''Mahakavi Kshetrayya'' is a 1976

Telugu Telugu may refer to: * Telugu language, a major Dravidian language of India *Telugu people, an ethno-linguistic group of India * Telugu script, used to write the Telugu language ** Telugu (Unicode block), a block of Telugu characters in Unicode S ...

-language biographical film, based on the life of

Kshetrayya Kshetrayya ( Telugu:క్షేత్రయ్య) (–1680) was a prolific Telugu poet. He lived in the area of Andhra Pradesh in South India. He composed a number of ''padams'' and ''keertanas'', the prevalent formats of his time. He is c ...

, produced by P. Adinarayana Rao under the Anjali Pictures banner and directed by Adurthi Subba Rao & C. S. Rao. It stars

Akkineni Nageswara Rao Akkineni Nageswara Rao (20 September 1923 – 22 January 2014), widely known as ANR, was an Indian actor and producer, known for his works majorly in Telugu cinema. He starred in many landmark films in his seventy five-year career, and became on ...

in the title role, with Anjali Devi,

Manjula Manjula (Sanskrit: मंजुला) is a Hindu and Sanskrit female given name, which means, "melodious". Notable people named Manjula * Manjula (Kannada actress) (1954–1986), Indian actress * Manjula Chellur (born 1955), Indian doctor and ...

as female leads, and music also composed by P. Adinarayana Rao. Actually the film direction was started by veteran ''Adurthi Subba Rao'' but he had expired in the middle of the movie and director ''C. S. Rao'' completed the movie.

Plot

The film is based on the story of Mahakavi Kshetrayya, an advent devotee of

Lord Krishna Krishna (; sa, कृष्ण ) is a major deity in Hinduism. He is worshipped as the eighth avatar of Vishnu and also as the Supreme god in his own right. He is the god of protection, compassion, tenderness, and love; and is one of ...

in the 17th century in the village of Muvva in present-day Krishna district,

Andhra Pradesh Andhra Pradesh (, abbr. AP) is a state in the south-eastern coastal region of India. It is the seventh-largest state by area covering an area of and tenth-most populous state with 49,386,799 inhabitants. It is bordered by Telangana to the ...

. The film begins, with two bells from

Lord Siva Shiva (; sa, शिव, lit=The Auspicious One, Śiva ), also known as Mahadeva (; ɐɦaːd̪eːʋɐ, or Hara, is one of the principal deities of Hinduism. He is the Supreme Being in Shaivism, one of the major traditions within Hind ...

anklets plunging on earth which first one forms as a village Muvva and the second takes an avatar as a person Varadhayya. Though Varadhayya is born into a respectable scholar's family he is uneducated and till his teenage moves as a meander by intoning melody. Varadha loves his maternal uncle Sivaiah's daughter Rukmini. Besides, Bhama a Devadasi allures Varadha's tunes and showers her love on him. Bhama's brother Pichaiah is also a bestie of Varadha. Due to circumstances, Varadha is not able to marry either Rukmini or Bhama then he abuses the Lord. Here a saint Siddhendra Yogi explains that his life is dedicated to the Lord and preaches to him a Mantra that he recites. At that juncture, Lord Krishna appears gives him enlightenment & entrusts to scripture his divinity as vocals & lyrics which he does so. Now Varadha's songs become chart-topping when religious authorities affirm nastiness in them and ostracize Varadha. Howbeit, on the advice of Siddhendra Yogi, Varadha starts his journey to learn the life secret when he is eminent as Kshetrayya. Eventually, Tanisha of Golconda listens to his tunes and honors him as his court poet which he refuses courteously. So, angered Tanisha arrests him when Bhama & Pichaiah who are in search of Varadha releases him. Later, Kshetrayya tours Kanchipuram,

Chidambaram Chidambaram is a town and municipality in Cuddalore district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, on the banks of the Vellar River where it meets the Bay of Bengal. It is the headquarters of the Chidambaram taluk. The town is believed to be of si ...

Srirangam Srirangam, is a neighbourhood in the city of Tiruchirappalli in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. A river island, Srirangam is bounded by the Kaveri River on one side and its distributary Kollidam on the other side. Considered as the first among ...

, etc. and lands at

Thanjavur Thanjavur (), also Tanjore, Pletcher 2010, p. 195 is a city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Thanjavur is the 11th biggest city in Tamil Nadu. Thanjavur is an important center of South Indian religion, art, and architecture. Most of the Gr ...

