| Thilaadanam | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | K. N. T. Sastry |
| Written by | Rentala Nageswara Rao (dialogues) |
| Screenplay by | K. N. T. Sastry |
| Story by | Rentala Nageswara Rao |
| Produced by | P. Parameswaran |
| Starring | H. G. Dattatreya Brahmaji Tanikella Bharani Jaya Seal |
| Cinematography | Sunny Joseph |
| Edited by | A. Sreekar Prasad |
| Music by | L. Vaidyanathan |
Production company | |
Release date |
|
Running time | 1hr 29min |
| Country | India |
| Language | Telugu |
Thiladaanam (transl. The Rite... A Passion) is a 2000 Indian Telugu-language drama film, written and directed by film-critic K. N. T. Sastry in his debut directorial,[1] based on the story by Rentala Nageswara Rao.[2] The film features H. G. Dattatreya, Brahmaji, Tanikella Bharani, and Jaya Seal in pivotal roles.[1][3]
Upon release, the film received positive reviews "For its juxtaposition of two diverse ideologies existing within the same family – the father's belief in his religion and traditions and his son's revolutionary ideology. The film strikes a very fine balance in inter-generational explorations", winning the Best First Film of a Director at the 49th National Film Awards.[4] Thiladaanam is the only Indian film to be honored with the New Currents Award at the 7th Busan International Film Festival.[5]
It was featured in Indian Panorama section at the 33rd International Film Festival of India,[6] and Retrospective at the New York Indian Film Festival.[7]
Plot
Subbaiah is an outcast Brahmin priest living out of Tiladaanam ( a Hindu ritual of giving sesame seeds as alms, which transfers the giver's sins to the receiver), the meanest form of Brahmin duty. He ekes out his living in Hyderabad, by becoming a corpse-carrier, and carrying out funeral rites. His son is a Naxalite, and his daughter-in-law, Padma, is living with him. His son Raghuram, makes a clandestine visit home during his child's birth. In search of Raghuram the anti-Naxalite team ransack Subhaiah's house. However, Raghuram escapes the police firing, killing a cop in the process. Raghuram surrenders to the cops so that his family can make a living with the government compensation. Shocked by his surrender Subbaiah dies of the trauma, while Padma awaits in vain for the compensation.
Cast
- H. G. Dattatreya
- Brahmaji as a naxal[8]
- Tanikella Bharani
- A. V. Subramanyam
- Annapoorna
- Jaya Seal
- Prasad Babu
- Athili Lakshmi
Awards
- International Honours
- New Currents Award at the 7th Busan International Film Festival[5]
- Indian Panorama section at the 33rd International Film Festival of India[6]
- Retrospective New York Indian Film Festival[7]
- One-of-a-kind Indo-German Film Festival[9]
- Best Debut Film of a Director - K. N. T. Sastry[10]
- Best First Film of a Director - K. N. T. Sastry [11]
- Best Makeup Artist - Shyam Jadcharla
References
- ^ a b Rangan, Baradwaj (22 June 2017). "Southern Lights: Tiladaanam".
- ^ "Unheard melodies". www.telegraphindia.com.
- ^ "Telugu Cinema - Review - Thila Danam - Brahmaji, Jaya Sheel, HG Dattatreya".
- ^ "49th National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Retrieved 14 March 2012.
- ^ a b "Kamli - My Daughter". Archived from the original on 7 April 2012. Retrieved 27 August 2012.
- ^ a b "2002 Indian Panorama" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Retrieved 14 March 2012.
- ^ a b "NYIFF 2016". www.iaac.us.
- ^ Suresh Kavirayani (15 September 2018). "Filmmaker KNT Sastry is no more!". Deccan Chronicle.
- ^ "Tinsel world ties". The Hindu. 16 October 2003 – via www.thehindu.com.
- ^ "Conscientious filmmaker". 7 May 2011 – via www.thehindu.com.
- ^ "Telugu Cinema Etc". Idlebrain.com. 19 October 2002. Retrieved 7 January 2020.