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{{Short description|1967 film directed by Bapu}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Sakshi
| image = Sakshi film poster.jpg
| caption = Poster
| director = [[Bapu (director)|Bapu]]
| producer = Suresh Kumar<br />[[Seshagiri Rao]]
| story = [[Mullapudi Venkata Ramana]]
| screenplay = Bapu
| starring = [[Krishna (Telugu actor)|Krishna]]<br />[[Vijaya Nirmala]]<br />[[Vijaya Lalitha]]
| music = [[K. V. Mahadevan]]
| cinematography = P. N. Selvaraj
| editing = Satyam
| studio = Nandana Films
| distributor = 
| released = {{film date|1967|7|1|df=y}}
| runtime = 142 minutes{{sfn|Rajadhyaksha|Willemen|1998|p=393}}
| country = India
| language = Telugu
| budget = 
| gross = 
}}

'''''Sakshi''''' ({{translation|[[Sakshi (Witness)|Witness]]}}) is a 1967 Indian [[Telugu language|Telugu]]-language [[Drama (film and television)|drama film]] written and directed by [[Bapu (director)|Bapu]]. The film stars [[Krishna (Telugu actor)|Krishna]], [[Vijaya Nirmala]] and [[Vijaya Lalitha]], with Ramana Panthulu, [[Raja Babu (actor)|Raja Babu]], [[Chalapathi Rao]], Allu Venkateswarlu, Jagga Rao and [[Sakshi Ranga Rao|R. Ranga Rao]] in supporting roles. It is based on [[Mullapudi Venkata Ramana]]'s 1959 story of the same name which itself was inspired by the 1952 American film ''[[High Noon]]''. In ''Sakshi'', a naïve and bucolic boatman is exploited by society and turns into a hard-hearted person.

''Sakshi'', the directorial debut of Bapu (who also worked as art director), was the first Telugu film to be shot completely in outdoor locations, with filming taking place in [[Pulidindi]], a village located on the banks of the [[Godavari River]]. It was the acting debut of Ranga Rao, who later prefixed the film's title to his name. The entire film was completed in less than 20 days.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jain |first=Vaishali |date=2022-11-15 |title=Superstar Krishna's life in photos: Tollywood legend, Mahesh Babu's father gave many firsts to Telugu cinema |url=https://www.indiatvnews.com/photos/entertainment-superstar-krishna-life-in-photos-tollywood-legend-mahesh-babu-father-dies-gave-many-firsts-to-telugu-cinema-latest-news-2022-11-15-823888 |access-date=2023-06-20 |website=www.indiatvnews.com |language=en}}</ref>

''Sakshi'' was released on 1 July 1967. Although many people in the [[Telugu cinema|Telugu film industry]] believed the film would not run for even 20 days in theatres, it ran for almost a month and became a profitable venture, besides receiving critical acclaim. It was later screened at the Tashkent film festival in 1968, where it was also well received. The film received critical acclaim during its screening at the Tashkent film festival.<ref>{{cite news |last1=|first1= |title=Tollywood superstar Krishna passes away at 79 |url=https://www.siasat.com/tollywood-superstar-krishna-passes-away-at-79-2457238/ |work=The Siasat Daily |date=15 November 2022}}</ref>

== Plot ==
Kishtaiah is a naïve and bucolic boatman living in Dachampaadu, an [[islet]] in the [[Godavari River|Godavari]] belt. In the same area lives Fakeeru, a dreaded criminal. The village head, known by his title Munasabu, hires Fakeeru as his lorry driver to transport coconuts to the town. The only person Fakeeru cares for in the village is his sister Chukka. He abandons Ratthi, a woman who was madly in love with him. Kishtayya's uncle Gourayya and his fellow guard are murdered by Fakeeru when trying to stop him from stealing coconuts from Munasabu{{'}}s garden. As Kishtayya is the sole witness to these murders, the village elders force him to testify against Fakeeru in court.

Fakeeru is arrested, but vows revenge. He escapes from prison, and no villager gives Kishtayya shelter. Chukka marries Kishtayya, in the hope that her brother would not kill him. Fakeeru is unaware of this and attacks Kishtayya, who eventually abandons his naïve persona and kills Fakeeru. All the villagers who earlier shunned Kishtayya now surround him, but Kishtayya, disgusted with their selfish behaviour, leaves the village and surrenders to the police.

