Created by Jagancj
Last edited March 4, 2026
imported>Jagancj
Cast: Updated Cast
 
m refined lead as per guidelines and fixed typos
 
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| image          = Sri Krishnavataram.jpg
| image          = Sri Krishnavataram.jpg
| caption        = Theatrical release poster
| caption        = Theatrical release poster
| director      = [[Kamalakara Kameshwara Rao]]
| director      = [[Kamalakara Kameswara Rao]]
| producer      = A. Pundarikakshaiah
| producer      = A. Pundarikakshayya
| writer        = [[Samudrala Raghavacharya|Samudrala, Sr.]] (dialogues)
| writer        = [[Samudrala Sr.]] (dialogues)
| starring      = [[N. T. Rama Rao]]<br />[[Devika]]<br />[[Kanchana (actress)|Kanchana]]
| starring      = [[N. T. Rama Rao]]<br/>[[Devika]]<br/>[[Kanchana (actress)|Kanchana]]
| music          = [[T. V. Raju]]
| music          = [[T. V. Raju]]
| cinematography = Annayya
| cinematography = Annayya
| editing        = Kanda Swamy
| editing        = Kanda Swamy
| studio        = Taraka Rama Pictures
| studio        = Taraka Rama Pictures
| released      = 12 October 1967
| released      = {{Film date|1967|10|12|df=yes}}
| runtime        = 185 minutes
| runtime        = 211 minutes
| country        = India
| country        = India
| language      = Telugu
| language      = Telugu
| budget        = {{INR}} 10 lakhs
| budget        = ₹10 lakhs
}}
}}


'''''Sri Krishnavataram''''' is a 1967 [[Telugu language|Telugu]]-language [[Hindu mythological film]], produced by A. Pundarikakshaiah under the Taraka Rama Pictures banner and directed by [[Kamalakara Kameshwara Rao]]. It stars [[N. T. Rama Rao]], [[Devika]], [[Kanchana (actress)|Kanchana]] and music composed by [[T. V. Raju]]. The film is based on the Hindu epics [[Mahabharata]] and [[Bhagavata Purana]] covering major life events of Lord [[Krishna]].<ref>{{Cite news|last=Srikanth|date=15 October 1967|title=సినిమా: శ్రీ కృష్ణ అవతారం |trans-title=Cinema: Sri Krishnavataram|work=[[Visalaandhra]]|url=https://indiancine.ma/documents/GVM/0,0,2550,1650|access-date=17 September 2020|language=te}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Krishna|first=Radha|date=15 October 1967|title=రూపవాణి: శ్రీ కృష్ణ అవతారం |trans-title=Roopavani: Sri Krishnavataram|work=[[Andhra Prabha]]|url=https://indiancine.ma/documents/GVL/0,1676,2550,3364|access-date=17 September 2020|language=te}}</ref><ref>[http://www.cinegoer.com/srikrishnavataram.htm Nostalgia - Sri Krishnavataram at Cinegoer.com.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101103023657/http://www.cinegoer.com/srikrishnavataram.htm |date=3 November 2010 }}</ref>
'''''Sri Krishnavataram''''' is a 1967 [[Telugu language|Telugu]]-language [[Hindu mythological film]] directed by [[Kamalakara Kameswara Rao]]. It stars [[N. T. Rama Rao]], [[Devika]] and [[Kanchana (actress)|Kanchana]], with music composed by [[T. V. Raju]]. The film was produced by A. Pundarikakshayya under the Taraka Rama Pictures. The film is based on the Hindu epics [[Mahabharata]] and [[Bhagavata Purana]] covering major life events of Lord [[Krishna]].<ref>{{Cite news|last=Srikanth|date=15 October 1967|title=సినిమా: శ్రీ కృష్ణ అవతారం|trans-title=Cinema: Sri Krishnavataram|work=[[Visalaandhra]]|url=https://indiancine.ma/documents/GVM/0,0,2550,1650|access-date=17 September 2020|language=te|archive-date=14 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201114130711/https://indiancine.ma/documents/GVM/0,0,2550,1650|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Krishna|first=Radha|date=15 October 1967|title=రూపవాణి: శ్రీ కృష్ణ అవతారం|trans-title=Roopavani: Sri Krishnavataram|work=[[Andhra Prabha]]|url=https://indiancine.ma/documents/GVL/0,1676,2550,3364|access-date=17 September 2020|language=te|archive-date=26 August 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230826223739/https://indiancine.ma/documents/GVL/0,1676,2550,3364|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>[http://www.cinegoer.com/srikrishnavataram.htm Nostalgia - Sri Krishnavataram at Cinegoer.com.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101103023657/http://www.cinegoer.com/srikrishnavataram.htm |date=3 November 2010 }}</ref>


