Ahmjit: correct layout based on references and added references per standard format

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correct layout based on references and added references per standard format

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Reverted 1 edit by Mahesh Kariyala99 (talk): No WP:INDICSCRIPTS

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{{needs more citations|date=February 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2015}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2015}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Daana Veera Soora Karna
| image = Daana Veera Soora Karna.jpg
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = [[N. T. Rama Rao]]
| producer = N. T. Rama Rao
| writer = N. T. Rama Rao Kondaveeti Venkatakavi {{small|(dialogues)}}
| starring = N. T. Rama Rao [[Nandamuri Balakrishna]] [[Nandamuri Harikrishna]] [[B. Saroja Devi]] [[Prabha (actress)|Prabha]]
| music = [[Pendyala Nageswara Rao]]
| cinematography = Kannappa
| editing = G. D. Joshi
| studio = [[Ramakrishna Cine Studios]]
| distributor = Mayuri
| released = {{Film date|df=y|1977|1|14}}
| runtime = 226 minutes
| country = India
| language = Telugu
| budget = {{INR}}10 [[lakh]]<ref name="it" />
| gross = {{Estimation}} {{INR}}1.5{{En dash}}2 [[crore]]<ref name="it" /><ref name="tt" />
}}

'''''Daana Veera Soora Karna''''' ({{trans|Generous, Heroic, Valiant Karna}}) is a 1977 [[Telugu language|Telugu]] [[Hindu mythological cinema|Hindu mythological film]] co-written, produced and directed by [[N. T. Rama Rao]] under his banner, [[Ramakrishna Cine Studios]]. Based on the life of [[Karna]] from the ''[[Mahabharata]]'', it stars Rama Rao in three roles: the title character, [[Duryodhana]], and [[Krishna]]. It also stars Rao's sons [[Nandamuri Harikrishna]] and [[Nandamuri Balakrishna]], who play the roles of [[Arjuna]] and [[Abhimanyu]], respectively. Music for the film was composed by [[Pendyala Nageswara Rao]].

Made on a budget of {{Indian Rupee}}10 [[Lakh|lakhs]] (one million Indian rupees), the film was a commercial success and became the [[List of highest-grossing Telugu films|highest-grossing Telugu film]] at the time, grossing {{Indian Rupee}}1.5{{En dash}}2 [[crore]] (15–20 million rupees).<ref name="it">{{Cite web|date=April 11, 2020|first=Janani|last=K.|title=Quarantine Curation: 20 classic South Indian films that deserve a watch during lockdown|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/regional-cinema/story/quarantine-curation-20-classic-south-indian-films-that-deserve-a-watch-during-lockdown-1665821-2020-04-11|access-date=2020-08-31|website=India Today|language=en}}</ref><ref name="tt">{{Cite web|last=Tanmayi|first=Bhawana|date=8 July 2017|title=Highlighting the goodness of Karna, Suyodhana|url=https://telanganatoday.com/highlighting-goodness-karna-suyodhana|access-date=2020-08-31|website=[[Telangana Today]]|language=en-US}}</ref> It is regarded as one of the greatest films of [[Telugu cinema]].{{citation needed lead|date=March 2021}}

== Plot ==

A baby is rescued from the [[Ganges|Ganga]] river by charioteer [[Adhiratha]], who adopts the boy and names him [[Karna]]. Years later, Karna witnesses the scene of [[Drona]]charya taking off [[Ekalavya]]'s thumb so that [[Arjuna]] could surpass him as an [[archery|archer]]. At this injustice, Karna swears a rivalry against Arjuna.

Karna studies under [[Parashurama|Parasurama]] to become an expert archer. One day, Karna is bitten by [[Indra]] in the form of an insect and bears the pain so as not to disurb a sleeping Parasurama. When Parasurama awakens and sees the blood, he believes Karna to be of the ''[[kshatriya]]'' caste and curses him, as his efforts at teaching him would have been wasted. Parasurama later recognizes Karna as Sutaputra,{{explain|date=March 2021}} but cannot take back his curse.

While travelling, Karna tries to save a [[Brahim]]'s cow from Indra in the form of a lion; he fails, and the Brahim curses Karna to die in a helpless situation. Later, moved by a young girl's tears, Karna squeezes spilled ''[[ghee]]'' (butter) from the soil and is cursed by [[Bhūmi|Bhudevi]] to be dishonoured by crushing his chariot wheel into her in his [[Sannyasa|last stage of life]].