== Cast ==
* [[Krishna (Telugu actor)|Krishna]] as Kishtayya
* [[Vijaya Nirmala]] as Chukka
* [[Vijaya Lalitha]] as Ratthi<ref name="fridayreview" />
* Ramana Panthulu as Munasabu<ref name="fridayreview" />
* [[Raja Babu (actor)|Raja Babu]] as Munasabu{{'}}s son<ref name="fridayreview" />
* [[Chalapathi Rao]] as Gourayya<ref name="fridayreview" />
* Allu Venkateswarlu as Gopi<ref name="fridayreview" />
* Jagga Rao as Fakeeru<ref name="Sakshi turns 50" />
* [[Sakshi Ranga Rao|R. Ranga Rao]] as Karanam

== Production ==
=== Development ===
''Sakshi'' was a story written by [[Mullapudi Venkata Ramana]] and published in the 28 October 1959 issue of ''[[Andhra Patrika]]'', a weekly newspaper. The story was inspired by the American film ''[[High Noon]]'' (1952), retaining the plot element of a man sending a dreaded criminal to prison, and the criminal vowing revenge. For his directorial debut, Ramana's friend [[Bapu (director)|Bapu]] decided to adapt ''Sakshi''. The film adaptation was produced by Suresh Kumar and Seshagiri Rao under Nandana Films. P. N. Selvaraj was chosen as the cinematographer at Bapu's suggestion. Bapu also worked as art director alongside Bhavaraju Seetharamudu, an engineer who helped the unit by laying new roads. Ramana wrote the film's dialogue, with most of it being in [[Rajahmundry]] dialect.<ref name="Sakshi turns 50" /><ref name="fridayreview" /> Satyam handled the editing.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sakshi |url=https://indiancine.ma/MQY/info |access-date=4 March 2019 |website=Indiancine.ma}}</ref>

=== Casting and filming ===
[[Krishna (Telugu actor)|Krishna]] was cast as the male lead Kishtayya. R. Ranga Rao was cast as Karanam in his acting debut, and later became known as [[Sakshi Ranga Rao]]. Krishna's future wife [[Vijaya Nirmala]] was cast as the female lead Chukka,<ref name="fridayreview" /> and this was the first film where they acted together.{{sfn|Rajadhyaksha|Willemen|1998|p=128}} Before the commencement of [[principal photography]], Bapu took lessons on how to deal with [[close-up]], mid-close-up and [[Wide shot|long shots]] from Kabir Das. ''Sakshi'' became the first Telugu film to be shot completely in outdoor locations. [[Pulidindi]], a village located on the banks of the [[Godavari River]], was chosen as the shooting location.<ref name="50 glorious years" /> According to Nirmala, after each day's shoot ended, Bapu "used to draw lines of his next day's shooting. He always drew his thoughts on paper so that everyone was comfortable when the shooting started."<ref>{{Cite news |date=1 September 2014 |title=The Bapu who took Tollywood places dies at age 80 |work=[[Deccan Chronicle]] |url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/140901/entertainment-tollywood/article/bapu-who-took-tollywood-places-dies-age-80 |url-status=live |access-date=4 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150218121540/http://www.deccanchronicle.com/140901/entertainment-tollywood/article/bapu-who-took-tollywood-places-dies-age-80 |archive-date=18 February 2015}}</ref> The scene depicting Kishtayya and Chukka's marriage was shot at the Meesala Krishnudu temple of Pulidindi.<ref name="fridayreview" /> The entire film was completed in less than 20 days.<ref name="50 glorious years" />

== Themes ==
The ''Encyclopaedia of Indian Cinema'' calls ''Sakshi'' "a rare instance of late 60s New Indian Cinema aestheticism in Telugu".{{sfn|Rajadhyaksha|Willemen|1998|p=55}} According to ''[[The Hindu]]''{{'}}s Srivathsan Nadadhur, "The film not only lays importance on the crime angle, but also emphasises the need for humans to stand up for each other in times of crisis."<ref name="Sakshi turns 50" />

