User Reviews

This should definitely go down as one of the greatest movies in the 1980's. Music, moral, and will power is all what this movie is about. Chiranjeevi was superb, playing the typical classical musician/societal role to perfection. The rest played their characters well.

This film won 4-5 National awards! and many other film fare/Nandi awards. Film wasn't a huge hit because of the time it was released but will be remembered always!

Bilhari, Tarali Rada and many more songs are worth listening. Lot of moral, lot of theme in them. The movie is smooth, the story is very plain and simple.

Rudraveena is the best movie I have seen till date. Excellent performances, perfect music direction and not the least great direction. I have seen it over 20 times and don't mind watching it again. The movie has a social message which is sent across the masses in a subtle manner. It is a very thought provoking movie and makes everyone ponder on "Dont ask what country has done to u but ask yourself what u have done to the country". The social issues of the 80's were perfectly captured and portrayed by the characters. Illayaraja's music is simply great and supplements the movie perfectly. Chiranjeevi's performance is worth mentioning. After watching this movie I have become a big fan of this MEGA STAR. Shobana's dancing was superb and she did a great job. Gemeni Ganesan as a strict brahmin and proud musician following all the age old rules is a star. His performance was splendid . As I end I would like to mention that the movie is a definite must see for one and all.

This is one of the finest and refined movie with great message I have ever seen. Chiranjeevi excelled in his character. The cast and entire crew of Rudraveena did a splendid job. The Karnatic music in this movie is my all time favorite. The album itself is a milestone. Even if a Single person changed his opinion towards consuming alcohol..this movie is Justified. The singers who have rendered their voice especially for the Karnatic songs are exceptionally appreciable. Chiru's eloquent expressions as a Karnatic Vocalist are awesome. I am a big fan of this movie and of course Chiranjeevi. I was a big fan of Chiranjeevi...But my admiration towards him doubled after seeing this message oriented movie. Ingeneral it won't appear to masses. But he dared to take the risk and he succeeded with the movie. I strongly recommend this movie.

If somebody asks me , What is the best Telugu Movie you have ever seen,I will say "Rudra Veena" , with out any hesitation.

I have seen this when i was 9-10 years old i still remember the Excitement i have felt when i saw "Nenu Saitham" song.I might have seen this movie more than 100 times on T.V . But now also whenever i see this movie ,my adrenaline pumps up

During display of the titles, there will be a background song "Chuttu pakkala Chhodara..." in which a Brahmin boy will be walking on after performing his Puja..An old blind lady will be searching for her lost Banana...This boy observes that but won't help her ..and will go away chanting his mantras...This scene depicts the essence of the Story...."Garvinche ee nee brathuuku ee samajame malachindi...Runam theerechu tharunam vasthe Thappinchuku Pothunnava.." Shouts Sirivennala's Lyrics.......

Chiru's Intense Performance........

Shobana's character which is fun loving yet having Self Esteem.......

Balachanders' Social commitment......

Sirivennela's Heart touching Lyrics..........

and above all

IlaiyaRaja 's Music ....

makes this a wonderful movie ..

This story deals with the age old Social defects in Indian Society like Untouchability and Alcohol. But i feel this movie tells about the contribution each individual should give to his society......

Best movie i have ever seen in my life in any language. This movie has shown the talent of chiranjeevi. It shows chiranjeevi is a legend in acting. Though he was a commercial hero at that time, he dared to do a complete art film in his own production. this shows his love towards acting and the dedication. he is a legend of telugu film industry. Chiranjeevi him self said this is his one of the best films in his career.This movies has got a national award also. Though it did not collect money, it won many hearts and took chiranjeevi to the greatest heights. He is the king of Indian cinema.this was the first movie under anjana productions. Later he produced many movies under anjana productions. Rudraveena has its own place.

Its a fantastic movie with a social cause of equality and fraternity in human life. The protagonist played by Mega star Dr. Chiranjeevi, fights the problem of caste oppression(hidden apartheid) in a rural village of India. This movie generates some critical consciousness among the audience and brings sensitivity towards others castes, so as to appreciate the diversity and celebrate humanity.

This movie got a great admiration from the audience as well as from film critics. This has won the prestigious President award. The characters in the movie were very well crafted and all the artists had crafted very well to suit their respective roles. The music is fantastic and melodious. Dr. Chiranjeevi just lived in that role rather than acting it out.

10 was given to the story, all the actors including chiranjeevi and not least to the songs the best of that time.

Ramesh aravind, shobana and especially tarali raadha songs is superb.

Randi Randi song sung by sakshi ranga rao gaaru is superb in the movie.

The feel and touch of movie is excellent.

to be frank movie was not received so well by audiences.

Still it could win many awards and blessings of many critics, The actor who acted as dad for mega star was excellent too.

Brahmanandam did a great job as comedian and converted person.

