Md. Toslim Bhuiyan Prantik at 20:22, 3 March 2026

2026-03-03T20:22:40Z

New page

{{Short description|1976 Telugu film by Bapu}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2015}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2015}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Bhakta Kannappa
| image = Bhakta Kannappa.jpg
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = [[Bapu (director)|Bapu]]
| producer = [[Uppalapati Surya Narayana Raju|U. Suryanarayana Raju]]
| writer = [[Mullapudi Venkata Ramana]]
| starring = [[Krishnam Raju]] [[Vanisree]] [[M. Balaiah]] [[Rao Gopal Rao]] [[Sarathi (comedian)|Sarathi]] [[Sreedhar Surapaneni]] [[Mukkamala (actor)|Mukkamala]] [[M. Prabhakar Reddy]]
| narrator =
| music = [[Satyam (composer)|Satyam]]
| cinematography = [[V. S. R. Swamy]] [[M. V. Raghu]]
| editing = Mandapati Ramachandraiah
| studio = Gopikrishna Movies
| released = {{Film date|1976|05|26}}
| country = India
| language = Telugu
| budget =
}}

'''''Bhakta Kannappa''''' ({{translation|Devotee Kannappa}}) is a 1976 Indian [[Telugu language|Telugu]]-language film directed by [[Bapu (director)|Bapu]] and produced by U. Suryanarayana Raju under the Gopikrishna Movies banner.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=20 January 2023 |title=Remembering Krishnam Raju: A look at the best films of Telugu cinema’s rebel star across decades |url=https://www.ottplay.com/photo-gallery/remembering-krishnam-raju-a-look-at-the-best-films-of-telugu-cinemas-rebel-star-across-decades/88b8459517337?photostory-2 |access-date=2024-10-14 |website=OTTPlay |language=en |quote=The film that also won the National Film Award for Best Audiography (S. P. Ramanathan)}}</ref> The film was inspired by the 1954 Kannada movie ''[[Bedara Kannappa]]'' which was based on the life of the Shaiva devotee, [[Kannappa]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/entertainment/do-you-know-the-legendary-rajkumar-once-acted-in-a-telugu-movie-888722.html |title=Do you know the legendary Rajkumar once acted in a Telugu movie? |date=17 September 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.telugucinema.com/Bhakta-Kannappa-1976-Retrospective |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160308085524/http://www.telugucinema.com/Bhakta-Kannappa-1976-Retrospective |archive-date=8 March 2016 |title=Bhakta Kannappa (1976) - Retrospective {{!}} telugucinema.com}}</ref> The film stars [[Krishnam Raju]] in the title role, along with [[Vanisree]], [[M. Balaiah]], [[Rao Gopal Rao]], [[Sarathi (comedian)|Sarathi]], and others in supporting roles. The music was composed by [[Satyam (composer)|Satyam]], with lyrics by [[Arudra]], [[C. Narayana Reddy]], and [[Veturi Sundararama Murthy]].<ref name=":1">{{cite web |title=Bhakta Kannappa (1976) - Retrospective |url=http://www.telugucinema.com/Bhakta-Kannappa-1976-Retrospective |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160308085524/http://www.telugucinema.com/Bhakta-Kannappa-1976-Retrospective |archive-date=2016-03-08 |website=[[TeluguCinema.com]]}}</ref>

==Plot==
[[Arjuna]] (Krishnam Raju) is reborn as Thinnadu, an atheist who is raised by a tribal lord ([[M. Prabhakar Reddy]]). Leela ([[Vanisri|Vanisree]]), the tribal lord's daughter, falls in love with Thinna, but Mallanna ([[Sreedhar]]) also loves her. Thinna defeats Mallanna in a duel and wins Leela's hand. As an atheist, Thinna refuses to bow to the village goddess and leaves the village with Leela. The story follows Thinna's transformation into a devout follower of Lord Siva, becoming the revered [[Kannappa]].

