Vipra Narayana

Vipra Narayana is a 1954 Telugu-language biographical film, produced & directed by P. S. Ramakrishna Rao under the Bharani Studios banner. It stars Bhanumathi Ramakrishna and Akkineni Nageswara Rao in the lead roles and music composed by S. Rajeswara Rao. The film is based on the life of Thondaradippodi Alvar, also called Vipranarayanar or Bhaktanghri Renu Swamy who was a Tamil Vaishnava Saint. He led his life in devotion to Lord Narayana and worked for the Perumal (Lord) by dedicating him with garlands. He is one of the 12 Alvars. The film is also dubbed in Tamil with the same title and released in 1955.[1]

Vipra Narayana
Theatrical release poster
Directed byP. S. Ramakrishna Rao
Produced byP. S. Ramakrishna Rao
Bhanumathi Ramakrishna (Presents)
Written bySamudrala Sr
(story / dialogues)
Based onLife of Vipranarayanar V.
StarringBhanumathi Ramakrishna
Akkineni Nageswara Rao
Music byS. Rajeswara Rao
CinematographyP. S. Selvaraj
Edited byP. S. Ramakrishna Rao
Production
company
Bharani Studios
Running time
146 mins
CountryIndia
LanguageTelugu

Plot

Vipra Narayana, a staunch devotee of Vishnu, lives in a hermitage on the banks of the river Kaveri along with his disciple Rangaraju. He worships Vishnu in the form of Ranganatha, the presiding deity of the nearby Srirangam temple. Every day, Narayana makes garlands out of flowers from his garden and offers them to Ranganatha and sings hymns in praise of him.

One day, Devadevi, a devadasi,[lower-alpha 1] performs a dance recital at the court of the Chola King and is on her way back to home along with her sister Madhuravani. When Devadevi passes through the hermitage, Narayana does not notice her; this hurts Devadevi's vanity. She mistakes his devotion towards Ranganatha as arrogance and decides to teach him a lesson, ignoring Madhuravani's advice.

Devadevi enters Narayana's hermitage as an orphan and narrates her woes, requesting for a stay to support herself. Narayana agrees despite Rangaraju's objection and Devadevi becomes the former's disciple. In a turn of events, Rangaraju is expelled from the hermitage when he tries to send Devadevi away after realising her intentions. As time passes, Narayana finds himself attracted to Devadevi and falls for her charms.

Once her ego is satisfied, Devadevi begins to regret her act. Madhuravani asks her to return and Narayana follows them. Devadevi's mother Rangasani, upon knowing that Narayana is penniless, throws him away. To help Narayana win, Ranganatha visits Devadevi's house in the disguise of Rangaraju. He presents a golden vessel from the kitchen of Srirangam temple as a gift from Narayana to Devadevi.

The next day, the priests at the temple complain that the golden vessel is missing and find it at Devadevi's house. Narayana is accused of stealing the vessel and is produced in the court. The King orders that Narayana's hands be amputated as a punishment for theft. Ranganatha appears at the scene and reveals the truth. Ranganatha adds that Narayana is an incarnation of Vyjayanthi, a garland that adorns him at his heavenly abode Vaikuntha and that Devadevi is a gandharva who took a human birth due to a curse. Narayana and Devadevi visit Srirangam temple and sing praises of the deity, before attaining salvation.

Cast

Crew

Soundtrack
Vipra Narayana
Film score by
S. Rajeswara Rao
Released1954
GenreSoundtrack
Length49:28
ProducerS. Rajeswara Rao
S. Rajeswara Rao chronology
Raju Pedha
(1954)		 Vipra Narayana
(1954)		 Missamma
(1955)

Music was composed by S. Rajeswara Rao. Lyrics were written by Samudrala Sr. Music released on Audio Company.[3]

