Swarnakamalam

Swarnakamalam
Theatrical Release poster
Directed by	K. Viswanath
Produced by	Ch.V. Appa Rao
Written by	K. Viswanath (story) Sainath Thotapalli (dialogue)
Screenplay by	K. Viswanath
Starring	Venkatesh Bhanupriya Sharon Lowen
Music by	Ilayaraja
Cinematography	Lok Singh
Edited by	G.G. Krishna Rao
Production company	Bhanu Art Creations
Release dates	15 July 1988 (1988-07-15)
Running time	143 minutes
Country	India
Language	Telugu

Swarnakamalam (English: The Golden Lotus) is a 1988 Telugu dance film, written and directed by K. Viswanath.^[1] The film starred Venkatesh and Bhanupriya in the lead roles and featured music composed by Ilayaraja.^[2][3] The song sequences demanded locations that were spread across Puri, the Himalayas, the Valley of Flowers National Park, the stupa at Dhauli Odisha, and Visakhapatnam.^[4]

The film was premiered at the Indian panorama section of the 1988 International Film Festival of India,^[5] Asia Pacific International Film Festival and Michigan International Film Festival.^[6][7] The film received three state Nandi Awards and two South Filmfare Awards, including Nandi Award for Best Feature Film and Filmfare Best Film Award (Telugu).^[8]

Plot

Shanti Stupa at Dhauli, where the song "Shiva Poojaku" was filmed

Pushpawati River rushing out at the Valley of Flowers National Park where the song "Ghallu Ghallu" was shot

Bhanu Priya's painting in the film

Meenakshi (Bhanupriya) and Savitri (Devilalita) are daughters of a Kuchipudi doyen, Seshendra Shastry. While a highly accomplished artist in his field, Seshendra Shastry is not well-off and has not been able to afford his daughters a conventional education. Both of them have achieved a respectable degree of proficiency — Savitri in Carnatic classical music and Meenakshi in classical dance.

Savitri is grateful for her knowledge and interest and looks forward to a life that will require her to hone her skills in the same art. Meenakshi, on the other hand, is bitter about the lack of opportunity that she feels in the field of classical dance in India and resolves to make a simpler and more pleasurable life for herself as soon as possible, while confiding her ambitions only to her sister.

Chandrasekhar (Venkatesh) is a tenant who has just moved in next door. He is a painter and is shown to be handling movie promotions as a large chunk of his work. He develops an interest in the neighbors and tries to help them in whatever way he can, partly because of his (unconfessed) interest in Meenakshi and partly because of his interest in the art which seems to be slowly fading away from public life.

The rest of the film is largely built around Meenakshi's journey from skepticism to devotion in her pursuit of dance. Chandrasekhar is shown to be an important catalyst in this transformation. Meenakshi becomes an accomplished dancer through the direction of renowned Odissi dancer Sharon Lowen, and gets an opportunity to go abroad and perform. She learns of Chandrasekhar's love for her. She doesn't go abroad and finally unites with Chandrasekhar, confessing her love for him as well.

Cast

• Venkatesh as Chandu / Chandra Shekar
• Bhanupriya as Meenakshi
• Sharon Lowen as herself

Soundtrack

The music for the film was composed by Ilaiyaraaja and released on ECHO Music Company.

Awards

Nandi Awards- 1988

• Best Feature Film - (Gold) - Ch.V. Appa Rao
• Best Actress - Bhanupriya
• Special Jury Award - Venkatesh

Filmfare Awards South- 1988

• Best Film – Telugu - Ch.V. Appa Rao^[9]
• Best Actress – Telugu - Bhanupriya

Cinema Express Awards - 1988

• Cinema Express Awards Best Film - Ch.V. Appa Rao ^[10]
• Cinema Express Awards Best Director - K. Viswanath^[10]
• Cinema Express Awards Best Actress - Bhanupriya^[10]

References

External links

• Swarnakamalam at the Internet Movie Database