:Dasavatharam (film)

{{Infobox film

| name = Dasavatharam

| image = Dasavatharam (film).jpg

| caption = DVD cover

| director = K. S. Gopalakrishnan

| writer = K. S. Gopalakrishnan

| starring = Ravikumar

| cinematography = P. Ramasamy

| editing = R. Devarajan

| music = S. Rajeswara Rao

| studio = Brilliant Picture Co-Operation

| released = {{Film date|df=yes|1976|1|15|ref1=}}

| runtime = 179 minutes

| country = India

| language = Tamil

}}

Dasavatharam ({{Translation|The Ten Avatars}}) is a 1976 Indian Tamil-language Hindu mythological film, directed and written by K. S. Gopalakrishnan. The film, based on the Dashavatara (ten Avatars) of Vishnu, features an ensemble cast, including Ravikumar as Vishnu. It was released on 15 January 1976.{{Cite web |title=Dhasavatharam ( 1976 ) |url=http://www.cinesouth.com/cgi-bin/filmography/allCast.cgi?id=27 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041113064929/http://www.cinesouth.com/cgi-bin/filmography/allCast.cgi?id=27 |archive-date=13 November 2004 |access-date=2 September 2022 |website=Cinesouth}}

Plot

Dasavatharam tells the "Ten Avatars", a spell–binding story about how far you can get with Lord Vishnu's grace. The Ten avatars named are as follows: Matsya (The Fish), Kurma (The Tortoise), Varaha (The Boar), Narasimha (The halfman/half lion), Vamana (a Dwarf), Parashurama (Warrior with the Axe), Rama (Prince of Ayodhya), Krishna (Prince of Mathura), Balarama (Avatar of Adhisheshan) and Kalki (Eternity).

Cast

{{Cast listing|

Gemini Ganesan as Arjuna
M. R. Radha as Hiranyakashipu{{Cite web |date=15 June 2012 |title=திண்ணை! |url=https://www.dinamalar.com/malarkal/vara-malar-weekly-magazine/paddy/8711 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220622075418/https://www.dinamalar.com/supplementary_detail.asp?id=8711&cat=2 |archive-date=22 June 2022 |access-date=22 June 2022 |website=Dinamalar |language=ta}}
Sirkazhi Govindarajan as Narada
M. R. R. Vasu as Hayagriva
V. K. Ramasamy as Ilangeswaran's minister
V. S. Raghavan as Guru Sukracharya
Major Sundarrajan as Dasharatha
S. V. Sahasranamam as Mahabali
Thengai Srinivasan as Jamadagni
S. A. Ashokan as King Ilangeswaran or Ravanan
P. S. Veerappa as Dushasana
S. V. Ramadas as Duryodhana
Shanmugasundaram as Prince Namachi
Master Sridhar as Prince Lakshmana
Master Sekhar as Prince Bharatha
V. Gopalakrishnan as Lord Brahma
Y. G. Mahendran as a Tribe
Ravikumar as Vishnu
Udaiyappa as Shiva{{Cite web |date=19 September 2021 |title=நாடகத்தில் நடித்ததால் சிறைபட்ட நடிகர்! |url=http://kungumam.co.in/Articalinnerdetail.aspx?id=18530&id1=3&issue=20210919 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210923120312/http://kungumam.co.in/Articalinnerdetail.aspx?id=18530&id1=3&issue=20210919 |archive-date=23 September 2021 |access-date=22 June 2022 |website=Kungumam |language=ta}}
Kaka Radhakrishnan as Sukracharya's assistant
Veerasami as Durvasa
Master Raghuraman as Vamana
K. R. Vijaya as Yasodhai
Sowcar Janaki as Kayadhu
Jayachitra as Mahalakshmi
Sripriya as Shurpanakha{{Cite web |date=31 December 2016 |title='நாகின் படத்தைப் பார்த்துவிட்டு ஸ்ரீபிரியா தயாரித்த படம் 'நீயா |url=https://www.maalaimalar.com/amp/cinema/cinehistory/2016/12/31220541/1059349/Cine-History-Sri-Piriya-produced-film-Neeya.vpf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220622075110/https://www.maalaimalar.com/amp/cinema/cinehistory/2016/12/31220541/1059349/Cine-History-Sri-Piriya-produced-film-Neeya.vpf |archive-date=22 June 2022 |access-date=22 June 2022 |website=Maalai Malar |language=ta}}
Jaya as Princess Draupadi/Panchaali
Vijayakumari as Kaikeyi
Sridevi as Sita
S. Varalakshmi as Adhiparasakthi, Lalita Tripurasundari, Mahakali, Meenakshi,
P. R. Varalakshmi as Parvati, Kali
Udaya Chandrika as Mahasaraswati
V. R. Thilagam as Renuka Devi
Baby Rani as Prahalad

}}

Soundtrack

Music was by S. Rajeswara Rao and lyrics were written by Udumalai Narayana Kavi, A. Maruthakasi and Vaali.{{citation needed|date=June 2022}}

class="wikitable" ! Song !! Singers !! Length
"Santhakaram Pujakasayanam"	Sirkazhi Govindarajan	02:02
"Om Ennum Manthirathin"	P. Susheela	04:38
"Hari Narayana"	Sirkazhi Govindarajan	02:32
"Narayana Ennum Naamam"	Sirkazhi Govindarajan	06:47
"Hari Narayana Ennum Naamam" – (F)	T. K. Kala	02:23
"Iranyaya Namaga"	Y. G. Mahendran T. K. Kala	02:55
"Thaniyaayo Sinam"	T. K. Kala	01:45
"Keral Music"	Instrumental
"Moovadi Mann Kettu"	Sirkazhi Govindarajan
"Thaayinum Paaramal"	Sirkazhi Govindarajan
"Thandhai Soll Mikka"	Sirkazhi Govindarajan, Vani Jairam
"Ambai Eduthaan"	Sirkazhi Govindarajan, Vani Jairam, K. J. Yesudas	10:01
"Adhu Mutriya Kaliyin Avatharam"	T. L. Maharajan	05:21

Reception

Kanthan of Kalki called Seerkazhi Govindarajan as a main hero of the film for making audience understand about ten incarnations while also praising the actors, cinematography and graphics but felt the film was lengthy due to too many songs and lengthy dialogues which affected the film's pace.{{Cite magazine |last=காந்தன் |date=1 February 1976 |title=தசாவதாரம் |url=https://kalkionline.com/kalkionline_archive/imagegallery/archiveimages/kalki/1976/feb/01-02-1976/p55.jpg |url-status=dead |magazine=Kalki |language=ta |page=55 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220728033442/https://kalkionline.com/kalkionline_archive/imagegallery/archiveimages/kalki/1976/feb/01-02-1976/p55.jpg |archive-date=28 July 2022 |access-date=4 January 2022}}