Usha Parinayam

Usha Parinayam (Telugu: ఉషా పరిణయము; English: Marriage of Usha) is one of the famous Indian dramas and films produced in different languages. It is also a popular Yakshagana. The play was written in 1901 by Vedam Venkataraya Sastry.

Plot

Banasura, the king of demons undertakes severe penance to solicit the blessings of Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva appears to Banasura and asks him to reveal his desire. Banasura asks for Shiva, Parvati and their entire family to guard the entrance to his city Sonapuri. Shiva goes to Sonapuri with his entire family including the Pramadhaganas to guard the city. This provides the arrogant Banasura with over confidence and he wages war against the devas. The devas are no match for the mighty Banasura who is under the protection of Shiva and are defeated in the ensuing battle. He further challenges Shiva, the very power under whose allegiance he defeated the devas. Angered with Banasura’s arrogance, Shiva curses him that when the flag of your chariot falls without a reason, Sri Krishna will fight you and humble your pride.

Usha, the beautiful daughter of Banasura, prays to Lord Shiva and Parvati who are posted at the entrance to her father’s fort and learns the art of dance from Parvati. One day, Usha falls asleep and in her dreams she experiences an intimate and romantic love play with a handsome young man. She is unable to discern if it was a dream or reality. She is scared and confused by all this. She recollects her experience with the young man of her dreams and unable to bear the ensuing erotic pain, she faints.

Usha’s companions call upon her dearest friend Chitralekha for help. Chitralekha understands the situation through a conversation with Usha and persuades Usha to draw a picture of the young man from her dreams. Chitralekha sees the picture and immediately identifies him as Aniruddha, the grandson of Lord krishna

. Chitralekha brings a sleeping Aniruddha to Usha’s chambers. Usha is overjoyed to see him. When Aniruddha wakes up and finds himself in a strange place with beautiful Usha. Usha expresses her love and tells him that he had been brought to her chambers by Chitralekha. Anirudhha is initially infuriated, but eventually he understands her love for him and agrees to get married to her.

The story of Usha Parinayam ends with marriage between Aniruddha and Usha.

Main characters

• Usha, daughter of Banasura
• Aniruddha, an Yadav prince and grandson of Srikrishna
• Banasura, demon king
• Sri Krishna, Yadava king of Dwaraka
• Narada
• Chitralekha, dearest sakhi of Usha
• Lord Shiva
• Goddess Parvathi

1961 film

Usha Parinayam
DVD cover of Usha Parinayam film
Directed by	Kadaru Nagabhushanam
Produced by	Kadaru Nagabhushanam
Written by	Sadasivabrahmam Samudrala
Starring	Tadepalli Lakshmi Kanta Rao S. V. Ranga Rao Jamuna
Music by	Saluri Hanumantha Rao
Release dates	1961
Country	India
Language	Telugu

Usha Parinayam was taken as a Telugu film in 1961 by Kadaru Nagabhushanam under Rajarajeswari films.^[1] It was starring Tadepalli Lakshmi Kanta Rao as Anirudha, S. V. Ranga Rao as Banasura and Jamuna as Lady Usha. Rajanala Kaleswara Rao, Kannamba, Mukkamala, Relangi Venkataramaiah and Peketi Sivaram played the other main roles.

Cast

• Tadepalli Lakshmi Kanta Rao as Anirudha
• S. V. Ranga Rao as Banasura
• Kannamba as wife of Banasura
• Jamuna as Lady Usha
• P. Suribabu as Narada
• Suryakala as Chitralekha
• Rajanala Kaleswara Rao as Lord Shiva
• Kalyanam Raghuramaiah as Lord Krishna
• Relangi Venkata Ramaiah as Kolahalam
• Mukkamala Krishna Murthy as Rajaguru
• Mikkilineni Radhakrishna Murthy as Indra

Soundtrack

There are 18 songs and poems in the film.^[2]

1. "Aathadu Vishnumurthy Paramatmudu" (Padyam) (Singer: P. Suribabu)
2. "Andhaalu Chindeti Ee Vanaseemalo" (Singer: Jamuna Rani group)
3. "Bana Nandhana Ushabala (Padyam)" (Singer: P. Suribabu)
4. "Bhakthi Paasambu"
5. "Brathikee Phalambemi Ekakinai Itupai" (Singers: P. B. Srinivas and Jamuna Rani)
6. "Devaa Hara Hara... Jaya Mahadeva Shambo" (Singers: Madhavapeddi Satyam, P. Leela and others)
7. "Karuna Rasabharitha"
8. "Madhukaita" (Padyam)
9. "Mana Prema Gaatha" (Lyricist: Sadasiva Brahmam; Singers: Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao and P. Leela)
10. "Naakun Muddu"
11. "Ninne Valachithinoi"
12. "Nyayamidena Chanduruda" (Lyricist: Samudrala; Singer: P. Susheela)
13. "O Javaraala (Adhigo Mana Prema)"
14. "Ottesuko Ottesuko" (Lyricist: Sadasiva Brahmam; Singers: Pithapuram Nageswara Rao and Jamuna Rani)
15. "Saraseejadhalanayana" (Lyricist: Sadasiva Brahmam; Singer: Kalyanam Raghuramaiah)
16. "Subhodayamuna"
17. "Suralu Munivarulaina"
18. "Vande Sambhum and Dandakum"

References