Bharatham

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
Directed bySibi Malayil
Written byA. K. Lohithadas
Produced byMohanlal
StarringMohanlal
Urvashi
Nedumudi Venu
Lakshmi
Murali
CinematographyAnandakuttan
Edited byL. Bhoominathan
Music byRaveendran
Johnson (Score)
Production
company
Distributed bySeven Arts Release
Release date
  • 29 March 1991 (1991-03-29)
Running time
147 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageMalayalam

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 Seenu by P. Vasu in 2000.[3][4]

Plot

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.

Cast

Soundtrack
Bharatham
Soundtrack album by
Raveendran
ReleasedMarch 29, 1991 (1991-March-29)[5]
RecordedFebruary 1991
StudioTharangini, Chennai
GenreFilm soundtrack
LabelTharangini

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.TitleSinger(s)RaagamNotes
1"Gopangane"K. J. Yesudas, K. S. ChithraNaattaDuet song picturised on Mohanlal and Urvashi.
2"Raajamathangi" ("Dhwani Prasadham")M. Balamuralikrishna, K. J. Yesudas, K. S. ChithraRaagamaalika (Mayamalavagowla, Thodi, Arabhi, Kanada)Title song. Picturised on Nedumudi Venu and Mohanlal.
3"Raghuvamshapathe"K. J. YesudasSankarabharanamKacheri performance by Mohanlal.
4"Ramakadha"K. J. YesudasShubhapantuvaraliSentimental performance by Mohanlal.
5"Sree Vinayakam"K. J. Yesudas, RaveendranHamsadhvaniKacheri performance by Mohanlal and Nedumudi Venu.
6"Bharatham"Kallara Gopan, SangeethaNot picturised in film.
7"Vasudevayani"M. G. SreekumarNot picturised in film.
8"Dhwani Prasadam"K. J. YesudasMayamalavagowlaEnd credit song. Picturised on Mohanlal and Vineeth Kumar.

Awards
39th National Film Awards
Kerala State Film Awards
Filmfare Awards South
Kerala Film Critics Award[7]
  • Best Actor - Mohanlal
  • Best Screenplay - A. K. Lohithadas
  • Best Music Director - Raveendran
  • Best Cinematography - Anandakuttan

References
  1. "An interview with Lohitadas, director of the Malayalam film, Bhoothakkannadi". Rediff.com. 22 August 1997. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
  2. Prasad, Shishir; Ramnath, N. S.; Mitter, Sohini (27 April 2013). "25 Greatest Acting Performances of Indian Cinema". Forbes. Archived from the original on 12 January 2016. Retrieved 27 January 2015.
  3. "10 Mohanlal films to watch before you die". The Times of India.
  4. "மோகன்லாலும், பின்னே தமிழ் ரீமேக்கும்..." Dinamalar. 5 July 2015. Retrieved 19 May 2018.
  5. "Bharatham - Tharangni". Bandcamp. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
  6. "Audio CD". Amazon. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
  7. "15th Film Critics Award - 1991" – via YouTube.
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