Anthahpuram

{{Infobox film

| name = Anthahpuram

| image = Anthahpuram.jpg

| caption = DVD cover

| director = Krishna Vamsi

| writer = Krishna Vamsi
{{small|(Story & Screenplay)}}

| producer = P. Kiran

| starring = Soundarya
Prakash Raj
Sai Kumar
Jagapathi Babu

| cinematography = S. K. Bhupathi

| editing = Shankar

| music = Ilayaraja

| studio = Anandi Art Creations

| released = {{film date|1998|11|30|df=y}}

| runtime = 137 minutes

| country = India

| language = Telugu

}}

Anthahpuram ({{translation|Palace}}) is a 1998 Indian Telugu-language drama film written and directed by Krishna Vamsi. The film stars Soundarya, Prakash Raj, Sai Kumar and Jagapathi Babu with music composed by Ilayaraja. Inspired from 1991 American film Not Without My Daughter (1991),{{Cite web |date=27 September 2015 |title=కథ వాళ్లది... క్రియేటివిటీ మనది! |url=https://www.sakshi.com/news/funday/not-without-my-daughter-hollywood-movie-story-creativity-ours-279469 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220315093650/https://www.sakshi.com/news/funday/not-without-my-daughter-hollywood-movie-story-creativity-ours-279469 |archive-date=15 March 2022 |access-date=15 March 2022 |website=Sakshi |language=te}} the plot follows an Indian-origin woman from Mauritius who, along with her young son, becomes trapped in a patriarchal and feudal household in the Rayalaseema region of Andhra Pradesh.{{Cite web |last=C |first=Navya |date=27 October 2018 |title=From Rayalaseema with Love: Films That Added New Shades To The Region |url=https://www.filmcompanion.in/features/telugu-features/from-rayalaseema-with-love-films-that-added-new-shades-to-the-region/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211103093158/https://www.filmcompanion.in/features/telugu-features/from-rayalaseema-with-love-films-that-added-new-shades-to-the-region/ |archive-date=3 November 2021 |access-date=31 July 2023 |website=Film Companion}}

Anthahpuram won nine Nandi Awards and three Filmfare Awards South including Best Film – Telugu. The film was later remade in 1999 in Tamil with the same name with Parthiban replacing Jagapathi Babu and it was remade in Hindi as Shakti: The Power (2002).{{Cite web |date=18 September 2002 |title=A woman scorned |url=https://www.rediff.com/entertai/2002/sep/18sld3.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220225095128/https://www.rediff.com/entertai/2002/sep/18sld3.htm |archive-date=25 February 2022 |access-date=21 August 2020 |website=Rediff.com}}{{Cite web |date=20 September 2002 |title=Karisma back with 'Shakti — The Power' |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/2002/20020920/cth2.htm#6 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220225095131/https://www.tribuneindia.com/2002/20020920/cth2.htm#6 |archive-date=25 February 2022 |access-date=21 August 2020 |website=The Tribune}}

Plot

The film begins in Mauritius, where Bhanu, a lively young woman, lives with her uncle Bobby. She meets Prakash, an orphan, and the two marry, soon having a son named Raja. When Prakash learns about a violent incident in his hometown in Rayalaseema, he attempts to contact his mother but is unable to. Distressed, Prakash decides to return to India with Bhanu and Raja. Bhanu soon realizes that Prakash has been hiding his true identity; he is from a powerful, feudal family, with his father, Narasimha, being a notorious faction leader. Prakash had left this violent society behind, migrating to Mauritius to escape the brutality.

Upon their arrival, Narasimha's rivals attempt to kill Prakash but are thwarted by Narasimha's loyalists, who rescue the family and take them to their ancestral home. Bhanu is repelled by the violent and oppressive culture and resists Narasimha's attempts to bond with his grandson. She finds comfort in her kind-hearted mother-in-law, who cares deeply for Bhanu, Prakash, and Raja. Prakash arranges to return to Mauritius and entrusts their passports to his friend, Inspector Chinna, to facilitate the travel.

During a wedding ceremony, Prakash is attacked and killed by Narasimha's enemies. Devastated, Bhanu decides to leave with Raja but agrees to stay until Prakash’s funeral at her mother-in-law's request. Narasimha, seeking an heir to avenge his son's death, refuses to let Bhanu leave with Raja. Bhanu protests and attempts to escape but is confined to the house.

