Pandava Vanavasam
Pandava Vanavasam is a 1965 Telugu language Hindu mythological film, produced by A. S. R. Anjaneyulu under the Madhavi Productions banner and directed by Kamalakara Kameswara Rao. It stars N. T. Rama Rao, Savitri in the lead roles and music composed by Ghantasala. The film was recorded as a Super Hit at the box office. The film was dubbed into Hindi as Pandav Banvas in 1973.
Plot
The film begins with the Pandavas successfully performing Rajasuya Yagam and thanking Lord Krishna for his support. Besides, Duryodhana is humiliated and raging with anger at the insults heaped on him in the Mayasabha. Sakuni consoles him and layouts a stratagem for avenge by inviting Dharma Raja for a dice game. Thereupon, Dharmaraja loses everything in it, including himself, his brothers and Draupadi, who are subjected to great humiliation by Dussasana on the orders of Duryodhana. The Pandavas are forced into exile after Dharmaraja loses again in the dice game. During their Aranyavaasam, Bheema encounters Anjaneya and brings the flower Sowgandhika Pushpam to fulfill Draupadi's wish. Afterward, to create hurdles for the Yaga being performed by the Pandavas, Duryodhana resorts to Ghosha Yatra stays nearby and mocks them. However, when he faces defeat from Gandharva king Chitrasena, Dharmaraja sends Bheema & Arjuna for his rescue. Right now, Duryodhana once again fires with insult and decides to commit suicide but Karna & Shakuni comfort him. At that moment, they perceive the divine power behind Pandavas is Lord Krishna.Just after, one day, when Draupadi is alone Saindhava the husband of Dushala, Kauravas' sister spots her. Febrile for her beauty and proposes which she refuses. Infuriated, Saindhava abducts Draupadi and moves towards his kingdom. Being cognizant of it, Bheema protects Draupadi and when he is about to slay him Dharma Raja commands to live him on for piety. So, Bheema expels Saindhava by scraping his hair of the head. Parallelly, Kauravas' ploy to separate Krishna from Pandavas, so, they conspire to knit Duryodhana's son Lakshmana Kumara with Balarama's daughter Sasirekha. Indeed her alliance is already fixed with Abhimanyu. During that plight, Bheema kindles Ghatothkacha one that boomerangs the wedding by purporting as Sasirekha and teases the men of the bridegroom with his gimmicks on the guidance of Krishna. At last, Sasirekha & Abhimanyu are coupled up. Finally, the movie ends on a happy note with the successful completion of the Pandavas' twelve-year exile period.
Cast
- N. T. Rama Rao as Bheema
- Savitri as Draupadi
- S. V. Ranga Rao as Duryodhana
- Kanta Rao as Lord Krishna
- Chittor V. Nagaiah as Vidura
- Rajanala as Saindhava
- Mikkilineni as Dharmaraju
- Dhulipala as Chitrasena
- Mukkamala as Durvasa Maharshi
- Mudigonda Lingamurthy as Shakuni
- Prabhakar Reddy as Karna
- M. Balaiah as Arjuna
- Satyanarayana as Ghatotkacha
- Harinath as Abhimanyu
- Ramana Reddy as Brahmadam
- Padmanabham as Lakshmana Kumara
- Allu Rama Lingaiah as Pindandam
- Vanisri as Satyabhama
- L. Vijayalakshmi as Sasirekha
- Sandhya as Bhanumati
- Rushyendramani as Gandhari
- Rajasulochana as Dancer
- Hema Malini as Dancer
Crew
- Art: S. Krishna Rao
- Choreography: Pasumarhi
- Stills: D. Radhakrishna Murthy
- Fights: Sambasiva Rao
- Dialogues: Samudrala Sr
- Lyrics: Samudrala Sr, Aarudhra, Kosaraju
- Playback: Ghantasala, P. Susheela, S. Janaki, P. Leela
- Music: Ghantasala
- Associate Director: K. Raghavendra Rao
- Editing: A. Sanjeevi, Veerappa, Ankineedu
- Cinematography: C. Nageswara Rao
- Producer: A. S. R. Anjaneyulu
- Screenplay - Director: Kamalakara Kameswara Rao
- Banner: Madhavi Productions
- Release Date: 14 January 1965
Soundtrack
| S. No. | Song Title | Lyrics | Singers | length |
| 1 | "Himagiri Sogasulo" | Samudrala Sr | Ghantasala, P. Susheela | 4:30 |
| 2 | "Devaa Deena Baandhava" | Samudrala Sr. | P. Leela | 3:42 |
| 3 | "Vidhi Vanchithulai" | Samudrala Sr. | Ghantasala | 4:33 |
| 4 | "Mahinele Maharaju" | Samudrala Sr. | P. Leela, L. R. Eswari | 4:48 |
| 5 | "Manojavam Maruthatulyam" | Traditional | Ghantasala | 2:34 |
| 6 | "Oh Vannekaada" | Samudrala Sr. | S. Janaki | 5:51 |
| 7 | "Raagaalu Melavimpa" | Samudrala Sr. | Ghantasala, P. Susheela | 3:39 |
| 8 | "Mogali Rekula Sigadhaana" | Kosaraju | Ghantasala, L. R. Eswari | 7:20 |
| 9 | "Naa Chandamama" | Samudrala Sr. | Ghantasala, P. Susheela | 4:43 |
| 10 | "Baava Baava Panneeru" | Aarudhra | P. Susheela, Padmanabham | 2:58 |
Trivia
- The film celebrated a Silver Jubilee and ran for 175 days.
- Hema Malini started her film career before entering Bollywood, later becoming the Dream girl.
- Pandava Vanavasam was also produced in Tamil.
- Kovelamudi Raghavendra Rao, who later directed over 100 movies, started his career as an assistant director for this movie.