Wikipedia

Sringaram

Sringaram is a 2007 Indian Tamil-language period drama film directed by debutante Sharada Ramanathan, a cultural activist. Co-written by novelist Indra Soundar Rajan and produced by Padmini Ravi, herself a dancer,[1][2] it stars Aditi Rao Hydari, in her Tamil film debut, in the lead role alongside Manoj K. Jayan, Hamsa Moily and Y. Gee. Mahendra. The film depicts the life of a Devadasi during the 1920s.[3] Sringaram became highly critically acclaimed, winning three prizes at the 53rd National Film Awards and two Tamil Nadu State Film Awards,[4][5] besides several screenings at various international film festivals, much before its theatrical release on 5 October 2007.[6][7]

Sringaram
Film poster
Tamilசிருங்காரம்
Directed bySharada Ramanathan
Screenplay byIndra Soundar Rajan
Story bySharada Ramanathan
Produced byGolden Square Films
Starring
CinematographyMadhu Ambat
Edited byA. Sreekar Prasad
Music byLalgudi Jayaraman
Production
company
Golden Square Films
Distributed byGV Films
Release date
  • 5 October 2007 (2007-10-05)
Running time
117 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageTamil

Plot

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The story begins with a Bharathanatiyam dancer, Varshini, being invited to the national capital of India on the eve of India being declared a republic. The temple priest who has nurtured since her birth takes her to the Brihadeeshvara Temple to meet a temple dancer named Kama. The story then flashes back to the 1920s. The temple dancer is about to retire from her service as a dancer and has chosen her daughter Madhura as her descendant. The vassal of the Tanjavore Presidency is attracted to Madhura. In addition to being a temple dancer, Madhura has to satisfy the vassal's desires. Madhura is more interested in developing her art of dancing. Meanwhile, Shiva, a lower caste temple servant has awe for Madhura's art. He threatens the vassal for an attempt to murder by a rebellious group called "Vande Mataram". But things don't go so and Shiva is accused of lying. He is sent into an exile but eventually mixes with the same group "Vande Mataram". In order to broaden his prospects, the vassal asks Madhura to seduce the collector of Tanjavore through her art. Madhura rejects thus decision and disappears. Now, Kama, Madhura's sister, is chosen as the temple dancer. Learning the barbaric thoughts of the vassal, Kama chooses to elope like Madhura. She finds that Madhura is a part of the rebellious "Vande Mataram" group. Things become more complicated as the sacred thread from temple goes missing. Madhura is accused of stealing and the vassal orders her arrest. Shiva confesses to the policemen that he is the real accused but secretly tells Madhura where had he kept the sacred thread. Shiva is hanged to death for the charges of robbery. Madhura is pregnant and dies while giving birth to her child. The child is none other than Varshini herself. She is a look alike of Madhura. The story then comes to the present where it is revealed that the vassal has invited Varshini to the national capital. Kama tells Varshini that her mother's last wish was to be cremated with the holy temple fire. The film ends with Varshini, wearing the sacred thread, cremating her mother with the holy temple fire and dancing to pay homage to her mother's artiste.

Cast

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Soundtrack

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The film's score and soundtrack were composed by renowned legendary violinist Padma Bhushan Sri Lalgudi Jayaraman. The soundtrack album features 14 tracks, most of them sung by carnatic musicians. Lyrics were penned by Swati VAR. Jayaraman eventually won a National Film Award for Best Music Direction for the film's score.[8] Sringaram is notably his first and till date only work for a feature film.[9]

  1. "Title Music
  2. "Mallari" – Injukkudi Brothers
  3. "Nattu Purappadal" (Folk Song) – T. L. Maharajan & O. S. Arun
  4. "Yen Indha Mayamo" (Hamir Kalyani) – Bombay Jayashri Ramnath
  5. "Mudal Mariyadai" (Salutation) – Swati Srikrishna & Hamsi
  6. "Mamara Thopila" – O. S. Arun
  7. "Ninaival Yennai" – Lalgudi Vijayalakshmi
  8. "Three Seasons" – GJR Krishnan, Lalgudi Vijayalakshmi, Swati, Revathy Meera & Orchestra
  9. "Yen Indha Mayamo" (Hamir Kalyani – Solo) – S. Sowmya
  10. "Akaram" – Swati Srikrishna & Hamsi
  11. "Mudal Mariyadai" (Salutation) – Swati Srikrishna & Hamsi
  12. "Nattu Purappadal" (Folk Song) – T. L. Maharajan & O. S. Arun
  13. "Harathi" – Swati Srikrishna, Meera & Hamsi
  14. "Three Seasons" – GJR Krishnan, Lalgudi Vijayalakshmi, Swati, Revathy Meera & Orchestra

