Brahmarshi Viswamitra
| Brahmarshi Viswamitra | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | N. T. Rama Rao |
| Written by | Naga Bhairava Koteswara Rao (dialogues) |
| Screenplay by | N. T. Rama Rao |
| Based on | Life of Vishvamitra |
| Produced by | N. T. Rama Rao |
| Starring | N. T. Rama Rao Nandamuri Balakrishna Meenakshi Seshadri |
| Cinematography | Nandamuri Mohana Krishna |
| Edited by | N. T. Rama Rao |
| Music by | Ravindra Jain |
Production company | NTR Charity Trust |
Release date |
|
Running time | 148 minutes |
| Country | India |
| Language | Telugu |
Brahmarshi Viswamitra is a 1991 Indian Telugu-language Hindu mythological film based on the life of the sage Visvamitra, which is written, directed and produced by N. T. Rama Rao. It stars him in his comeback film after a 7-year hiatus from acting after leaving for politics completely- along with Nandamuri Balakrishna, and Meenakshi Seshadri, with music composed by Ravindra Jain.[1][2] This film marked the debut of Jr.NTR as a child artist.[3]
Plot
The film begins with King Kaushika while hunting, visiting Vasishta Maharshi's ashram, where he notices a divine cow called Kamadhenu, which can produce anything one wishes. Kaushika requests Vasishta to surrender it for prosperity, which Vasishta refuses. Then Kaushika seeks to seize it, and it disappears. Whereas, he wisdom and moves to penance, renouncing his kingdom. Later, he attains the Brahmarshi title by facing many challenges and is called Visvamitra. After that, King Trishanku, who belongs to Suryavansha, wishes to reach heaven with his mortal body and requests Vasishta when he revolts and curses him to form a horrific. Forthwith, Trishanku reaches Viswamitra, who accomplishes his wish when Indra tosses him. Viswamitra bars him in and creates a newly modernised heaven for him by utilising his penance power. Ergo, he starts his prayers and attains his power back. Once in the court of Indra, Viswamitra had a confrontation with Vasishta, who said that a man with aim and determination is more potent than the deities. Viswamitra challenges that he will prove it and selects Harishchandra, ruler of Ayodhya.
From there, he starts testing him. In the beginning, he asks a vast amount, and without any hesitation, Harishchandra agrees. Then he creates two beautiful girls called Matanga Kanyalu, tries to lure him, and threatens to marry the girls or leave the kingdom. So, he gives away his kingdom when Viswamitra asks to repay his amount. Harishchandra asks him for a month time and accompanies his assistant Nakshatraka. After that, Harishchandra reaches Kaasi, observing that people are sold in the market. Due to the shortage of time, on his wife Chandramathi's advice, he sells her along with his son Lohitha. Next, Nakshatraka asks to pay his travel expenses, for which he sells himself to Veerabahu, king of the graveyard. Now, Harishchandra works as a watchman at the burial ground. One day, unfortunately, Lohitha dies due to snakebite while Chandramathi is performing his funeral. Harishchandra stops her for the fee, being unbeknownst which she cannot. Hereupon, Harischandra indicates her golden wedding chain. Since it is invisible to others, she detects him as her husband. In such pathetic situations, also Harishchandra does not yield. Chandramathi rushes to get the money. At the same time, Viswamitra creates an illusion that Chadramathi has kidnapped and killed Kaasiraju's son. The King gives her the death sentence and sends her to Harishchandra to execute it. Even then, he does not leave his true path and executes the punishment. Suddenly, Viswamitra appears, says that all this happened to spread a man's willpower to the universe, and acknowledges him with his penance power.
