Sankarabharanam

Well.. Well.. 1000 words would not be sufficient to tell even a hundredth about the movie. No kidding. The first time I watched the movie, I was a kid and obviously did not like the movie as I did not understand it. The second time, I appreciated the movie and then on I have seen the movie n number of times and every time I saw it, I see a new angle which the director wants the viewer to observe and dig deep. The music scored by KV Mahadevan is simply superb. SPB, S Janakia and Vani Jayaram have done a great job and Veturi's lyrics are a class apart. The movie had won 4 National awards which include the best movie providing wholesome entertainment, best music, best male playback and best female playback (Vani Jayaram). The song for which Vani Jayaram has won the award is not even 2 minutes in length and it is the shortest song ever to win an award in any part of the world. The award is SPB's first National award. He tuned his voice so well that it appears as if a 60-year old person was singing (He was not even 35). Another interesting aspect of the movie is that this movie has increased the tape recoreder sales in AP by 10 times. (Tape recorders were new in AP). The dialogues in the movie are excellent and JV Somayajulu (debut) has given an excellent performance.

In short, a novel story, an excellent script, superb direction, stellar performances and above all high-quality songs easily makes Shankaraabharanam the best Telugu movie ever.

Shankarabharanam is story of how music can bring together people from different walks of life.Melocholic,pure,brilliant and yet at times sad,the movie chronicles the life of a brilliant artist from the memories and thoughts of a fellow music lover.

Shankara Shasthry is a renowned carnatic singer of his time.At the height of his prominence, he is invited by communities near and far and felicitated by prominent people.After the advent of pop music however,carnatic music begins to recede in popularity and the great Shankara shasthry becomes an afterthought in the minds of young music lovers swayed by western culture.

Among his devoted listeners is a young woman who is of a geisha-esqe heritage.Even though the reason she is taught music is more for the practical purpose of enticing a potential benefactor,she develops a true love for music and in the process tremendous respect for the great artist.The two are brought together after the women seeks shelter away from people who are trying to exploit her.

The crux of the movie is that the world doesn't understand that the relationship between the teacher and disciple is purely platonic.Given the heritage of the disciple,society simply assumes to name a relationship at its lowest level, when the bond between the characters cannot be catogorized or described that easily.

Ironically society is so shallow and immature as to that it would rather let go of a esteemed member of their community rather than accept a lowly member into their very own.

The disciple soon realizes that her proximity to her teacher clouds the majesty of her teacher and she disappears into the darkness of the night.Years later,she returns with a child,a byproduct of a tragic rape.She intends to give her son the opportunity of tutelage under the great master unlike herself who never had the chance.This forms of the story arc of the movie.

The greatness of the movie lies in its purity of the message that it delivers and the relevance that it holds till date;i.e we are humans first,art unites, and the purpose of the society is to bring people together not divide on the basis of heritage or caste.

A movie told narrated more though music and silence,Shankarabharanam is timeless classic with music that is simply gold.

I am ashamed that there are some Indians and Andhras who feel that this movie doesn't deserve 10/10. It deserves lot more than 10. Lord Shiva himself will come down to see this movie. Each expression is a diologue, Each diologue is an emotion, Each emotion is a music, Each music bit is a pancakshari, Each saying of pancakshari is a step to Lord Shiva's abode.

If there is ever a great film director in this world, it should be Sri K Viswanath. If there is ever a great music director in film world, it is Sri K V Mahadevan who gives music full of devotion, away from three modes of nature (satva, tamo, raja gunas). If there are writers who made Lord Shiva send Ganga for them, Srinatha Kavisarvabhouma is first followed by Sri Veturi Sundara Rama Murthy. There is no point arguing this fact.

Not even Titanic, Jurassic park, black, anything else can come near this masterpiece of Indian Cinema. Hollywood is no where near this great movie.

I have no words to describe this movie. I don't know why this movie did not get any Oscar award. Culture, maturity, character & Indian ethos, all blended into one is this movie. I was fortunate to watch this movie a lot of times.

Absolutely awe struck.

India has produced many great filmmakers but none appreciated and represented art like K. Viswanath did which he exhibits in each and every film of his.

Thus comes the name "KALATHAPASVI" His trademark is he selects an art form in each movie and relates it to real life personalities, complex and orthodox Brahmans or any other caste he portrays.

K. V. Mahadevan musical brilliance is one of the pillar which this movie stands tall even today.

SPB manipulation of his vocals to match the protagonist is absolutely mesmerizing.

Somayajulu popularly known as "SHANKARABHARANAM SHANKAR SASTRY" To this day tells us how he bought to life the character in this movie.

Manju Bhargavi is phenomenal with just her eyes doing all the performance in the movie and her expressions are self explanatory in every sense.

There is no better representation of how classical music coped up with sweeping western music and how it changed the life of people who mastered the art over years and all at once feels downtrodden due to fluctuations in admirers of art.

Yet how they stayed and continued in the same path is the essence of master from student.

This is one of the best movies from india and it's more than just a contribution to world cinema.

Those days people find it their absolute achievement if they watched this movie and there is a sense of devotion towards it.

Best of K. Viswanath and an asset to filmmaking.