Sita Rama Kalyanam (1961 film)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For the 1986 film, see Seetharama Kalyanam (1986 film).

Sita Rama Kalyanam
Seeta Rama Kalyanam.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed byN. T. Rama Rao
Written bySamudrala Sr (dialogues)
Screenplay byDhanekula Buchi Venkata Krishna Chowdhary
Story byDhanekula Buchi Venkata Krishna Chowdhary
Produced byN. Trivikrama Rao
StarringN. T. Rama Rao
B. Saroja Devi
CinematographyRavikant Nagaich
Edited byVeerappa
Music byGali Penchala Narasimha Rao
Production
company
National Art Theaters
Release date
  • 6 January 1961 (1961-01-06)
Running time
182 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageTelugu

Sita Rama Kalyanam (transl. The marriage of Seeta and Rama) is a 1961 Indian Telugu-language Hindu mythological film, produced by N. Trivikrama Rao and directed by N. T. Rama Rao. It stars N. T. Rama Rao, B. Saroja Devi and music composed by Gali Penchala Narasimha Rao. The movie was a blockbuster and garnered name for NTR for portraying and emphasizing Ravana character. The movie is also famous for its song "Seetaramula kalyanam chutamu rarandi".
The film was dubbed into Tamil with the same title and was released on 3 February 1961.[1]

Plot[]

The film begins with Nandi obstructing Ravana (N. T. Rama Rao) to reach Kailasa as it is a private time of Lord Siva. Thereupon, a rift erupts between them when Nandi curses Ravana that Vaanaras (monkeys) will be main cause of his death. Nevertheless, Ravana performs a severe penance that shakes the foundations of Kailasa. Aroused, Siva delights him as invincible whereby, he trounces the universe. Once on his journey, he falls for the beauty of Rambha and molests her. Being cognizant of it, Nalakubara (Saradhi) curses him to atomize when he aspires to possess any woman without her wish. However, his ferocity reaches the summit, when all the creators bow before Lord Vishnu (Haranath), one that gives assurance of salvation to eliminate the monster. Meanwhile, Lakshmi Devi (Geethanjali) takes birth as Vedavathi on Earth. At one juncture, Ravana lusts for her when she immediately sacrifices herself with a curse to reborn as a cause for the destruction of his dynasty. Right now, Ravana brings her ashes which appalls Mandodari (B. Saroja Devi). So, she discards the box and buries it on either side of the sea. Meanwhile, Dasaratha (Chittor V. Nagaiah), the king of Ayodhya is perturbed as he is childless, so he conducts Putrakameshti Yaaga with his 3 wives, as a result, they are blessed with 4 sons who are the reincarnations of Lord Vishnu, Adhi Sesha, Shankha, and Chakra as Rama, Lakshmana, Bharata, and Shatragnya. Meanwhile, Janaka (Mikkilineni), the king of Mithila, while tilling the ground, finds the box enclosing the baby whom he rears as Seeta. Time passes, Saint Viswamitra (Gummadi) arrives and seeks to send Rama and Lakshmana (Shobhan Babu) for the protection of his Yaga. Soon, Viswamitra endorses them with powerful armaments by which they destroy Tataki and Marichasubhahulu and accomplish the Yaga. Just as Janaka announces Swayamvaram to Seeta, learning it, Viswamitra moves to Mithila along with Rama and Lakshmana. On the way, Rama makes a stone form of Ahalya into normal. Here, the challenge is to affix the world-renowned bow of Lord Siva. However, Ravana too arrives without an invitation but fails and gets humiliated. All at once, Rama lifts the bow and breaks it. Knowing it, enraged Parasurama (K. V. S. Sarma) lands and confronts Rama. Later, he realizes him as his own reincarnation and backs up. Finally, the movie ends on a happy note with the phenomenal wedding of Seeta and Rama.

Cast[]

Production[]

The tale of Ravananugraha (pictured) inspired a sequence in the film in which Rama Rao's character Ravana would sport ten heads all chanting Om Namah Shivaya while lifting the Kailasa hill on his shoulders

N. T. Rama Rao's portrayal of the demon king Ravana (the antagonist of the Hindu epic Ramayana) in Bhookailas (1958) earned him critical acclaim.[2] However, after the release of its Kannada-language version Bhookailasa in the same year which featured a different cast and crew, Rama Rao's portrayal was often compared with that of Rajkumar who played Ravana. This, along with Ravana's reputation as a renowned Shiva devotee, made Rama Rao consider reprising the role in another film which focused on a more layered representation of the character.[3] He and writer Samudrala Raghavacharya studied Ravana's arcs from various versions of Ramayana and other mythologies. Later, Rama Rao's friend Dhanekula Buchi Venkata Krishna Chowdhary came up with a story which they liked, and Raghavacharya wrote the dialogues, songs and poems.[2][4] Though the film's narrative was centered around Ravana, Raghavacharya named the film Sita Rama Kalyanam after Ramayana's protagonists Rama and Sita.[2]