==Plot==
==Plot==
The movie covers all episodes of Lord Krishna's life. Krishna's birth, his captive parents and the prediction that Kamsa would be killed by Devaki's eighth child makes the first episode. After defeating Kamsa, he marries Rukmini, fights with Jambavantha to procure the Samanthaka Mani and gets his daughter Jambavanthi's hand in marriage. Satrajit, who initially proclaims that Krishna has the Mani regrets his mistake and gives his daughter Satyabhama in marriage to Krishna.
The film covers all episodes of [[Krishna]]'s life. It begins with all the deities imploring before [[Vishnu]] for the revival of piety on Earth, which he bestows by taking incarnation as Krishna in [[Dvapara Yuga]]. Following, [[Kamsa]] knitting his sister [[Devaki]] to [[Vasudeva]]. He volunteered to escort the newlyweds when a celestial voice prophesied that her 8th progeny was his death. Hence, Kamsa imprisoned them and slaughtered her six boys. Anyhow, the Lord protects the 7th [[Balarama]] by [[subrogation]] into Vasudeva's first wife [[Rohini (wife of Vasudeva)|Rohini]]. On the eve of Bhadrapada Ashtami, Vishnu's avatar, Krishna, was born and mandates Vasudeva to swap with [[Yashoda]] 's baby at [[Gokul]]. Being conscious of it, Kamsa decrees to slay all the new-born. Krishna grows by showing several glories & butchering demons. Plus, he breaks Kamsa's pain and relieves his parents. At that time, he normalized his cousin [[Sishupala]], who was born with bizarre attributes. It fears his mother, Srutashrava, because Sisupala's destiny of death is Krishna. So, she bestows a boon from Krishna by giving him 100 chances.
Years pass, and Krishna contracts [[Dvārakā|Dwaraka]] in mid of the sea to secure [[Yadava]] from frequent attacks of [[Jarasandha]]. So, he begrudges & ruses to fix Sisupala's alliance with [[Vidarbha]] king [[Bhishmaka]]'s daughter [[Rukmini]] by mingling her brother [[Rukmi]]. But she adores Krishna as a divine entity. After a brief courtship, Rukmini elopes with Krishna when Rukmi bars them, but he pardons him by half-shaving. Parallelly, [[Satrajit]] acquires a unique jewel [[Syamantaka]] as a boon from the Sun that bestows a vast amount of gold daily. Krishna requests him to hand it over to him, and he refuses—his daughter [[Satyabhama]] sweethearts for Krishna. Prasanna, Satrajit's sibling, moves to hunt wearing the jewel. A lion kills him and runs off with the gem, which has been picked up by [[Jambavan|Jambavanta]] and given to his daughter [[Jambavati]]. Satrajit denounces Krishna as a homicide, so he steps in when Jambavanta detects him as [[Rama]]. He endorses the jewel with Jambavati when Satrajit also repents and gifts Satyabhama. Consequently, Krishna makes eight marriages when green [[Narada]] itches for test and bows down before his lilas. Meanwhile, [[Sudama|Kuchela]], the childhood soulmate of Krishna, arrives impoverished, where the Lord provides great honor & hospitality. Kuchela hesitantly offers his favorite snack, "Atukulu," grains of parched rice, which he receives and grants endless opulence.
 
