Posted on July 11, 2019
What is a “classic”? The most perfect, flawless film ever made? Um… I’d rather define it as something I keep returning to, flaws and all. Something that makes me think, regard it in a new light each time.
Flashback is a monthly feature on a film I consider a… classic.
For more, subscribe to FILM COMPANION SOUTH: http://bit.ly/2xoNult
Copyright ©2019 Film Companion.
 | Venky Ramachandran on Interview: Fahadh Faasil (… |
 | abishekspeare on Interview: Fahadh Faasil (… |
 | Jay Krishnan on Interview: Fahadh Faasil (… |
 | Enigma on Election talk… for those… |
 | brangan on Interview: Fahadh Faasil (… |
 | Faroo on Prabhu Ram Vyas’s terrific ‘Lo… |
| brangan on Interview: Fahadh Faasil (… |
| brangan on Interview: Fahadh Faasil (… |
| Jay Krishnan on Interview: Fahadh Faasil (… |
| Jay Krishnan on Interview: Fahadh Faasil (… |
 | Chandrasekar R on Interview: Fahadh Faasil (… |
| Interview: Fahadh Fa… on Interview: Fahadh Faasil (… | |
 | Rocky on Election talk… for those… |
| Jay Krishnan on Interview: Fahadh Faasil (… |
 | karthik_somasundaram on Interview: Fahadh Faasil (… |
Baradwaj Rangan 
chandrashekar
July 11, 2019
Thank you so much for this BR. This movie is one of my all-time favourites. I have watched this for the first in my teens and since then many a number of times. It changed my entire perception of the world around me. Watching this movie was like a great epiphany, as you have said in one of video on the books on movies, to me.
But, today you have made my experience of the movie even more beautiful. The camera shots that you have explained I never observed them. Well, that is no wonder since I am an ordinary film watcher. I have drawn to the theme of the film and that kept me engaged in the movie all this while.
Everything in your review of the film has made me appreciate it in a much better way. Thank you so much for this.
In the final scene of the movie ‘Ratatouille’, there is a monologue in the beautiful voice of Peter O Toole on the role of a critic. I always believed that critics should be like that. You are one of such a critic. I wait for your reviews more than the films these days. Please keep up the good work that you’re doing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Rajesh
July 11, 2019
BR – Loved your review of the most classic of Telugu Movies. I always have only 2 movies in Telugu that have stood the tides of time. Maya Bazaar and Sankarabharanam. The songs and scenes of the former are so popular that many movies have their names as well.
Coming to the latter, I think that’s the only dubbed movie that had songs retained in Telugu in any dubbed version. The Sankara Nada sarirapara song is so popular that any TV Song competition usually has it featured.
Every aspect of film making is so wonderful in this movie that I am glad you regard it as a classic too. Every viewing brings out a different perspective.
The ‘feet’ perspective was something I learnt after your review 🙂 Can you do the same for Maya Bazaar as well.
LikeLike
Ravi K
July 11, 2019
My dad often played the Sankarabharanam songs on a tape in the car, and we had a VHS tape of the film that I watched over and over as a kid.
Even without subtitles or knowing a word of Telugu (my family speaks Tamil), I was enraptured by the film. I got the broad strokes of the story and emotions, so I should watch the film again with subtitles to get the finer nuances of the dialogue.
LikeLiked by 1 person
shaviswa
July 11, 2019
An OK movie which got elevated thanks to some fantastic singing by SP Balasubramanian who till that point in time had not tried to venture into songs with a classical bent. The music was pretty good and catchy and that also helped the popularity of the film. Plus Somayajulu as Sankara Sastri made the character believable.
I would still not rate this movie to be as good Sagara Sangamam. That was probably the best from K Viswanath.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Jay
July 11, 2019
Guruji…. After listening to you, I am going to watch it again…… in-spite of what you said in the video..😊
Earlier I presumed it must have been a hit those days in Satyam, because of the following reasons ……….
1) Music / Songs
2) The baritone of Somayajulu Sir
3) SPB Sir at his best (I also guess he customized his voice a bit to suite Somayajulu Sir)
4) Some fantastic dialogues delivered beautifully by Somayajulu Sir
For one such good deep voiced dialogue, the comedy character says that he neither understands this mans words or his songs…!!!
( Ayana maatekaadu paatakooda ardhmavvadhu..)
