Adi Shankaracharya (film)

Adi Shankaracharya
Adi Shankaracharya
	Poster
Directed by	G. V. Iyer
Screenplay by	G. V. Iyer
Based on	Life of Adi Shankaracharya
Produced by	National Film Development Corporation of India
Starring	Sarvadaman Banerjee; Srinivas Prabhu; Bharat Bhushan; M.V. Narayana Rao
Cinematography	Madhu Ambat
Music by	M. Balamurali Krishna
Release date	1983;
Running time	160 minutes
Country	India
Language	Sanskrit

Adi Shankaracharya is a 1983 Indian film in Sanskrit language directed by G. V. Iyer. The film depicts the life and times of the Hindu philosopher, Adi Shankaracharya, who consolidated the doctrine of Advaita Vedanta (nondualism) in Hindu philosophy. This movie is a prime example of experimental movie era of Kannada film industry. It was the first film in India to be made in Sanskrit.^[1] At the 31st National Film Awards, it won four awards, including Best Film, Best Screenplay, Best Cinematography and Best Audiography.^[2]^[3]

After Adi Shankaracharya, Iyer directed Madhvacharya in 1986 and Ramanujacharya in 1989 featuring Shankaracharya's disciples.

Cast

Sarvadaman D. Banerjee as Adi Shankaracharya
Srinivas Prabhu as Prajnaana
T. S. Nagabharana as Mrithyu
Bharat Bhushan as Kaippilly Shivaguru Nambudiri, Adi Shankara's father
Manjunath Bhat as Padmapada
Gopal as Thotaka
V.R.K. Prasad as Hasthamalaka
M.V. Narayana Rao as Sureshwara
Gopinath Das as Govinda Bhagavathpada
L.V. Sharada Rao as Kaippilly Aryadevi Antarjanam ("Aryamba"), Adi Shankara's mother
Leela Narayana Rao as Ubhaya Bharathi
Sreepathy Ballal as Kumarila Bhatta
G. V. Iyer as Veda Vyasa
Gopi as young Shankara
Radhakrishna as baby Shankara
Raghu Iyer as young Pranjana
Vijay Bharan as young Mrithyu
G.V.Shivanand as Guru
Gopalakrishna as Nambudiri
Mallesh as Kapalika
Murgod as Chandala
Manohar as Mama
G.S.Natraj as Vishnu
Ajay as Sathyakama
Mahesh Swamy as Boudha Guru
Purushotham as Boudha Bhikshu
Balu as Chiushka
Girish as Vidyananda
Veena Kamal as Jabali