Early Tollywood: 2001-2007

3.07.2008

Sri Manjunatha (2001)

Directed by
K. Raghavendra Rao
Writing credits
J.K. Bharavi
Produced by
Jaya Sridevi
Original Music by
Hamsalekha
Cinematography by
Sundaranatha Suvarna
Film Editing by
Janardhan
Art Direction by
Arun Sagar
Visual Effects by
Kalai Selvan .... digital compositorMusic Department
Ramesh Chandra .... playback singer
K.S. Chitra .... playback singer
Hemanth Kumar .... playback singer
Shankar Mahadevan .... playback singer
Nanditha .... playback singer
Balasubramaniam S.P. .... playback singer
Anuradha Sriram .... playback singer
Release Date: 22nd June 2001

Cast:
Arjun ... Manjunatha
Chiranjeevi ... Manjunatha Swamy / Lord Shiva
Soundarya ... Katyayini
Meena ... Goddess Parvathi
Ambarish ... Ambikeswara Maharaju
Yamuna ... Ganga
Sumalatha ... Sumalatha Devi
Brahmanandam ... NandeeswaruduTanikella Bharani ... Bhrungi
Anandavardhan (as Master Anandavardhan)
Sudha Rani
Abhijit
Brahmavar
Kumar Govind
Gurudutt
Ghazan Khan
Praveen
Vinod Raj
Suhas
Story: There is village called 'Dharmasthali'. There lives a guy called Manjunatha (Arjun) who hates the Lord Shiva (Chiranjeevi) and feels that Lord Shiva is a cheater. There is another beautiful lady Katyayani (Soundarya), who is an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva. This couple meet with each other on and off in pucca Raghavendra Rao style. During one night, this couple is forced to stay in a jungle as Katyayani was wounded. Manjunatha fixes her wound. But the village heads pass a judgement that Katyayani is no more a respectable lady and they force her to become a devadasi. Manjunatha marries her to avoid her becoming a devadasi. Katyayani's devotion to Lord Shiva irks Manjunatha. Katyayani gives birth to a kid, with the blessings of Lord Shiva. Even the kid turns out to be a staunch devotee of Lord Shiva. An irked Manjunatha slaps the kid and later on realizes the power of Lord Shiva. There is king (Ambarish) in that territory who is also a staunch devotee of Lord Shiva and he acquires the kaala gnanam (Knowledge of the time - knowing the future). Manjunatha visits the Lord Shiva shrine at Dharmastali along with his family. During his visit, a few bad omens occur. The other devotees accuse Manjunatha as the cause. King happens to be there at that place. He asks Manjunatha to prove his innocence by making all the diyas glow again. Manjunatha sings the breathless song (Mayakaya Deepam by Shankar Mahadevan and written by Maharshi Veda Vyasa) and make the diyas glow. Everybody realizes that Manjunatha is a changed man and is a greatest devotee of Lord Shiva. Manjunatha wants to get himself acquitted of all the sins he has made in the past. He installs a crore of Shiva Lingas in a place (Dharma Sthali). Lord Shiva visits that place in the form of old man asks devotee to give him some food. Meanwhile, old man behaves in such a way that Manjunatah sends him out without offering food. Manjunatha realizes his mistake later. But it was too late. After few more gripping incidents, the king felicitates the Manjunatha. During that time king realizes that Manjunatha is going to die on that particular day (as king knows kala gnanam). Will Manjunatha die? Is premature death the presentation he gets for all his devotion toward Lord Shiva? You have to watch this heart-touching climax on the big screen to enjoy this 3-hour long devotional film.
SONGS
# "Brahmamurari"
Written by Bhakta Rushi (Adi Shankara)
Performed by Ramesh Chandra & Nanditha

# "Ee Padham"
Written by Shanmukha Sarma Samavedam
Performed by Balasubramaniam S.P.

# "Hey Hey Bithiri"
Written by Chandrabose
Performed by Nanditha & Hemanth Kumar

# "Mangala Slokam"
Written by Sri Vedavyasa
Performed by Hemanth Kumar

# "Oho Garalakanta"
Written by Bhuvanchandra
Performed by Balasubramaniam S.P. & Anuradha Sriram

# "Okkade Okkade"
Written by Baharavi J.K.
Performed by Balasubramaniam S.P.

# "Olammo Gowrammo"
Written by Baharavi J.K.
Performed by Swarnalatha & Balasubramaniam S.P.

# "Om Aksharaya Namaha"
Written by Sri Vedavyasa
Performed by K.S. Chitra & Hemanth Kumar
# "Om Mahaprana Deepam"
Written by Sri Vedavyasa
Performed by Shankar Mahadevan

# "Sri Manjunatha Charitam"
Written by Bhakta Rushi
Performed by Anuradha Sriram & Balasubramaniam S.P.