Chaitanya (film)

Chaitanya is a 1991 Indian Telugu-language action road film, written and directed by Prathap K. Pothan.[1] Produced by Sathyam Babu, the film Starred Akkineni Nagarjuna, Gautami, and Girish Karnad in pivotal roles and with music composed by Ilaiyaraaja.[2][3][4] It was simultaneously dubbed into Tamil and Malayalam as Madras To Goa.[5][1]

Chaitanya
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Prathap K. Pothan
Produced by	Sathyam Babu
Written by	Singeetam Srinivasa Rao (dialogues)
Screenplay by	Prathap K. Pothan
Story by	Prathap K. Pothan
Starring	Akkineni Nagarjuna Gautami
Music by	Ilaiyaraaja
Cinematography	Rajiv Menon
Edited by	B. Lenin V. T. Vijayan
Production company	Sri Tirumalesa Productions
Release date	7 June 1991
Running time	130 minutes
Country	India
Language	Telugu

Plot

Chaitanya, (Akkineni Nagarjuna) is the chief mechanic for the upcoming Roots Challenge 1991 Automotive rally race – which starts via the route from Chennai coast to Goa coast, a route which is noted for illegal drug trade and arms trafficking. Retired Major Harischandra Prasad (Girish Karnad) is the chief guest for the rally, his daughter Padmini (Gautami) also competes for the Roots Challenge Trophy.

Chaitanya's journalist friend Sudhakar (Chinna) witnesses the murder of the city D.I.G. in a park. The D.I.G.'s murder happens to have been planned by underworld gangster. Later, Sudhakar's murdered by a gang near his garage because he witnessed the murder of the D.I.G. Chaitanya finds himself beaten by the gang after he comes to the assistance of Sudhakar. When he regains his senses he finds himself with a revolver in his hand and in police custody, arrested and charged with the homicide of the friend he tried to assist. With evidence pointing toward his guilt, he has virtually no defense and may well spend the rest of his life in prison or be hanged. He manages to escape from the prison with the help of Chaitanya's garage assistant, Golconda (a drunkard), through the journalist's friend (Joseph) in a water tanker. Disguised as the journalist's friend, the gangster's henchman is hidden in the tanker.

The police commissioner (Kota Srinivasa Rao), who is a close associate of Harischandra Prasad, attempts to solve the mysterious murder of D.I.G. and the journalist. The criminal's henchman plans to blast the water tanker and kill Chaitanya who flees from Srungavarapukota prison in the same water tanker. But, after a battle with the henchman inside the water tanker, Chaitanya escapes and jumps from the water tanker into a lake and the henchman dies in the water tanker explosion. Police send Chaitanya's case to CBI as they come to the conclusion that it was Chaitanya who was killed in the explosion. Chaitanya gets to participate in the One Halt Race by joining at a milestone on the route, in the guise of the garage assistant's race car. He finds out that the photographs of D.I.G.'s murder caught by his journalist friend are hidden in one of the three cars of the rally. In another twist, Padmini happens to drive the car in which 1 photograph was hidden.

How Chaitanya unweaves the mystery behind all this crime and how Padmini & Chaitanya fall in love in the process and identify the high-profile criminal adds to the rest of the plot and suspense in the film. The D.I.G. was killed by three people. According to the pictures, the guy in the brown coat is the police commissioner, who claims to be the gangster. Police commissioner forces Harischandra and Padmini to join the drug trade. Chaitanya manages to reach the commissioner's safehouse, where it's revealed that Harischandra's the high-profile criminal. Commissioner didn't know that someone else was the mafia, boss. Harischandra kills the commissioner. When Chaitanya shows up, he realizes that Padmini's father was the gangster who is responsible for illegal drug trade, arms trafficking, DIG's murder, Sudhakar's murder, and ordered his gang to frame Chaitanya. The film ends with Chaitanya killing Harishchandra, the gangster when he attempts to shoot him.

Cast

• Akkineni Nagarjuna as Chaitanya
• Gautami as Padmini
• Girish Karnad as Harischandra Prasad
• Kota Srinivasa Rao as Commissioner KJ Prabhakar
• Raghuvaran as Raana
• Babu Antony as Cobra
• Silk Smitha as Smitha
• Chinna as Journalist Sudhakar
• Nizhalgal Ravi as Smuggler
• Chinni Jayanth as Smuggler
• Ravi Teja as Racer
• Suthi Velu as Detective
• Raavi Kondala Rao as Roots Rally Company MD
• P. J. Sarma
• Vijayachander as DIG Ram Mohan Rao
• Bhimeswara Rao as Jailor
• KK Sarma as Police Officer
• Telephone Satyanarayana as Doordharshan Reporter

Soundtrack

Chaitanya
Film score by Ilaiyaraaja
Released	1991
Genre	Soundtrack
Length	24:35
Label	Echo Music
Ilaiyaraaja chronology
Nirnayam (1991) Chaitanya (1991) Surya IPS (1991)

Music was composed by Ilaiyaraaja. Lyrics were written by Veturi Sundararama Murthy. All songs are hit tracks. Music released on ECHO Music Company.

No.	Title	Singer(s)	Length
1.	"Oho Laila"	SP Balu	4:56
2.	"Kanne Lady"	S. P. Sailaja	4:57
3.	"Paapa Eddu"	SP Balu	4:51
4.	"Sweety"	SP Balu, S. Janaki	4:55
5.	"Vayase Tholi"	SP Balu, S. Janaki	4:53
Total length:			24:35

References

1. https://www.cinestaan.com/movies/chaitanya-26247
2. "Chaitanya Telugu Movie". MovieDost. Archived from the original on 13 November 2010. Retrieved 11 October 2010.
3. "Nagarjuna". Tollywood Heros. vebtoday.com. Archived from the original on 17 July 2011. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
4. "Chaitanya". Chakpak.com. Archived from the original on 20 April 2009. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
5. Rajadhyaksha, Ashish; Willemen, Paul (10 July 2014). Encyclopedia of Indian Cinema - Google Books. ISBN 978-1-135-94318-9. Retrieved 12 December 2019.

External links

• Chaitanya at IMDb