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''Bhakta Tukaram'' is a 1973 Indian Telugu-language
biographical film A biographical film or biopic () is a film that dramatizes the life of an actual person or group of people. Such films show the life of a historical person and the central character's real name is used. They differ from Docudrama, docudrama films ...
based on the life of the saint-poet Tukaram, produced by P. Adinarayana Rao under the Anjali Pictures banner and directed by V. Madhusudhana Rao. It stars Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Anjali Devi and
Sivaji Ganesan Villupuram. Chinnaiya Manrayar Ganesamoorthy (1 October 1928 – 21 July 2001), better known by his stage name Sivaji Ganesan, was an Indian actor and film producer. He was mainly active in Tamil cinema during the latter half of the 20th centur ...
, with music also composed by Adinarayana Rao.


Plot

The film is based on the story of Tukaram, an advent devotee of Panduranga in the 17th century in Dehu village of present-day
Maharashtra Maharashtra () is a state in the western peninsular region of India occupying a substantial portion of the Deccan Plateau. It is bordered by the Arabian Sea to the west, the Indian states of Karnataka and Goa to the south, Telangana to th ...
. Tukaram is kindhearted and ameliorates everyone, for which he absorbs his property. He leads a family with two wives, Avalai Jija Bai & Rukma Bai, and 2 infants. However, he is not interested in worldly matters. He is constantly immersed in the adoration of the Lord—Mumbaji Go Swamy, who presents himself as holy and exploits public faith for his own gain. Tukaram permanently exiles him, so resentful Mumbaji causes him much pain, lavelling him as an atheist, and ostracizing him. Hence, his family suffers from starvation even though no one comes forward to support him when Rukma Bai passes away. Devastated Tukaram quits questioning the existence of God when Panduranga appears and endorses his divinity as Abhang s to scripture. Now Tukaram awakes the devotion via singing and becomes eminent, which impresses emperor
Shivaji Shivaji I (Shivaji Shahaji Bhonsale, ; 19 February 1630 – 3 April 1680) was an Indian ruler and a member of the Bhonsle dynasty. Shivaji carved out his own independent kingdom from the Sultanate of Bijapur that formed the genesis of the ...
, who facilitates him with material gifts but refuses courteously. At this point, Mumbaji's envy is boundless, so he uses a brothel, Bahina Bai, to lure Tukaram when he shows the reality of life, how her beauty shrinks in old age and makes her a devotee. Later, Mumbaji claims that Tukaram stole his verses when Pandit Rameswara Bhattar, a religious authority, arrives and orders Tukaram to immerse his works in the river and never publicly discuss religion, which he does. The river Ganga retrieves it, affirming it as sacred when Rameswara Bhattar becomes his follower. Meanwhile, Mumbaji hides the Lord's statue, indicates Tukaram, and complains to Shivaji. So, he lands at Dehu to test Tukaram when, with his holy power, he restores the statue. Now, Mumbaji intrigues by notifying Shivaji's presence therein to the Mughals, but the Lord protects him at the behest of Tukaram. Knowing it, the enraged Mughal Empire amputates Mumbaji, which Tukaram retrieves, and he bows his head down. At last, the Lord invites Tukaram to
Vaikuntha Vaikuntha (), also called Vishnuloka (), and Tirunatu (Tirunāṭu) in Tamil language, Tamil, is the abode of Vishnu, the Parabrahman , supreme deity in the Vaishnavism, Vaishnava tradition of Hinduism,Gavin Flood, An Introduction to Hinduism' ( ...
with the mortal body by sending his vehicle
Garuda Garuda (; ; Vedic Sanskrit: , ) is a Hindu deity who is primarily depicted as the mount (''vahana'') of the Hindu god Vishnu. This divine creature is mentioned in the Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain faiths. Garuda is also the half-brother of the D ...
. Finally, the movie ends with Tukaram going to heaven, giving his ultimate preaching to follow righteousness, truth, peace, kindness & mercy.


Cast

* Akkineni Nageswara Rao as Tukaram * Anjali Devi as Avali Bai *
Sivaji Ganesan Villupuram. Chinnaiya Manrayar Ganesamoorthy (1 October 1928 – 21 July 2001), better known by his stage name Sivaji Ganesan, was an Indian actor and film producer. He was mainly active in Tamil cinema during the latter half of the 20th centur ...
as
Shivaji Shivaji I (Shivaji Shahaji Bhonsale, ; 19 February 1630 – 3 April 1680) was an Indian ruler and a member of the Bhonsle dynasty. Shivaji carved out his own independent kingdom from the Sultanate of Bijapur that formed the genesis of the ...
* Nagabhushanam as Mumbaji Goswamy * Dhulipala as Rameswara Bhatta *
Sakshi Ranga Rao Sakshi Ranga Rao (born Rangavajhula Ranga Rao;  – 27 June 2005) was an Indian character actor who worked in Telugu cinema and Telugu theatre, theatre. He appeared in about 450 films over a career spanning four decades, majority of which w ...
as Nandi *Bhanu Prakash as Neeloji *Nagaraju as Lord Panduranga * P. J. Sarma as Gangadhar Pandit *Potti Prasad as Varaham * Kanchana as Bahina Bai * Sriranjani Jr. as Rukma Bai * Baby Sridevi as Kaasi (Tukaram's daughter) *Baby Rani


Production

Akkineni Nageswara Rao played Tukaram, and
Sivaji Ganesan Villupuram. Chinnaiya Manrayar Ganesamoorthy (1 October 1928 – 21 July 2001), better known by his stage name Sivaji Ganesan, was an Indian actor and film producer. He was mainly active in Tamil cinema during the latter half of the 20th centur ...
played
Shivaji Shivaji I (Shivaji Shahaji Bhonsale, ; 19 February 1630 – 3 April 1680) was an Indian ruler and a member of the Bhonsle dynasty. Shivaji carved out his own independent kingdom from the Sultanate of Bijapur that formed the genesis of the ...
without taking any remuneration for the film.


Soundtrack

Music composed by P. Adinarayana Rao.


References


External links

* {{V. Madhusudhana Rao 1973 films 1970s Telugu-language films 1970s Indian films Indian biographical films Films about Hinduism History of India on film Films directed by V. Madhusudhana Rao Hindu devotional films 1970s biographical films Cultural depictions of Shivaji