Mahakavi Kalidasu

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Mahakavi Kalidasu
Mahakavi Kalidasu.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Kamalakara Kameswara Rao
Written by Pingali
Produced byK. Nagamani
P. Suri Babu
Starring Akkineni Nageswara Rao
Sriranjani Jr.
CinematographyAnnayya
Edited byR. V. Rajan
Music by Pendyala
Production
company
Sarani Productions
Distributed byNavayuga Films
Release date
  • 2 April 1960 (1960-04-02)
Running time
150 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageTelugu

Mahakavi Kalidasu is a 1960 Indian Telugu-language biographical film directed by Kamalakara Kameswara Rao and written by Pingali. It stars Akkineni Nageswara Rao and Sriranjani Jr., with music composed by Pendyala. It was produced by K. Nagamani and P. Suri Babu. The film is based on the life of the poet Kalidasa. [1]

Contents

Plot

The film begins in the Avanti kingdom; its King has a daughter, Vidyadhari, an ardent devotee of Goddess Mahakali. Once, a soothsayer predicted she would be the leading woman for a great history. Being cognizant of it, the King decides to espouse his daughter with a glorious poet when Mahamantri Hariharamathyudu expresses his desire to knit the princess with his idiotic son, but the King scorns him. Enraged Mahamantri ploys by forging a retarded Kaaludu as a great scholar and performing the nuptial. Soon after, Vidyadhari realized the truth and lamented before the goddess. Kaaludu makes an immense penance, and Kaali accords him a boon of new Knowledge. Immediately, Kaaludu transforms into a scholar, Kalidasu, but forgets his past and quits. Distressed, Vidyadhari stands up with courage and proceeds to search for him. Right now, Kalidasu earns various kudos for his works and reaches Kaasi, where he clarifies a stanza and states it is from Ramayana written by Hanuman. Listening to it, self-proclaimed poet Rakshasa heckles before King Bhoja Raja when Hanuman appears and affirms Kalidasa as a great poet. Witnessing it, Bhoja Raja himself moves to pursue his whereabouts of him. The two meet at a peepal tree where a demon waits for their conjoining and bestows them an idol of Sarada Devi, which they install in Bharatacharya's ashram.

Here, Bhoja Raja endorses a great acclamation for Kalidasu, which irks Kavi Rakshasa and ruses to defame him. Simultaneously, learning about her husband, Vidyadhari lands at Kaasi, where she spots his closeness with court dancer Vilasavati. Humiliated Vidyadhari attempts suicide when Bharatacharya rescues and shelters her. Currently, she starts serving Kalidasu, who calls her Uma and loves her. However, detecting her as married, he goes into depression. During that time, Bhoja Raja asks him for scripture, an epic on feelings out of separation, when Kalidasu composes a beautiful love story, Meghasandesam. Then, Kavi Rakshasa challenges him to write the same but fails, so he steals Kalidasa's book. Bhoja Raja understands the reality of Kavi Rakshana being penalized by withdrawing his laureates. After that, Bhoja Raja requests Kalidasu to pen the story of Shakuntala, but he hesitates as the characters lack standards. Later, with the inspiration of Vidyadhari, he completes a world-class epic Abhijñānaśākuntalam. Hence, Bhoja Raja decides to accolade Kalidasu with half of his kingdom. At that juncture, Bhattacharya gazes at the relationship between Kalidasu & Vidyadhari, so he invites the King of Avanti to the event, where he professes Kalidasu as his son-in-law, to which he refuses. During that plight, Vidyadhari implores the deity who retrieves Kalidasa's memory. Finally, the movie ends happily with the couple's reunion.

Cast

Soundtrack

Mahakavi Kalidasu
Film score by
Pendyala
Released1960
Genre Soundtrack
Length38:25
Producer Pendyala

Music was composed by Pendyala. [2]

S. NoSong TitleLyricsSingerslength
1"Manikya Veena Mupaalalayanti" Kalidasa Ghantasala 4:06
2"Jaya Jaya Jaya Sharada Jaya Kalabhi Sharada"Pingali P. Susheela 3:37
3"Aa Maatante"Pingali Madhavapeddi Satyam, P. Susheela2:25
4"Nanu Choodu Naa"PingaliMadhavapeddi Satyam, K. Rani 1:44
5"Neekettundogani Pilla"PingaliGhantasala5:15
6"Velugu Velagara Nayana"PingaliGhantasala2:22
7"Rasikaraja"Pingali P. Leela, Radha Jayalakshmi 4:04
8"Srikaramagu Paripaalana"PingaliP. Leela3:16
9"Sakuntala" (Natakam)KalidasaGhantasala, Jikki 8:33

Poems

Lyrics were written by P. Suribabu

No.Song TitleSingerslength
1"Drowpadya"Ghantasala0:41
2"Entha Pralayamu Vachina"P. Susheela0:42
3"Pranakarini Vanuchu"P. Susheela1:05
4"Vagardha"Ghantasala0:38

Awards

National Film Awards

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References

  1. ↑ Narasimham, M. L. (14 January 2016). "Blast from the Past: Mahakavi Kalidasu (1960)". The Hindu . Retrieved 25 August 2021.
  2. ↑ "Mahakavi Kalidasu (1960)-Song_Booklet". Indiancine.ma. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
  3. ↑ "State Awards for Films". International Film Festival of India. 31 March 1961. Archived from the original on 23 November 2016. Retrieved 7 September 2011.
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