Shri Venkateswara Mahatyam (1960)

 ●  Telugu ● 3 hrs 0 mins

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Pullaiah’s remake of his 1939 biographical of the Tirupati temple deity is a milestone in NTR’s acting career. Balaji (NTR) descends to earth following a celestial problem caused by Narada. On earth, as a common man who is nevertheless recognised by all the ‘good folk’ as a god, he falls for Padmavati (Savitri). In the end, as two earthly women, the ‘heavenly’ Lakshmi and Padmavati, battle over him, he turns into a statue. The film then turns into a documentary on the Tirupati temple, before the populist ending restores the god to his true devotees as against the Brahmin clergy. In spite of the shift from celestial grandeur to semi- documentary earthliness, the film seeks to induce a childish religiosity, e.g. in the sequence where Balaji is fed milk by a cow, the udder and his mouth being framed, in close- up, by a rock. The film’s marketing suggested that viewing the film was a substitute for visiting India’s richest shrine, and papier maché replicas of the icon were placed outside movie theatres soliciting donations in the name of the god. Apparently the temple authorities later sued the film’s producers. According to Rama Rao’s biographer S. Venkatnarayan (1983), the star’s politicisation stems from this period when thousands of pilgrims from Tirupati also visited his Madras house. NTR later produced and directed another Venkateshwara version, Shri Tirupati Venkateshwara Kalyanam (1979).

Cast: Savitri Kommareddy, Taraka Rama Rao Nandamuri

Crew: P Pullaiah (Director), PL Roy (Director of Photography), Pendyala Nageswara Rao (Music Director)

Rating: U (India)

Genres: Drama, Musical

Release Dates: 09 Jan 1960 (India)

Telugu Name: శ్రీ వెంకటేశ్వర మహత్యం

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as Padmavathi
as Srimaha Vishnu / Srinivasa
Special Appearance
as Yerukala Saani
as Brahma
as Bavaji
as Bhrugu Maharshi
as Yathrikudu
as Vakula
as Narada
as Maha Siva
Supporting Actor
Supporting Actor
Supporting Actor
as Sarabha
Supporting Actor
as Dhaaranidevi
as Srimaha Lakshmi
as Sarabha's wife
Supporting Actor

Direction

Director

Production

Production Company

Writers

Screenplay Writer
Dialogue Writer

Camera and Electrical

Director of Photography

Art

Art Director

Choreography

Choreographer

Editorial

Editor
Film Type:
Feature
Language:
Telugu
Colour Info:
Black & White
Frame Rate:
24 fps
Aspect Ratio:
2.39:1 (Scope)
Stereoscopy:
No