Annamayya

Story:

Annamayya is a 1997 Telugu-language Indian historical drama film produced by V. Doraswamy Raju under the VMC Productions label, and directed by K. Raghavendra Rao. The life of the fifteenth-century composer Annamacharya is portrayed in the movie by Nagarjuna Akkineni

Who co-stars with Mohan Babu, Suman, Ramya Krishna, Bhanupriya, Roja, and Kasthuri. M. M. Keeravani wrote the soundtrack and score for the movie. The movie earned eight Nandi Awards, three Filmfare Awards, and two National Film Awards after it was released to favorable reviews. At the 29th IFFI, the movie was shown in the Indian panorama mainstream section.

Plot

Lakshmi, Vishnu’s consort, begs him to grant her wish that more people should be chanting hymns to the Lord. In retaliation, the Lord sends his sword Nandaka to be born as Annamacharya (Annamayya) to Narayana Suri and Lakkamba, a childless couple in Tallapaka village, Kadapa District. As a typical young man growing up, Annamayya adores his two cousins, Timakka and Akkalamma, who he believes to be the most exquisite things that God has ever created.

Annamayya challenges Lord Vishnu, who is disguised, to reveal him God in the shape of Lord Venkateswara at a temple in his village, saying that this man is more attractive than his cousins. After realizing the Lord’s magnificence, Annamayya gets carried away and, without consulting his parents beforehand, decides to travel to the Tirumala Venkateswara Temple. He sets out to travel in His direction as he witnesses pilgrims making their way into the sacred highlands (Saptagiri, or the seven hills).

However, he becomes confused and is assisted by the goddess Lakshmi herself, who appears as an elderly woman and tells him that his shoes were impeding his path. Weakened by fasting as well, Annamayya accepts Laddu, a Prasadam from food that the Lord himself has blessed. He is mesmerized by God’s magnificence when he arrives in Tirumala and settles down to compose and perform hymns honoring the Lord.

Annamayya’s parents start to worry about her whereabouts in the interim. Then, after hearing Lakkavaamba’s (Annamayya’s mother) pleas, Lord Venkateshwara appears with his consorts and assumes the form of a hunter to inform them that Annamayya is a resident of Tirumala. Annamayya’s parents, cousins, aunt, uncle, and two friends then travel to Tirumala to see his acts of worship.

When requested to wed his two cousins, Annamayya declines, claiming that marriage will interfere with his life’s work of serving the Lord. However, the Lord himself, who is now assuming the appearance of a Brahmin, then persuades him. The marriage between Annamayya and his cousins Timakka and Akkalamma is officiated by the Lord herself.

Following the birth of his children, Annamayya moves to Tirumala and leaves his kids with his parents. He meets the nation’s monarch, Saluva Narasimha (Mohan Babu), through interactions with the local administrator (Tanikella Bharani), who takes an interest in his songs and appoints him as the court poet.

After listening to a Sringara Sankeertan, the King and Queen (Roja) ask Annamayya to perform a Sankeertan in their honor as well. However, Annamayya declines, stating that he would only sing for the Lord and not for anybody else.

Annamayya, who is imprisoned for disobeying the king, calls upon the Lord in the guise of Narasimha, a human-lion. Much to everyone’s amazement, including the king and the jail staff, the iron rods ignite and Annamayya is set free.

Knowing that their husband was created to serve mankind and the Lord, his wives give up their lives, releasing Annamayya from all worldly ties. After coming of maturity and understanding the divine order, Annamayya begins to write poems and Sankirtans.

His publications are being destroyed by priests and Brahmins who are upset over his social inclusion of lower caste members in the temple. A sizable amount of Annamayya’s work is miraculously spared from the fire by the Lord when he decides to give his life in sacrifice because all of his works have been destroyed.

The sons of Saluva Narasimha and Annamayya transform his works from palm to copper inscriptions, ensuring their preservation for all time. The Lord and his consorts make one more appearance in their divine forms upon the completion and dedication of the work in the temple sanctum sanctorum. Annamayya’s soul returns as Nandaka, and the Lord provides salvation.