== Cast ==

* [[Krishnam Raju]] in a dual role as
**[[Arjuna]]
**[[Kannappa Nayanar|Kannappa]]/Thinnadu
* [[Vanisri]] as Leela
* [[M. Balaiah]] as [[Lord Shiva]]
* [[Rao Gopal Rao]] as Kailasanatha Shastri
* [[Sarathi (comedian)|Sarathi]] as Kashinatha Shastri
* [[Allu Ramalingaiah]]
* [[Sreedhar]] as Mallanna
* [[M. Prabhakar Reddy|Prabhakar Reddy]] as Neela's father
* [[Mukkamala (actor)|Mukkamala]] as Jara Rashtrika (Vedic form of Peddavema Reddy)
* [[P. R. Varalakshmi]] as [[Goddess Parvati]]
* Jhansi
* Baby Varalakshmi
* [[Rohini (actress)|Baby Rohini]]
* [[Jaya Malini]] as Ranjana

==Production==
The film was inspired by [[Dr. Rajkumar|Rajkumar]]’s 1954 film ''[[Bedara Kannappa]]''.<ref name=":0" />

''Bhakta Kannappa'' was primarily shot in outdoor locations, including Pattiseema, Gutala, and the forests near Buttayagudem. Filming began in November 1975 and concluded in May 1976. Initially, the project was helmed by [[V. Madhusudhana Rao]], but due to creative differences, [[Bapu (director)|Bapu]] and [[Mullapudi Venkata Ramana]] took over the project. Bapu made significant changes to the script, which led to some previously recorded songs being dropped.<ref name=":1" />

The film's artwork, typical of Bapu's style, gave the film an authentic and captivating look. The dialogues, penned by Mullapudi, were noted for their realism and relevance to the characters. Notably, the song "Enniyallo Enniyallo," which appears to be shot on a full moon night, was actually filmed during the day.<ref name=":1" />

==Music==
The soundtrack for ''Bhakta Kannappa'' was composed by [[Satyam (composer)|Satyam]], with lyrics written by [[Aarudra|Arudra]], [[C. Narayana Reddy]], and [[Veturi|Veturi Sundararama Murthy]]. The songs became widely popular, especially "Enniyallo" and "Aakasham Dinchala."<ref name=":1" />

{| class="wikitable"
! Song !! Singers !! Cast !! Lyrics
|-
| "Om Namasivayya" || [[S. P. Balasubrahmanyam]] and Chorus || Krishnam Raju, M. Balaiah || Veturi
|-
| "Aakasam Dinchala Nelavanka" || [[V. Ramakrishna]], [[P. Susheela]] || Krishnam Raju, Vanisree || Arudra
|-
| "Enniyallo Enniyallo" || V. Ramakrishna, P. Susheela || Krishnam Raju, Vanisree || Arudra
|-
| "Kanda Gelichindi" || V. Ramakrishna, P. Susheela || Krishnam Raju, Vanisree || Arudra
|-
| "Siva Siva Ananelaara" || [[S. Janaki]] || Rao Gopal Rao, Jayamalini || C. Narayana Reddy
|-
| "Thalli Thandri Neevenamma" || P. Susheela || Vanisree || Veturi
|-
| "Siva Siva Sankara Bhaktava Sankara" || V. Ramakrishna || Krishnam Raju || Veturi
|-
| "Tinavayya Maa Kanna Tandri" || V. Ramakrishna || Krishnam Raju || Veturi
|-
| "Om Namasivayya" (reprise) || V. Ramakrishna || Krishnam Raju || Veturi
|-
| "Srikalahastiswara Hara Hara" || V. Ramakrishna and Chorus || Krishnam Raju || Veturi
|}

==Reception==
''Bhakta Kannappa'' was a commercial success running for 100 days in major centres and received widespread acclaim for its music, performances, and technical excellence. This achievement established the Gopikrishna banner, which subsequently produced other successful films, including ''[[Amara Deepam (1977 film)|Amaradeepam]]'' (1977) and ''[[Mana Voori Pandavulu|Mana Oori Pandavulu]]'' (1978).<ref name=":1" />

''Bhakta Kannappa'' was a pivotal success in Krishnam Raju's career, showcasing his versatility as an actor.<ref name=":0" /> The film is also remembered for its visual grandeur and use of elaborate outdoor locations.<ref name=":1" />

== Awards ==

* [[National Film Award for Best Sound Design|National Film Award for Best Audiography]] - S. P. Ramanathan<ref>{{cite web |title=24th National Film Awards |url=http://www.hindilyrics.net/awards/national-film-awards-1977.html |access-date=10 July 2012}}</ref><ref name=":0" />

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb title|0155543|Bhakta Kannappa}}

[[Category:1976 films]]
[[Category:Hindu devotional films]]
[[Category:Indian biographical films]]
[[Category:1970s biographical films]]
[[Category:Films directed by Bapu]]
[[Category:Films scored by Satyam (composer)]]
[[Category:1976 Telugu-language films]]
[[Category:1976 Indian films]]

Bhakta Kannappa - Revision history

Md. Toslim Bhuiyan Prantik at 20:22, 3 March 2026