Wow! 40 years since #DadasahebPhalke awardee, director K Viswanath garu released his famous 'Shankarabharanam'! Exactly on 2nd February 1980!
Watched it countless times and had the opportunity to interview the director several times. ☺🙏
A short thread on it.
Watched it countless times and had the opportunity to interview the director several times. ☺🙏
A short thread on it.
When Viswanath Garu was honoured with the Phalke award, I had written this article. A quick run through his major movies. 😊
scroll.in/reel/836013/te…
scroll.in/reel/836013/te…
The actual idea for 'Shankarabharanam' was rooted in a much older Kannada classic by the great GV Iyer. The iconic 'Hamsageethe' based on Ta Ra Su's novel was supposed to have inspired SB.
Vishwanath and his team developed the idea further and came about a totally new story.
Vishwanath and his team developed the idea further and came about a totally new story.
Produced by Edida Nageshwara Rao with music by KV Mahadevan, almost everything about 'Shankarabharanam' was ready....except one thing!
They didn't have a suitable heroine!
Vishwanath had auditioned many actors but wasn't convinced they could pull that role off!
They didn't have a suitable heroine!
Vishwanath had auditioned many actors but wasn't convinced they could pull that role off!
Everything about 'Shankarabharanam' came to a halt for several months. Dir. Vishwanath almost stalled the project for some time.
One day he was invited as a guest at a marriage reception function. The great Kuchipudi maestro Vempati Chinna Satyam was also there.
One day he was invited as a guest at a marriage reception function. The great Kuchipudi maestro Vempati Chinna Satyam was also there.
An older piece I wrote about Vempati master. He was iconic! He gave a new energy to Kuchipudi. He trained so many dancers! From film actress Rekha and Rathna Kumar to many more!
thenewsminute.com/article/rememb…
thenewsminute.com/article/rememb…
Back to that evening! Vempati master was presenting one of his many dance students at that reception function where Vishwanath was also present.
Seeing her performance, Vishwanath was delighted! He found his heroine for the project he had stalled!
Her name was Manju Bharghavi!
Seeing her performance, Vishwanath was delighted! He found his heroine for the project he had stalled!
Her name was Manju Bharghavi!
The earlier hero who signed up walked out because the film wasn't moving ahead. Dir. Vishwanath decided to take a risk and have a face that was popular in drama but was new to cinema. He was no superstar. But Vishwanath was convinced he would deliver!
Enter JV Somayajulu! ☺🙏
Enter JV Somayajulu! ☺🙏
JVS was a nobody in cinema. He had acted in one movie earlier, way back in 1976. He played a minor role and that movie was a big flop! And here was a big director making him a hero straight away!
And a classical dancer who never faced the camera!
What a huge risk! 🙆♂
And a classical dancer who never faced the camera!
What a huge risk! 🙆♂
And thus director Vishwanath garu dared to create one of modern Telugu cinema's greatest masterpieces!
The movie opens with the famous Subhashitani 'शिशुर्वेत्ति पशुर्वेत्ति वेत्ति गानरसं फणिः'...
No point going into the story. Everyone knows it! ☺
The movie opens with the famous Subhashitani 'शिशुर्वेत्ति पशुर्वेत्ति वेत्ति गानरसं फणिः'...
No point going into the story. Everyone knows it! ☺
The rest was history! 'Shankarabharanam' was a roaring success!
Check this from the silver jubilee celebrations! ☺🙏
Check this from the silver jubilee celebrations! ☺🙏
And the songs in the movie, that continue to remain hits!
Check this! ☺🙏
Check this! ☺🙏
Will end this thread on 'Shankarabharanam' with Sadasiva Brahmendra's immortal composition that features in it. ☺🙏
Letting the night fade into this beautiful song...
परमहम्स मुखचन्द्र चकोरे।
परिपूरित मुरली रवधारे॥
मानस सन्चररे....
😊 🙏
Letting the night fade into this beautiful song...
परमहम्स मुखचन्द्र चकोरे।
परिपूरित मुरली रवधारे॥
मानस सन्चररे....
😊 🙏
