Maharshi(1987)
The movie centers around the title character( Raghava), a typical rich, spoilt brat, who goes around the college beating up others, teasing lecturers. His life takes a turn when he falls for Suchitra( Shantipriya), who however hates him for his arrogant, egoistic behavior. She does not even talk to him when he tries to approach her. Maharshi however is too deep in love with her, even approaches her parents, showing off his wealth.
However Suchitra turns down the offer, even when her parents ask her to consider. Maharshi grows more obsessive, turning away prospective grooms who come to her home. Fed up with his obsession, Suchitra goes ahead and marries her childhood friend Tilak( Krishna Bhagavan), a cop. She believes that is the only way to get Maharshi off her back. When Maharshi tries to stop the wedding, he is arrested. Assuming Tilak himself locked him up, he tries to attack him, however stops when Suchitra opens the door. And this sends him into a downward spiral of depression, from where there seems to be no escape.
What really stands out in Maharshi is the way the characters been etched, so beautifully by Vamsy.
Maharshi is not the most likeable character, in fact you hate him in the first half, But then you see his love for Suchitra, you realize he truly loves her beyond anything.
One of the movie's most beautiful scenes, is when Maharshi buys a saree, diamond ring for Suchitra on her birthday, even knowing she is married. He tells his best friend **Ramana( CVL Narasimha Rao), "**vungaram lO aem podagaalO teliyalaeduraa - vajram podagaalO, pagaDam podagaalO. andukanae naa gunDeni poDigaanu " . His friend in the meantime has drugged Suchitra and bought her to his home. When Maharshi is overjoyed to see her, he tells him to go do whatever you want, she is all yours.
Actually Ramana feels that is the only way Maharshi can get over his obsession, who whoever slaps him, and tells him if it was only about lust, I could have enjoyed her anytime I wanted, but it's her love and affection I seek. That one scene is so well written and emotional, at the very instant you feel for Maharshi, and his love.
Oka manishi meeda dwaesham, paga puTTaneduku kaaraNaalu unTaayi kaani, praema puTTaneduku kaaraNaalu aemee unDavanukunTaa.
Ramana is another well written character, the kind of friend whom you want, who stands by Maharshi, and helplessly watches his descent into an abyss. Beautifully enacted by CVL Narasimha Rao, this was his debut movie, and he later played many character roles in Telugu cinema.
Suchitra is one of the best written female characters in Telugu cinema, a strong willed, no nonsense heroine, who does not give into the hero at any stage, in spite of all his pleading, or even when her parents ask her to. Bhanupriya's sister Shantipriya, does well, she had done couple of movies in Telugu earlier, but this was this movie that got her noticed. However unlike her sister, she did not become such a big star.
Tilak again is another well written character, a loving and caring husband, who understands that Maharshi is suffering from mental issues, befriends him. Krishna Bhagavan is known mostly for his comic roles, but earlier in his career he did very serious, intense roles. This was his debut movie, and he later worked with Vamsy for April 1 Vidudala. He really comes out with an excellent performance here.
The rather downbeat ending, was the reason I guess for the film's failure, but then when you look at Maharshi's character arc, it could not have been in any other manner.
It's the way the 4 main characters- Maharshi, Suchitra, Tilak and Ramana are etched out that really makes the movie stand out. And also the very sensitive manner in which depression is depicted by Vamsy. The writing by Vamsy, Thanikella Bharani and Vemuri Satyanarayana is superb, be it the dialogues or screenplay.
Ilayaraja once again comes up with a banger of a soundtrack for Vamsy. The Sanskrit disco song Urvashi written by Jonnavittula, the enchanting "Sumam Prati Sumam", "Konalo Sannajaji". My personal favorite though would be Matarani Mounamidhi, written by Vennelakanti, where first word of each line of the pallavi is followed by the last word of the previous line.
Anil Malnad cinematograpy beautifully captures Vizag, as well as the scenes showing Maharshi's descent into depression really well.
Maharshi is not an easy watch at all, one of those very melancholic movies, that can leave you quite shaken by the end of it all. And I guess it's failure was the reason why Telugu movie makers did not attempt a similiar subject for a long time. But it's one of those movies that deserves more appreciation.