Eras roll by once Viswamitra intends to perform a Yaga for which two demons, MarichaSubahulu, create obstructions. So, he moves to Ayodhya and asks Dasaratha to send Rama & Lakshmana as protectors and endorses the powerful weapons to them who destroy Tataki and Marichasubhahulu and complete the Yaga. Parallelly, Janaka announces Swayamvara to Sita, and Viswamitra reaches Mithila with siblings. The main challenging task of Swayamvara is to ace the world-renowned bow of Siva. Ravana lands without an invitation but fails. Rama, with the blessing of Viswamitra, lifts the bow, breaks it, and spouses Sita. Viswamitra blesses the newly wedded couple and walks to his penance. After many thousands of years, Indra attempts to foil his prayers, so he sends an Apsara Menaka. Both weddings are blessed with a baby girl, but they exile the newborn when Kanva raises her as Shakuntala. Once King Dushyanta visits their Ashram, he loves and locks Shakuntala covetously. Before returning, he gives his royal ring to her as a token of love. One day, Durvasa visits, but Shakuntala loses her thoughts on her husband and fails to greet him when he curses her that the person she dreams of will forget her. Afterward, Durvasa proclaims that he recoups when he views the token. Time passes, Shakuntala becomes pregnant, and she is sent to her husband's house. In midway, the ring slips off her finger and is swallowed by a fish. Arriving at Hastinapura, Dushyanta, unable to recognize her humiliated, Shakuntala returns to the forest and is sheltered by Kashyapa, where she delivers Bharata. Meanwhile, the fisherman discerns the ring in the belly of a fish and bestows it to Dushyanta, where he recollects the past. Immediately, he sets out in the forest and is surprised to spot a young boy playing with wild animals. Bharata carries him to his mother, Shakuntala, when Viswamitra appears, reunites the couple, blesses Bharata as the greatest ruler of India, and entrusts him with his penance power. At last, Viswamitra's penance power hikes the heights of the Himalayan, where he utilises it for the welfare of the universe by preaching great Gayatri Mantra. Finally, the movie ends happily with Viswamitra becoming one of the universe's stars at Saptarishi Mandalam.
Cast
- N. T. Rama Rao as Visvaamitra & Ravana (dual role)
- Nandamuri Balakrishna as Satya Harischandra & Dushyanta (dual role)
- Meenakshi Seshadri as Menaka
- Deepika Chikhalia as Chandramathi
- Madhumita as Shakuntala
- Amjhad Khan as Veerabahu
- Gummadi as Vashista
- Suthi Velu as Nakshatraka
- Ashok Kumar as Indhra
- KK Sarma as Kalakoushukudu
- Jaya Bhaskar as Trisanku
- Aruna Irani as Kalakoushukudu's wife
- Kanaka as Seetha
- Tara as Shakuntala's friend
- Gayatri as Shakuntala's friend
- Disco Shanti as Matanga Kanya
- Kuali as Matanga Kanya
- Master Amith as Lohitha
- N. T. Rama Rao Jr. as Bharata (child role)
- Mikkilineni as Janaka
Production
Brahmarshi Viswamitra marks the first screen appearance of N. T. Rama Rao Jr., who played Bharata.[3][4]
Soundtrack
| Brahmarshi Viswamitra | |
|---|---|
| Film score by | |
| Released | 1991 |
| Genre | Soundtrack |
| Length | 56:47 |
| Label | Lahari Music |
| Producer | Ravindra Jain |
Music composed by Ravindra Jain. Lyrics written by C. Narayana Reddy. Music released on Lahari Music Company.
| No. | Title | Singer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Endaro Bulipinchina" | P. Susheela, S. P. Balasubrahmanyam | 6:18 |
| 2. | "Priya Cheliya" | K. J. Yesudas, P. Susheela | 7:55 |
| 3. | "Ee Chinnadi" | P. Susheela, Kavita Krishnamurthy | 5:27 |
| 4. | "Ganga Taranga" | K. J. Yesudas | 2:04 |
| 5. | "Ramaiah O Ramaiah" | P. Susheela, S. P. Balasubrahmanyam | 6:22 |
| 6. | "Jayathe Viswamitra Maharshi" | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam | 16:45 |
| 7. | "Kausalya Suprajarama" | K. J. Yesudas | 0:38 |
| Total length: | 56:47 | ||
References
- ^ Menon, Amarnath K. (15 April 1989). "After six years break, Andhra CM N.T. Rama Rao returns to celluloid world". India Today. Archived from the original on 18 September 2019. Retrieved 18 September 2019.
- ^ Menon, Amarnath K. (15 July 1989). "NTR's film Brahmarishi Viswamitra sparks off tussle between Telugu Desam and Congress(I)". India Today. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
- ^ a b "Happy birthday Jr NTR: Here are five lesser-known facts about the 'Young Tiger' of Tollywood". The Indian Express. 20 May 2018. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
- ^ "Happy Birthday Junior NTR: The Nandamuri scion sets the screens on fire in these 7 romantic numbers". The Times of India. 20 May 2019. Retrieved 1 January 2021.