Sati Anasuya | |
---|---|
![]() Songbook cover of Sati Anasuya | |
Directed by | Ahindra Choudhury |
Written by | Annamaacharya (dialogues) |
Produced by | Dasari Kotiratnam |
Starring | Dasari Kotiratnam Tungala Chalapathi Rao D. Leelakumari D. Venkubayi Rangapushpa Chitra |
Music by | Akula Narasimha Rao Nimmagadda Paradesi |
Production company | |
Release date |
|
Country | India |
Language | Telugu |
Sati Anasuya is a 1935 Telugu-language mythological film directed by Ahindra Choudhury and produced by Dasari Kotiratnam under the banner of Aurora Film Corporation. [1] The film marks Kotiratnam's debut as the first female producer in Telugu cinema. [2] [3] Released on 4 October 1935, it stars Kotiratnam in the titular role of Anasuya, alongside D. Leelakumari, D. Venkubai, and Tungala Chalapathi Rao in prominent roles. [4]
Sati Anasuya tells the story of Anasuya, the wife of the sage Atri, renowned for her unwavering devotion and virtue. The river Ganga, worshipped across India, becomes polluted by the sins of those who bathe in her waters to cleanse themselves. Unable to bear the burden of these sins, Ganga seeks purification. She first turns to the goddesses Lakshmi, Parvati, and Saraswati, but their efforts to help her fail.
Narada advises Ganga to seek the help of Anasuya, known on Earth for her unparalleled devotion to her husband. Jealous of Anasuya’s virtue, the goddesses Lakshmi, Parvati, and Saraswati decide to test her fidelity. Simultaneously, other characters like Mallika, a woman who mistreats her husband Soma Sarma, and Narmada, a devoted wife who indulges her husband Kousika’s desires, add complexity to the narrative.
Amidst a water shortage, people visit Atri’s ashram in search of water. Anasuya fetches water for them from Ganga, who, purified by Anasuya’s devotion, relieves the world’s suffering. Mallika, realizing her mistakes after encountering Kousika, renounces worldly pleasures.
At the ashram, Bhringi, a guest, attempts to humiliate Anasuya by conjuring a devil and placing a venomous snake around her neck. However, her virtue transforms the snake into a garland of flowers.
In another subplot, Narmada’s husband Kousika accidentally touches the sage Mandavya, who curses him to die before sunrise. Through Narmada’s moral power, the sun does not rise. Anasuya, Atri, and others pray to Narmada to allow the sun to rise. Kousika dies as predicted but is later revived by Anasuya’s spiritual power, restoring him to full health. Devendra, the king of the gods, pardons Mandavya for his actions.
Spurred by their jealousy, Lakshmi, Parvati, and Saraswati send Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva in disguise to test Anasuya further. Using her spiritual strength, Anasuya transforms the gods into babies. When the goddesses learn of this, they seek her forgiveness, and Anasuya returns their husbands to their original forms.
Narada then challenges Anasuya one final time, giving her stones to cook and serve as food. Anasuya’s virtue enables her to transform the stones into fruit, further demonstrating her moral strength. In the end, Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva promise to be born as the son of Atri and Anasuya, manifesting as the deity Dattatreya. The story concludes with a divine glimpse of Dattatreya’s birth.
Sati Anasuya was a notable production in Telugu cinema, with Dasari Kotiratnam playing the lead role of Anasuya and also serving as a co-producer. After spending several months in Calcutta for the filming of Sati Sakkubai (1935), Kotiratnam observed the practices of Bengali filmmakers and was inspired by their success. [5] This experience motivated her to produce her own film in Telugu, marking her entry into film production. Kotiratnam partnered with Aurora Film Corporation to secure support for the project. She proposed a profit-sharing model among the cast and crew. The film was directed by Ahindra Choudhury, an experienced director from Calcutta. [5] Thus, Kotiratnam became the first female producer of Telugu cinema. [2]
The film features several devotional songs and verses composed by Akula Narasimha Rao and Nimmagadda Paradesi. [1] The soundtrack became popular during its time, resonating with the audience due to its religious and devotional appeal. [4] Lyrics were written by Chandala Kesavadasu. [6]
Tarcklist: [7]
Released on October 4, 1935, Sati Anasuya became a pioneering work, demonstrating the potential for Telugu films to be produced and distributed successfully. Kotiratnam's leadership in this project helped pave the way for more locally produced films and increased the involvement of women in the Telugu film industry. [5]
Anasuya is an ascetic, and the wife of Sage Atri in Hinduism. She is the daughter of Devahuti and the Prajapati Kardama in Hindu texts. In the Ramayana, she lives with her husband in a small hermitage on the southern border of the Chitrakuta forest. A pious woman who leads an austere life, she is described as having miraculous powers.
Ganga is the personification of the river Ganges, who is worshipped by Hindus as the goddess of purification and forgiveness. Known by many names, Ganga is often depicted as a fair, beautiful woman, riding a divine crocodile-like creature called the makara.
The Kamakshi Amman Temple, also known as Kamakoti Nayaki Kovil, is a Hindu temple dedicated to the goddess Kamakshi, one of the highest aspects of Adi Parashakti, the supreme goddess in Shaktism. The temple is located in the historic city of Kanchipuram, near Chennai, India.
Chittajallu Krishnaveni, often known as C. Krishnaveni or simply Krishnaveni, is an Indian Telugu language actress, producer and playback singer.
