... |
Goddess Seeta |
| Vindu Dara Singh Vindu Dara Singh Vindu Dara Singh Randhawa is an Indian film and television actor.He was born in the Jat Sikh family of veteran Indian actor and wrestler Dara Singh. He is the winner of the third season of Bigg Boss.-Career:... |
Hanuman |
| Nagendra Babu Nagendra Babu Nagendra Babu Konidela is a Telugu film actor and producer. He acts mainly in supporting character roles and villain roles, though he has also played the hero in some films. He recently acted in 143, Anji, Shock , Sri Ramadasu , Chandamama and Orange... |
Ravana |
| Sarath Babu Sarath Babu Sarath Babu is an Indian film actor, who has acted in almost all the major south Indian languages - Telugu, Tamil, Kannada and Malayalam. He has been in the industry for nearly 37 years and has acted in more than 200 movies, most of them in a supporting role. He has acted in 80 films each in... |
Sage Bhadra |
| Sujatha Sujatha (actress) Sujatha was a popular South Indian actress who has performed in Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu, Kannada and Hindi language films, and was best known for restraint and subtlety in portrayal of varied emotions. Sujatha was introduced to the Tamil film industry by veteran director K. Balachander as a... |
Dammakka |
| Nassar Nassar Nassar is a Tamil actor, producer, writer, director, lyricist, and singer. He has appeared in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Hindi and English films. He is often cited as part of India's specialist character actors, along with the likes of Naseeruddin Shah, Om Puri and Nana Patekar... |
Tanasha |
| Jay Prakash Reddy | Muslim Tehsildar |
Music
The film has nineteen songs composed by M. M. Keeravani:| Song | Singer(s) |
|---|---|
| Sri raghavam (Traditional) | M. M. Keeravani |
| Adigo Badradri | S.P. Balasubramaniam |
| Hylessa | M. M. Keeravani, Devi Sri Prasad Devi Sri Prasad Devi Sri Prasad is a music composer and playback singer in Telugu and Tamil films. His soundtracks have been dubbed or remade in several other languages as well.- Awards :... & Malavika Malavika (singer) BiographyMalavika is a Tollywood playback singer born on the 6th of July. Malavika started her singing career with the song "Nuvvu nenu kalisunte" for the movie Gangotri. Malavika, who is a Nandi Award winner as the best playback singer for the year 2005-06, has sung for around 70 movies till date... |
| Antha Ramamayam | S.P. Balasubramaniam |
| Isvaku kula tilaka | Shankar Mahadevan Shankar Mahadevan Shankar Mahadevan is an Indian music composer and singer. He is a part of the Shankar Ehsaan Loy trio team that composes for Indian films and a playback singer.-Early life:... |
| Allah | Shankar Mahadevan Shankar Mahadevan Shankar Mahadevan is an Indian music composer and singer. He is a part of the Shankar Ehsaan Loy trio team that composes for Indian films and a playback singer.-Early life:... & Vijay Yesudas Vijay Yesudas Vijay Yesudas Kattassery , commonly credited as Vijay Yesudas, is an Indian playback singer, who has sung songs in Malayalam, Tamil, Hindi, Kannada, Tulu and Telugu.-Early life:... |
| Idhigidhigo na ramudu | Sunitha |
| Charanamulane nammithi | Madhu Balakrishnan Madhu Balakrishnan Madhu Balakrishnan is an Indian playback singer, who sings in Malayalam, Telugu, Tamil and Kannada languages.-Biography:Madhu Balakrishnan is from Tripunithura, Cochin, Kerala in India. A Graded artist in All India Radio and Doordarshan, he has performed with all major playback singers in Kerala... , K.S. Chitra K. S. Chithra K. S. Chithra often credited as Chithra , is an Indian playback singer who has made her mark in the Indian music playback industry. Popularly known as Chinna Kuyil of South India, she has lent her voice to Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Oriya, Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, Badaga and Punjabi films... & Ramachari |
| Chalu Chalu | S. P. B. Charan S. P. B. Charan Charan Sripathi Panditharadhyula Balasubrahmanyam, better known and creditted as S. P. B. Charan , is an Indian actor, producer and a playback singer. Son of popular Indian singer S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, he first worked as a playback singer in the Tamil and Telugu film industries... & Sunitha |
| Nanu Brovamani | S.P. Balasubramaniam & Sunitha |
| Sri Rama Rama Ramethi (Shloka) | M. M. Keeravani |
| Entho Ruchira | S.P. Balasubramaniam |
| Paluke Bangaramayena | M. M. Keeravani & K.S. Chitra K. S. Chithra K. S. Chithra often credited as Chithra , is an Indian playback singer who has made her mark in the Indian music playback industry. Popularly known as Chinna Kuyil of South India, she has lent her voice to Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Oriya, Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, Badaga and Punjabi films... |
| Shuddha Brahma | Pranavi |
| Bhadra Shaila | Hariharan Hariharan (singer) Hariharan , born 3 April 1955) is an Indian playback singer in Hindi, Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada, Marathi, Bhojpuri and Telugu movies, an established ghazal singer, and one of the pioneers of Indian fusion music. His melody is strongly appreciated by the film fraternity... & K.S. Chitra K. S. Chithra K. S. Chithra often credited as Chithra , is an Indian playback singer who has made her mark in the Indian music playback industry. Popularly known as Chinna Kuyil of South India, she has lent her voice to Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Oriya, Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, Badaga and Punjabi films... |
| Yetheeruga nanu | Vijay Yesudas Vijay Yesudas Vijay Yesudas Kattassery , commonly credited as Vijay Yesudas, is an Indian playback singer, who has sung songs in Malayalam, Tamil, Hindi, Kannada, Tulu and Telugu.-Early life:... |
| Thandrimata | Sunitha |
| Dasaradhi | S.P. Balasubramaniam |
| Mangalam | Brundham |
Release
Sri Ramadasu was released in 229 screens including 173 in Andhra PradeshAndhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh , is one of the 28 states of India, situated on the southeastern coast of India. It is India's fourth largest state by area and fifth largest by population. Its capital and largest city by population is Hyderabad.The total GDP of Andhra Pradesh is $100 billion and is ranked third...
18 in Karnataka
Karnataka
Karnataka , the land of the Kannadigas, is a state in South West India. It was created on 1 November 1956, with the passing of the States Reorganisation Act and this day is annually celebrated as Karnataka Rajyotsava...
, two in Chennai
Chennai
Chennai , formerly known as Madras or Madarasapatinam , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India...
, one in Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
and 25 overseas.
Box-office performance
The film had a 100-day run in 67 centres and collected over 30 crores.http://idlebrain.com/trade/index.htmlAwards
- Nandi Award for Akkineni Award for best home-viewing feature filmNandi Award for Akkineni Award for best home-viewing feature filmThe Akkineni Award for best home-viewing feature film winners:...
(2006) - Nandi Award for Best ActorNandi Award for Best ActorNandi Award for Best actor started in 1965.The Nandi Award for Best Actor winners:-See also:* Nandi Awards* Cinema of Andhra Pradesh...
(2006) for NagarjunaAkkineni NagarjunaAkkineni Nagarjuna is an Indian film actor in Tollywood and Bollywood. He is a producer and one of the lead actors in Telugu cinema.- Early life :... - Nandi Award for Best Makeup ArtistNandi Award for Best Makeup ArtistThe Nandi Award for Best Makeup Artist winners:...
(2006) for Ramachandra Rao - CineMAA Award for Best Actress (Jury) (2006) for Sneha