If the much-acclaimed Anand-Muyida Rao-Tanikella Bharani’s Midhunam was a visual delight with excellent portrayals by the two lead actors (S P Balasubramanyam and Lakshmi) mixed with tradition, human values, old age joy and travails and Telugu culture, the 50th day celebration at Ravindra Bharati on Sunday touched the connoisseur’s heart. It was a function sans the trapping of glitz and glamour that goes with the tinsel world.
Graced by the presence of Telugu film world luminaries like K Viswanath, Dasari Narayana Rao, Golapudi Maruthi Rao, Raghavendra Rao, the simple function bordered on tradition with tribal dance, Kuchpudi dance (by Nadia), ‘jeda kolata’ (the tying of plait ballet) by a group of school girls. After the wonderful performances, music CDs of the film were released. It made everyone murmur that the film evoked nostalgic feelings. “We can’t express it but we can feel it,’’ said an old lady.
But for director Bharani and producer Anand Rao, it was praises all the way for the courage they portrayed by crafting a film like Midhunam in this day and age.
Both Balasubramanyam and Lakshmi also cornered glory. They were all smiles as K Viswanath, Dasari, Maruthi and Bharani himself described the two actors’ roles as one of the best in recent years. “I was destined to do this role,’’ said Balasubramanyam, whose character Appadasu many thought will fetch him the National award. “It is my previous birth’s good deeds for what I’m today,’’ he added.
Lakshmi, who also received immense appreciation for her role as Buchchi, initially she wondered whether she could justify the role. “Could I act?,” she thought, further recalling, “But Tanikella and Balu strongly believed that I could do this role. I’m an artist and I did it. Balu was always a romantic person. Everyone loves Balu.’’
Bharani said his dream has been fulfilled. “I had apprehensions about the film on the first day when I saw only seven people in the theatre. But my friends after watching the movie gave me the confidence that the film will touch the hearts and draw people to the theatres. Today, I get telephone calls from various people appreciating the film,’’ he shared.
Viswanath drew comparison with his film Shankarabharanam, which also got a poor response before becoming an all-time hit, said there were five people on the first day of that film. “But later on it became a big hit and I’m sure Midhunam will too taste success,’’ he reaffirmed.
Veteran filmmaker Dasari Narayana Rao said Shankarabharanam gave Somayajulu the once-in-a-life time Shankar Shastri role, Devadasu role to Akkineni Nageshwara Rao and this Appadasu role could be done by Balu only. “The Telugu film industry should honour this beautiful film. This film and the two characters (Balu and Lakshmi) deserve the National award,’’ he said.
Apart from that, Maruthi Golapudi said this film touched the emotional chords of the viewers. Veteran singer Jamuna Rani and others who were involved with the film were honoured on the occasion, including the original author Ramana Rao. “From 30 pages to a good film makes me happy,’’ he said.