Sapthapadhi (1981)
Director: K. Vishwanath; Producer: Bhimavarapu Buchireddy; Cinematographer: Kasthuri (Camera); Editor: G.G. Krishna Rao; Cast: J.V. Somayajulu, Allu Ramalingaiah, J.V. Ramana Murthy, Bamidipati Sabitha, Ravikanth, Pramila Rani, Fani, Maddali Susheela, Vani, Siva Parvathi, Kumari, Sakshi Rangarao, Seshu, Jith Mohan Mitra, Ganeswara Rao, Srinivasa Rao, G.S.R, Mallikarjun Rao, Byragi, Master Subramanyam, Baby Vamsi Krishna, Dubbing Janaki, Jhansi, Girish, Ravi Shankar
Duration: 02:06:21; Aspect Ratio: 1.778:1; Hue: 43.293; Saturation: 0.058; Lightness: 0.392; Volume: 0.241; Cuts per Minute: 10.169
Summary: Child Artist: Ravi Shankar
Saptapadi deals with the transformation of an individual so devoted to (mired in) the concept of rituals, that it takes an act of God (will be discussed shortly) for him to realize the true spirit behind the rituals and true meaning of the prayers. Yajulu is a man of great conviction. According to him rules and customs, that have been passed down generations thus standing the test of the time, are there for a reason and hence are immutable; traditions are trademarks of a culture and customs, its signature. He does not mind losing his daughter for his principles.
He is well into his twilight years which give him even more reason to not mend his ways. In his footsteps follows his Gaurinadha (grandchild from his son), gearing up to be a head priest at the local temple. Yajulu's will prevails over Hema's (grandchild from his daughter) wish and Gauri and Hema end up being married. However, Hema is secretly in love with a flutist, who is not of her caste. The brilliance of Viswanath comes full fore at this point, when on the first night, Gauri witnesses Durga devi in Hema, and walks out of the room completely shaken up. Gaurinadha, being an ardent devotee of the Devi, realizes that his wife is in love with another man, hence she is like a mother to him, nothing more, nothing less. This act of God triggers Yajulu's thought process to seriously question, for the first time in his life, the validity of his position on matters that involve caste, creed and religion, justifying the steps that Yajulu takes one a time, from the first one in trying to understand Hema's real interests till the last one, when he sees her off with her love interest on the boat. The crux of the whole film is contained in a beautiful conversation that happens between the characters played by Allu Rama Lingaiah and J.V. Somayajulu. Is caste a necessary evil? Is it evil in the first place? If the original idea that "dharmam" (vrutthi dharmam in this case, than mano dharmam, meaning, nobody is born as one pertaining to a caste. It is his duties that make him one) dictates the caste of an individual, isn't it abnegation of one's own dharmam when one denounces his own caste? If structure (in the form of division of duties) was the primary reason why caste was created in the first place, isn't it working against the same individual to be caught up completely in the structure that he himself created? Which/Who controls what here?
If the duties of the individual cannot make him realize the ultimate purpose of the same, what good is it, if he belongs to the highest order bestowed with the greatest privileges. Consider a brahman diligently offering his prayers on a daily basis, totally immersed in the rituals that traditions and customs dictate. The class of brahman, according to the Smriti, was created to act as a mediator/representative between the rest of the populace and their beliefs, performing the rituals, on their behalf, for the greater good of the society. The class was to bring people closer, in the name of traditions, rituals, customs, and above all, belief. Cleanliness and tidiness help him in concentrating on the task at hand. Now, if he is to stray away from the ultimate purpose of his duty (performing rituals for the greater good) and instead indulge in the practices of cleanliness and tidiness to the extreme degree, that he starts alienating people in the name of untouchability, he starts moving away from his "dharmam", defeating the very purpose of his existence, which brings back the original question - which/who controls what? Is the individual controlling the caste or the caste has a greater say over the individual?