Today, [[Yudhishthira|Dharma Raja]] conducts a "[[Rajasuya]]" where Sishupala starts mortifying Krishna. He patiently counts his 100 absurdities and decapitates him. At this, Sakuni lays out a stratagem by inviting Dharmaja for a dice game. He snatches their wealth with a subject to a massive scandal and expels them for 13 years. After its completion, Krishna acts as an emissary between Pandava & Kaurava to prevent the [[Kurukshetra War]]. He lands at [[Hastinapur]] and submits Pandava article before [[Duryodhana]] with the consequences & results of the battle, which he bluntly deaf ears. Moreover, he attempts to seize him when they all blackouts for his ''Viswaroopam,'' the entire universe in him. Excluding, [[Bhishma]], [[Drona]], [[Vidura]] and enables [[Dhritarashtra]] to see his form for a few seconds. Duryodhana & Arjuna move for Krishna to bid aid, which Krishna divides as two, himself & Yadava's army, and bestows the former to Arjuna. Arjuna assuredly chooses Krishna, which elates Duryodhana without fathoming the Lord. The war begins, and Arjuna is in a dilemma about the violence and deaths of their kin. During that plight, Krishna enlightens him with the ''[[Bhagavad Gita]].'' Pandava wipes out the Kaurava with the Lord's guidance and crowns Dharmaraja.
Afterward, they proceed with the blessing of Dhritarashtra, who wiles to kill [[Bhima]] and asks for a hug. Gazing at it, Krishna substitutes it with his iron statue, which he breaks into pieces. Here, the Lord states that until his presence, nobody can touch Pandava. Then furious [[Gandhari (Mahabharata)|Gandhari]] curses the destruction of his clan by internal conspiracy, which he takes for granted. Parallelly, as a correlation, Yadava is cursed by sages when Krishna's son Samba mocks them in disguise as pregnant women. According to their declaration, Samba delivers a pestle. Frightened [[Balarama]] edicts to powder and throw it into the sea, but Krishna announces it is unavoidable. The power grows into the seashore's sharpest bamboo, resulting in a total shatter. Spotting it, Balarama leaves his soul. The hunter, Jara, acquires one piece of bamboo in the sea. Unbeknownst, he shoots on sleeping Krishna's foot when he departs, glorifying that it's all his play. Finally, the movie ends happily with Krishnavatar merging into his original form of Vishnu.


==Cast==
==Cast==
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*[[Sobhan Babu]] as [[Narada|Narada Maharshi]]
*[[Sobhan Babu]] as [[Narada|Narada Maharshi]]
*[[Kaikala Satyanarayana|Satyanarayana]] as [[Duryodhana]]
*[[Kaikala Satyanarayana|Satyanarayana]] as [[Duryodhana]]
*[[Chittoor V. Nagaiah]] as [[Dhritarashtra]]
*[[V. Nagayya]] as [[Dhritarashtra]]
*[[Mikkilineni Radhakrishna Murthy|Mikkilineni]] as [[Yudhishthira|Dharmaraju]]
*[[Mikkilineni (actor)|Mikkilineni]] as [[Yudhishthira|Dharmaraju]]
*[[Dhulipala Seetharama Sastry|Dhulipala]] as [[Satrajit]]
*[[Dhulipala Seetharama Sastry|Dhulipala]] as [[Satrajit]]
*[[Rajanala Kaleswara Rao|Rajanala]] as [[Sishupala]]
*[[Rajanala Kaleswara Rao|Rajanala]] as [[Sishupala]]
*[[Mukkamala]] as [[Kamsa]]
*[[Mukkamala (actor)|Mukkamala]] as [[Kamsa]]
*[[M. Prabhakar Reddy|Prabhakar Reddy]] as [[Balarama]]
*[[M. Prabhakar Reddy|Prabhakar Reddy]] as [[Balarama]]
*[[Ramakrishna (Telugu actor)|Ramakrishna]] as [[Arjuna]]
*[[Ramakrishna (Telugu actor)|Ramakrishna]] as [[Arjuna]]
*[[Mudigonda Lingamurthy]] as [[Shakuni]]
*[[Mudigonda Lingamurthy]] as [[Shakuni]]
*A. V. Subba Rao Jr. as [[Bhishma]]
*Jr. A V Subbarao as [[Bhishma]]
*Maddali Krishnamurthy as [[Kubera|Kuberudu]]
*Maddali Krishnamurthy as [[Vidura]]
*Arja Janardhana Rao as [[Bheema]]
*Arja Janardhanarao as [[Bheema]]
*Jagga Rao as [[Dushasana]]
*Kongara Jaggarao as [[Dushasana]]
*Balaram as [[Karna]]
*Balaram as [[Karna]]
*Nagaraju as [[Sahadeva]]
*Nagaraju as [[Sahadeva]]
Line 49: Line 55:
*[[Krishna Kumari (actress)|Krishna Kumari]] as [[Lakshmana (Krishna's wife)|Lakshana]]
*[[Krishna Kumari (actress)|Krishna Kumari]] as [[Lakshmana (Krishna's wife)|Lakshana]]
*[[S. Varalakshmi]] as [[Draupadi]]
*[[S. Varalakshmi]] as [[Draupadi]]
*Chhaya Devi as [[Shishupala|Srutashrava]]
*Chhayadevi as [[Shishupala|Srutashrava]]
*Sukanya as [[Jambavati]]
*Sukanya as [[Jambavati]]
*[[Rushyendramani]] as [[Kunti|Kunti Devi]]
*[[Rushyendramani]] as [[Kunti|Kunti Devi]]
Line 63: Line 69:
==Soundtrack==
==Soundtrack==
{{Infobox album
{{Infobox album
| name       =
| name         = Sri Krishnavataram
| type       = film
| type         = film
| artist     = [[T. V. Raju]]
| artist       = [[T. V. Raju]]
| cover     =
| cover       =  
| alt       =
| alt         =  
| released   = 1967
| released     = 1967
| recorded   =
| recorded     =  
| venue     =
| venue       =  
| studio     =
| studio       =  
| genre     = Soundtrack
| genre       = Soundtrack
| length     =
| length       =  
| label     = H.M.V.Audio
| label       = [[Saregama|His Master's Voice]]
| producer   = [[T. V. Raju]]
| producer     = [[T. V. Raju]]
| prev_title =
| prev_title   =  
| prev_year =
| prev_year   =  
| next_title =
| next_title   =  
| next_year =
| next_year   =  
}}
}}