Meanwhile, Sarai Veeraraju, a petty thief dreaming of moving to Dubai, becomes entangled in Bhanu's plight. With her mother-in-law's help, Bhanu escapes and retrieves the passports from Chinna. When pursued by Narasimha's men, she encounters Veeraraju, who agrees to help her in exchange for money to fulfill his dream. Veeraraju protects Bhanu and Raja, planning to get them safely onto a train to Hyderabad. During the ensuing chaos, Veeraraju sacrifices his life, enabling Bhanu and Raja to escape.

Narasimha continues to pursue Bhanu to the airport. However, upon catching up to her, he experiences a change of heart after his wife confronts him about their family's responsibility for the tragedies. Narasimha asks Bhanu for forgiveness and allows her and Raja to leave. The film concludes with Bhanu forgiving Narasimha and Raja bidding an emotional farewell to his grandfather.

Cast

{{cast listing|

Soundarya as Bhanumati
Prakash Raj as Narasimha
Sai Kumar as Prakash, Bhanumati's husband
Jagapathi Babu as Sarai Veeraraju
Saradha as Narasimha's wife
K. Ashok Kumar
G. V. Sudhakar Naidu
Ramaraju as Narasimha's henchman
Dasari Arun Kumar in a cameo appearance
Chinna
M. S. Narayana
Babu Mohan as Bobby
Raja Babu
Jagga Rao
Telangana Shakuntala
Heera Rajagopal guest appearance in an item number
Delhi Rajeswari
Master Krishna Pradeep as Raja (Prakash's son)
Madhusudhan Rao in an uncredited role

;Tamil version

Parthiban as Dubai Pandiyan
Mansoor Ali Khan as Shekhar
Simran as Radha

}}

Production

= Development =

The concept for Anthahpuram was inspired by the 1991 film Not Without My Daughter, which tells the real-life story of Betty Mahmoody, an American woman married to an Iranian man. Director Krishna Vamsi was deeply affected by the film, which depicted the struggles of a sophisticated woman trapped in a primitive society. He sought to create an Indianised version of the story. Vamsi saw an opportunity when producers Tammareddy Bharadwaja and P. Kiran approached him to make a film.{{Cite web |last=Jeevi |date=16 July 1999 |title=Interview with Krishna Vamsi Part - 1 |url=http://www.idlebrain.com/celeb/interview/interview_krishnavamsi.html |access-date=3 January 2025 |work=Idlebrain.com}}

Vamsi pitched an Indianised version of Not Without My Daughter, set in Mauritius and Rayalaseema. The plot followed an Indian girl from Mauritius who struggles to return home after encountering factional violence in Rayalaseema. Bharadwaja expressed interest in the script, and Vamsi further developed it, ultimately shaping the narrative for Anthahpuram.

= Casting =

After completing the script for Anthahpuram, Krishna Vamsi initially intended to cast a new face for the role of Bhanumati, though Bharadwaja preferred Soundarya due to her marketability. Vamsi later recognised Soundarya’s acting talent.

Vamsi also approached Arvind Swamy to play Bhanumati’s husband. While Swamy liked the script, he was hesitant to act in Telugu due to a previous negative experience and his discomfort with the language. He suggested making the film in Tamil, but Vamsi offered to shoot his sequences in Tamil and dub them in Telugu. Swamy declined, feeling it would be unfair to the role. Consequently, Vamsi turned to Jagapathi Babu, who initially declined the role due to having already portrayed similar characters. Jagapathi Babu instead suggested taking on the role of Sarai Veeraraju, originally intended for Ravi Teja. As a result, Sai Kumar and Jagapathi Babu were cast in their respective roles of Bhanumati’s husband and Sarai Veeraraju.

= Filming =

The production of Anthahpuram faced financial difficulties due to the failures of Krishna Vamsi’s previous films, Sindhooram (1997) and Chandralekha (1998). The film’s budget was limited, and there were scheduling conflicts with the cast.