Actors: Bamidipati Sabitha
Choreographer: Seshu
Lyricist: Veturi Sundararama Murthy
Music: K.V. Mahadevan
Singer: P. Susheela
Singer: S.P. Balasubrahmanyam
Song: Akhilaandeswari Chamundeswari Paalayamaam Gowri
అఖిలాండేశ్వరి చాముండేశ్వరి పాలయమాం గౌరి
Actors: J.V. Ramana Murthy
Actors: J.V. Somayajulu
Actors: Ravikanth
Choreographer: Seshu
Music: K.V. Mahadevan
Singer: Chorus
Singer: S. Janaki
Singer: S.P. Balasubrahmanyam
Song: Om Jaathavedhase Sunavaa (Slokam)
ఓం జాతవేదసే సునవా
Actors: Bamidipati Sabitha
Choreographer: Seshu
Lyricist: Veturi Sundararama Murthy
Music: K.V. Mahadevan
Singer: S. Janaki
Song: Nemaliki Nerpina Nadakalivi Muraliki Andhani Palukulivi
నెమలికి నేర్పిన నడకలివి మురళికి అందని పలుకులివి
Lyricist: Thyagaraja Kruthi
Music: K.V. Mahadevan
Singer: S. Janaki
Song: Nagumomu Ganaleni
నగుమోము గనలేని
Actors: Bamidipati Sabitha
Actors: Girish
Choreographer: Seshu
Lyricist: Veturi Sundararama Murthy
Music: K.V. Mahadevan
Singer: P. Susheela
Singer: S.P. Balasubrahmanyam
Song: Vrapalliya Yadha Jallana Pongina Ravali Navarasa Murali
వ్రేపల్లియ యెద ఝల్లన పొంగిన రవళి నవరస మురళీ
Actors: Bamidipati Sabitha
Lyricist: Thyagaraja Kruthi
Music: K.V. Mahadevan
Singer: S. Janaki
Song: Marugelara O Raghava Marugela Charaachararoopa
మరుగేలరా ఓ రాఘవ మరుగేల చరాచరరూప
Actors: Ravikanth
Music: K.V. Mahadevan
Singer: S.P. Balasubrahmanyam
Song: Ayigiri Nandini Nanditha Modhini Vishwavinodini Nandinuthe (Stotram)
అయిగిరి నందిని నందిత మోదిని విశ్వవినోదిని నందినుతే
Actors: Ravi Shankar
Lyricist: Veturi Sundararama Murthy
Music: K.V. Mahadevan
Singer: S. Janaki
Singer: S.P. Balasubrahmanyam
Song: Govullu Thellana Goppaiah Nallana Godhooli Errana Endhuvalana
గోవుల్లు తెల్లన గోపయ్య నల్లన గోధూళి ఎర్రన ఎందువలన
Actors: Bamidipati Sabitha
Choreographer: Seshu
Music: K.V. Mahadevan
Singer: S. Janaki
Song: Vyathyasdha Paadharavinda
వ్యత్యస్థ పాదారవింద
Actors: Bamidipati Sabitha
Choreographer: Seshu
Lyricist: Veturi Sundararama Murthy
Music: K.V. Mahadevan
Singer: S. Janaki
Song: Bhamane Satyabhamane Vayyari Muddula Satyabhamane
భామనే సత్యభామనే వయ్యారి ముద్దుల సత్యభామనే
Lyricist: Veturi Sundararama Murthy
Music: K.V. Mahadevan
Singer: S. Janaki
Singer: S.P. Balasubrahmanyam
Song: Ye Kulamu Needhante Gokulamu Navvindhi
ఏ కులము నీదంటే గోకులము నవ్వింది
Lyricist: Thyagaraja Kruthi
Music: K.V. Mahadevan
Singer: S. Janaki
Song: Marugelara O Raghava Marugela Charaachararoopa (Background Song)
మరుగేలరా ఓ రాఘవ మరుగేల చరాచరరూప
Indiancine.ma requires JavaScript.
