JerilynSturgess at 18:20, 3 March 2026

2026-03-03T18:20:31Z

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{{EngvarB|date=January 2021}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Brahmarshi Viswamitra
| image = Brahmarshi Vishwamitra.JPG
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = [[N. T. Rama Rao]]
| producer = N. T. Rama Rao
| writer = Naga Bhairava Koteswara Rao {{small|(dialogues)}}
| screenplay = N. T. Rama Rao
| starring = N. T. Rama Rao<br />[[Nandamuri Balakrishna]]<br />[[Meenakshi Seshadri]]
| music = [[Ravindra Jain]]
| cinematography = [[Nandamuri Mohana Krishna]]
| editing = N. T. Rama Rao
| based_on = Life of [[Vishvamitra]]
| studio = NTR Charity Trust
| released = {{Film date|df=y|1991|4|19}}
| runtime = 148 minutes
| country = India
| language = Telugu
}}

'''''Brahmarshi Viswamitra''''' is a 1991 Indian [[Telugu language|Telugu]]-language [[Hindu mythological film]] directed and produced by [[N. T. Rama Rao]]. Based on the life of the sage [[Vishvamitra|Viswamitra]], the film marks Rama Rao's return to acting after a seven-year hiatus following his focus on politics. It stars Rama Rao alongside [[Nandamuri Balakrishna]], and [[Meenakshi Seshadri]], with music composed by [[Ravindra Jain]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |last=Menon |first=Amarnath K. |date=15 April 1989 |title=After six years break, Andhra CM N.T. Rama Rao returns to celluloid world |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/special-report/story/19890415-after-six-years-break-andhra-cm-n.t.-rama-rao-returns-to-celluloid-world-815995-1989-04-15 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190918085354/https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/special-report/story/19890415-after-six-years-break-andhra-cm-n.t.-rama-rao-returns-to-celluloid-world-815995-1989-04-15 |archive-date=18 September 2019 |access-date=18 September 2019 |work=[[India Today]]}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite news |last=Menon |first=Amarnath K. |date=15 July 1989 |title=NTR's film Brahmarishi Viswamitra sparks off tussle between Telugu Desam and Congress(I) |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/special-report/story/19890715-ntrs-film-brahmarishi-viswamitra-sparks-off-tussle-between-telugu-desam-and-congressi-816266-1989-07-15 |access-date=1 January 2021 |work=[[India Today]]}}</ref> The film also marks the debut of [[N. T. Rama Rao Jr.|Jr. NTR]] as a child artist.<ref name=":0" /> Despite its notable cast, ''Brahmarshi Viswamitra'' was a [[Box-office bomb|disaster]] at the box office.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Thanjavur |first=Kiran Kumar |date=26 April 2022 |title=NTR - NBK: నందమూరి బాలకృష్ణ రీమేక్ చేసిన తన తండ్రి ఎన్టీఆర్ ఓల్డ్ క్లాసిక్ సినిమాలు ఇవే.. |url=https://telugu.news18.com/photogallery/movies/nbk-ntr-balakrishna-nandarmuri-remake-his-father-legendary-ntr-these-movies-here-are-the-list-ta-1280732-page-10.html |access-date=2024-12-25 |website=[[News18]] |language=te}}</ref>
== Plot ==
The film begins when Emperor Kaushika is hunting and visits [[Vasishta]]'s Ashram, where he notices a divine cow ''Kamadhenu'' which can afford all wishes. Kaushika pleads for prosperity from Vasishta. However, Kaushika tries to grab it when Vasishta denies it, and ''Kamadhenu'' disappears. Here, Kaushika's wisdom penance is more significant than strength. So, he renounces his kingdom, performs a vast, and achieves the Brahmarshi title, nobilitating as [[Vishvamitra]]. [[Trishanku]] belongs to [[Suryavansha]] and aspires to reach heaven with his mortal body when his mentor Vasishta curses him to form a horrific. Forthwith, he approaches Viswamitra, who accomplishes his desire, but [[Indra]] tosses him. Enraged, Viswamitra stops him in between and creates a new heaven by endorsing his penance, which he regenerates with his willpower.

