Swarnakamalam

Shanti Stupa at Dhauli, where the song "Shiva Poojaku" was filmed

Pushpawati River rushing out at the Valley of Flowers National Park, where the song "Ghallu Ghallu" was shot

Meenakshi portrayed by Chandrasekhar in the film

Meenakshi (Bhanupriya) and Savitri (Devilalita) are daughters of a Kuchipudi doyen, Vedantam Seshendra Sharma. While a highly accomplished artist in his field, Seshendra Sharma is not well-off and has not been able to afford for his daughters, a conventional education. Both of them have achieved a respectable degree of proficiency — Savitri in Carnatic classical music and Meenakshi in classical dance.

Savitri, the elder daughter, is grateful for her knowledge and interest and looks forward to a life that will require her to hone her skills in the art. Meenakshi, on the other hand, is bitter about the lack of opportunity that she feels in the field of classical dance in India and resolves to make a simpler and more pleasurable life for herself as soon as possible, while confiding her ambitions only to her sister.

Chandrasekhar (Venkatesh) is a tenant who has just moved in next door. He is a painter and is shown to be handling movie promotions as a large part of his work. He develops an interest in the neighbors and tries to help them in whatever way he can, partly because of his (unconfessed) interest in Meenakshi and partly because of his interest in the art which seems to be slowly fading from public life.

The rest of the film is largely built around Meenakshi's journey from skepticism to devotion in her pursuit of dance. Chandrasekhar is shown to be an important catalyst in this transformation. Meenakshi becomes an accomplished dancer through the direction of renowned Odissi dancer Sharon Lowen, and gets the opportunity to go to the United States and perform. She learns of Chandrasekhar's love for her, and finally unites with Chandrasekhar, confessing her love for him as well.

• Venkatesh as Chandu / Chandra Shekar
• Bhanupriya as Meenakshi
• Shanmukha Srinivas as Srinivas
• Sakshi Ranga Rao as Omkaram
• Sri Lakshmi as Akhilam
• S. K. Misro as Government official
• Devilalita as Savitri
• Dubbing Janaki
• Pavala Syamala
• Sharon Lowen as herself
• Aruna Macherla as Meenakshi's friend
• K. V. Satyanarayana
• Vinnakota Vijayaram
• N. Sivarama Krishnaiah
• K. S. T. Sai
• S. S. Vajpayee

The production design was helmed by Arun D. Ghodgaonkar, with cinematography by Lok Singh.[4] Casting was done by K. Viswanath, including American dancer Sharon Lowen, who portrayed herself as a veteran Odissi artist.[2]

The music for the film was composed by Ilaiyaraaja and released on ECHO Music Company.

Nandi Awards - 1988[11]

• Best Feature Film - Gold - Ch.V. Appa Rao
• Best Actress - Bhanupriya
• Best Choreographer - Srinivas
• Best Lyricist - Sirivennela Seetharama Sastry

Filmfare Awards South - 1988

• Best Film – Telugu - Ch.V. Appa Rao[12]
• Best Actress – Telugu - Bhanupriya

Cinema Express Awards - 1988

• Cinema Express Awards Best Film - Ch.V. Appa Rao [13]
• Cinema Express Awards Best Director - K. Viswanath[13]
• Cinema Express Awards Best Actress - Bhanupriya[13]

• Swarnakamalam at IMDb