Swarnakamalam

Swarnakamalam (transl. The golden lotus) is a 1988 Indian Telugu-language dance film written and directed by K. Viswanath.^[1] The film stars Venkatesh and Bhanupriya in the lead, while Sharon Lowen appears in a special role.^[2] The film is about a danseuse daughter of a noted Kuchipudi exponent, wooed by a painter of banners and hoardings, who uses her as a model.^[3] The choreography is helmed by Kelucharan Mohapatra, and Sharon Lowen with soundtrack by Ilaiyaraaja.^[4][1] The song sequences were extensively shot at the Valley of Flowers National Park, the Nanda Devi National Park, the Shanti Stupa and Bhringesvara Siva Temple at Dhauli; and other locations in Visakhapatnam.^[5]

Swarnakamalam
Theatrical Release poster
Directed by	K. Viswanath
Written by	K. Viswanath Sainath (dialogue)
Produced by	C. H. V. Appa Rao K. S. Rama Rao (presenter)
Starring	Venkatesh Bhanupriya
Cinematography	Lok Singh
Edited by	G. G. Krishna Rao
Music by	Ilayaraja
Production company	Bhanu Art Creations
Release date	15 July 1988 (1988-07-15)
Running time	143 minutes
Country	India
Language	Telugu

Featured in the Indian panorama section of the 12th IFFI,^[6] the Asia Pacific Film Festival and the Ann Arbor Film Festival,^[7][8][2] it fetched three Indian Express Awards, three state Nandi Awards, and two South Filmfare Awards, including Nandi Award for Best Feature Film and Filmfare Best Film Award (Telugu).^[9][10]

Plot

Shanti Stupa at Dhauli, where the song "Shiva Poojaku" was filmed

Pushpawati River rushing out at the Valley of Flowers National Park, where the song "Ghallu Ghallu" was shot

Meenakshi (Bhanupriya) and Savitri (Devilalita) are daughters of a Kuchipudi doyen, Vedantam Seshendra Sarma. While a highly accomplished artist in his field, Seshendra Sarma is not well-off and has not been able to afford for his daughters, a conventional education. Both of them have achieved a respectable degree of proficiency — Savitri in Carnatic classical music and Meenakshi in classical dance.

Savitri, the elder daughter, is grateful for her knowledge and interest and looks forward to a life that will require her to hone her skills in the art. Meenakshi, on the other hand, is bitter about the lack of opportunity that she feels in the field of classical dance in India and resolves to make a simpler and more pleasurable life for herself as soon as possible, while confiding her ambitions only to her sister.

Chandrasekhar (Venkatesh) is a tenant who has just moved in next door. He is a painter and is shown to be handling movie promotions as a large part of his work. He develops an interest in the neighbors and tries to help them in whatever way he can, partly because of his (unconfessed) interest in Meenakshi and partly because of his interest in the art which seems to be slowly fading from public life.

The rest of the film is largely built around Meenakshi's journey from skepticism to devotion in her pursuit of dance. Chandrasekhar is shown to be an important catalyst in this transformation. Meenakshi becomes an accomplished dancer through the direction of renowned Odissi dancer Sharon Lowen, and gets the opportunity to go to the United States and perform. She learns of Chandrasekhar's love for her, and finally unites with Chandrasekhar, confessing her love for him as well.

Cast

• Venkatesh as Chandu / Chandra Shekar
• Bhanupriya as Meenakshi
• Shanmukha Srinivas as Srinivas
• Sakshi Ranga Rao as Omkaram
• Sri Lakshmi as Akhilam
• S. K. Misro as Government official
• Devilalita as Savitri
• Dubbing Janaki
• Pavala Syamala
• Sharon Lowen as herself
• Mucherla Aruna as Meenakshi's friend
• K. V. Satyanarayana
• Vinnakota Vijayaram
• N. Sivarama Krishnaiah
• K. S. T. Sai
• S. S. Vajpayee

Production

The production design was helmed by Arun D. Ghodgaonkar, with cinematography by Lok Singh.^[5] Casting was done by K. Viswanath, including American dancer Sharon Lowen, who portrayed herself as a veteran Odissi artist.^[2] He selected Sharon Lowen to portray the role after watching her interview on Doordarshan.^[11] Her odissi performance for the song "Sakhi Hey" was shot in Bhubaneswar. The song "Andela Ravamidhi Padamulada" was shot in Yusmarg, Sonamarg, and Pahalgam.^[12]

Soundtrack

Swarnakamalam
Film score by Ilaiyaraaja
Released	1988
Genre	Soundtrack
Length	50:27
Label	Echo Music
Producer	Ilaiyaraaja
Ilaiyaraaja chronology
Rudraveena (film) (1988) Swarnakamalam (1988) Varasudochhadu (1988)
External audio Swarnakamalam – Jukebox on YouTube

The music for the film was composed by Ilaiyaraaja and released on ECHO Music Company.

No.	Title	Lyrics	Singer(s)	Length
1.	"Ghallu Ghallu Ghallumantu"	Sirivennela Sitaramasastri	P. Susheela, S. P. Balasubrahmanyam	5:02
2.	"Aakasamlo Aasala Harivullu"	Sirivennela Sitaramasastri	S. Janaki	4:29
3.	"Kothaga Rekkalochena"	Sirivennela Sitaramasastri	S. P. Balasubrahmanyam & S. Janaki	4:29
4.	"Koluvaiyunnade Devadevudu"	Shahaji Maharaja of Tanjore[13]: 25	P. Susheela & S. P. Balasubrahmanyam	4:57
5.	"Andela Ravamidhi Padamulada"	Sirivennela Sitaramasastri	S. P. Balasubrahmanyam & Vani Jairam	6:59
6.	"Siva Poojaku Chivurinchina"	Sirivennela Sitaramasastri	P. Susheela & S. P. Balasubrahmanyam	6:04
7.	"Cheri Yasodaku Sisuvithadu"	Annamacharya	S. P. Sailaja	4:35
8.	"Aathmathvam"	Adi Shankara	S. Janaki	3:07
9.	"Natarajane"	Sirivennela Sitaramasastri	S.P. Sailaja	3:08
10.	"Sakhi Hey"	Jayadeva from Gita Govinda	Trupti Das	5:48
Total length:				50:27

Awards

Nandi Awards - 1988^[14]

• Best Feature Film - Gold - Ch.V. Appa Rao
• Best Actress - Bhanupriya
• Best Choreographer - Srinivas
• Best Lyricist - Sirivennela Seetharama Sastry

Filmfare Awards South - 1988

• Best Film – Telugu - Ch.V. Appa Rao^[15]
• Best Actress – Telugu - Bhanupriya

Cinema Express Awards - 1988

• Cinema Express Awards Best Film - Ch.V. Appa Rao ^[16]
• Cinema Express Awards Best Director - K. Viswanath^[16]
• Cinema Express Awards Best Actress - Bhanupriya^[16]