Once, in the Indra court, Viswamitra confronted Vasishta, who said that a man with aim & determination is more powerful than the deities. Viswamitra opts [[Harishchandra]], ruler of [[Ayodhya (Ramayana)|Ayodhya]]. Firstly, he wishes for a huge amount, which he bestows without hesitation. Then, he creates two beauties, Matanga Kanyalu, to lure him, threatening to knit them or quit the kingdom. Harichandra relinquishes his kingdom when Viswamitra seeks his dues within a month and accompanies his sidekick, Nakshatraka. Ergo, Harishchandra proceeds to [[Varanasi|Kaasi]], where he spots an auction of people as enslaved. Due to lack of time, on the advice of his wife Chandramathi, he auctions her with his son Lohitha when [[Shiva|Siva]], in the form of Kaala Kaushika, shops them. Next, he peddles himself to the graveyard's King Veerabahu for travel expenses, Nakshatraka, and works as a guard at the burial ground. Tragically, Lohitha dies due to a snakebite while Chandramathi is performing his funeral; Harishchandra bars her for the fee, unbeknownst to actuality. Whereat, he indicates her wedding chain when she discerns him as her husband as it is invisible to others. Harishchandra does not yield even in such pathetic situations, so Chandramathi rushes for the amount. Then, Viswamitra illuminates that Chandramathi has abducted and slain Kaasiraju's son. The King dictates capital punishment to her and entrusts Harishchandra to execute it. Still, he stands on his true path. Suddenly, Viswamitra appears, proclaims the entirety of spreading his eminence to the universe, and acknowledges him with his penance power.

Eras roll by, Viswamitra intends to perform a ''Yaga'' impeded by two demons, [[Maricha]][[Subahu]]lu. So, he moves to Ayodhya and requests [[Dasaratha]] to send [[Rama]][[Lakshmana]] for its shield. At that point, he endorses the powerful weapons to them by which they destroy [[Tataka]] & Marichasubhahulu and complete the ritual. Following, [[Janaka]] announces [[Swayamvar]] to [[Sita]], and Viswamitra heads to Mithila with the siblings. Rama triumphs over the task of ace the world-renowned bow of Siva with the blessing of Viswamitra over [[Ravana]], who is fetched up without an invitation. Subsequently, Viswamitra blesses the newly married and moves to his penance.

After thousands of years, Indra attempts to foil it and sends [[Menaka]] when the two are glad for a baby girl. Anyhow, they expel her, and [[Kanva]] raises her as [[Shakuntala]] because birds covered her. Once [[Dushyanta]] empire of [[Hastinapur]] spots Shakuntala, he crushes & splices her as per the [[Gandharva]], and before returning, he gifts his royal ring to her as a token of love. One day, [[Durvasa]] visits Ashram, but Shakuntala loses her thoughts and fails to greet him when he curses that the one she dreams of will forget her. Afterward, he calms and states that he will regain his memory by viewing his token. Time passes, Shakuntala conceives, and Kanva sends her to Dushyanta. On the midway, while crossing a river, the ring slips off her finger and is swallowed by a fish. After landing therein, Dushyanta fails to recognize her. Humiliated, Shakuntala exits, and [[Kashyapa]] shelters her, where she delivers [[Bharata (Mahabharata)|Bharata]]. The anglers detect the ring in the belly of a fish and hand it to Dushyanta, who retrieves the past. He rushes for Shakuntala when he is startled to look at a boy playing with wild animals. Viswamitra gets here, reunites the couple, and blesses Bharata as [[India]]'s greatest ruler. At last, Viswamitra's penance summits to the [[Himalayas|Himalayan]], where he employs it for the universal welfare by preaching great ''[[Gayatri Mantra]]''. Finally, the movie ends happily with Viswamitra getting salvation as one of the stars at ''[[Saptarishi]] Mandalam''.

