Salangai Oli

<p>Balakrishna, fondly called Balu, is an economically disadvantaged but multi-talented dancer, adept at the Indian classical dances of , , , etc. His simple and very honest soul does not permit him to attain professional success in the commercial world that requires a certain level of moral laxness. Madhavi, a wealthy young woman and a dance patron, notices his talent and acts as his benefactor, helping him secure an opportunity to participate in a high-level classical dance festival. Balu’s aging mother passes away from the afflictions of poverty, two days before his performance. Balu, who was very attached to her, is emotionally devastated and fails to participate in the dance festival. Madhavi nevertheless, gives him support and encouragement and sets him on the mend. Balu gradually develops a fondness for Madhavi as their relationship grows. He hides his love for her but eventually picks up the courage to express it. Balu discovers that, while Madhavi shares his feelings, she is a married woman separated from her husband. Her husband later returns to unite Madhavi and Balu, but Balu decides to sacrifice his love, showing respect for the institution of marriage. Years pass, and Balu, a disappointed man, has become an inconsolable alcoholic and a newspaper journalist/art critic. Once he critiques a dancer, Sailaja, for a lack of concentration on her form and more towards the audience, which results in them having a fight. The article is in-turn read by Madhavi, who turns out to be Sailaja’s mother, and has lost her husband. She finds out about Balu, his medical condition, never ending love for her, and her family. In a bid to revive his will to live and his passion for his art, she tends to his medical needs through his friend, Raghu, and solicits Balu to be the dance instructor for her daughter. She does not come in front of him, worried that he would not be able to cope with the news of her being a widow. However, a situation arises where she saves him from falling into a . She comes in front of him wearing a . He later learns the truth about her husband and his condition deteriorates. The film ends with Sailaja’s on-stage performance with Balu watching her in a wheelchair, his health completely deteriorated. He dies while watching her performance. A heartbroken Raghu takes him away quietly, without interrupting the performance. Madhavi, devastated, follows them with an umbrella, covering Balu from the rain. Kamal and wanted to make a film on a subject, about a dancer who was an alcoholic, which they named “Anupallavi” when K. Viswanath approached him with a similar subject, Kamal felt he had to do the film. On the sets of the film, Gopi Krishna, one of the choreographers, insisted that Kamal should train for at least a month. Kamal was one of the top stars of the time, doing multiple shifts, and had to find the time. Kamal said it was the “greatest sacrifice from my side”. Playback singer S. P. Sailaja was recruited to play a prominent role, thereby making her debut as an actress and it also remains the only film she had acted in so far. K. Viswanath who is related to Sailaja, decided that she would fit perfectly in the role of Kamal Haasan’s pupil, after seeing the photos. Sailaja recalled: “I was reluctant as I was trained only in Bharatanatyam, but in the film I had to perform other dance forms like Kathak too. While shooting my introductory song “Om Namah Shivaya” at Ravindra Bharathi, I became nervous on the stage and refused to act”. did the role of a photographer boy in the film. Art director said that the budget was drastically cut for the song in which Kamal dances on the well. The film score and soundtrack was composed by . The lyrics for the Telugu version were written by , while has written the lyrics for the Tamil version and for Malayalam version. The song “Vedam Anuvanavuna” is based on Raga. The song “Om Nama Sivaya” is based on Raga. The song “Naada Vinodam” is based on Raga. The song “Balakanakamaya” is based on a Thyagaraja kirtana and was composed on raga . The song “Thakita Thadimi” is based on Raga . “Vevela Gopemmala” is based on raga and “Mounamelanoyi Ee Marapurani Reyi” is based on Pahadi raga . All lyrics are written by except where noted; all music is composed by Ilaiyaraaja. All lyrics are written by except where noted; all music is composed by Ilaiyaraaja. All lyrics are written by except where noted; all music is composed by Ilaiyaraaja. was released on 3 June 1983. The film had a highly successful run in the theatres; it ultimately ended as a box-office success. The version was released on the same day as Sagara Sangamam and successful run in the theatres, being the first film that ran more than 100 days in the four South Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala. Reviewing Tamil version for gave a mixed review praising the song “Thakita Thadhimi” but felt for other songs K. V. Mahadevan should have been approached and criticised the film’s length and concluded saying its true that art never dies but the film ?. newspaper praised the acting, music, cinematography and direction. The film was premiered at the in 1984, and retrospectively at the in the section. The film was dubbed into Russian, and was screened at the , . The film is listed among ‘s list of 100 greatest Indian films of all time.</p>