Apthamitra

2021-06-28T02:55:17Z

2402:3A80:D18:750D:0:0:2E41:1566: Link says 12 crore

{{short description|2004 film directed by shiva balan}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2015}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2015}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Apthamitra
| image = Apthamitra poster.jpg
| caption = Poster
| director = [[P. Vasu]]
| producer = [[Dwarakish]]
| screenplay = P. Vasu
| story = Madhu Muttam
| based_on = ''[[Manichitrathazhu]]''
| starring = {{plainlist|
*[[Vishnuvardhan (actor)|Vishnuvardhan]]
*[[Soundarya]]
*[[Ramesh Aravind]]
*[[Avinash(Kannada actor)|Avinash]]
*[[Prema (Kannada actress)|Prema]]
*Dwarakish
}}
| music = [[Gurukiran]]
| cinematography = Ramesh Babu
| editing = N. P. Satish
| studio = Dwarakish Chithra
| distributor =
| released = {{film date|2004|8|27|df=y}}
| language = Kannada
| runtime = 146 minutes
| country = India
| budget = {{INR}}3 [[crore]]<ref name="th1">{{cite web |last1=Pillai |first1=Sreedhar |title=Year 2004 — a flashback |url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-fridayreview/year-2004-a-flashback/article28578111.ece |website=The Hindu |access-date=27 May 2021 |archive-url=https://archive.is/oE926 |archive-date=27 March 2021 |language=en-IN |date=31 December 2004}}</ref>
| gross = {{INR}}12 crore<ref name="th1"/>
}}

'''''Apthamitra''''' ({{trans|Close friend}}) is a 2004 Indian [[Kannada]]-language [[horror film]] directed by [[P. Vasu]], and starring [[Vishnuvardhan (actor)|Vishnuvardhan]], [[Ramesh Arvind]], [[Soundarya]], [[Prema (Kannada actress) | Prema]], [[Dwarakish]] and [[Avinash]]. This was Soundarya's last film. The movie, produced by Dwarakish, is an official remake of the [[Malayalam]] film ''[[Manichithrathazhu]]'' with a few scenes borrowed from ''[[Aaraam Thampuran]]''. The film was released on 27 August 2004 to highly positive reviews. It ran for one year in the main theaters across [[Karnataka]] and was one of the highest-grossing films of the year. Apthamitra was later followed by its sequel, ''[[Aptharakshaka]]'' (2010). P. Vasu also remade the film in Tamil in 2005 as ''[[Chandramukhi]]''.

==Plot==
Ramesh ([[Ramesh Arvind]]) and Ganga ([[Soundarya]]) are married couple who recently move into [[Mysore]] to buy an ancient palace, against the wishes of his uncles and elders ([[Dwarakish]] & [[Pramila Joshai]]) of the family. His uncle agrees to reside with them with his two daughters Vani and Hema, on one condition that the room on the first floor which is locked and sealed should not be visited by anyone in the family. They have their care-taker Rangajja ([[Shivaram]]) who lives in the outhouse with his granddaughter Sowmya ([[Prema (actress, born 1977)|Prema]]).

During their stay in the house they come to know that this palace earlier belonged to Raja Vijaya Rajendra Bahaddur. He had a court dancer named ''Nagavalli'' from [[Andhra Pradesh]], whom he was in love with. But Nagavalli already loved a fellow dancer named ''Ramanatha'', who used to reside in a house just behind the palace. When the Raja came to know of their affair on an Durgashtami day, he be-headed Dancer Ramanatha and burned Nagavalli alive. Nagavalli vowed at the time of her death that she would seek revenge of her death from the Raja by burning him alive on very same Durgashtami day, as like her.

Strange things start to happen in the palace and everyone suspect Sowmya, who is always found at the place of the incident. So, Ramesh calls in his psychiatrist friend Vijay ([[Vishnuvardhan (actor)|Vishnuvardhan]]) to help him clear of the misconceptions regarding the palace and its history. Ramesh's uncle ([[Satyajit (Kannada Actor)|Satyajit]]) is not happy with the way Vijay functions and is always very suspectful of him. Vani, Ramesh's cousin is in love with an orphan-dance teacher, Mahadev who incidentally resides in the same house behind the palace. Vijay comes to know of this and tells Ramesh's uncle about this and the alliance is approved by all in the family and their marriage is fixed.

When the whole family is out of town to visit Mahadev, to decide his wedding with Vani, Ganga with help from Sowmya opens the room in the first floor with the key given by Sowmya. While she entered the room, Sowmya comes running to tell not to open the door as the key-maker who made the key had died. But Ganga told her not to believe on this superstitions.

During this time there are attempts to kill Ramesh by someone unknown, which every time is foiled by Vijay. Even Vani is attacked once by someone unknown. So Ramesh's uncle calls upon an Acharya Ramachandra Shastri ([[Avinash]]) to perform some Shanti pooja upon the palace. Though Ramesh is not interested in all these proceedings he agrees on advice of Vijay.

On the eve of Engagement ceremony of Mahadev and Vani, Ganga accuses Mahadev of trying to molest her - which is refused by both Mahdev and Vijay. Upon hearing this Ramesh gets angry upon Vijay and shouts at him to get out of his house. Acharya stops the family from doing so and asks Vijay to tell them the mystery behind the strange incidents.

