''Ramayanam'', also known as ''Bala Ramayanam'' (), is a 1997 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

mythological film Fantasy films are films that belong to the fantasy genre with fantastic themes, usually magic, supernatural events, mythology, folklore, or exotic fantasy worlds. The genre is considered a form of speculative fiction alongside science fiction f ...

directed by

Gunasekhar Gunasekhar (born 2 June 1964) is an Indian film director and screenwriter known for his works in Telugu cinema. He has directed films in action, romance, mythological, and historical drama genres. He has won a National Film Award, multiple Nand ...

and produced by M. S. Reddy. Based on the Hindu epic ''

Ramayana The ''Ramayana'' (; ), also known as ''Valmiki Ramayana'', as traditionally attributed to Valmiki, is a smriti text (also described as a Sanskrit literature, Sanskrit Indian epic poetry, epic) from ancient India, one of the two important epics ...

'', the film features overs 3000 child actors. It stars

N. T. Rama Rao Jr. Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao Jr. (born 20 May 1983), popularly known as NTR Jr, is an Indian actor, producer, and television presenter who primarily works in Telugu cinema. He is one of the highest-paid actors in Indian cinema and has been featur ...

Lord Rama Rama (; , , ) is a major deity in Hinduism. He is worshipped as the seventh and one of the most popular avatars of Vishnu. In Rama-centric Hindu traditions, he is considered the Supreme Being. Also considered as the ideal man (''maryāda'' ...

and Smitha Madhav as

Sita Sita (; ), also known as Siya, Jānaki and Maithili, is a Hindu goddess and the female protagonist of the Hindu epic ''Ramayana''. Sita is the consort of Rama, the avatar of god Vishnu, and is regarded as an avatar of goddess Lakshmi. She is t ...

. The film is released on 11 April 1997. It received the

National Film Award The National Film Awards are awards for artistic and technical merit given for "Excellence within the Cinema of India, Indian film industry". Established in 1954, it has been administered, along with the International Film Festival of India ...

for Best Children's Film and two

Nandi Awards The Nandi Awards are annual awards presented by the Government of Andhra Pradesh to recognise excellence in Telugu cinema, theatre, and television, as well as lifetime achievements in Indian cinema. The awards are named after the monolithic ...

Plot

The story deals with lord

Rama Rama (; , , ) is a major deity in Hinduism. He is worshipped as the seventh and one of the most popular avatars of Vishnu. In Rama-centric Hindu traditions, he is considered the Supreme Being. Also considered as the ideal man (''maryāda' ...

and his retaliation against

Ravana According to the Mahakavya, Hindu epic, ''Ramayana'', Ravana was a kingJustin W. Henry, ''Ravana's Kingdom: The Ramayana and Sri Lankan History from Below'', Oxford University Press, p.3 of the island of Lanka, in which he is the chief antag ...

for the kidnapping of his wife goddesses

Cast

Production

The film's cast features over 3000 child actors.

Soundtrack

The music was composed by Madhavapeddi Suresh. Songs: # "Adi Subhodaya Vela" - ''

S. P. Balasubrahmanyam Sripathi Panditaradhyula Balasubrahmanyam (4 June 1946 – 25 September 2020), commonly known as SPB or Balu, was an Indian playback singer, television presenter, actor, music composer, dubbing artist, and film producer. He is widely regarde ...

'' # "Virisi Viriyani Malliyalara" - ''

K. S. Chithra Krishnan Nair Shantakumari Chithra (born 27 July 1963) is an Indian playback singer and Carnatic musician. In a career spanning around five decades, she has recorded over 25,000 Songs in various Indian languages languages such as Tamil, Kann ...

'' # "Sitaramula Kalyanam " -

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 ...

Vani Jayaram Vani Jairam (born Kalaivani; 30 November 1945 – 4 February 2023) was an Indian playback singer in Indian cinema. She is fondly referred to as the "'' Meera of modern India''" Vani's career started in 1971 and has spanned over five decades. Sh ...

# "Ramayya Rajavutadanta" -

, S.P. Sailaja # "Purajanula Sambaramu" - ''

'' # "Entha Manchivadivayya" -

# "Andabayani Jantaga" - ''

K. J. Yesudas Kattassery Joseph Yesudas ( /jeːʃud̪aːs/; born 10 January 1940) is an Indian playback singer and musician who sings Indian classical, devotional and film songs. He is widely considered one of the greatest singers in the history of Indian m ...

'', ''

'' # "Budi Budi Adigulu" # "Adigadigo Modalayindi" - ''

'' Poems: # "Aa Surya Bhagavanudu" - B. Sai Karthikeya # "Hari Hari Entha Maata" # "Vande Sri Raghuvamsa" # "Gaduvu Lopala" # "Aagumaagumu Talli" # "Nanu Talliga " # "Dharma Samsthapanarthammu" # "Poulastya Brahmaga" - B. Sai Karthikeya # "Vinumo Raghava" # "Ramayanammu" -

Mangalampalli Balamuralikrishna Mangalampalli Balamuralikrishna (né Muralikrishna; 6 July 1930 – 22 November 2016) was an Indian Carnatic vocalist, musician, multi-instrumentalist, playback singer, composer, and character actor. He was awarded the Madras Music Academy's Sang ...

Slokas: # "Jata Kataha Sambhrama" (from

Shiva Tandava Stotram The ''Shiva Tandava Stotra(m)'' () is a Sanskrit religious hymn (''stotra'') dedicated to the Hinduism, Hindu deity Shiva, one of the principal gods in Hinduism and the supreme god in Shaivism. Its authorship is traditionally attributed to Rav ...

) # "Kausalya Supraja Rama" (from Suprabhatam/

Valmiki Ramayana The ''Ramayana'' (; ), also known as ''Valmiki Ramayana'', as traditionally attributed to Valmiki, is a smriti text (also described as a Sanskrit literature, Sanskrit Indian epic poetry, epic) from ancient India, one of the two important epics ...

) -

# "Sri Anjaneyam" (from Anjaneya Dandakam)

Critical response

Upon release, the film received positive reviews from critics. A critic from ''Andhra Today'' wrote that "The novelty of this movie is that all the characters in the movie are played by children. Director Gunasekhar, with just two movies to his credit, has vindicated the confidence reposed in him by the producer by this spectacular theatrical. He must have needed all his skills to create the visual extravaganza that the picture is made to be, with a story that has been told by many, many a time. He deserves kudos for his competent handling of the long story into a three-hour movie".

Awards

The film received

for Best Children's Film in 1997 for "presenting the classical Indian epic in an entertaining narrative style with child actors playing all legendary characters with ease and nerve." Director

and producer M. S. Reddy were presented the award. ;

(in

) * Best Children's Film - Gold - M. S. Reddy * Best Child Actress - Swathi

References

External links

* 1997 films 1990s Telugu-language films Films based on the Ramayana Hindu mythological films Films directed by Gunasekhar Indian children's films Best Children's Film National Film Award winners Films scored by Madhavapeddi Suresh {{child-film-stub