Annamayya (film)

Annamayya is a 1997 Indian Telugu-language hagiographical film directed by K. Raghavendra Rao and produced by V. Doraswamy Raju under the VMC Productions banner. The film portrays the life of the 15th century composer Annamacharya, played by Nagarjuna Akkineni who features alongside an ensemble cast including Mohan Babu, Suman, Ramya Krishna, Bhanupriya, Roja, and Kasthuri. The film has score and soundtrack composed by M. M. Keeravani. Upon release, the film received positive reviews and won eight Nandi Awards, three Filmfare Awards and two National Film Awards. The film was featured in the Indian panorama mainstream section at the 29th IFFI.

Plot
Vishnu listens to requests from his consort Lakshmi, that there weren't many people singing songs in praise of the Lord. 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 up as a normal young man, Annamayya loves his 2 cousins Timakka & Akkalamma who thinks that they 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 on his journey towards Him. But, he is lost and is helped by Goddess Lakshmi herself in the form of an old lady by informs 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 the 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 makes 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 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 sons 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.

Cast

 * Nagarjuna as Annamayya
 * Suman as Lord Venkateshwara
 * Mohan Babu as Saluva Narasimha Rayalu
 * Bhanupriya as Goddess Padmavati
 * Ramya Krishna as Timakka
 * Kasthuri as Akkalamma
 * Roja as Saluva Narasimha Rayalu's wife
 * Sri Kanya as Goddess Bhoodevi
 * M. Balayya as Narayana Suri
 * Subha as Lakkamamba
 * Kota Srinivasa Rao
 * Brahmanandam as Pandit
 * Babu Mohan
 * Tanikella Bharani
 * Mallikarjuna Rao
 * AVS
 * Gundu Hanumantha Rao
 * Chitti Babu
 * Ananth Babu
 * Suthi Velu
 * Jenny
 * "Fight Master" Raju
 * Siva Parvathi

Reception
Upon Release The film went to a Cult Classic and One of the evergreen Telugu movie ever made, 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.

Soundtrack
Music released on T-Series Audio company. The audio was initially released in two volumes (Vol. 1 & Vol. 2) in the Audio cassette format. The film album is the highest sold Telugu music album till date. Most of the tracks which demanded main lead voices were recorded by S. P. Balasubrahmaniyum & Chitra, who were then household singers of Telugu film industry & also were acclaimed for making this album immortal with their golden voices. The rest other singers like M. M. Keeravani, Mano, Sujatha, Srilekha, Purna Chander, Anuradha Sriram & Renuka recorded almost all the backing vocals in the entire album. Many krithis of Annamaachaarya were brought back to life again through this album, say Nigama Nigamantha Krithi sung by SPB & Chitra still holds a special place in every Telugu film lover's hearts.

Box-office
The film turned out to be a Blockbuster with a 100-day run in 42 centres. The film had a 176-day run in 2 centres. The film was a big hit in Chennai & Bangalore too.

The film was dubbed into Tamil as Annamacharya, into Malayalam as Annamacharya and in Hindi as Tirupathi Sri Balaji.

Awards

 * 45th National Film Awards
 * Best Music Direction - M. M. Keeravani
 * Special Mention (actor) - Nagarjuna


 * Filmfare Awards South
 * Best Film – Telugu - V. Doraswamy Raju Raju
 * Best Director – Telugu - K. Raghavendra Rao
 * Best Actor – Telugu - Nagarjuna


 * Nandi Awards - 1997
 * Best Feature Film - Gold - V. Doraswamy Raju
 * Best Director - K. Raghavendra Rao
 * Best Actor - Nagarjuna
 * Best Male Dubbing Artist - S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
 * Best Costume Designer - Thota Babu Rao
 * Best Makeup Artist - T. Mallikarjuna Rao
 * Best Art Director - V. Bhaskara Raju
 * Best Cinematographer - A. Vincent