The emotions are emoted very well in each and every scene.

thanks for giving me a chance to write comment on such a great movie

This not a great love story nor an action flick.But this is a movie with soul which makes us enlightened on social welfare.THIS MOVIE INFLUENCED GOVERNMENT POLICIES IN MANY WAYS. A VISIONARY MOVIE INDEED. Though its basically a musical, social awareness was the theme that was carried all over. This movie fights against UNTOUCHBILITY (poor soul died in a electricity accident incident/song in the woods/ female lead dancing outside temple etc...) It fights against alcohol addiction,later governments have banned liquor for quiet some time. It showed self finance scheme for women now called as "DWAKRA GROUPS" by government. It emphasized on women education which government took up later with a punch line " IF MOTHER IS EDUCATED THE WHOLE FAMILY IS EDUCATED" It also shows women empowerment and self employment. The most important thing is people developing their own village which later government introduced as "JANMABHOOMI PADAKAM". Many things worth mentioning such as inter caste marriage/ sacrificing personal life for social welfare...many as such. Classical music by ILAYARAJA, excellent direction by sticking only to the noble theme, star hero shedding his image and portraying himself as common man in simple costumes and make up. For this movie the male lead MEGASTAR CHIRANJEEVI GOT SPECIAL INVITATION FROM THE OCAR AWARDS Committee! This movie won BEST FILM in foreign film category in Russia. GOVERNMENT of India felicitated this movie with NARGIS DUTT NATIONAL INTEGRETITY AWARD and mega star won FILMFARE AWARD for BEST HERO ANYTHING MORE TO SAY.

Chiranjeevi's performance in movie is amazing. He proved that he can be better, than so-called art film actors. And great direction of Mr.Balchandra will make sit steady till the end of the movie. Taking out those emotions in village background people is a very tough thing to do but Mr.Balachanda managed so well and characterization is perfect that audience will forget the actor who playing the particular role. Great music composition from the maestro Ilayaraja makes the movie so beautiful and comfortable to watch.

Coming to music , Illyaraja has done a brilliant job , specially Lalitha priya kamalam song was appreciated by lots of music Gurus. What can somebody say about great sitharama sastry ? he has done exceptionally well , his lyrics were so simple so that any leiman can understand at the same time they are so complex from message point of view.

Well , one should appreciate the effort by Nagababu for producing an off-beat movie irrespective of Chiranjeevi's image.

Overall , I could say that Rudraveena is one of the legendary movies ever made on Indian cinema.

I wud rate it as one of the masterpieces of Indian cinema. What does a good movie need- Message, story, screenplay, entertainment, music?? This movie has it all. And above all it has great performers enacting the pivotal roles. A great musical directed by balachander tells the story of a classical singer(ganeshan shivaji) and his son (chiranjeevi) having contradicting ideas. One wants to help and develop the society and wants to take music to everyone while other is only devoted to his music.

The music of the film(maestro Ilayaraja) is the highlight of the film apart from astounding performances from Shivaji Ganeshan and Megastar Chiranjeevi. Other perform equally well. To remind you, Chiru received National award for this film.

A must watch for all movie lovers..

this movie is not about classical music and it does not even have a message. the message is not even about abolishing alcohol or breaking caste barriers, etc., as some idiots around here think. the director just wants to talk about the apathy of people towards the suffering of others. this is thought provokingly narrated in the first song itself. Alas, it ends up going well over the intellectual radar of the Telugu movie going public and people just take the obvious cues of brahmin, drunkard etc., and cook up their own version of the "director's view". and please people where did the director ever talk about caste oppression, a conservative brahmin, does not mean an oppressor.

I do not know if Rudraveena is a hit. But it is one of my favourite movies of my favourite actors. Chiranjeevi plays Suryam, son of the renowned, staunch orthodox classical musician Ganapathy Sastry. Ganapathy Sastry worships god through his music. A staunch beleiver of the caste system, he beleives that he (and his caste) is born superior to others, and that his music gets him closer to God and Glory. Suryam, carries the legacy of his father's music, but his conscience constantly keeps reminding him that he is one among the gods creations, all of whom are equal. The conflicting attitudes collide head on when suryam falls in love with Lalitha (sobhana)- a lower caste girl. suryam leaves his house to realise his destiny of cleaning his village of alcoholism. But would a world drenched in the stench of alcohol hear a humanitarian plea !!! Would Lalitha and Suryam realise their dream of being married, accepted by world, and accepted by family ? What are the stakes when the people who don't care are the people you want to change ? A message that was put across the Balachander way, with timely, and excellent music (by IllayaRaja), masterly enacted by Gemini Ganesan (Ganapathy Sastri), Suryam (Chiranjeevi), Lalitha (Sobhana) and the supporting cast, Rudraveena (meaning the Angry Veena - Indian variantof guitar) is my masterpiece.

_Rudra Veena_ (The Veena of Shiva, which sounds very baritone) is a movie with great intentions. The movie tries to fight the caste system, tries to argue that helping a fellow living being is of much taller order than even the praising the glory of the lord thru music. But I don't totally agree with the means with which these great intentions have been shown. The arguments between Satyam and Ganapathi Sastri bring out good truths, but they get silly at certain points trying to argue that music is in noway a means to the end. The movie also doesn't explain in detail on how the transformation has taken place. Instead, it takes the traditional Indian way of narration showing the results (i.e. transformation, in a few slide show kind of frames) and not the efforts to achieve the results. Chiranjeevi and Gemini Ganesan give a great performances, but Chiranjeevi is not close to a brahmin lad both in terms of accent and body movements. Overall, this is some good movie making with some great intentions and fantastic music by Maestro Ilaiyaraja.