Bhakta Tukaram

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Bhakta Tukaram
File:Bhakta Tukaram.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed byV. Madhusudhan Rao
Produced byP. Adinarayana Rao
Written byVeeturi (dialogues)
Screenplay byV. Madhusudhan Rao
StarringAkkineni Nageswara Rao
Anjali Devi
Sivaji Ganesan
Music byP. Adinarayana Rao
CinematographyV. S. R. Swamy
Edited byN. S. Prakasam
Production
company
Anjali Pictures
Distributed byLakshmi Films
Release date
  • 5 July 1973 (1973-07-05)
Running time
166 mins
CountryIndia
LanguageTelugu

Bhakta Tukaram is a 1973 Indian Telugu-language biographical film based on the life of the saint-poet Tukaram, produced by P. Adinarayana Rao under the Anjali Pictures banner and directed by V. Madhusudhan Rao. It stars Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Anjali Devi and Sivaji Ganesan, with music also composed by Adinarayana Rao.[1]

Plot[edit]

The film is based on the story of Bhakta Tukaram, an advent devotee of Lord Panduranga in the 17th century in Dehu village of present-day Maharashtra. Tukaram (Akkineni Nageswara Rao) a small trader, leads a family life with two wives Avalai Jija Bai (Anjali Devi) & Rukma Bai (Jr. Sreeranjani) and their two children. Tukaram is very kindhearted who ameliorates everyone in the village for which he absorbs his property. However, he is not interested in worldly matters and always immersed in the adoration of Lord. Mumbaji Go Swamy (Nagabhushanam) is the head of the village, behaves as a great preacher & disciple but actually, he is a decadent person, who misuses public faith for self-consumption. Tukaram always opposes his misdeeds, keeping the grudge in mind, Mumbaji troubles Tukaram a lot also propagates him as an atheist and ostracizes. Hence his family suffers from starving even no one comes forward to support him when his wife Rukma Bai passes away. Devastated Tukaram leaves the house to question the existence of God when Lord Panduranga (Nagaraju) appears and endorses to scripture his divinity as Abhangs. Now Tukaram awakes the devotion in people through his singing and becomes eminent which also impresses emperor Shivaji (Sivaji Ganesan) who facilitates him with material gifts but he refuses courteously.[citation needed]

At this point in time, Mumbaji's envy is bondless, so, he uses a brothel Bahina Bai (Kanchana) to lure Tukaram when he shows the reality of life that how her beauty shrinks in old age and makes her as his devotee. Thereafter, Mumbaji claims that Tukaram stole his verses when Pandit Rameswara Bhattar (Dhulipala) a religious authority arrives to examine who orders Tukaram to immerse his works into the river and never discuss religion in public which he does so. But river Ganga returns it back affirming it as a sacred when Rameswara Bhattar also becomes his devotee. Meanwhile, Mumbaji hides the Lord's statue from the temple, indicts Tukaram and complains to Shivaji. So, Shivaji lands at Dehu to test Tukaram and gives a day time to him to prove his innocence. Here Tukaram with his devotional power restores the statue. Right now, Mumbaji intrigues by informing Shivaji's presence in the village to the Mughals but God protects Shivaji at the behest of Tukaram. Knowing it, enraged Mughal Empire amputates Mumbaji which Tukaram retrieves and Mumbaji too bows his head down. At last, Lord invites Tukaram to Vaikuntha with the mortal body by sending his vehicle Garuda Vahana. Finally, the movie ends, Tukaram going to heaven, giving his ultimate preachings to follow piety, truth, peace, kindness & mercy.

Cast[edit]

Production[edit]

Akkineni Nageswara Rao played Tukaram,[2] and Sivaji Ganesan played Shivaji without taking any remuneration for the film.[3]

Soundtrack[edit]

Bhakta Tukaram
Film score by
P. Adinarayana Rao
Released1973
GenreSoundtrack
Length60:57
ProducerP. Adinarayana Rao

Music composed by P. Adinarayana Rao. Music released on Audio Company.[4]

S. No Song Title Lyrics Singers length
1 "Ghana Ghana Sundaraa" Devulapalli Ghantasala 5:26
2 "Bhale Bhale Andalu" Veeturi Ghantasala 3:42
3 "Chindulu Veyakura" Veeturi Ghantasala, 2:59
4 "Dhanyalakshmi" Veeturi P. Susheela 2:49
5 "Kaliyugam Kaliyugam" Dasaradhi SP Balu 3:37
6 "Karunamaya Deva" Dasaradhi V. Ramakrishna 5:18
7 "Kesava Madhava" Veeturi Ghantasala 1:02
8 "Manasuna Neeve" Dasaradhi V. Ramakrishna 2:58
9 "Neeve Aadi Daivamu" Dasaradhi V. Ramakrishna 1:49
10 "Panduranga Naamam" Veeturi V. Ramakrishna 4:13
11 "Naa Pilupu Vinagaleva" Dasaradhi V. Ramakrishna 3:08
12 "Poojaku Veleyara" C. Narayana Reddy Ghantasala, P. Susheela 6:37
13 "Sari Sari Vagalu" C. Narayana Reddy P. Susheela 4:02
14 "Shyama Sundara"-I Dasaradhi V. Ramakrishna 6:19
15 "Shyama Sundara"-II Dasaradhi P. Susheela 0:46
16 "Unnavaa Asalunnavaa" Dasaradhi Ghantasala 3:16
17 "Padavelli Potondira" Dasaradhi V. Ramakrishna 2:56

References[edit]

  1. https://web.archive.org/web/20120225071601/http://www.telugucinema.com/c/publish/movieretrospect/retro_bhaktatukaram.php
  2. "மராட்டிய வீரர் சிவாஜியை நடிகர் சிவாஜி கணேசன் சந்தித்ததும் சந்திக்காமல் போனதும்!". Dinamalar (in தமிழ்). Nellai. 25 December 2017. Retrieved 7 January 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  3. Narasimham, M. L. (17 November 2013). "Paradesi (1953)". The Hindu. Retrieved 19 January 2018.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  4. https://bollywoodvinyl.in/products/bhakta-tukaram-telugu-devotional-bollywood-vinyl-lp

External links[edit]

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