Naagarahaavu

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Naagarahaavu
Film poster
Kannada	ನಾಗರಹಾವು
Directed by	Puttanna Kanagal
Screenplay by	Puttanna Kanagal
Story by	T. R. Subba Rao
Based on	Nagarahavu, Ondu Gandu Eradu Hennu and Sarpa Mathsara by T. R. Subba Rao
Produced by	N. Veeraswamy
Starring	Vishnuvardhan Aarathi Shubha
Cinematography	Chittibabu
Edited by	P. Bhakthavathsalam
Music by	Vijaya Bhaskar
Production company	Sri Eswari Productions
Release date	29 December 1972 (1972-12-29)
Running time	190 minutes
Country	India
Language	Kannada

Naagarahaavu (transl. Cobra) is a 1972 Indian Kannada-language film directed by Puttanna Kanagal, based on T. R. Subba Rao's three novels Nagarahavu, Ondu Gandu Eradu Hennu and Sarpa Mathsara,^[1] and starring Vishnuvardhan, Aarathi , K. S. Ashwath and Shubha. The supporting cast features Leelavathi, Ambareesh, Shivaram, Dheerendra Gopal, Lokanath and Vajramuni. This film was remade in Hindi as Zehreela Insaan, directed by Puttanna Kanagal himself and in Tamil as Raja Nagam and Kode Nagu in Telugu.

The film was a huge success and paved way for the stardom of Vishnuvardhan, Ambarish and Aarathi who eventually morphed as leading actors in Kannada cinema.^[2] This was Vishnuvardhan's first movie as the lead. Over a period of time, the character roles of Leelavathi, Dheerendra Gopal, Loknath, M. N. Lakshmi Devi have come in for their share of applause.

The film primarily revolves around the protagonist's relationship with his teacher, Chamayya (K. S. Ashwath). Chamayya, who is childless treats Ramachari (Vishnuvardhan) as his son. He takes it upon himself to guide Ramachari on the right path despite Ramachari's legendary anger. He usually acts as the negotiator between his student and the people who have issues with Ramachari's behaviour. Ramachari is a young man whose anger is his weakness. He is difficult to reason with and has a great deal of pride. Chamayya is the only person who can convince him to do anything. His love interests are Alamelu (Aarathi) and Margaret (Shubha) who play pivotal parts in his life.

The film was re-released in its digitized version on July 20, 2018. This movie was digitalized by Balaji who is the brother of V.Ravichandran and son of Veeraswammy who was the producer. The re-release got a huge appreciation from all and created a new record of collection.^[3]

Plot details[]

Ramachari[]

The story revolves around a short-tempered, yet affable college student named Ramachari in the town of Chitradurga. The story begins with Ramachari being caught in class while trying to copy in an examination and getting suspended by the college principal (Loknath). Humiliated and angry, Ramachari throws stones at the principal's house in the night and when the principal wakes up and comes out of his house, ties the half-naked principal to a pole and runs away.

Ramachari is the son of pious parents. His father doesn't like Ramachari because he is unpopular in the town as a ruffian. His mother is worried about his future. One person who cares for Ramachari is his primary school teacher, Chamayya (K.S.Ashwath) master. Ramachari finds the company of Chamayya and his wife Tunga (Leelavathi), more comforting than that of his parents. Ramachari has very great regard for Chamayya master willing to do whatever he says, without thinking.

The next part of the story is about the two women Almelu (Aarathi) and Margaret (Shubha) who come into Ramachari's life and how the teacher Chamayya influences Ramachari's decisions in these relationships. The teacher tries to bring Ramachari into the "conventional way of life", but he errs and Ramachari's life is destroyed.

