Pandava Vanavasam
Pandava Vanavasam (transl. Exile of Pandavas) is a 1965 Indian Telugu-language Hindu mythological film, produced by A. S. R. Anjaneyulu under the Madhavi Productions banner and directed by Kamalakara Kameswara Rao. It stars N. T. Rama Rao, Savitri and music composed by Ghantasala.[1][2] The film was a major box office success, running for 175 days in theatres.[3]
| Pandava Vanavasam | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Kamalakara Kameswara Rao |
| Produced by | A. S. R. Anjaneyulu |
| Written by | Samudrala Sr |
| Starring | N. T. Rama Rao Savitri |
| Music by | Ghantasala |
| Cinematography | C. Nageswara Rao |
| Edited by | A. Sanjeevi Veerappa Ankineedu |
Production company | Madhavi Productions |
Release date | 14 January 1965 |
Running time | 198 minutes |
| Country | India |
| Language | Telugu |
Plot
The film begins with the Pandavas successfully performing Rajasuya Yagam and thanking Lord Krishna (Kanta Rao) for his support. Besides, Duryodhana (S. V. Ranga Rao) is humiliated and raging with anger at the insults heaped on him in the Mayasabha. Sakuni (Mudigonda Lingamurthy) consoles him and layouts a stratagem for avenge by inviting Dharma Raja (Gummadi) for a dice game. Thereupon, Dharmaraja loses everything in it, including himself, his brothers and Draupadi (Savitri), who are subjected to great humiliation by Dussasana (Mikkilineni) on the orders of Duryodhana. The Pandavas are forced into exile after Dharmaraja loses again in the dice game. During their Aranyavaasam, Bheema (N. T. Rama Rao) encounters Anjaneya and brings the flower Sowgandhika Pushpam to fulfill Draupadi's wish. Afterward, to create hurdles for the Yaga being performed by the Pandavas, Duryodhana resorts to Ghosha Yatra stays nearby and mocks them. However, when he faces defeat from Gandharva king Chitrasena (Dhulipala), Dharmaraja sends Bheema & Arjuna (M. Balaiah) for his rescue. Right now, Duryodhana once again fires with insult and decides to commit suicide but Karna (Prabhakar Reddy) & Shakuni comfort him. At that moment, they perceive the divine power behind Pandavas is Lord Krishna.
Just after, one day, when Draupadi is alone Saindhava the husband of Dushala, Kauravas' sister spots her. Febrile for her beauty and proposes which she refuses. Infuriated, Saindhava abducts Draupadi and moves towards his kingdom. Being cognizant of it, Bheema protects Draupadi and when he is about to slay him Dharma Raja commands to live him on for piety. So, Bheema expels Saindhava by scraping his hair off his head. Parallelly, Kauravas' ploy to separate Krishna from Pandavas, so, they conspire to knit Duryodhana's son Lakshmana Kumara (Padmanabham) with Balarama's daughter Sasirekha (L. Vijayalakshmi). Indeed, her alliance is already fixed with Abhimanyu (Haranath). During that plight, Bheema kindles Ghatothkacha (Satyanarayana) one that boomerangs the wedding by purporting as Sasirekha and teases the men of the bridegroom with his gimmicks on the guidance of Krishna. At last, Sasirekha & Abhimanyu are coupled up. Finally, the movie ends on a happy note with the successful completion of the Pandavas' twelve-year exile period.
Cast
- N. T. Rama Rao as Bheema
- Savitri as Draupadi
- S. V. Ranga Rao as Duryodhana
- Kanta Rao as Lord Krishna
- Chittoor V. Nagaiah as Vidura
- Rajanala as Saindhava
- Mikkilineni as Dharmaraju
- Dhulipala as Chitrasena
- Mukkamala as Durvasa Maharshi
- Mudigonda Lingamurthy as Shakuni
- Prabhakar Reddy as Karna
- M. Balaiah as Arjuna
- Satyanarayana as Ghatotkacha
- Haranath as Abhimanyu
- Ramana Reddy as Brahmandam
- Padmanabham as Lakshmana Kumara
- Allu Rama Lingaiah as Pindandam
- Vanisri as Satyabhama
- L. Vijayalakshmi as Sasirekha
- Sandhya as Bhanumati
- Rushyendramani as Gandhari
- Rajasulochana as Dancer
- Hema Malini as Dancer
Soundtrack
| Pandava Vanavasamu | |
|---|---|
| Film score by | |
| Released | 1965 |
| Genre | Soundtrack |
| Length | 44:48 |
| Label | SAREGAMA Audio |
| Producer | Ghantasala |
Music composed by Ghantasala. Music released by SAREGAMA Audio Company.
| S. No. | Song Title | Lyrics | Singers | length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Himagiri Sogasulo" | Samudrala Sr | Ghantasala, P. Susheela | 4:30 |
| 2 | "Devaa Deena Baandhava" | Samudrala Sr. | P. Leela | 3:42 |
| 3 | "Vidhi Vanchithulai" | Samudrala Sr. | Ghantasala | 4:33 |
| 4 | "Mahinele Maharaju" | Samudrala Sr. | P. Leela, L. R. Eswari | 4:48 |
| 5 | "Manojavam Maruthatulyam" | Traditional | Ghantasala | 2:34 |
| 6 | "Oh Vannekaada" | Samudrala Sr. | S. Janaki | 5:51 |
| 7 | "Raagaalu Melavimpa" | Samudrala Sr. | Ghantasala, P. Susheela | 3:39 |
| 8 | "Mogali Rekula Sigadhaana" | Kosaraju | Ghantasala, L. R. Eswari | 7:20 |
| 9 | "Naa Chandamama" | Samudrala Sr. | Ghantasala, P. Susheela | 4:43 |
| 10 | "Baava Baava Panneeru" | Aarudhra | P. Susheela, Padmanabham | 2:58 |
Trivia
- The film celebrated a Silver Jubilee and ran for 175 days.[4]
- Pandava Vanavasam was also produced in Tamil.
- Kovelamudi Raghavendra Rao, who later directed over 100 movies, started his career as an assistant director for this movie.
References
- "చిత్ర సమీక్ష: పాండవ వనవాసము" [Film review: Pandava Vanavasamu]. Visalaandhra (in Telugu). 24 January 1965. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
- "సమీక్ష: పాండవ వనవాసము" [Review: Pandava Vanavasamu]. Andhra Patrika (in Telugu). 17 January 1965. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
- Krishnamoorthy, Suresh (14 January 2015). "50 years on, Pandava Vanavaasam is still appealing". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
- CineGoer.com - Box-Office Records And Collections - Silver Jubilee Films Of NTR Archived 16 June 2012 at the Wayback Machine