Music composed by [[T. V. Raju]]. Music released on H.M.V. Audio Company.  
Music composed by [[T. V. Raju]]. Music released on [[Saregama|His Master's Voice]].  
{|class="wikitable"
{|class="wikitable"
|-
|-
!S. No.!!Song Title !!Lyrics !!Singers !!length
!S. No.!!Song title !!Lyrics !!Singers !!length
|-
|-
|1
|1
|"Jayahe Krishnavatara"
|"Jayahe Krishnavatara"
|[[Samudrala Raghavacharya|Samudrala Sr.]]
|[[Samudrala Sr.]]
|[[Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao|Ghantasala]], [[P. Leela]], Swarnalata, Sarojini
|[[Ghantasala (musician)|Ghantasala]], [[P. Leela]], Swarnalata, Sarojini
|6:35
|6:35
|-
|-
Line 137: Line 143:


==Box office==
==Box office==
The movie was a huge hit. The film was also successful in Karnataka and celebrated a [[Silver Jubilee]]. Even in the second and third releases in 1982 and 1990, it ran for more than 100 days.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20160307194927/http://www.cinegoer.net/srikrishnavataram.htm]</ref>
The movie was a huge hit. The film was also successful in Karnataka and celebrated a [[Silver Jubilee]]. Even in the second and third releases in 1982 and 1990, it ran for more than 100 days.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cinegoer.net/srikrishnavataram.htm |title=CineGoer.com - Nostalgia - Sri Krishnavataram |website=www.cinegoer.net |access-date=15 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307194927/http://www.cinegoer.net/srikrishnavataram.htm |archive-date=7 March 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
Line 147: Line 153:
{{Kamalakara Kameswara Rao}}
{{Kamalakara Kameswara Rao}}