Almelu[]

In college, Ramachari hangs out with Varada (Shivaram) and other friends. Varada has a very beautiful sister named Almelu. Almelu's beauty has maddened a neighbourhood hooligan, Jaleela (Ambareesh) who keeps stalking her. Varada wants to put an end to this eve-teasing but he is timid. He asks Ramachari for help. Ramachari agrees when Varada tells him he'll get his sister Almelu married to Ramachari. Ramachari fights with Jaleela and drives him away. Almelu and Ramachari fall in love. Almelu's parents arrange for her marriage within their caste. When Almelu refuses the proposal and declares her love for Ramachari, Varada refuses support, denying he ever madea ny promise to Ramachari. Teacher Chamayya intervenes and requests Ramachari to give up Almelu. He convinces Ramachari by making him understand that sacrifice is a greater act than selfish love. Ramachari, out of respect, agrees to his teacher and sacrifices his love. A few years later, Ramachari runs into Almelu at a five-star hotel, where she is a call-girl. Almelu's husband has forced her into a life of prostitution for money.

Margaret[]

The second girl in Ramachari's life is Margaret, a peppy Christian girl. After Ramachari kisses Margaret on an ego tussle between the two she falls in love with him. After he is forced to give up Almelu, Ramachari starts responding Ramachari to Margaret's advances. However, due to the intense pressure of the society which denounces the marriage between a Brahmin boy and a Christian girl, they decide to run away. Once again teacher Chamayya tries to stop Ramachari saying that by sacrificing his love for Margaret, he will be upholding his religion and tradition. But this time, Ramachari confronts his teacher and says that he won't budge because the last time he sacrificed his love for Almelu, it went horribly wrong, as Almelu is now a high society call girl. Chamayya realizes perhaps for the first time that Ramachari is right and he himself was wrong.

Climax[]

Chamayya falls to his death from the hill when Ramachari accidentally pushes him in a fit of rage for saying, "if you want to marry her, you have to witness my death before it." Ramachari, shocked by this incident asks Margaret to join him in a bid to accompany his beloved teacher in death, to which she happily agrees and they both jump off the cliff. Ramachari, the hero is compared to a King Cobra. Dangerous, yet respected but a misfit in the society.

Other Key Characters[]

Chamayya Meshtru[]

Chamayya (K. S. Ashwath) is the ever-supportive guardian of Ramachari who treats him as his own son. He is the only person able to control and have an influence over Ramachari. The movie focuses on a beautiful relationship with the teacher and student. In one emotional scene, Chamayya Meshtru accuses Ramachari of raping Almelu and then hits him with his walking stick, only to find out from Ramachari that it was a false allegation. The scene concludes with Ramachari tearfully saying, "Betha murdhogide, repairy madi tandkodteeni" and Chamayya Meshtru helplessly regretting his haste is a classic scene.

Jaleela[]

Jaleela (Ambareesh) is the rowdy young man who teases Almelu every time she goes to college by singing the then-popular song " Mere sapnon ki Rani kab Ayegi tu". Almelu is fed complains to her brother Varda who turns to Ramachari for help. In a pivotal scene, Ramachari questions Varda as to why he should help his sister to which Varda promises to have Ramachari and Almelu married. This spurs on Ramachari who takes on Jaleela in a thrilling fight scene. The stakes are raised by the pailwan who promises the winner a garland. Ramachari wins and is rewarded with the promised garland. Jaleela asks for forgiveness and limps away even as Varda extracts his own little revenge.

Varda[]

Varda (Shivaram)is an Iyengar friend of the Madhwa Ramachari. He is usually known to be trying to find a speciality in someone and often uses that word in his dialogues. He is a key character who promises Almelu's hand in marriage to Ramachari, only to flip when he finds out that Ramachari is serious. He accuses Ramachari of raping Almelu. Ultimately, this results in Chamayya Meshtru intervening and have Almelu marry the man chosen by her parents.

Thungamma[]

Thungamma (Leelavathi)is the wife of Chamayya meshtru, the doting foster mom of Ramachari. Their mother son equation is well depicted in the aftermath of ramachari typing his college principal to a pole and being made to apologize.