Rama Rao's brother N. Trivikrama Rao decided to produce the film for his company National Art Theatre and approached the former's mentor K. V. Reddy to direct the film.[2] Reddy declined the offer, saying that he could not envision Rama Rao playing a demon. Rama Rao then decided to direct the film himself, marking his directorial debut.[3] He, however, refrained from crediting himself as the director and instead paid homage to his parents.[4] When Trivikrama Rao suggested that Rama Rao should play a dual role as both Rama and Ravana, the latter refused and chose to work with younger actors. He met Haranath at Pondy Bazaar and signed him to play Rama.[3] Sobhan Babu was cast as Rama's brother Lakshmana.[2] Impressed with her cameo appearance in Rani Ratnaprabha (1960), Rama Rao cast Geetanjali for the role of Sita.[3] B. Saroja Devi, Gummadi and V. Nagaiah were cast in key supporting roles.[2] Sita Rama Kalyanam also marked Kanta Rao's first on-screen appearance as Narada, a mythological character which he would reprise later in multiple unrelated Telugu language films.[3][4]

Rama Rao approached M. A. Rahman, the cinematographer of the former's acting debut Mana Desam (1949), to collaborate for this film as the director of photography. When Rahman was unavailable, he signed Ravikant Nagaich for the job, marking the latter's debut in Telugu cinema.[4] S. P. S. Veerappa edited the film and I. N. Murthy served as the co-director.[2] All the sequences were filmed in sets erected at the Vijaya Vauhini Studios in Madras (now Chennai).[2] For filming the Ravananugraha sequence, Nagaich opted for using mask shots capturing varying expressions of Rama Rao instead of working with nine dummy heads. This took more than ten hours to shoot, and Rama Rao had to stay motionless for longer intervals.[2][4]

Music[]

S. Rajeswara Rao was signed to compose the film's soundtrack and score. He worked on the song "Kanarara Kailasa Nivasa" and a poem "Jayatwada Bravibhrama" before walking out of the film citing creative differences with Rama Rao.[2] Gali Penchala Narasimha Rao replaced him and composed the score and the remaining songs. Raghavacharya wrote the lyrics for all the songs and composed the poems.[3] Emani Sankara Sastry recited the veena for the Ravananugraha sequence.[2] The soundtrack was released on 31 December 1961 and was marketed by HMV (now Saregama).[5]

S. No Song Title Singers length
1 Deva Deva Parandhama P. B. Srinivas 3:38
2 Kanarara Kailasa Nivasa Ghantasala 4:11
3 Jagadeka Matha Gauri Ghantasala 3:21
4 Parama Saiva Ghantasala 1:16
5 Hey Parvathi Ghantasala 1:38
6 Sashtiryojana M. S. Rama Rao 1:05
7 Danava Kula Ghantasala 1:39
8 Padmasane M. S. Rama Rao 0:54
9 Veena Padave P. Susheela 3:44
10 Inupa Kattadal P. B. Srinivas 0:38
11 Sarasala Javaralanu P. Leela 4:12
12 Nelatha Ghantasala 1:02
13 Kolupuga P. Leela 1:00
14 Janakundu Suthudu Ghantasala 1:33
15 Govindha Madhava Ghantasala 8:31
16 Veyi Kannulu P. Leela 2:57
17 Kowsalya Supraja M. S. Rama Rao 0:52
18 Nandhinavamaninchi P. B. Srinivas 0:52
19 Pooni Bommaku P. Leela 0:51
20 Bhoomiki P. B. Srinivas 0:42
21 Chiru Nagavu P. B. Srinivas 0:50
22 Jagadeka Matha Gauri P. Susheela 3:22
23 Sree Raghavam M. S. Rama Rao 1:01
24 O Sukumara Ghantasala, P. Susheela 3:14
25 Sri Seetaramula Kalyanamu P. Susheela 5:49
26 Hey Rama Rama M. S. Rama Rao 0:52
27 Mangalam M. S. Rama Rao 1:22

Awards[]

National Film Awards

References[]

  1. ^ Ad in Kalki magazine of 5 February 1861
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j k Narasimham, M. L. (14 April 2016). "SITA RAMA KALYANAM (1961)". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 9 May 2021. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f "అరవై ఏళ్ళ 'సీతారామ కళ్యాణం'" ['Seeta Rama Kalyanam' turns 60] (in Telugu). NTV Telugu. 6 January 2021. Archived from the original on 9 May 2021. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e "నటసార్వభౌముని విశ్వరూపం.. 'సీతారామ కళ్యాణం'" [Natasarvabhouma's masterpiece... 'Seeta Rama Kalyanam'] (in Telugu). ETV Telugu. 6 January 2021. Archived from the original on 9 May 2021. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  5. ^ Narasimha Rao, Gali Penchala (31 December 1961). "Seetharama Kalyanam (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)". iTunes. Archived from the original on 3 June 2021. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
  6. ^ "8th National Film Awards". International Film Festival of India. Archived from the original on 12 October 2013. Retrieved 7 September 2011.

External links[]

Retrieved from ""