Bhakta Tukaram


Bhakta Tukaram is a 1973 Telugu devotional and biographical film, based on the life of the saint-poet Tukaram, produced by P. Adinarayana Rao under the Anjali Pictures banner and directed by V. Madhusudhan Rao. It stars Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Anjali Devi, Sivaji Ganesan in the lead roles and music also composed by P. Adinarayana Rao.

Plot

The film is based on the story of Bhakta Tukaram an advent devotee of Lord Panduranga of 17th century belongs to Dehu village Maharashtra. The film begins, Tukaram a small trader, leads a family life with two wives Avalai Jija Bai & Rukma Bai and their two children. Tukaram is very kindhearted who ameliorates everyone in the village for which he absorbs his property. However, he is not interested in worldly matters and always immersed in the adoration of Lord. Mumbaji Go Swamy is the head of the village, behaves as a great preacher & disciple but actually, he is a decadent person, who misuses public faith for self-consumption. Tukaram always opposes his misdeeds, keeping the grudge in mind, Mumbaji troubles Tukaram a lot also propagates him as an atheist and ostracizes. Hence his family suffers from starving even no one comes forward to support him when his wife Rukma Bai passes away. Devastated Tukaram leaves the house to question the existence of God when Lord Panduranga appears and endorses to scripture his divinity as Abhang's. Now Tukaram awakes the devotion in people through his singing and becomes eminent which also impresses emperor Shivaji who facilitates him with material gifts but he refuses courteously.
At this point in time, Mumbaji's envy is bondless, so, he uses a brothel Bahina Bai to lure Tukaram when he shows the reality of life that how her beauty shrinks in old age and makes her as his devotee. Thereafter, Mumbaji claims that Tukaram stole his verses when Pandit Rameswara Bhattar a religious authority arrives to examine who orders Tukaram to immerse his works into the river and never discuss religion in public which he does so. But river Ganga returns it back affirming it as a sacred when Rameswara Bhattar also becomes his devotee. Meanwhile, Mumbaji disappears the Lord statue from the temple, indicts Tukaram and complaints to Shivaji. So, Shivaji lands at Dehu to test Tukaram and gives a day time to him to prove his innocence. Here Tukaram with his devotional power restores the statue. Right now, Mumbaji intrigues by informing Shivaji's presence in the village to the Mughals but God protects Shivaji at the behest of Tukaram. Knowing it, enraged Mughal Empire amputates Mumbaji which Tukaram retrieves and Mumbaji too bows his head down. At last, Lord invites Tukaram to Vaikuntha with the mortal body by sending his vehicle Garuda Vahana. Finally, the movie ends, Tukaram going heaven, giving his ultimate preachings that to follow piety, truth, peace, kindness & mercy.

Cast

played Tukaram, and Sivaji Ganesan played Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj without taking any remuneration for the film.

Soundtrack

Music composed by P. Adinarayana Rao. Music released on Audio Company.
S. NoSong TitleLyricsSingerslength
1"Ghana Ghana Sundaraa"DevulapalliGhantasala5:26
2"Bhale Bhale Andalu"VeeturiGhantasala3:42
3"Chindulu Veyakura"VeeturiGhantasala,2:59
4"Dhanyalakshmi"VeeturiP. Susheela2:49
5"Kaliyugam Kaliyugam"DasaradhiSP Balu3:37
6"Karunamaya Deva"DasaradhiV. Ramakrishna5:18
7"Kesava Madhava"VeeturiGhantasala1:02
8"Manasuna Neeve"DasaradhiV. Ramakrishna2:58
9"Neeve Aadi Daivamu"DasaradhiV. Ramakrishna1:49
10"Panduranga Naamam"VeeturiV. Ramakrishna4:13
11"Naa Pilupu Vinagaleva"DasaradhiV. Ramakrishna3:08
12"Poojaku Veleyara"C. Narayana ReddyGhantasala, P. Susheela6:37
13"Sari Sari Vagalu"C. Narayana ReddyP. Susheela4:02
14"Shyama Sundara"-IDasaradhiV. Ramakrishna6:19
15"Shyama Sundara"-IIDasaradhiP. Susheela0:46
16"Unnavaa Asalunnavaa"DasaradhiGhantasala3:16
17"Padavelli Potondira"DasaradhiV. Ramakrishna2:56

Other