. Therein, King Vijaya Raghava Nayaka felicitates Kshetrayya with great honor defeats all the poets in the province, and proclaims Rangajamma the second wife of Vijaya Raghava, a great poet as his analogous. During that time, Thanjavur has a rivalry with

Madhurai Madurai ( , also , ) is a major city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is the cultural capital of Tamil Nadu and the administrative headquarters of Madurai District. As of the 2011 census, it was the third largest Urban agglomeration in T ...

when Kshetrayya tries to resolve their conflicts but fails and ensues the destruction of Thanjavur. In that plight, Rangajamma requests Kshetrayya to safeguard their heritage and handovers Prince Changamala Dasu. Right Now, Kshetrayya reaches Golkonda, and solicits Tanisha to establish Changamala Dasu as the empire of Thanjavur as return, he is ready to stay permanently in his court. At present, both of them keep up their word, the advent of Kshetrayya irks another poet Tulasi Murthy. So, to know the eminence between two fires Tulasi Murthy challenges to write 1000 verses in 40 days. Kshetrayya accepts it, almost on the edge to win when Tulasi Murthy uses court dancer Taaramathi who ploys by seducing him through syrup. Just in time, Bhama enters and rescues him, spotting both of them, Siddhendra Yogi misunderstands & curses Bhama that females cannot participate in Kuchipudi. After coming into conscious Kshetrayya dies out of contrition as he committed a great sin and is not eligible to complete the verses. At that moment, seeks to endorse his duty when his aura is freed from the body which successfully finishes the verses. Being aware of it, Tulasi Murthy tries to steal the verses when he loses his eyesight as divine retribution and bows his head down. At last, Lord directs Kshetrayya to reach his native place Muvva as it is the time of his salvation. Finally, the movie ends with Kshetrayya transforming into a bell that conjoins with Lord Siva's anklets at

Kailasam Tyagraj Paramasiva Iyer Kailasam (Kannada: ತ್ಯಾಗರಾಜ ಪರಮಶಿವ ಐಯ್ಯರ್ ಕೈಲಾಸಂ, 1884–1946), was an Indian playwright and prominent writer in the Kannada literature. Literary criticism in Kannada l ...

Cast

Akkineni Nageshwara Rao Akkineni Nageswara Rao (20 September 1923 – 22 January 2014), widely known as ANR, was an Indian actor and producer, known for his works majorly in Telugu cinema. He starred in many landmark films in his seventy five-year career, and became on ...

as Varadhayya *

as Bhama * Anjali Devi as Rangajamma *

Kanta Rao Tadepalli Lakshmi Kantha Rao (16 November 1923 – 22 March 2009) was an Indian actor and producer known for his works predominantly in Telugu cinema. Regarded as one of the finest method actors, Rao starred in more than four hundred feature ...

as Vijaya Raghava Nayakudu * Prabhakar Reddy as Golkonda Nawab Tanisha * Dhulipala as Sivaiah * Mukkamala *

Rao Gopal Rao Raavu Gopala Rao (14 January 1937 – 13 August 1994) was an Indian actor and producer known for his works in Telugu cinema and Telugu theatre. In a film career spanning more than twenty five years, Rao starred in over four hundred feature film ...

as Tulasi Murthy * Raja Babu as Pichaiah *

Giri Babu Yerra Seshagiri Rao, popularly known as Giri Babu, is an Indian actor, producer, and director who primarily woks in Telugu films. His son, Raghu Babu, is a notable actor-director. Career Giri Babu hails from a middle class agricultural fami ...

as Manaradeva *

Raavi Kondala Rao Raavi Kondala Rao (11 February 1932 – 28 July 2020) was an Indian actor, screenwriter, playwright, and journalist who worked in Telugu cinema and Telugu theatre. He acted in over 400 films. He won Nandi Award for Best Story Writer for '' ...

as Venkaiah *

P. J. Sharma Pudipeddi Jogeswara Sarma was an Indian film dubbing artist, turned actor and writer, known for his works predominantly in Telugu cinema. He has worked for over 500 films as an actor and dubbing artist. He is the father of actors Sai Kumar, ...

as Siddhendra Yogi *

Sakshi Ranga Rao Sakshi Ranga Rao (born Rangavajhula Ranga Rao; 15 September 1942 – 27 June 2005) was an Indian character actor who worked in Telugu cinema and Telugu theatre. He appeared in about 450 films over a career spanning four decades, majority of ...

as Vikatakavi *

Mada Mada ( sa, मद) is a term used in both Hindu theology and mythology. It is one of the Arishadvargas. It refers to one of the six enemy of the mind or a vice according to the Hindu scriptures. It is the Hindu equivalent of Pride from the seve ...

as Wizard * Gokina Rama Rao * Hema Sundar * Krishna Kumari as Vijaya Raghava Nayaka's wife * Jayasudha as Taaramathi * Prabha as Rukmini *

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

as Varadaiah's mother *

Radha Kumari Radha Kumari was an Indian veteran film actress who appeared in Telugu-language films. She acted in over 600 films in over four decades. She is well known for her humor and played mother or grandmother roles in most of her films. Film career R ...

as Sivaiah's wife * Baby Rohini as

Soundtrack

Music composed by P. Adinarayana Rao. Music released on EMI Columbia Audio Company.

Awards

* The film won Nandi Award for Second Best Feature Film - Silver - P. Adinarayana Rao (1976)

References

External links

* {{Adurthi Subba Rao 1976 films Indian biographical films 1970s Telugu-language films 1970s biographical films Films directed by Adurthi Subba Rao Films directed by C. S. Rao