[[Category:Telugu-language films]]
[[Category:1967 Indian films]]
[[Category:1967 Telugu-language films]]
[[Category:1967 films]]
[[Category:1967 films]]
[[Category:Indian films]]
[[Category:Films about Hinduism]]
[[Category:Hindu mythological films]]
[[Category:Films about Krishna]]
[[Category:Films based on the Bhagavata Purana]]
[[Category:Films based on the Mahabharata]]
[[Category:Films based on the Mahabharata]]
[[Category:Indian black-and-white films]]
[[Category:Films about Hinduism]]
[[Category:Films directed by Kamalakara Kameswara Rao]]
[[Category:Films directed by Kamalakara Kameswara Rao]]
[[Category:Films scored by T. V. Raju]]
[[Category:Films scored by T. V. Raju]]
[[Category:Indian epic films]]
[[Category:Hindu mythological films]]
[[Category:Films about Krishna]]
[[Category:Indian black-and-white films]]
[[Category:Indian religious epic films]]

Latest revision as of 02:09, 4 March 2026

Sri Krishnavataram
Theatrical release poster
Directed byKamalakara Kameswara Rao
Produced byA. Pundarikakshayya
Written bySamudrala Sr. (dialogues)
StarringN. T. Rama Rao
Devika
Kanchana
Music byT. V. Raju
CinematographyAnnayya
Edited byKanda Swamy
Production
company
Taraka Rama Pictures
Release date
  • 12 October 1967 (1967-10-12)
Running time
211 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageTelugu
Budget₹10 lakhs

Sri Krishnavataram is a 1967 Telugu-language Hindu mythological film directed by Kamalakara Kameswara Rao. It stars N. T. Rama Rao, Devika and Kanchana, with music composed by T. V. Raju. The film was produced by A. Pundarikakshayya under the Taraka Rama Pictures. The film is based on the Hindu epics Mahabharata and Bhagavata Purana covering major life events of Lord Krishna.[1][2][3]

Plot[edit | edit source]

The film covers all episodes of Krishna's life. It begins with all the deities imploring before Vishnu for the revival of piety on Earth, which he bestows by taking incarnation as Krishna in Dvapara Yuga. Following, Kamsa knitting his sister Devaki to Vasudeva. He volunteered to escort the newlyweds when a celestial voice prophesied that her 8th progeny was his death. Hence, Kamsa imprisoned them and slaughtered her six boys. Anyhow, the Lord protects the 7th Balarama by subrogation into Vasudeva's first wife Rohini. On the eve of Bhadrapada Ashtami, Vishnu's avatar, Krishna, was born and mandates Vasudeva to swap with Yashoda 's baby at Gokul. Being conscious of it, Kamsa decrees to slay all the new-born. Krishna grows by showing several glories & butchering demons. Plus, he breaks Kamsa's pain and relieves his parents. At that time, he normalized his cousin Sishupala, who was born with bizarre attributes. It fears his mother, Srutashrava, because Sisupala's destiny of death is Krishna. So, she bestows a boon from Krishna by giving him 100 chances.

Years pass, and Krishna contracts Dwaraka in mid of the sea to secure Yadava from frequent attacks of Jarasandha. So, he begrudges & ruses to fix Sisupala's alliance with Vidarbha king Bhishmaka's daughter Rukmini by mingling her brother Rukmi. But she adores Krishna as a divine entity. After a brief courtship, Rukmini elopes with Krishna when Rukmi bars them, but he pardons him by half-shaving. Parallelly, Satrajit acquires a unique jewel Syamantaka as a boon from the Sun that bestows a vast amount of gold daily. Krishna requests him to hand it over to him, and he refuses—his daughter Satyabhama sweethearts for Krishna. Prasanna, Satrajit's sibling, moves to hunt wearing the jewel. A lion kills him and runs off with the gem, which has been picked up by Jambavanta and given to his daughter Jambavati. Satrajit denounces Krishna as a homicide, so he steps in when Jambavanta detects him as Rama. He endorses the jewel with Jambavati when Satrajit also repents and gifts Satyabhama. Consequently, Krishna makes eight marriages when green Narada itches for test and bows down before his lilas. Meanwhile, Kuchela, the childhood soulmate of Krishna, arrives impoverished, where the Lord provides great honor & hospitality. Kuchela hesitantly offers his favorite snack, "Atukulu," grains of parched rice, which he receives and grants endless opulence.