That point when he picks up the song when the boy forgets it is really a goose bumps moment even if I hear it now…oh..!!!!
And the time when he shouts Sharadha……when his daughter makes an error in rendering the song….. I am sure whole audience would have gone bang pin drop silent…
In one of the songs we hear a voice which says ….”aahaa”…. and it blends so well into the song. It is not just an “aahaa” from the singer, it is truly an “aahaa” perhaps from the director and all the people who see / hear the song at that moment …. whoever thought of that ..!!! superb … !!!
I heard from my dad that the movie had no buyers initially… perhaps a rumor..
On the whole … wonderful to have heard your take on this great movie..
LikeLiked by 1 person
Anu Warrier
July 11, 2019
You bring back such memories!
Loved the film when I first watched it, and then took my grandparents to watch it too. I still remember Somayajulu’s acting and Manju Bhargavi’s dances. Fabulous songs, and a simple story, well-told.
Perhaps not the greatest of movies, but definitely something I’ve watched multiple times. It is this film that introduced me to K Vishwanath. After which, I think I watched every single movie he made based just on his name, even if I didn’t know the language.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Kay
July 12, 2019
I have heard, and read, a lot about this movie but haven’t watched till now. Will catch up during the weekend.
LikeLike
nikkie1602
July 13, 2019
Hi… Don’t know where to put this so leaving this here…I want to get acquainted with Tamil cinema…Can anyone just give me some 10 essential titles as a primer…i have no idea where to start… Thank you…!
LikeLike
Rahini David
July 13, 2019
Nikkie: Personally I believe that a little bit of background about yourself including atleast 4-5 of your favourite movies or movie makers is essential before anyone can suggest a list for you.
Atleast a small hint about whether you usually have a taste for melodrama or subtlety will help people suggest.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Sutheesh Kumar
July 14, 2019
Nikkie, read through BR’s work here if you have the time and you’re set.
LikeLike
Kay
July 14, 2019
Watched the movie today. It was nice, although I found Sarada’s portions tedious. But overall it was quite engrossing. Dramatic in many scenes, but I guess that’s how movies were made in the 1970s.
LikeLike
nikkie1602
July 14, 2019
@rahini: I now understand i have asked something difficult because i am thinking way too much to name the films i like hehe…anyhoo…so of the films i have watched recently and come to really like (old and new and across languages) are Call me by your Name, Moonlight, Kumbalangi Nights, Maheshinte Prathikaram, Eeda, Paakezah, Ram Lakhan (dont ask), Sairat, Fandry, Masaan, MayaBazaar…i like the work of Bhansali, Imtiaz Ali, Karan Johar , Shoojit Sircar, Zoya Akhtar, Vishal Bhardwaj, Anurag Kashyap…a complete bhelpoori of styles and genres i know…but if a movie holds my interest and i buy into its core then i am game for anything.
@ Sutheesh Kumar : Precisely why i want to start watching Tamil cinema… have read through his work and and also the discussions that follow and they make me want to dive right through…but i guess it is information overload. No idea where to start.
LikeLike
Fiji Suva
July 14, 2019
I was wonder Pa Ranjith would say about this movie 😉
LikeLike
Rahini David
July 14, 2019
Nikkie: I would suggest “Michael Madana Kamarajan”
There is an #AskBr episode for this movie which will give an idea.
In fact, you would do well to see a few minutes of FC Flashback videos each.
LikeLike
Sutheesh Kumar
July 15, 2019
Nikkie: See if you can find these. Not definitive tamil cinema, just my personal recommendation.
1. Nayakan
2. Thalapathi
3. Thevar Magan
4. Pushpaka Vimanam
5. Hey Ram
6. Pithamagan
7. Naan Kadavul
8. Jigarthanda
9. Soodhukavum
10.Aadukalam
LikeLiked by 2 people
nikkie1602
July 15, 2019
@rahini : thanks!
@sutheeshkumar: oh i have seen aadukalam…really liked it. Thank you…will check these out.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sutheesh Kumar
July 16, 2019
Nikkie: In that case I would recommend Aayirathil Oruvan. This one is just bonkers. The production values are so so, but the music and the concept is amazing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Naveen
July 17, 2019
@savishwa, Sagara Sangamam is my all time fav across any language/genre. i consider that as flawless in any department.
LikeLike
vijee
August 21, 2019
BR — Please review the classic SNSM.
LikeLike