''Balipeetam'' is a 1975 Indian

Telugu Telugu may refer to: * Telugu language, a major Dravidian language of South India ** Telugu literature, is the body of works written in the Telugu language. * Telugu people, an ethno-linguistic group of India * Telugu script, used to write the Tel ...

-language

drama Drama is the specific Mode (literature), mode of fiction Mimesis, represented in performance: a Play (theatre), play, opera, mime, ballet, etc., performed in a theatre, or on Radio drama, radio or television.Elam (1980, 98). Considered as a g ...

film directed by

Dasari Narayana Rao Dasari Narayana Rao (4 May 1942 – 30 May 2017) was an Indian film director, screenwriter, actor, producer, lyricist, and politician, primarily known for his work in Telugu cinema. Over his four decade career, he directed more than 150 feature ...

. The film stars

Sobhan Babu Uppu Sobhan Babu (born Uppu Sobhana Chalapathi Rao; 14 January 1937 – 20 March 2008) was an Indian actor known for his work in Telugu cinema.Bangaru Panjaram in Venditera Paatalu, Krishnasastri Sahityam, third volume, Vishalandhra Publishing H ...

and

Sarada Sharada or Sarada (Sanskrit for "autumnal") may refer to: * the season spanning the months of Bhadrapada, Ashvin, and Kārtika of the traditional lunar Hindu calendar * Another name for the Hindu goddess Saraswati * Sharada script, abugida writing ...

in the lead roles. It is produced by Y. Sunil Chowdary. It is based on the popular socialist novel ''Balipeetam'' written by Ranganayakamma.

Plot

Bhaskar (Sobhan Babu) is a Dalit Social worker. Aruna (Sarada) is a Brahmin child-widow with consumption on her deathbed. Fulfilling her last wish to die a "Sumangali" (as someone's wife) Bhaskar marries her after telling her that he is a Dalit, which she gratefully accepts. Aruna recovers after operation and the couple lives a happy married life and they have a daughter. Bhaskar's sister (Nirmalamma) and nephew come to live them. Aruna finds it unable to accustom in Bhaskar's household. She finds them very much unlike Bhaskar. Their dialect, dressing sense and practices makes her feel the cultural distance. One of the major themes of Dalit Literature, Intercaste marriage is the leitmotif in this movie. Aruna insults Bhaskar on the basis of his lower caste and goes back to her aunt (Hemalatha) and uncle (Allu Ramalingaiah). There she sees that her relatives are more interested in her money than her and her children's well-being. Surprisingly, her cousin Kamala (Roja Ramani) marries a man (Raja Babu) of different religion. She takes care of her family becoming a housewife. She becomes an instrument in Aruna's comprehension of human nature. In the end when Aruna is ill again due to consumption, she finds that she and her children need a safer abode than her own home. She goes to Bhaskar's family, and she sees that outward appearances do not account for inner purity. The Dalit In-law family takes care of Aruna and her two children. Bhaskar comes to her and Aruna dies in his arms apologizing for sacrificing so many lives with her decisions and thus the title, Balipeetam: The pedestal of sacrifice. The core issues of inter-caste marriages and interpersonal relations are woven into the movie.

Cast

Nirmalamma Nirmalamma (18 July 1920 – 19 February 2009) was an Indian actress in the Telugu cinema. She appeared in more than 1000 films and was well known for her grandmother roles in several films. She won two Nandi Awards. Early life She was born in ...

Roja Ramani Roja Ramani (also known as Chemparathy Shobana) is an Indian actress and dubbing artist who predominantly worked in Malayalam, Telugu, and Tamil films. She was a child actor and her debut movie was '' Bhakta Prahlada'' (1967) for which she r ...

* Raja Babu *

Hemalatha Hemalatha, often credited as Hema, is an Indian actress and dancer who works in Tamil cinema. She is acclaimed for her roles in the popular soap opera '' Kana Kaanum Kaalangal'' on STAR Vijay and in the drama serial on Sun TV '' Thendral''. ...