Arjuna is being praised by [[Drona|Dronacharya]] for winning an archery tournament at the fort of [[Hastinapur]]am, when Karna arrives to challenge him but is insulted due to his low birth. [[Duryodhana]] saves his pride by making him king of Anga, and Karna dedicates his life to Duryodhana and they become soulmates. Duryodhana is invited to join [[Yudhishthira|Dharmaraja]], who suffers a series of misfortunes at the hands of [[Shakuni]] and is forced into years of exile. Lord Krishna attempts to negotiate, and reveals Karna's birth secret. Out of loyalty, Karna remains with Duryodhana, while tensions escalate toward the [[Kurukshetra War]] with the [[Pandava]]s.

Chief military commander [[Bhishma]] insults Karna by recognizing him as ''Ardharatha'',{{explain|date=March 2021}} and Karna swears not to enter the battlefield before Bhishma. Bhishma collapses as the war begins, and makes contrition to Karna on an arrow bed. Karna takes Bhishma's blessing and enters the battlefield. To protect the Pandava's honour, [[Abhimanyu]] enters the battlefield and single-handedly defeats most of the army; to stop him, Karna is ordered to destroy his bow, after which Abhimanyu is overwhelmed and killed. That night, Karna weeps at his fallen foe's body and swears the reality is that he was the one who died while Abhimanyu lives on as an immortal.

The next morning, Krishna sends [[Kunti]] to request Karna join the Pandavas or swear not to kill them. Karna blames Kunti, the mother who abandoned him, for the destruction, but swears not to kill anyone except Arjuna, on the condition that Kunti have five sons if either he or Arjuna dies. The next day on the battlefield, Karna tries to kill Arjuna, who is protected by Lord Krishna. Krishna sends Indra in the form of a Brahim to trick Karna into giving up the divine breastplate which protects him. Karna does so, even knowing the truth, and Indra gifts him a powerful weapon which can only be used once. While wishing to use it against Arjuna, Karna is forced to use it when the camp is attacked at night.

The next day, an uncle of the Pandavas is appointed as Karna's charioteer, and demoralizes him on Krishna's instructions. The accumulated curses work together and Karna collapses. Krishna explains Karna's glory to Arjuna, then appears to Karna as a Brahim begging for alms. Karna breaks out his golden tooth as a donation. Kunti arrives and declares Karna's birth secret, angering Dharmaraja who curses the women against keeping secrets.

Karna dies in Kunti's lap and his soul enters the Sun God. Duryodhana attempts to abandon the war to grieve but is forced back. He chooses his opponent to settle the war, but Krishna reveals Duryodhana's weak point which is struck in a dishonourable manner. As he dies, Duryodhana questions Krishna's piety. Duryodhana and Karna are then shown meeting in heaven, displaying an immortal friendship.

== Cast ==
{{Unreferenced section|date=January 2020}}
{{colbegin}}
* [[N. T. Rama Rao]] as [[Karna]], [[Krishna]] and [[Duryodhana]]
* [[Nandamuri Balakrishna]] as [[Abhimanyu]]
* [[Nandamuri Harikrishna]] as [[Arjuna]]
* [[Kaikala Satyanarayana|Satyanarayana]] as [[Bhima]]
*[[S. Varalakshmi]] as [[Kunti]]
* [[Gummadi Venkateswara Rao]] as [[Parashurama]]
* [[Dhulipala Seetarama Sastry]] as [[Shakuni]]
* [[Mikkilineni Radhakrishna Murthy|Mikkilineni]] as [[Bhishma]]
* [[Mukkamala]] as [[Shalya]]
* [[Rajanala Kaleswara Rao|Rajanala]] as [[Drona]]
* [[M. Prabhakar Reddy]] as [[Yudhishthira|Dharma Raju]]
* [[P. J. Sarma]] as [[Vidura]]
* [[Chalapathi Rao]] as [[Indra]], [[Adhiratha]], [[Jarasandha]] and [[Dhrishtadyumna]]
* Jagga Rao as [[Dushasana]]
* Jaya Bhaskar as [[Ekalavya]] and [[Surya]]
* [[Sharada (actress)|Sharada]] as [[Draupadi]]
* [[Kanchana (actress)|Kanchana]] as [[Subhadra]]
* [[B. Saroja Devi]] as [[Vrishali]]
* [[Prabha (actress)|Prabha]] as [[Bhanumati (Mahabharata)|Bhanumati]]
* [[Rajasree]]
* [[Unni Mary|Deepa]] as [[Uttara (Mahabharata)|Uttara]]
* [[Jayamalini]] as Dancer
* [[Helen (actress)|Helen]] as Dancer
{{colend}}

Chalapathi Rao performed four roles and also appears in two other costumes as disguises of Indra, while Jaya Bhaskar did a dual role.