== Cast ==
{{colbegin}}
*[[N. T. Rama Rao]] as [[Vishvamitra|Visvaamitra]] & [[Ravana]] ([[dual role]])
*[[Nandamuri Balakrishna]] as [[Harishchandra|Satya Harischandra]] & [[Dushyanta]] (dual role)
*[[Meenakshi Seshadri]] as [[Menaka]]
*[[Deepika Chikhalia]] as [[Harishchandra|Chandramathi]]
*[[Ganesh and Kumaresh]] as [[Rama]] and [[Lakshmana]]
*Madhumita as [[Shakuntala]]
*[[Amjad Khan (actor)|Amjhad Khan]] as Veerabahu
*[[Gummadi (actor)|Gummadi]] as [[Vashista]]
*[[Suthi Velu]] as Nakshatraka
*[[Ashok Kumar (Telugu actor)|Ashok Kumar]] as [[Indra|Indhra]]
*KK Sarma as Kalakoushukudu
*Jaya Bhaskar as [[Trisanku]]
*[[Aruna Irani]] as Kalakoushukudu's wife
*[[Kanaka (actress)|Kanaka]] as Seetha
*[[Tara (Kannada actress)|Tara]] as Shakuntala's friend
*Gayatri as Shakuntala's friend
*[[Disco Shanti]] as Matanga Kanya
*[[Kuyili (actress)|Kuyili]] as Matanga Kanya
*Master Amith as [[Harishchandra|Lohitha]]
*[[N. T. Rama Rao Jr.]] as [[Bharata (Mahabharata)|Bharata]] (child role)
*[[Mikkilineni (actor)|Mikkilineni]] as [[Janaka]]
{{colend}}

== Production ==
''Brahmarshi Viswamitra'' marks the first screen appearance of [[N. T. Rama Rao Jr.]], who played [[Bharata (Mahabharata)|Bharata]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |date=20 May 2018 |title=Happy birthday Jr NTR: Here are five lesser-known facts about the 'Young Tiger' of Tollywood |work=[[The Indian Express]] |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/telugu/jr-ntr-birthday-unknown-facts-5184061/ |access-date=1 January 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=20 May 2019 |title=Happy Birthday Junior NTR: The Nandamuri scion sets the screens on fire in these 7 romantic numbers |work=[[The Times of India]] |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movies/news/happy-birthday-junior-ntr-the-nandamuri-scion-sets-the-screens-on-fire-in-these-7-romantic-numbers/articleshow/69408904.cms |access-date=1 January 2021}}</ref> Initially, actress [[Sridevi]] was approached for the role Menaka but she denied as her shooting schedule is packed.

== Soundtrack ==
{{Infobox album
| name = Brahmarshi Viswamitra
| type = film
| artist = [[Ravindra Jain]]
| cover =
| alt =
| released = 1991
| recorded =
| venue =
| studio =
| genre = Soundtrack
| length = 56:47
| label = [[Lahari Music]]
| producer = [[Ravindra Jain]]
| prev_title =
| prev_year =
| next_title =
| next_year =
}}

Music composed by [[Ravindra Jain]]. Lyrics written by [[C. Narayana Reddy]]. Music released on [[Lahari Music]] Company.
{{Track listing
| collapsed =
| headline =
| extra_column = Singer(s)
| total_length = 56:47
| all_writing =
| all_lyrics =
| all_music =
| title1 = Endaro Bulipinchina
| extra1 = [[P. Susheela]], [[S. P. Balasubrahmanyam]]
| length1 = 6:18
| title2 = Priya Cheliya
| extra2 = [[K. J. Yesudas]], [[P. Susheela]]
| length2 = 7:55

| title3 = Ee Chinnadi
| extra3 = [[P. Susheela]], [[Kavita Krishnamurthy]]
| length3 = 5:27

| title4 = Ganga Taranga
| extra4 = [[K. J. Yesudas]]
| length4 = 2:04

| title5 = Ramaiah O Ramaiah
| extra5 = P. Susheela, S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
| length5 = 6:22

| title6 = Jayathe Viswamitra Maharshi
| extra6 = S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
| length6 = 16:45

| title7 = Kausalya Suprajarama
| extra7 = [[K. J. Yesudas]]
| length7 = 0:38
}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
*{{IMDb title|id=0259225}}

[[Category:1991 Telugu-language films]]
[[Category:1991 films]]
[[Category:Films based on the Mahabharata]]
[[Category:Films based on the Ramayana]]
[[Category:Films directed by N. T. Rama Rao]]
[[Category:Films scored by Ravindra Jain]]
[[Category:Hindu mythological films]]

Brahmarshi Viswamitra - Revision history

JerilynSturgess at 18:20, 3 March 2026