Cast[]

• Vishnuvardhan as Ramachari
• Aarathi as Alamelu
• Shubha as Margaret
• K. S. Ashwath as Chamayya Meshtru
• H. R. Shastry as Shyam Iyengar, Alamelu's father
• Leelavathi as Thunga
• M. Jayashree as Sonabai, Ramachari's mother
• Ambareesh as Jaleela
• M. N. Lakshmi Devi as Mary, Margaret's mother
• M. P. Shankar as Pailwan
• Shivaram as Varadha
• Lokanath as C. H. Shyam Rao, principal of the college
• Dheerendra Gopal as Thukaram
• Vajramuni as "Laxmu", a lawyer
• Shakti Prasad as Naidu, Margaret's uncle
• Jayanthi as Onake Obavva (cameo)

Soundtrack[]

The music of the film was composed by Vijaya Bhaskar with lyrics penned by Vijaya Narasimha, Chi. Udaya Shankar and R. N. Jayagopal.

Kannada Naadina song narrates the story of Onake Obavva who fought the forces of Hyder Ali.

Two songs from this movie went on to be used in the Telugu version Kode Nagu - Sangama Sangama ^[4] was re-used as Sangamam Sangamam ^[5] and Kathe Heluve ^[6] was re-used as Katha Vinduva.^[7]

The song Haavina Dwesha went on to be used in the Hindi version as Saanp Se Badhke.^[8]

Track List[]

No.	Title	Lyrics	Singer(s)	Length
1.	"Haavina Dwesha"	Vijaya Narasimha	S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
2.	"Kannada Naadina"	Chi. Udaya Shankar	P. B. Srinivas
3.	"Karpoorada Bombe"	R. N. Jayagopal	P. Susheela
4.	"Baare Baare"	Vijaya Narasimha	P. B. Srinivas
5.	"Sangama Sangama"	Vijaya Narasimha	P. B. Srinivas, P. Susheela
6.	"Kathe Heluve"	Chi. Udaya Shankar	P. Susheela

Awards[]

21st Filmfare Awards South[]

• Best Film – Kannada
• Special Award for excellent performance – Vishnuvardhan^[9]

1972–73 Karnataka State Film Awards[]

• Second Best Film
• Best Actor – Vishnuvardhan
• Best Actress – Aarathi
• Best Supporting Actor – K. S. Ashwath
• Best Supporting Actress – Shubha
• Best Story – T. R. Subba Rao
• Best Screenplay – Puttanna Kanagal
• Best Dialogue – Chi. Udayashankar

Criticism[]

After watching the film, T. R. Subba Rao remarked that Puttanna Kanagal has turned Naagarahaavu (the cobra) into 'Kerehaavu' (meaning rat snake). The implied meaning is that the characterisation of Ramachari in the novel and the movie is strikingly different and less effective. Nevertheless, Naagarahaavu is an all-time favorite movie and remains popular in all its reruns.^[2]

Remakes[]

• This film was remade in Hindi titled as Zehreela Insaan, directed by Puttanna Kanagal himself.
• The film was remade in Tamil as Raja Nagam with Srikanth playing the lead role.
• This film was remade into Telugu titled Kode Nagu starring Sobhan Babu, Chandrakala and Lakshmi and noted lyricist Acharya Athreya. This was directed by K. S. Prakash Rao.

Trivia[]

• "Baare Baare" was the first song in an Indian film to be fully shot in slow-motion.^[10][11]
• T. R. Subba Rao had written his novel Naagarahaavu, based on painter Madhugiri Ramu & his teacher Shaamayya. Ramu was a gifted painter, whose paintings have adorned the North Gate of Mysore Palace.^[12]
• T. R. Subba Rao initially did not like the film version which was based on his 3 novels and criticized it.^[13]

References[]

External links[]

• Nagarahaavu at IMDb
• The Complete Index to World Film Since 1895
• Naagarahaavu songs lyrics