Allu Ramalingaiah Allu Ramalingaiah (1 October 1922 – 31 July 2004) was an Indian character actor, comedian, and producer known for his works in Telugu cinema. In 1990, he was honoured with the Padma Shri for his contribution to Indian cinema. In 1998, he rec ...

Murali Mohan Maganti Murali Mohan (born as Maganti Raja Ram Mohan Roy; 24 June 1940) is an Indian actor, producer, politician, and business executive from Telugu cinema. In 1973, Murali Mohan debuted in ''Jagame Maya'', produced by Atluri Poornachandra Rao. ...

* Sri Vidya * Baby Rani

Soundtrack

* "Chandamama Rave Jabilli Rave" (Lyrics: Dasarathi; Singers: V. Ramakrishna and P. Susheela; Cast: Shobhan Babu and Sharada) * "Kusalama Neeku Kusalamena" (Lyrics:

Devulapalli Krishnasastri Devulapalli Krishnasastri (1 November 1897 – 24 February 1980) was a Telugu poet, playwright and translator known for his works in Telugu literature and Telugu cinema. He is known as ''Andhra Shelley''. In 1976, Krishnasastri was honoured wit ...

; Singers: S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and P. Susheela; Cast: Shobhan Babu and Sharada) * "Maarali Maarali Manushula Nadavadi Maarali" (Lyrics: C. Narayana Reddy; Singers: S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and P. Susheela) * "Kalasi Padudam" (Lyrics:

Srirangam Srinivasa Rao Srirangam Srinivasa Rao (30 April 1910 – 15 June 1983), popularly known as Sri Sri, was an Indian poet and lyricist who is known for his works in Telugu literature and films. Noted for his anthology '' Maha Prasthanam'', Sri Sri is a recipien ...

; Singers: S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and P. Susheela) * "Takku Tikku Takkuladi Bandira" (Lyrics:

Kosaraju Raghavaiah Kosaraju Raghavayya (23 June 1905 – 27 October 1987), known mononumously by his surname Kosaraju, was an Indian lyricist and poet known for his works in Telugu cinema. He wrote about 3,000 songs in 350 films. His lyrics are steeped in Telug ...

; Singers: S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and

S. Janaki Sistla Janaki (born 23 April 1938) is an Indian playback singer and occasional music composer. She is widely referred to as Janaki Amma and Nightingale of India(nightingale of South) . She is one of the greatest playback singers in the history ...

) * "Yesukundam Buddoda" (Lyrics: Kosaraju Raghavaiah; Singers:

Pithapuram Nageswara Rao Patharlagadda Nageswara Rao (5 May 1930 – 5 March 1996), popularly known as Pithapuram Nageswara Rao, was an Indian playback singer known for his contributions to Telugu cinema, particularly in comedic songs. He gained popularity in the 1950 ...

and

Madhavapeddi Satyam Madhavapeddi Satyam (11 March 1922 – 18 December 2000) was an Indian playback singer and actor who predominantly worked in Telugu cinema. He entered films as a singer-actor in Y. V. Rao's Tamil-Hindi bilingual movie ''Ramadas'' in the year 19 ...

)

Box office

* The film ran for more than 100 days in two centers:

Vijayawada Vijayawada ( ), formerly known by its colonial name Bezawada, is the second largest city and a major commercial hub in the Andhra Pradesh state of India. The city forms an integral part of the Andhra Pradesh Capital Region and is situated on th ...

and

Guntur Guntur (), natively spelt as Gunturu, is a city in the States and union territories of India, Indian state of Andhra Pradesh and the administrative headquarters of Guntur district. The city is part of the Andhra Pradesh Capital Region and is lo ...

.Sobhanbabu's 100 Days Films List at Cinegoer.com

References

External links

*

{{Dasari Narayana Rao 1970s Telugu-language films 1970s Indian films Films directed by Dasari Narayana Rao 1975 films Indian drama films Films scored by K. Chakravarthy Films based on Indian novels te:బలిపీఠం