== Writing and development ==
{{Unreferenced section|date=January 2020}}
Kondaveeti Venkatakavi, principal of a Sanskrit college, wrote the script and dialogue for the film, though he had had initial doubts as an atheist.

Notable{{according to whom|date=March 2021}} is the "positive spin"{{cite quote|date=March 2021}} that the dialogues give to Duryodhana's character without changing the original story, particularly in scenes where he projects himself as the good guy and Pandavas and Krishna as crooked minds. While most mythological and folkloric movies since the 1950s were in colloquial language, this movie from the 1970s used graanthika bhaasha{{what|date=March 2021}}.

Many Telugu films were based on the ''Mahabharata''. One aspect which distinguishes this film is the characterization of Duryodhana. While making the Sree Krishna Pandaveeyam{{what|date=March 2021}} itself, Rama Rao projected Duryodhana as "Suyodhana"{{what|date=March 2021}} with a positive touch to the role. In this film, he projected Duryodhana as a well-educated person who knew ''dharma'' and other things much better than anyone. Some people{{according to whom|date=March 2021}} even say that the title of the movie could actually have been ''Maanadhana Veera Suyodhana''{{what|date=March 2021}} — such is the importance and characterization of Suyodhana.{{explain|date=March 2021}}

== Production ==
{{Unreferenced section|date=January 2020}}

Filmmaker [[N. T. Rama Rao]] was preparing to shoot ''[[Chanakya Chandragupta]]'' when he learned that [[Kamalakara Kameswara Rao]] was planning the film ''Kurukshetram'', with a similar story to ''Daana Veera Soora Karna''. Rama Rao then set aside ''Chanakya Chandragupta'' and used many of the cast and crew from that project to quickly begin production on ''Daana Veera Soora Karna'', determined to release the film to theatres before his rival.

The film was completed in 43 working days, despite the time needed to apply and remove makeup for the different characters played by Rama Rao and the four-hour length of the epic. He never saw the rushes before the release; thus they edited the film within days. Kannappa, who earlier worked on Rama Rao's ''[[Manushulanta Okkate]]'', returned for this film.{{explain|date=March 2021}} Wire work is noticeable in a couple of scenes. Mayasabha's{{who|date=March 2021}} work was not completed by the time of the shooting. Rama Rao took close-ups while the paintings were done and long shots once it was completed,{{explain|date=March 2021}} Harikrishna and Balakrishna also painted the sets along with the art department.

It is claimed{{by whom|date=March 2021}} to be one of the lengthiest films in the Indian film industry, with a running time of 4 fours 17 minutes. Rama Rao can be seen on the screen for nearly four hours. (Though Raj Kapoor's magnum opus ''Mera Naam Joker'' runs for 4 hrs 24 minutes, this film was later trimmed by forty minutes.)

This was the first film shot in [[Ramakrishna Cine Studios]] in [[Hyderabad, India|Hyderabad]]. It is the third film made under the Ramakrishna Cine Studios banner.

== Soundtrack ==
{{Unreferenced section|date=January 2020}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Daana Veera Soora Karna
| type = Soundtrack
| artist = [[Pendyala Nageswara Rao]]
| cover =
| alt =
| released = 1977
| recorded =
| venue =
| studio =
| genre = Soundtrack
| length = 32:55
| label = EMI Columbia Audio
| producer = [[Pendyala Nageswara Rao]]
| prev_title =
| prev_year =
| next_title =
| next_year =
}}

The music was composed by Pendyala Nageswara Rao and released on EMI Columbia Audio.{{cn|date=March 2021}}
{|class="wikitable"
|-
!{{abbr|No.|number}}!!Song Title !!Lyrics !!Singers !!length
|-
|1
|"Ye Thalli Ninu Kannadho"
| rowspan="8" | [[C. Narayana Reddy]]
|[[P. Susheela]]
|3:05
|-
|2
|"Jayeebhava Vijayeebhava"
|[[S. P. Balasubrahmanyam|S. P. Balu]], [[G. Anand]]
|3:21
|-
|3
|"Chithram Bhalaare Vichitram"
|S. P. Balu, P. Susheela
|3:23
|-
|4
|"Telisenule Priyaa Rasikaa"
|[[S. Janaki]], P. Susheela
|4:32
|-
|5
|"Raara Itu Raara"
|S. Janaki
|3:23
|-
|6
|"Anna Devudu Ledhana"
|S. Janaki
|3:13
|-
|7
|"Idhira Dhora Madhiraa"
|S. Janaki
|3:58
|-
|8
|"Yela Santhaapammu"
|[[V. Ramakrishna]]
|4:03
|-
|9
|"Kalagantino Swamy"
|[[Daasarathi Krishnamacharyulu|Dasaradhi]]
|Madhavapeddi Ramesh, P. Susheela
|3:57
|}

