Batasari
| Batasari | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Ramakrishna |
| Screenplay by | Samudrala Sr. |
| Based on | |
| Produced by | Ramakrishna |
| Starring | P. Bhanumathi Akkineni Nageswara Rao |
| Cinematography | M. Sundaraam |
| Edited by | V. Venkat |
| Music by | Master Venu |
Production company | |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 146 minutes |
| Country | India |
| Languages |
|
Batasari (transl. Wayfarer) is a 1961 Indian Telugu-language drama film, produced and directed by Ramakrishna of Bharani Pictures. It was simultaneously made in Tamil as Kaanal Neer (transl. Mirage). A remake of the 1957 Bengali film Bardidi, which itself is based on the eponymous novel by Sarat Chandra Chatterjee, the film stars P. Bhanumathi and Akkineni Nageswara Rao, with music composed by Master Venu. Batasari was released on 30 June 1961, and Kaanal Neer on 21 July. Both versions did not succeed commercially.
Cast
- P. Bhanumathi as Madhavi
- Akkineni Nageswara Rao as Surendranath / Suren
- J. V. Ramana Murthy as Siva Chandra
- Mudigonda Lingamurthy as Diwan Alwar
- Vangara as Pullaiah
- B. R. Panthulu as Apparao
- Vinnakota Ramanna Pantulu as Raghavaiah
- Boddapati as Anjaiah
- Doraiswamy as Zamindar of Dharapuram
- Sowcar Janaki as Shanthi
- Devika as Manorama
- Suryakantham as Sundaramma
- Chhaya Devi as Poornamma
- L. Vijayalakshmi as Dancer
- Lakshmirajyam as Dancer
- Baby Sasikala as Prameela
Production
Batasari is based on the novel Bardidi by Saratchandra Chatterjee. It was simultaneously filmed in Tamil as Kaanal Neer. The Telugu version was originally titled Yendamavulu. Before and during the shoot, for inspiration, Akkineni Nageswara Rao was asked by Ramakrishna to watch Uttam Kumar's performance in the 1959 film version of Bardidi. Nageswara Rao complied, and even donned the getup just like Kumar, but held to his own on histrionics.
Soundtrack
Music composed by Master Venu. Lyrics were written by Samudrala Sr. For Kaanal Neer, the lyrics were written by Kannadasan and Ku. Ma. Balasubramaniam.
| Song title | Singers | Length |
|---|---|---|
| "O Batasari" | P. Bhanumathi | 2:54 |
| "Kanulakudoche Chetikandani" | P. Bhanumathi, Jikki | 2:45 |
| "Lokamerugani Baala" | P. Bhanumathi | 3:23 |
| "Uppakara Chinthaye" | P. Bhanumathi | 3:02 |
| "Oho Maharaja" | Jikki | 3:34 |
| "O Maata" | P. Susheela | 3:16 |
| Song | Singers | Lyrics | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Ulagam Theriyaa Payire" | P. Bhanumathi | Kannadasan | 03:22 |
| "Manamenum Maaligai Meedhu" | P. B. Sreenivas, K. Jamuna Rani | Ku. Ma. Balasubramaniam | 02:18 |
| "Anbaana Enname Paavama... Kanaala Kaanaamale" | P. Bhanumathi | Ku. Ma. Balasubramaniam | 03:02 |
| "Aasai Mozhi Pesa Vaa" | P. Susheela | Kannadasan | 03:09 |
| "Kannil Therindhum Kaikku Varaadha" | P. Bhanumathi, Jikki | Kannadasan | 02:35 |
| "O Matha Jegan Matha... Arul Vizhi Paaraai Daevi" | P. Susheela | Ku. Ma. Balasubramaniam | 03:00 |
| "Vazhi Thedi Vandhaai" | P. Bhanumathi | Kannadasan | 02:39 |
| "Ammaan Magal Paaru" | Jikki | Kannadasan | 03:22 |
Release and reception
Batasari was released on 30 June 1961, and Kaanal Neer on 21 July 1961. The Indian Express said, "The standout feature of Kaanal Neer is the fascinating photography of young Venkat, particularly in the climax. In other technical respects, the film maintains a good standard." Both versions did not succeed commercially; according to historian Randor Guy, this was because audiences felt the story was too highbrow.
References
- ↑ Vamanan. "Tamil cinema's bong connection". The Times of India. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 17 May 2026.
- ↑ Ray Chaudhuri, Shantanu (24 July 2023). "6 best remakes of Uttam Kumar's Bengali hits with Hindi filmstars filling in for him". The Telegraph. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
- 1 2 Guy, Randor (18 May 2013). "Kaanal Neer (1961)". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 25 November 2022. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
- 1 2 3 Narasimham, M. L. (26 May 2016). "Batasari (1961)". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 6 October 2017. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
- ↑ "Bhatasari (1961)-Song_Booklet". Indiancine.ma. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ↑ Neelamegam, G. (November 2016). Thiraikalanjiyam — Part 2 (in Tamil) (1st ed.). Chennai: Manivasagar Publishers. p. 19.
- ↑ "Kanal Neer". The Indian Express. 21 July 1961. p. 3. Retrieved 25 November 2022 – via Google News Archive.
- ↑ "Kanal Neer". The Indian Express. 28 July 1961. p. 3. Retrieved 25 November 2022 – via Google News Archive.
External links
- Batasari at IMDb
- Kaanal Neer at IMDb