== Soundtrack ==
The soundtrack was composed by [[K. V. Mahadevan]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sakshi (1967)-Song_Booklet |url=https://indiancine.ma/documents/CGZ/info |access-date=19 August 2021 |website=Indiancine.ma}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Saakshi |url=https://www.jiosaavn.com/album/saakshi/qE11JKK,A90_ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190305031812/https://www.jiosaavn.com/album/saakshi/qE11JKK,A90_ |archive-date=5 March 2019 |access-date=4 March 2019 |website=[[JioSaavn]]}}</ref>
{{Track listing
| extra_column = Singer(s)
| title1 = Atu Yennela Itu Yennela
| note1 =
| writer1 =
| lyrics1 = [[Aarudhra]]
| music1 =
| extra1 = [[P. Susheela]]
| length1 = 4:11
| title2 = Dayaledha Neeku Dayaledha
| note2 =
| writer2 =
| lyrics2 = Aarudhra
| music2 =
| extra2 = P. Susheela, [[P. B. Sreenivas]]
| length2 = 8:08
| title3 = Silipoda Sinnoda Cheera Dochukunnoda
| note3 =
| writer3 =
| lyrics3 = [[Daasarathi Krishnamacharyulu]]
| music3 =
| extra3 = P. Susheela, [[Ghantasala (musician)|Ghantasala]]
| length3 = 3:47
| title4 = Amma Kadupu Challaga Atha Kadupu Challaga
| note4 =
| writer4 =
| lyrics4 = Aarudhra
| music4 =
| extra4 = P. Susheela
| length4 = 4:19
| title5 = Padhi Mandhi Kosam Nilabadda Neeku
| note5 =
| writer5 =
| lyrics5 = Aarudhra
| music5 =
| extra5 = Mohan Raju
| length5 = 5:28
| title6 = Gunaasari Gunamma
| note6 =
| writer6 =
| lyrics6 = —
| music6 =
| extra6 = —
| length6 =
}}

== Release and reception ==
''Sakshi'' was released on 1 July 1967.<ref name="Sakshi turns 50" /> It was publicised via posters with the tagline "20 rojullo teesina chitram" (the film which was shot in less than 20 days), and rival producer [[Aluri Chakrapani]] caustically commented, "20 rojullo teeste 20 rojule aaduddi" (the film will only run 20 days),<ref name="50 glorious years" /> a view shared by many others in the Telugu film industry.<ref name="Sakshi turns 50" /> Despite this, the film received critical acclaim and ran for nearly a month, recovering its investment and making a marginal profit.<ref name="Sakshi turns 50" /><ref name="fridayreview" /> It was later screened at the Tashkent film festival in 1968, where it was also well received.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Prasada Sarma |first=G. V. |date=5 March 2011 |title=Mullapudi leaves behind enduring legacy |work=[[The Hindu]] |url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/Mullapudi-leaves-behind-enduring-legacy/article14934553.ece |url-status=live |access-date=3 March 2019 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20190304161201/https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/Mullapudi-leaves-behind-enduring-legacy/article14934553.ece |archive-date=4 March 2019}}</ref>

== References ==
<references>

<ref name="fridayreview">{{Cite news |last=Narasimham |first=M. L. |date=9 November 2018 |title=Sakshi (1967) |work=[[The Hindu]] |url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-fridayreview/sakshi-1967/article25450328.ece |url-status=live |access-date=3 March 2019 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20190304160109/https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-fridayreview/sakshi-1967/article25450328.ece |archive-date=4 March 2019}}</ref>

<ref name="Sakshi turns 50">{{Cite news |last=Nadadhur |first=Srivathsan |date=29 June 2017 |title=Bapu-Ramana's Sakshi turns 50 |work=[[The Hindu]] |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/bapu-ramanas-first-film-sakshi-made-in-1967-turns-50/article19173816.ece |url-status=live |access-date=4 March 2019 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20190304160649/https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/bapu-ramanas-first-film-sakshi-made-in-1967-turns-50/article19173816.ece |archive-date=4 March 2019}}</ref>

<ref name="50 glorious years">{{Cite news |last=Parankusam |first=Aditya |date=2 July 2017 |title=50 glorious years of Sakshi |work=[[The Hans India]] |url=https://www.thehansindia.com/posts/index/Tollywood/2017-07-02/50-glorious-years-of-Sakshi/309792 |url-status=live |access-date=4 March 2019 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20190304162022/https://www.thehansindia.com/posts/index/Tollywood/2017-07-02/50-glorious-years-of-Sakshi/309792 |archive-date=4 March 2019}}</ref>

</references>

== Bibliography ==
* {{Cite book |last1=Rajadhyaksha |first1=Ashish |title=Encyclopaedia of Indian Cinema |last2=Willemen |first2=Paul |publisher=[[British Film Institute]] and [[Oxford University Press]] |year=1998 |isbn=0-19-563579-5 |author-link=Ashish Rajadhyaksha |author-link2=Paul Willemen |orig-date=1994}}

== External links ==
*{{IMDb title|0156034}}
{{Bapu (film director)}}

[[Category:1967 Telugu-language films]]
[[Category:1967 Indian films]]
[[Category:1967 directorial debut films]]
[[Category:1967 drama films]]
[[Category:1967 films]]
[[Category:Films based on adaptations]]
[[Category:Films directed by Bapu]]
[[Category:Films scored by K. V. Mahadevan]]
[[Category:Indian drama films]]

Sakshi (film) - Revision history

Cornelius R: put up new article added tags