Saptapadi (1981 film)

Saptapadi is a 1981 Indian Telugu-language drama film written and directed by K. Viswanath. Upon release, the film received widely positive reviews and won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration, four state Nandi Awards, and the Filmfare Award for Best Telugu film. The film was featured retrospectively at the AISFM film festival. In 1984 Viswanath directed the Hindi version Jaag Utha Insan.

Premise
The film is not only about the seven steps that one takes during a Hindu wedding that completes the act of shedding bachelorhood and entering a more stable married state but also talks about an individual's journey breaking away from the shackles of conservatism to finding a path of understanding, encompassing and enlightenment.

Plot
Saptapadi deals with the transformation of an individual so devoted to the concept of rituals, that it takes an act of God for him to realise the true spirit behind the rituals and true meaning of the prayers. Yajulu is a man of great conviction. According to him rules and customs, that have been passed down generations thus standing the test of the time, are there for a reason and hence are immutable; traditions are trademarks of culture and customs, its signature. He does not mind losing his daughter for his principles.

He is well into his twilight years which give him even more reason to not mend his ways. In his footsteps follows Gaurinadha (son of his son), gearing up to be head priest at the local temple. Yajulu's will prevails over Hema's (daughter of his daughter) wish and Gauri and Hema end up being married. However, Hema is secretly in love with a flutist, who is not of her caste. The brilliance of Viswanath comes full fore at this point, when on the couple's first night, Gaurinadha witnesses Durga Devi in Hema, and walks out of the room completely shaken. Gaurinadha, an ardent devotee of the Devi, realises that his wife is in love with another man, ans is like a mother to him, nothing more, nothing less. This act of God triggers Yajulu's thought process to seriously question, for the first time in his life, the validity of his position on matters that involve caste, creed and religion, justifying the steps that Yajulu takes one a time, from the first one in trying to understand Hema's real interests till the last one when he sees her off with her love interest on the boat.

Cast

 * J. V. Somayajulu as Yajulu
 * Allu Ramalingayya as Raju
 * J. V. Ramana Murthy as Avadhani, Yajulu's son
 * Dubbing Janaki as Annapurna, Avadhani's wife
 * Ravikanth as Gaurinadha Sastry, Yajulu's grandson
 * Bhamidipati Sabita as Hema
 * Girish Pradhaan as Haribabu
 * Jhansi as Katyayani
 * Prameela Rani as Karuna
 * Sivaparvathi as Raju's daughter
 * Sakshi Ranga Rao as Chayanulu
 * Mallikarjuna Rao

Awards
B. Bucchireddy
 * 1981
 * K. Viswanath
 * K. Viswanath
 * National Film Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration
 * Won
 * 1981
 * K. Viswanath
 * Nandi Award for Best Screenplay Writer
 * Won
 * 1981
 * G. G. Krishna rao
 * Nandi Award for Best Editor
 * Won
 * 1981
 * Kasthuri
 * Nandi Award for Best Cinematographer
 * Won
 * 1981
 * S. Janaki
 * Nandi Award for Best Female Playback Singer
 * Won
 * 1981
 * Bucchireddy
 * Filmfare Award for Best Film – Telugu
 * Won
 * }
 * 1981
 * Bucchireddy
 * Filmfare Award for Best Film – Telugu
 * Won
 * }
 * }