Pasupuleti Kannamba was an Indian actress, playback singer and film producer of Telugu cinema, of Andhra Pradesh, India. She acted in more than 170 films and produced about 25 films in Telugu and Tamil languages during the 1930s to the 1960s.
Saraswathi Sabatham is a 1966 Indian Tamil-language Hindu mythological film written and directed by A. P. Nagarajan. Based on Pudhumaipithan's novel Vakkum Vakkum, it stars Sivaji Ganesan, Gemini Ganesan, Savitri, Padmini, Devika and K. R. Vijaya. It is not a prequel of the 2013 film Naveena Saraswathi Sabatham. The film was released on 3 September 1966 and became a commercial success.
Sati Anasuya is a story that has been made into many Indian films in different languages. It has been made into the Telugu language in 1935, 1936, 1957 and 1971.
Datta Jayanti, also known as Dattatreya Jayanti, is a Hindu festival, commemorating the birth of the Hindu deity Dattatreya (Datta), a combined form of the Hindu male divine trinity of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva.
Rambha Rambabu is a 1990 Telugu-language fantasy comedy film, produced by G. Mattayya and M. S. R. Prasad under the Sri Lakshmi Durga Movies banner and directed by Relangi Narasimha Rao. It stars Rajendra Prasad, Chandra Mohan and Parijaata, with music composed by Madhavapedhi Suresh. The film was recorded as a Hit at the box office. The film is based on Tamil film Rambaiyin Kaadhal (1956).
Valmiki is 1963 Indian Telugu-language Hindu mythological film, based on the life of Valmiki, produced by S. K. Habibulla under Jupiter Pictures and directed by C. S. Rao. The films stars N. T. Rama Rao, Rajasulochana and Leelavathi with music composed by Ghantasala. Director Rao and Jupiter Pictures made the film simultaneously in Kannada with the same title starring Rajkumar in the lead role retaining most of the cast and crew.
Sati Sumathi is a 1967 Telugu-language Hindu mythological film, produced by Chinna Rao under the Chinni Brothers banner, presented by Anjali Devi and directed by Vedantam Raghavayya. It stars Kantha Rao, Anjali Devi and music composed by P. Adinarayana Rao.
Sati Savitri is 1957 Indian Telugu-language Hindu mythological film, based on the life of Savitri and Satyavan directed by K. B. Nagabhushanam. It stars Akkineni Nageswara Rao, S. Varalakshmi, S. V. Ranga Rao with music composed by S. V. Venkatraman. It is produced by S. Varalakshmi under the Varalakshmi Pictures banner. The film was dubbed into Tamil language with the title Sathiyavan Savithri.
Mahakaali — Anth Hi Aarambh Hai is an Indian Hindi-language television series that premiered on 22 July 2017 on Colors TV. The show traced the epic story of Goddess Parvati’s metamorphosis into Mahakali. Produced by Siddharth Kumar Tewary's Swastik Productions, it starred Pooja Sharma in the title role of Goddess Mahakali, Sourabh Raj Jain as Lord Mahadev and Kanan Malhotra as Lord Vishnu.
Sati Anasuya is a 1957 Telugu-language Hindu mythological film, based on the life of Anasuya, produced by Sundarlal Nehata under the Rajyasri Productions banner and directed by K. B. Nagabhushanam. It stars N. T. Rama Rao, Anjali Devi, and Jamuna, with music composed by Ghantasala.
Om Namah Shivay is a Bengali television show that launched on 18 June 2018 and was aired on Star Jalsha. The show went off-air on 10 November 2018.
Devi Adi Parashakti is a mythological television series based on the Hindu texts of the Shiva Purana, the Devi-Bhagavata Purana, the Markandeya Purana, and pan-Indian folktales of the Goddess. The series was created by Siddharth Kumar Tewary, directed by Loknath Pandey and Manish Singh, and produced by Swastik Productions. Rati Pandey plays the role of Devi Adi Parashakti and her incarnations Goddess Sati, and Goddess Parvati. Tarun Khanna played the role of Devi's husband, Lord Shiva with Kanan Malhotra as Lord Vishnu, Devi's brother. The show also features Sonia Singh as Goddess Diti, the main antagonist.
In Hinduism, rivers are often personified as deities. In the Rigveda, there are mentions of holy rivers such as the Sarasvati. The river Ganges is considered to be most sacred, and is also personified as the goddess Ganga. Most of the rivers are represented in female form, with the notable exception of Brahmaputra, which is considered to be male. The most significant rivers in the faith are the Saptanadi and which includes the Ganges, Yamuna, Sindhu, Narmada, Godavari, Krishna, and Kaveri.
Baal Shiv – Mahadev Ki Andekhi Gatha is an Indian Hindi-language mythology series produced by Anirudh Pathak under the banner of Zee Studios. It was premiered on 23 November 2021 on And TV. It stars Aan Tiwari and Trisha Sarda in the lead roles of Baal Shiv and Baal Parvati. Siddharth Arora, Shivya Pathania and Mouli Ganguly appear in pivotal roles.
Dasari Kotiratnam was an Indian actress, singer, and film producer. She was the first female producer of Telugu cinema. She was also the first actress to set up a theatre group in Andhra. Her career as a theatre actor spanned over four decades.
First woman producer Dasari Kotiratnam produced Anasuya in 1935.