Dasavatharam (film)

For the 2008 Tamil film, see Dasavathaaram.

Dasavatharam (transl. The Ten Avatars) is a 1976 Indian Tamil-language Hindu mythological film, directed and written by K. S. Gopalakrishnan. The film, based on the Dashavatara (ten Avatars) of Vishnu, features an ensemble cast, including Ravikumar as Vishnu. It was released on 15 January 1976.^[1]

Dasavatharam
DVD cover
Directed by	K. S. Gopalakrishnan
Written by	K. S. Gopalakrishnan
Starring	Ravikumar
Cinematography	P. Ramasamy
Edited by	R. Devarajan
Music by	S. Rajeswara Rao
Production company	Brilliant Picture Co-Operation
Release date	15 January 1976 (1976-01-15)
Running time	179 minutes
Country	India
Language	Tamil

Plot

Dasavatharam tells the "Ten Avatars", a spell–binding story about how far you can get with Lord Vishnu's grace. The Ten avatars named are as follows: Matsya (The Fish), Kurma (The Tortoise), Varaha (The Boar), Narasimha (The halfman/half lion), Vamana (a Dwarf), Parashurama (Warrior with the Axe), Rama (Prince of Ayodhya), Krishna (Prince of Mathura), Balarama (Avatar of Adhisheshan) and Kalki (Eternity).

Cast

• Gemini Ganesan as Arjuna
• M. R. Radha as Hiranyakashipu^[2]
• Sirkazhi Govindarajan as Narada
• M. R. R. Vasu as Hayagriva
• V. K. Ramasamy as Ilangeswaran's minister
• V. S. Raghavan as Guru Sukracharya
• Major Sundarrajan as Dasharatha
• S. V. Sahasranamam as Mahabali
• Thengai Srinivasan as Jamadagni
• S. A. Ashokan as King Ilangeswaran or Ravanan
• P. S. Veerappa as Dushasana
• S. V. Ramadas as Duryodhana
• Shanmugasundaram as Prince Namachi
• Master Sridhar as Prince Lakshmana
• Master Sekhar as Prince Bharatha
• V. Gopalakrishnan as Lord Brahma
• Y. G. Mahendran as a Tribe
• Ravikumar as Vishnu
• Udaiyappa as Shiva^[3]
• Kaka Radhakrishnan as Sukracharya's assistant
• Veerasamy as Durvasa
• Master Raghuraman as Vamana
• K. R. Vijaya as Yasodhai
• Sowcar Janaki as Kayadhu
• Jayachitra as Mahalakshmi
• Sripriya as Shurpanakha^[4]
• Jaya as Princess Draupadi/Panchaali
• Vijayakumari as Kaikeyi
• Sridevi as Sita
• S. Varalakshmi as Adhiparasakthi, Lalita Tripurasundari, Mahakali, Meenakshi,
• P. R. Varalakshmi as Parvati, Kali
• Udaya Chandrika as Mahasaraswati
• V. R. Thilagam as Renuka Devi
• Baby Rani as Prahalad

Soundtrack

Music was by S. Rajeswara Rao and lyrics were written by Udumalai Narayana Kavi, A. Maruthakasi and Vaali.^{[citation needed]}

Song	Singers	Length
"Santhakaram Pujakasayanam"	Sirkazhi Govindarajan	02:02
"Om Ennum Manthirathin"	P. Susheela	04:38
"Hari Narayana"	Sirkazhi Govindarajan	02:32
"Narayana Ennum Naamam"	Sirkazhi Govindarajan	06:47
"Hari Narayana Ennum Naamam" – (F)	T. K. Kala	02:23
"Iranyaya Namaga"	Y. G. Mahendran T. K. Kala	02:55
"Thaniyaayo Sinam"	T. K. Kala	01:45
"Keral Music"	Instrumental
"Moovadi Mann Kettu"	Sirkazhi Govindarajan
"Thaayinum Paaramal"	Sirkazhi Govindarajan
"Thandhai Soll Mikka"	Sirkazhi Govindarajan, Vani Jairam
"Ambai Eduthaan"	Sirkazhi Govindarajan, Vani Jairam, K. J. Yesudas	10:01
"Adhu Mutriya Kaliyin Avatharam"	T. L. Maharajan	05:21

Reception

Kanthan of Kalki called Seerkazhi Govindarajan as a main hero of the film for making audience understand about ten incarnations while also praising the actors, cinematography and graphics but felt the film was lengthy due to too many songs and lengthy dialogues which affected the film's pace.^[5]