Shirdi Sai is a 2012 Indian Telugu-language biographical film, produced by A.Mahesh Reddy on AMR Sai Krupa Entertainments banner, directed by K. Raghavendra Rao. Starring Nagarjuna as the 19th-20th century spiritual guru Sai Baba of Shirdi who lived in western India, it is the cinematic depiction of some of his landmark life episodes, his teachings and his way of life. Music was composed by M. M. Keeravani.[4] Shirdi Sai was released worldwide on 6 September 2012,[3] and has received mixed to positive reviews while Nagarjuna received critical acclaim for his performance in the title role with most reviewers hailing this as one of his career best performances.[5]
| Shirdi Sai | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | K. Raghavendra Rao |
| Screenplay by | K. Raghavendra Rao |
| Story by | Bhaktha Suresh Kumar |
| Based on | Life of Shirdi Sai Baba |
| Produced by | Mahesh Reddy Girish Reddy |
| Starring | Nagarjuna Srikanth Srihari |
| Cinematography | S. Gopal Reddy |
| Edited by | Shravan Katikaneni |
| Music by | M. M. Keeravani |
Production company | AMR Sai Krupa Entertainments |
| Distributed by | Sree Lakshmi Sai Films (overseas)[1] Sri Venkateshwara Film (Nellore)[2] |
Release date |
|
Running time | 142 minutes |
| Country | India |
| Language | Telugu |
Plot
editShirdi Sai appears in Shirdi at an early age and disappears. He goes to the Himalayas and returns to Shirdi after a gap of 9 years. He chooses a dilapidated mosque as his abode. Amazed by his presence and miracles, the local people start calling him Sai Baba. He kept helping people around and spreading communal harmony by saying that there is only one God. Certain local people are suspicious of Sai Baba after they learn about his greatness over a period of time. The rest of the story is all about what Sai Baba did to make Shirdi the only pilgrimage for people of all religions and entering Samadhi.
Cast
edit- Nagarjuna as Lord Shirdi Sai Baba
- Srikanth as Dasaganu
- Srihari as Colonel Wales
- Sai Kumar as Nanavali
- Sayaji Shinde as Bhatia
- Sarath Babu as Mahalsapati
- Dharmavarapu Subramanyam as Nayak [Animal Seller]
- Tanikella Bharani as Bhooti
- Bramhanandam as Sandeham
- Ali as Appoo
- Ananth as Dappoo
- Sai Kiran as Lord Vishnu, Rama & Krishna
- Koushik Babu as Tatya
- Sameer Hasan as Lord Shiva
- Deeshetulu as Venkhusa
- Ashok Kumar
- Jenny
- Kamalinee Mukherjee as Radhakrishna Mai
- Vinaya Prasad as Baajiya Bai
- Rohini Hattangadi as Ganga Bai
- Rujuta Deshmukh as Lakshmi Bai
- Jhansi
- Dipali Dodke as Radha Bai
- Jyothi Reddy as Goddess Lakshmi
- Karuna Bhooshan as Goddess Parvathi
- Pramodini as Goddess Saraswathi
- Nagesh Bhosale as Chand Patil
- Devendra Dodke as Shyaama
- Gundu Sudarshan
- Dinakar Gavande
- Ravi Bhath
- Aditya
- Pardha Saradhi
- Master Athulith as Young Tatya
- Master Vijay as Young Saibaba
Soundtrack
edit| Shirdi Sai | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Film score by | ||||
| Released |
| |||
| Recorded | 2012 | |||
| Genre | Soundtrack | |||
| Length | 60:39 | |||
| Label | Vel Records | |||
| Producer | M. M. Keeravani | |||
| M. M. Keeravani chronology | ||||
| ||||
The music was composed by M. M. Keeravani. Music released on Vel Records Music Company.
| No. | Title | Lyrics | Singer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Sada Nimba" | Traditional Hymn | M. M. Keeravani | 1:03 |
| 2. | "Saranu Saranu" | Medicharla | Madhu Balakrishnan, Sunitha | 6:25 |
| 3. | "Okkade Devudu" | Suddala Ashok Teja | Nagarjuna, Shankar Mahadevan | 4:23 |
| 4. | "Hari Pada Charitha Hara" | Ramajogayya Sastry | M. M. Keeravani, Sunitha | 4:12 |
| 5. | "Om Sai Ram" | K. Siva Datta | Shweta Pandit | 3:08 |
| 6. | "Manava Seve" | M. M. Keeravani | Deepu, Aditi Paul | 5:01 |
| 7. | "Sri Rama Jaya Rama" | Vedavyasa | Hariharan, Malavika | 5:14 |
| 8. | "Sai Ante Thalli" | Chandrabose | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Sunitha | 6:02 |
| 9. | "Datthatreyuni" | Vedavyasa | M. M. Keeravani, Sonu Nigam, Teesha Nigam, | 5:01 |
| 10. | "Ekkadayya Sai" | Medicharla | Sunitha | 1:18 |
| 11. | "Parama Yogindrulaku" | Vedavyasa | M. M. Keeravani | 3:32 |
| 12. | "Nee Padamula" | Ramajogayya Sastry | M. M. Keeravani | 5:08 |
| 13. | "Vasthunna Baba" | Chandrabose | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, M. M. Keeravani, Saikumar, Revanth, Rahul Silpigunj, Chaitra | 5:34 |
| 14. | "Aarathi" | K. Siva Datta | Sunitha | 4:06 |
| 15. | "Om Sai Sri Sai (Bhajana)" | Traditional Hymn | Karthik, Kousalya | 5:39 |
| Total length: | 60:39 | |||
Reception
editThe film received mixed to positive reviews with most reviewers hailing Nagarjuna's performance as one of his best and major plus point of this film. He received wide critical acclaim for his work in this film. Popular Telugu movie reviewing website idle brain gave a positive review stating "Nagarjuna epitomized Shirdi Sai Baba with his perfect portrayal of the sadguru. His pure eyes, calmness in the face and authentic body language makes us all fall in love with his character. Nagarjuna is extraordinary in climax episode with a white beard. Nagarjuna will get awards for his exceptional work. Since it’s a bio-pic, Shirdi Sai should not be viewed like a commercial film. Everyone of us has the curiosity to know more about Sai Baba. We might have read some books. But none of these readings give us a complete picture on life and times of Sai Baba. The film Sai Baba attempts to tell the world about the making of an enlightened man called Sai Baba who is revered as a God today. You may watch Shirdi Sai with an academic interest.".[6]
