Bhakta Kannappa

Bhakta Kannappa is a 1976 Indian Telugu-language film directed by Bapu. The film is a remake of 1954 Kannada movie Bedara Kannappa starring Rajkumar which was based on the life of Shaiva devotee, Kannappa Nayanar.

Cast

 * Krishnam Raju as Arjuna/Kannappa/Thinnadu
 * Vanisri as Neela
 * M. Balaiah as Lord Shiva
 * Rao Gopal Rao as Kailasanatha Shastri
 * Sarathi as Kashinatha Shastri
 * Allu Ramalingaiah
 * Sreedhar as Mallanna
 * Prabhakar Reddy as Neela's father
 * Mukkamala as Jara Rashtrika (Vedic form of Peddavema Reddy)
 * P. R. Varalakshmi as Goddess Parvati
 * Jhansi
 * Baby Varalakshmi
 * Baby Rohini
 * Jaya Malini as Ranjana

Production
Krishnam Raju was inspired by Ben-Hur (1959) and wanted to produce a film just like it. As such, this film was influenced by the film Ben-Hur. For songs recording, the unit went to tribal areas and composed their tunes and rhythms as songs for the film. In fact, the song Enniyallo was based on the research they had done.

Soundtrack

 * "Aakasham Dinchala Nelavanka Tunchala" (Lyrics: Veturi; Singers: V. Ramakrishna and P. Susheela; Cast: Krishnam Raju and Vanisri)
 * "Kanda Gelichindi Kanne Dorikindi" (Lyrics: C. Narayana Reddy; Singers: V. Ramakrishna and P. Susheela; Cast: Krishnam Raju, Vanisree and Others)
 * "Om Namassivaya Srikantalokesha" (Lyrics: Veturi; Singer: V. Ramakrishna; Cast: Krishnam Raju and M. Balayya)
 * "Paravasamuna Sivudu" (Kiratarjuneeyam) (Lyrics: Veturi; Singer: S. P. Balasubrahmanyam; Cast: Krishnam Raju and M. Balayya)
 * "Siva Siva Ananelara" (Lyrics: C. Narayana Reddy; Singer: S. Janaki)
 * "Siva Siva Sankara Bhaktava Sankara" (Lyrics: Veturi; Singer: V. Ramakrishna; Cast: Krishnam Raju)
 * "Thalli Thandri" - (Singer: P. Susheela)
 * "Thinavayya" (male) - V. Ramakrishna
 * "Thinavayya" (female) - P. Susheela
 * "Thakita Thakita" - (Singer: S. P. Balasubrahmanyam)
 * "Yenniyallo Yenniyallo Chandamama" - (Lyrics: Arudra; Singers: V. Ramakrishna and P. Susheela; Cast: Krishnam Raju and Vanisree)

Awards

 * National Film Award for Best Audiography - S. P. Ramanathan