S. No.Song TitleSingersLength
1 "Meluko Sriranga" A. M. Rajah 3:15
2 "Anuraagalu Dhooramu" A. M. Rajah, Bhanumathi Ramakrishna 5:42
3 "Choodumadhe Cheliya" A. M. Rajah 3:54
4 "Dharicherukora Ranga" A. M. Rajah 2:00
5 "Endhukoyi Thotamali" Bhanumathi Ramakrishna 4:32
6 "Evvade Athadevvade" Bhanumathi Ramakrishna 6:24
7 "Madhura Madhuramee" A. M. Rajah & P. Bhanumathi 3:25
8 "Aadadhi Ante" Relangi 2:13
9 "Nanu Vidanadakura" Bhanumathi Ramakrishna 3:40
10 "Paalinchara Ranga" A. M. Rajah 3:19
11 "Raa Raa Naa Swamy" Bhanumathi Ramakrishna 4:16
12 "Ranga Kaaveti Ranga" A. M. Rajah 1:06
13 "Ranga Rangayani" Bhanumathi Ramakrishna 1:26
14 "Saavirahe Thava Dheena" Bhanumathi Ramakrishna 5:12
15 "Thillana" N. L. Gana Saraswathi 2:57
16 "Yela Naapai Dhaya Choopavu" Bhanumathi Ramakrishna 3:57
17 "Baddenajali" Bhanumathi Ramakrishna 1:10

Legend

The story revolves around a Brahmin who makes flower garlands. He devotes his life to Perumal (Lord). He is seduced by a woman who is determined to make him break his vow.

1937 film

Vipra Narayana was made in Telugu language for the first time in 1937 by Aurora Pictures.[4] It stars Kasturi Narasimha Rao, Kanchanamala and Tanguturi Suryakumari, and was directed by Ahindra Chaudhari.

It was made in Tamil too with Rajamadam G. Sundara Bhagavathar featuring as Vipra Narayana. The film was produced by Sri Gopalakrishna Films at Madras Sound Studios and was directed by K. Ranga Rao. T. Suryakumari featured as Andal in the film.[5]

1938 film

Vipra Narayana was made in the Tamil language again in 1938 by Srinivas Cinetone. It stars Kothamangalam Cheenu and T. V. Rajasundari in the lead roles, the film was produced and directed by A. Narayanan. Meena Narayanan did the audiography.[6][7]

1954 film

Vipra Narayana was made in both Telugu and Tamil, directed and produced by P. S. Ramakrishna Rao and P. Bhanumathi of Bharani Pictures. The title role was played by A. Nageswara Rao.[8]S. D. Sundharam wrote the dialogues and lyrics for the Tamil version.

Awards

Notes
  1. Devadasi system is a practice found among the Dalit community in parts of south India, where parents marry their daughters to temple deities and the girls are forced to work as sex workers after they attain puberty.[2]
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References
  1. Film News Anandan (23 October 2004). Sadhanaigal Padaitha Thamizh Thiraipada Varalaru [History of Landmark Tamil Films] (in Tamil). Chennai: Sivakami Publishers. Archived from the original on 21 June 2017.
  2. Devi, Laxmi (9 April 2019). "Polls no special attraction for Telangana's 'joginis'". The Hans India. Archived from the original on 2 May 2019. Retrieved 2 May 2019.
  3. "Vipra Narayana Songs". 25 February 2010.
  4. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0159096/
  5. Vijayakumar, Akila. Thamizh Cinema Ulagam Part 1 (in Tamil) (1st March 2019 ed.). Chennai: Manivasagar Publishers 044 25361039. pp. 259–260.
  6. Vijayakumar, Akila. Thamizh Cinema Ulagam Part 1 (in Tamil) (1st March 2019 ed.). Chennai: Manivasagar Publishers 044 25361039. pp. 304–305.
  7. "Meena Narayanan: She Broke Barriers to Become India's First Woman Sound Engineer!". Archived from the original on 5 October 2019. Retrieved 21 January 2020.
  8. "Vipranarayana (1954)". The Hindu. 23 March 2014. Archived from the original on 15 June 2014. Retrieved 31 January 2017.
  9. "2nd National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Retrieved 23 August 2011.
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