Vijay reveals to everyone that Ganga is behind all the strange incidents and she only tried to kill Ramesh and Vani. Ganga who visited the first floor room was enamoured by Nagavalli and her diary. Since Ganga suffered from Multiple personality disorder or Split personality disorder, the mystery behind Nagavalli's story compelled her to assume herself as Nagavalli, compelling the spirit of Nagavalli to enter her body. She (Nagavalli inside Ganga) now intends to kill Vijay as he had posed in front of her as Raja Vijaya Rajendra Bahaddur, on the coming Durgashtami day as vowed by Nagavalli while dying. Vijay explains to everyone that since Nagavalli inside Ganga thinks that Mahadev is the dancer Ramnath. Vijay on Durgashtami Day, makes Nagavalli (Ganga) believe that he himself is the king, and employs a sophisticated system to make Nagavalli burn a dummy with his image on it. Nagavalli satisfies herself and leaves Ganga's body. Vijay is also safe. Vijay helps Ganga psychologically later to regain herself. Ramesh thanks Vijay for his help.

==Cast==
* [[Vishnuvardhan (actor)|Vishnuvardhan]] as Dr. Vijay / Vijaya Rajendra Bahaddur/Captain
* [[Ramesh Aravind]] as Ramesh/Vice Captain
* [[Soundarya]] as Ganga / Nagavalli (Voice dubbed by Shashikala)
* [[Prema (actress, born 1977)|Prema]] as Sowmya
* [[Dwarakish]] as Mukunda
* [[Avinash]] as Acharya Ramachandra Shastri
* [[Pramila Joshai]] as Rukku
* [[Shivaram]] as Rangajja
* [[Satyajit (Kannada Actor)|Satyajit]] as Shivananda
* Shridhar Jain as Dancer & Prof. Mahadev
* Sneha Eshwar as vani
* Bhoomika Shetty as Hema

==Soundtrack==
{{Infobox album
| name = Apthamitra
| type = Soundtrack
| artist = [[Gurukiran]]
| cover =
| border = yes
| alt =
| caption = Soundtrack cover
| released = 26 July 2004
| recorded =
| venue =
| studio =
| genre = [[Film soundtrack|Feature film soundtrack]]
| length = 28:42
| language = [[Kannada language|Kannada]]
| label = Alpha Digitech
| producer =
| prev_title = Kanti
| prev_year = 2004
| next_title = [[Omkara (2004 film)|Omkara]]
| next_year = 2004
}}

[[Gurukiran]] scored the film's background music and composed for its soundtrack, with lyrics for the tracks written by [[V. Manohar]], [[Kaviraj (lyricist)|Kaviraj]], V. Nagendra Prasad and Goturi. The soundtrack album, which received positive reviews from critics, consists of six tracks.<ref>{{cite web|title=Apthamitra (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) - EP|url=https://itunes.apple.com/in/album/apthamitra-original-motion/id983522666|publisher=iTunes|accessdate=14 July 2015}}</ref> The track ''Kaalavannu Tadeyoru'' was taken from the 1977 film, ''[[Kittu Puttu]]'' which had [[Dwarakish]] and [[Vishnuvardhan (actor)|Vishnuvardhan]] playing the lead roles as well, alongside [[Manjula (Kannada actress)|Manjula]], the lyrics for which was written by [[Chi. Udayashankar]].

{{tracklist
| headline = Track list
| extra_column = Singer(s)
| total_length = 28:42
| title1 = Anku Donku
| lyrics1 = [[V. Manohar]]
| extra1 = [[S. P. Balasubramanyam]], [[K. S. Chithra|Chithra]]
| length1 = 4:40
| title2 = Kaalavannu Tadeyoru
| lyrics2 = [[Chi. Udayashankar]]
| extra2 = [[Hariharan (singer)|Hariharan]], [[Gurukiran]]
| length2 = 5:05
| title3 = Kana Kanade
| lyrics3 = [[Kaviraj (lyricist)|Kaviraj]]
| extra3 = [[Madhu Balakrishnan]]
| length3 = 5:01
| title4 = Pata Pata
| lyrics4 = [[V. Nagendra Prasad]]
| extra4 = [[Udit Narayan]], Chithra
| length4 = 4:32
| title5 = Baara Baara
| lyrics5 = Goturi
| extra5 = [[Rajesh Krishnan]], [[Nanditha]]
| length5 = 4:43
| title6 = Raa Raa
| lyrics6 = Goturi
| extra6 = [[Nithyashree Mahadevan]], Rajesh Krishnan
| length6 = 4:41
}}

==Awards==

;52nd [[Filmfare Awards South]]

The film, won five [[Filmfare Awards]] that includes:<ref>News from Viggy.com [http://www.viggy.com/english/current_filmfare_award_2004.asp].</ref>
* [[Filmfare Award for Best Film – Kannada|Best Film – Kannada]]: [[Dwarakish]]
* [[Filmfare Award for Best Director – Kannada|Best Director – Kannada]]: [[P. Vasu]]
* [[Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Kannada|Best Actor – Kannada]]: [[Vishnuvardhan (actor)|Vishnuvardhan]]
* [[Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Kannada|Best Actress – Kannada]]: [[Soundarya]]
* [[Filmfare Award for Best Music Director – Kannada|Best Music Director – Kannada]]: [[Gurukiran]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb title|1339248}}

{{P. Vasu}}
{{Dwarakish}}
{{Films inspired by Manichitrathazhu}}

[[Category:Kannada-language films]]
[[Category:2004 films]]
[[Category:Indian films]]
[[Category:Indian horror films]]
[[Category:Films scored by Gurukiran]]
[[Category:2000s Kannada-language films]]
[[Category:Kannada films remade in other languages]]
[[Category:2004 horror films]]
[[Category:Indian horror film remakes]]
[[Category:Kannada remakes of Malayalam films]]
[[Category:Films directed by P. Vasu]]

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Apthamitra