Saluri Rajeswara Rao was initially the music director for the film, and set the songs "Ye Thalli Ninu Kannadho" and the verses were to music. The rest of the soundtrack was completed by [[Pendyala Nageshwara Rao]]. However, the title card shows only Pendyala's name.

The film has ten songs and 35 verses. Most of the verses are taken from ''Paandavodyoga Vijayam'' and ''Sree Krishna Raayabaram'' by the poet duo [[Tirupati Venkata Kavulu]]. Pundareekakshayya{{who|date=March 2021}} secured the rights to use the verses when working on the film ''Sreekrishnaavataaram''. They were sought for the competing film ''Kuruskshetram'' but Pundareekakshayya instead gave the rights to Rama Rao.

[[S. P. Balasubrahmanyam]] and Peesapati Raghuramayya sang initial versions of the ''Raayabaram verses'', which were re-recorded by [[V. Ramakrishna]].{{relevance inline|date=March 2021}}

[[Padmalaya Studios]] secured the rights of Ghantasala's Bhagavadgeeta audio after his death and used those verses in ''Kurukshetram'',{{relevance inline|date=March 2021}} while ''DVS Karna'' used "prosaic"{{explain|date=March 2021}} Bhagavadgeeta for the most part.

The dialogues of the film also became very popular,{{according to whom|date=March 2021}} and were released as LP and audio cassettes by [[HMV]].

== Release ==
{{refimprove|section|date=January 2020}}
The film was approved by censors on 12 January 1977 and released on 14 January. Gemini film labs was unable to print all 30 orders of the film in the time available, so its premiered was limited to 14 cinemas on the day of its release.{{citation needed|date=March 2021}} The film ran for 100 days in 9 cinemas<ref>[http://www.nonstopcinema.com/nsc/boxoffice/display.php?id=59 Nonstopcinema Box Office – Balayya 100 days films list: Telugu movies, Tollywood, cinema]</ref> and 250 days at the Hyderabad Shanti Theatre.<ref name="cinegoer.com">[http://www.cinegoer.com/ntr175.htm CineGoer.com – Box-Office Records And Collections – Silver Jubilee Films Of NTR] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120616014403/http://www.cinegoer.com/ntr175.htm |date=16 June 2012 }}</ref>

With a budget of less than {{Indian Rupee}}10 [[Lakh|lakhs]] (one million Indian rupees), the film earned more than ₹1 crore (ten million rupees) in its first run. It was sold for {{Indian Rupee}}60 lakhs (6 million rupees) for a 1994 re-release, with 30 prints earning more than ₹1 crore.

It was the second Telugu film after ''[[Lava Kusa]]'' to gross ₹1 crore (ten million rupees) and the first Telugu film to collect ₹2 crores (with an average ticket price being ₹1 in 1977).<ref name="cinegoer.com" />

In the first twenty years after its release, the film sold the highest number of tickets, beating all the new releases for the year in 13 different years.{{citation needed|date=March 2021}}{{dubious|date=March 2021|This likely needs a qualifier, like for a Telugu film or in Indian theatres.}}

The film was released on VCDs and DVDs by Universal Videos, SHALIMAR Video Company, [[Hyderabad]].{{citation needed|date=March 2021}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
*{{IMDb title|0259261}}

{{Works based on the Mahabharata}}

[[Category:1977 films]]
[[Category:Indian films]]
[[Category:Indian epic films]]
[[Category:Telugu-language films]]
[[Category:Films scored by Pendyala Nageswara Rao]]
[[Category:1970s Telugu-language films]]
[[Category:Films about Hinduism]]
[[Category:Films based on the Mahabharata]]
[[Category:Films directed by N. T. Rama Rao]]
[[Category:Films featuring an item number]]
[[Category:Krishna in popular culture]]

Daana Veera Soora Karna - Revision history

Ahmjit: correct layout based on references and added references per standard format

>DaxServer: Reverted 1 edit by Mahesh Kariyala99 (talk): No WP:INDICSCRIPTS