Bharatham is a 1991 Indian Malayalam-language musical drama film written by A. K. Lohithadas and directed by Sibi Malayil. It stars Mohanlal, Urvashi, Nedumudi Venu, Lakshmi, and Murali. The film was produced by Mohanlal through his production house Pranavam Arts. The film features original songs composed by Raveendran and a background score by Johnson. Bharatham is interpreted as a modern-day adaptation of the Ramayana from Bharatha's perspective. How, in the absence of his elder brother, Gopinathan takes the responsibility of the family and hides his griefs is the core of the story.
| Bharatham | |
|---|---|
DVD cover
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| Directed by | Sibi Malayil |
| Written by | A. K. Lohithadas |
| Produced by | Mohanlal |
| Starring | Mohanlal Urvashi Nedumudi Venu Lakshmi Murali |
| Cinematography | Anandakuttan |
| Edited by | L. Bhoominathan |
| Music by | Raveendran Johnson (Score) |
Production | |
| Distributed by | Seven Arts Release |
Release date |
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Running time | 147 minutes |
| Country | India |
| Language | Malayalam |
The film was a critical and commercial success, running for 125 days in theatres.[1] Bharatham is also noted for its music that is largely Carnatic classical and semi-classical. The film won three National Film Awards—Best Actor for Mohanlal, Best Male Playback Singer for K. J. Yesudas for the song "Rama Katha Ganalayam", and Special Mention for Raveendran's music, and five Kerala State Film Awards. On the centenary of Indian cinema in 2013, Forbes India included Mohanlal's performance in the film on its list of "25 Greatest Acting Performances of Indian Cinema".[2] It was remade in Tamil as SeenubyP. Vasu in 2000.[3][4]
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Kalloor Gopinathan alias Gopi is a member of a happy family with carnatic music heritage and he himself is a good singer. Kalloor Ramanathan who is also an excellent singer, is Gopi's elder brother, guru and role model. Ramanathan is married to Ramani and has a son Appu. Gopi is in love with Devi who is the sister of Ramani. Raman reigns in the family and in the society with his music. But he turns into alcoholism. Despite several attempts by family members to make him give up the habit and several failed assurances to his family members, he is unable to give up the habit.
Raman reaches for a concert in an inebriated state and Gopi is forced to take over. He is an instant hit with the masses. This has been depicted quite symbolically during the song Sree Vinayagam. Gopi's music, which was hidden behind his brother's charisma now flows out in full strength. Taking this as an insult, Raman starts hating his brother and strives hard to recover from alcoholism. His morale is shattered when organizers of the Tyagaraja Aaradhana select his brother over him to perform. This makes Raman angry. So Gopi decides to stop singing. But on hearing this Raman understands his mistake and asks Gopi to sing at Tyagaraja Aaradhana.
Ramanathan attends his brother's concert in a drunken state but is able to appreciate his brother's talent. In the middle of the concert, he enters the stage, removes his ancestral necklace and puts it on Gopi as a mark of continuation of his legacy. He then walks away into the horizon. With a longing to get rid of the alcoholism and perform a concert with his brother, he sets on a pilgrimage, but was never to return. Gopi, learning that Raman died in an accident, is forced to conceal the truth because of their vocally disabled sister's marriage. Gopi gets lot of moral support with Devi, who also knows the truth. Gopi's trauma reaches penultimate when his family learns of Raman's death and that Gopi was concealing it. Everything ends fine when the family understands his intentions. The movie ends while Gopi begins to train Appu in their musical legacy.
| Bharatham | |
|---|---|
| Soundtrack albumby | |
| Released | March 29, 1991 (1991-March-29)[5] |
| Recorded | February 1991 |
| Studio | Tharangini, Chennai |
| Genre | Film soundtrack |
| Label | Tharangini |
The film score was composed by Johnson while the acclaimed songs were composed by Raveendran with lyrics were penned by Kaithapram.[6] All the songs of this movie were instant hits.
| No. | Title | Singer(s) | Raagam | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Gopangane" | K. J. Yesudas, K. S. Chithra | Naatta | Duet song picturised on Mohanlal and Urvashi, Interludes of the song were taken from the Popular Thyagaraja Pancharatna Kriti "Jagadanandakaraka", set in the same raga. |
| 2 | "Raajamathangi" ("Dhwani Prasadham") | M. Balamuralikrishna, K. J. Yesudas, K. S. Chithra | Raagamaalika (Mayamalavagowla, Thodi, Arabhi, Kanada) | Title song. Picturised on Nedumudi Venu and Mohanlal. |
| 3 | "Raghuvamshapathe" | K. J. Yesudas | Sankarabharanam | Kacheri performance by Mohanlal. |
| 4 | "Ramakadha" | K. J. Yesudas | Shubhapantuvarali | Sentimental performance by Mohanlal. |
| 5 | "Sree Vinayakam" | K. J. Yesudas, Raveendran | Hamsadhvani | Kacheri performance by Mohanlal and Nedumudi Venu. |
| 6 | "Bharatham" | Kallara Gopan, Sangeetha | Not picturised in film. | |
| 7 | "Vasudevayani" | M. G. Sreekumar | Not picturised in film. | |
| 8 | "Dhwani Prasadam" | K. J. Yesudas | Mayamalavagowla | End credit song. Picturised on Mohanlal and Vineeth Kumar. |