Reception

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A critic from Rediff.com wrote that "Sringaram is truly a feast for the senses".[10] A critic from Chennai Online wrote that the film is an "ideal viewing for a discerning viewer who looks out for something different, meaningful and rooted to the soil, than the mindless, run-of-the-mill stuff churned out regularly".[11]

Accolades

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53rd National Film Awards[12]
Tamil Nadu State Film Awards 2005[13][14]

The film was screened at following film festivals:

References

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  1. ^ "Stage's where his heart is". The Hindu. 11 September 2003. Archived from the original on 7 May 2005. Retrieved 10 March 2011.
  2. ^ "'Dance, to me, has been like a marriage'". The Times of India. Timesofindia.indiatimes.com. 28 April 2004. Archived from the original on 28 May 2018. Retrieved 9 December 2011.
  3. ^ "A crossover film about devdasis – Rediff.com movies". In.rediff.com. 18 August 2005. Archived from the original on 28 June 2011. Retrieved 9 December 2011.
  4. ^ "Office of Institutional Diversity | Sringaram: A Dance of Love". Westga.edu. Archived from the original on 19 March 2012. Retrieved 9 December 2011.
  5. ^ "Sringaram music review". Rediff.com. Retrieved 9 December 2011.
  6. ^ "Sringaram, a labour of love". rediff.com. Archived from the original on 25 October 2012. Retrieved 9 December 2011.
  7. ^ "Sringaram". Archived from the original on 11 October 2007.
  8. ^ "Tamil Nadu News : Winners of national awards do Tamil film industry and Chennai proud". The Hindu. 12 August 2007. Archived from the original on 3 December 2007. Retrieved 9 December 2011.
  9. ^ "Tamil Cinema News | Tamil Movie Reviews | Tamil Movie Trailers - IndiaGlitz Tamil". Archived from the original on 17 August 2007.
  10. ^ "Sringaram -- A feast for the senses". Rediff.com. 5 October 2007. Archived from the original on 2 June 2023. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
  11. ^ "Sringaram". Chennai Online. 11 October 2007. Archived from the original on 13 December 2007. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
  12. ^ "Directorate of Film Festival". Dff.nic.in. Archived from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 9 December 2011.
  13. ^ "Tamil Nadu State Film Awards 2005". Webindia123. Archived from the original on 13 August 2024. Retrieved 17 October 2024.
  14. ^ Naresh. "Rajnikant, Kamal Haasan adjudged Best Actors". Screen. Archived from the original on 8 December 2008. Retrieved 10 March 2011.
  15. ^ "Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Sringaram among two Indian entries at international film fete". The Hindu. 6 November 2006. Archived from the original on 20 October 2007. Retrieved 9 December 2011.
  16. ^ "Dubai International Film Festival". Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 10 March 2011.
  17. ^ "Oops!". Archived from the original on 23 October 2016. Retrieved 10 March 2011.
  18. ^ "Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles". Indianfilmfestival.org. Archived from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 9 December 2011.
  19. ^ Ashok Jethanandani. "4th Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles". India Currents. Archived from the original on 11 February 2007. Retrieved 9 December 2011.
  20. ^ "Metro Plus Coimbatore / Cinema : Winning mudras". The Hindu. 26 December 2005. Archived from the original on 29 June 2011. Retrieved 9 December 2011.
  21. ^ "Kerala / Thrissur News : Film festival begins in Thrissur". The Hindu. 19 January 2008. Archived from the original on 22 January 2008. Retrieved 9 December 2011.
  22. ^ "Film Festivals . com – People". Filmfestivals.com. 20 October 2006. Archived from the original on 7 April 2012. Retrieved 9 December 2011.
  23. ^ Rockwell, John (1 January 2006). "DANCE – A Pas de Deux of Dance and Film – NYTimes.com". New York Times. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 9 December 2011.
  24. ^ Elizabeth Zimmer (27 December 2005). "Dance on Camera Festival 2006 – Page 1 – Movies – New York". Village Voice. Archived from the original on 22 October 2012. Retrieved 9 December 2011.
  25. ^ "Bangalore – 2006 – 3rd Indo-GermanFilm Festival – Goethe-Institut". Goethe.de. 19 November 2006. Retrieved 9 December 2011.
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