Today, Dharma Raja conducts a "Rajasuya" where Sishupala starts mortifying Krishna. He patiently counts his 100 absurdities and decapitates him. At this, Sakuni lays out a stratagem by inviting Dharmaja for a dice game. He snatches their wealth with a subject to a massive scandal and expels them for 13 years. After its completion, Krishna acts as an emissary between Pandava & Kaurava to prevent the Kurukshetra War. He lands at Hastinapur and submits Pandava article before Duryodhana with the consequences & results of the battle, which he bluntly deaf ears. Moreover, he attempts to seize him when they all blackouts for his Viswaroopam, the entire universe in him. Excluding, Bhishma, Drona, Vidura and enables Dhritarashtra to see his form for a few seconds. Duryodhana & Arjuna move for Krishna to bid aid, which Krishna divides as two, himself & Yadava's army, and bestows the former to Arjuna. Arjuna assuredly chooses Krishna, which elates Duryodhana without fathoming the Lord. The war begins, and Arjuna is in a dilemma about the violence and deaths of their kin. During that plight, Krishna enlightens him with the Bhagavad Gita. Pandava wipes out the Kaurava with the Lord's guidance and crowns Dharmaraja.

Afterward, they proceed with the blessing of Dhritarashtra, who wiles to kill Bhima and asks for a hug. Gazing at it, Krishna substitutes it with his iron statue, which he breaks into pieces. Here, the Lord states that until his presence, nobody can touch Pandava. Then furious Gandhari curses the destruction of his clan by internal conspiracy, which he takes for granted. Parallelly, as a correlation, Yadava is cursed by sages when Krishna's son Samba mocks them in disguise as pregnant women. According to their declaration, Samba delivers a pestle. Frightened Balarama edicts to powder and throw it into the sea, but Krishna announces it is unavoidable. The power grows into the seashore's sharpest bamboo, resulting in a total shatter. Spotting it, Balarama leaves his soul. The hunter, Jara, acquires one piece of bamboo in the sea. Unbeknownst, he shoots on sleeping Krishna's foot when he departs, glorifying that it's all his play. Finally, the movie ends happily with Krishnavatar merging into his original form of Vishnu.

Cast[edit | edit source]

Soundtrack[edit | edit source]

Sri Krishnavataram
Film score by
Released1967
GenreSoundtrack
LabelHis Master's Voice
ProducerT. V. Raju

Music composed by T. V. Raju. Music released on His Master's Voice.

S. No. Song title Lyrics Singers length
1 "Jayahe Krishnavatara" Samudrala Sr. Ghantasala, P. Leela, Swarnalata, Sarojini 6:35
2 "Vinara Vinara" C. Narayana Reddy P. Leela 3:15
3 "Chilakala Kolikini Choodu" C. Narayana Reddy L.R.Eswari 3:16
4 "Nee Charana Kamalaana" C. Narayana Reddy Ghantasala, P. Susheela, P. Leela 5:16
5 "Maghuvala Neele Gopaludu" C. Narayana Reddy Ghantasala, P. Susheela
6 "Ememo Authondhi" C. Narayana Reddy P. Susheela 3:20
7 "Adigo Alladigo" C. Narayana Reddy Ghantasala
8 "Geetopadesam" Samudrala Sr. Ghantasala

Box office[edit | edit source]

The movie was a huge hit. The film was also successful in Karnataka and celebrated a Silver Jubilee. Even in the second and third releases in 1982 and 1990, it ran for more than 100 days.[4]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. Srikanth (15 October 1967). "సినిమా: శ్రీ కృష్ణ అవతారం" [Cinema: Sri Krishnavataram]. Visalaandhra (in తెలుగు). Archived from the original on 14 November 2020. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  2. Krishna, Radha (15 October 1967). "రూపవాణి: శ్రీ కృష్ణ అవతారం" [Roopavani: Sri Krishnavataram]. Andhra Prabha (in తెలుగు). Archived from the original on 26 August 2023. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  3. Nostalgia - Sri Krishnavataram at Cinegoer.com. Archived 3 November 2010 at the Wayback Machine
  4. "CineGoer.com - Nostalgia - Sri Krishnavataram". www.cinegoer.net. Archived from the original on 7 March 2016. Retrieved 15 January 2022.

External links[edit | edit source]