Rediff.com gave a positive review and rated 3 on a scale of 5, stating "Nagarjuna steals the show as Shirdi Sai. He exudes serenity and tranquillity necessary for portraying such a role. The calmness in his face and body language and the compassion in his eyes are remarkable. Shirdi Sai is yet another feather in Nagarjuna's cap after Annamayya and Sriramadasu. The film has a shot of the sanctum at Shirdi as a bonus for followers of the sage!"[7]
123telugu.com quoted "Nagarjuna deserves a hearty applause for having the courage to take up this role and he has managed to pull it off with conviction.This film will appeal immensely to Sai Baba devotees and it will be a good watch for casual movie lovers. Watch the film without any expectations and immerse yourself in Sai Baba’s spirituality.[8]
The Hindu gave a positive review stating, " Nagarjuna leads from the front, putting up a performance marked with maturity and restraint. In the last one hour of the film, you tend to forget you are watching an actor rooted in mainstream cinema. Bent with age and bereft of his usual mannerisms, the actor comes up with a commendable performance. The supporting cast that includes Srikanth, Sarath Babu, Rohini Hattangady, Shayaji Shinde, Saikumar and others come up with credible performances. Is Shirdi Sai worth your time and money? It surely is for Saibaba devotees or if you want to watch Nagarjuna revel in his role of Saibaba."[9]
NDTV quoted that "Far different from regular cinema with clichéd performance, run-of-the-mill storyline, director K Raghavendra Rao's Shirdi Sai takes you on a spiritual journey of self-actualization, purity and sanctity,[10] The Box Office Collection Was Above 30 Crores Which is a good record for deviotional flicks.Times of India also gave a good rating stating that "A film like Shirdi Sai calls for strong conviction and Nagarjuna's move to take up this film is commendable.[11] Entertainment oneindia praised the individual performances and technical aspects of the film.[12]
Accolades
edit| Ceremony | Category | Nominee | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd South Indian International Movie Awards | Best Actor | Nagarjuna | Nominated |
| Best Debutant Producer | Mahesh Reddy, Girish Reddy | Nominated |
See also
edit- Sri Shirdi Saibaba Mahathyam, a 1986 Telugu film starring Vijayachander as Shirdi Sai Baba.
Others
edit- VCD & DVD on Volga Videos, Hyderabad
References
edit- ^ "Shirdi Sai Overseas Rights fetch whopping price | Nagarjuna Shirdi Sai Review, Shirdi Sai Movie Review, Shirdi Sai Movie Theaters List, Shirdi Sai 1st Day Collections, Shirdi Sai 1st day public talk, Shirdi Sai movie pre release talk". Timesofap.com. 3 August 2012. Retrieved 7 September 2012.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Nellore Shirdi Sai rights get good price". 123telugu.com. 1 January 1998. Archived from the original on 6 September 2012. Retrieved 7 September 2012.
- ^ a b "K Raghavendra Rao confirms Shirdi Sai's release date". 123telugu.com. 1 January 1998. Archived from the original on 11 February 2015. Retrieved 7 September 2012.
- ^ "I need a break: Nagarjuna". The Times of India. 20 April 2012. Archived from the original on 21 May 2013. Retrieved 9 May 2012.
- ^ "Damarukam treat for Nagarjuna's fans". NDTV. 11 September 2012. Archived from the original on 29 January 2013. Retrieved 20 September 2012.
- ^ "Shirdi Sai review – Telugu cinema – Nagarjuna Akkineni". Archived from the original on 19 September 2012. Retrieved 20 September 2012.
- ^ "Review: Shirdi Sai is Nagarjuna's show". Archived from the original on 10 September 2012. Retrieved 6 September 2012.
- ^ "Shirdi Sai Movie Review | Shirdi Sai Reviews | Shirdi Sai Telugu Movie Review |Shirdi Sai Review and Ratings | Nagarjuna Shirdi Sai Review". 123telugu.com. 6 September 2012. Archived from the original on 22 September 2012. Retrieved 20 September 2012.
- ^ Dundoo, Sangeetha Devi (6 September 2012). "Shirdi Sai: A treat for devotees". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 5 April 2023. Retrieved 8 January 2015.
- ^ "Movie review: Nagarjuna's Shirdi Sai". NDTV. Archived from the original on 11 September 2012. Retrieved 7 September 2012.
- ^ Sashidhar AS. "Shirdi Sai Telugu movie review highlights". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 26 January 2013. Retrieved 7 September 2012.
- ^ Shekhar. "Shirdi Sai – Movie Review: Extraordinary performance by Nag | Reviews – Oneindia Entertainment". Entertainment.oneindia.in. Archived from the original on 22 October 2012. Retrieved 7 September 2012.
External links
edit- Shirdi Sai at IMDb