The film unit traveled to Mauritius to shoot several songs, including "Kalyanam Kanundi," which was filmed at locations such as Grand Bay Beach and Port Louis. In a unique move for a Telugu film, a helicopter was used for the shooting of another song, with part of the sequence filmed inside a submarine.{{cite web |title="Antahpuram" in a submarine |url=http://www.andhraonline.com/archives/tollywood/studio30.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19990506104304/http://www.andhraonline.com/archives/tollywood/studio30.htm |archive-date=6 May 1999 |access-date=18 November 2024 |website=Andhra Online}}

Music

The film's music was composed by Ilayaraja with lyrics written by Sirivennela Seetharama Sastry. Audio soundtrack was released on Melody Makers label.{{Cite web |date=14 January 1998 |title=Antahpuram |url=https://www.jiosaavn.com/album/antahpuram/CHMuRGGAiis_ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200812234154/https://www.jiosaavn.com/album/antahpuram/CHMuRGGAiis_ |archive-date=12 August 2020 |access-date=15 March 2022 |website=JioSaavn}}{{Cite web |date=January 1999 |title=Anthapuram |url=https://www.jiosaavn.com/album/anthapuram/GDAI8hrZhvc_ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200927074509/https://www.jiosaavn.com/album/anthapuram/GDAI8hrZhvc_ |archive-date=27 September 2020 |access-date=15 March 2022 |website=JioSaavn}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Telugu

| extra_column = Singer(s)

| total_length = 27:31

| title1 = Asalem

| extra1 = Ilaiyaraaja, K. S. Chithra

| length1 = 5:54

| title2 = Chhamaku

| extra2 = Mano, Swarnalatha

| length2 = 4:48

| title3 = Kalyanam

| extra3 = K. S. Chithra

| length3 = 5:10

| title4 = Sivamethara

| extra4 = Shankar Mahadevan

| length4 = 5:40

| title5 = Suridu Poova

| extra5 = S. Janaki

| length5 = 4:59

| length8 =

| title10 =

| length9 =

| title9 =

| length6 =

| title8 =

| length7 =

| title7 =

| title6 =

| length10 =

}}

;

{{Track listing

| headline = Tamil

| extra_column = Singer(s)

| total_length = 27:31

| all_lyrics = Palani Bharathi.

| title1 = Azageah Unn

| extra1 = Ilaiyaraaja, K. S. Chithra

| length1 = 5:54

| title2 = Maana Madura

| extra2 = Mano, Swarnalatha

| length2 = 4:48

| title3 = Ammmamma

| extra3 = Baby Deepika, K. S. Chithra

| length3 = 5:10

| title4 = Thai Thaga Thai

| extra4 = Shankar Mahadevan, Gopika Poornima

| length4 = 5:40

| title5 = Poovetham Kanna

| extra5 = K. S. Chithra

| length5 = 4:59

}}

Reception

Rakesh P of Deccan Herald wrote, "For those movie-buffs who feel drooped after watching mushy romances and maudlin melodramas, Ananthapuram provides a respite. Director Krishna Vamsi, who is known for his technical virtuosity, has shot violence and gore very aesthetically and succeeds in making it a gripping entertainer".{{Cite news |last=P |first=Rakesh |date=22 January 1999 |title=Reviews |url=http://www.cscsarchive.org/MediaArchive/art.nsf/(docid)/0A189F1D971D3950652569400062A3E1?OpenDocument |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200609161603/http://www.cscsarchive.org/MediaArchive/art.nsf/(docid)/0A189F1D971D3950652569400062A3E1?OpenDocument |archive-date=9 June 2020 |access-date=9 March 2020 |work=Deccan Herald}} D. S. Ramanujam of The Hindu reviewing the Tamil version wrote that Parthiban and Prakash Raj "have contributed handsomely in Duet Cinema's Anthapuram". He added, "It is a taxing role for Soundarya and she fulfils it with complete assurance. Mansur Ali Khan quite fits the part while Sai Kumar cuts a neat figure in the role of a son who wants his father to give up his ways of bloodshed".{{Cite news |last=Ramanujam |first=D. S. |date=23 July 1999 |title=Film Reviews: Anthapuram / Viralukkaetha Veekkam / Sangamam |url=http://www.indiaserver.com/thehindu/1999/07/23/stories/09230224.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010604213121/http://www.indiaserver.com/thehindu/1999/07/23/stories/09230224.htm |archive-date=4 June 2001 |access-date=31 July 2023 |work=The Hindu}} K. P. S. of Kalki reviewing the same, wrote the old Thevar Magan has been washed anew; blood is used for washing instead of water.{{Cite magazine |last=கே.பி.எஸ் |date=1 August 1999 |title=அந்தப்புரம் |url=https://archive.org/details/kalki1999-08-01/page/48/mode/2up |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230613141818/https://archive.org/details/kalki1999-08-01/page/48/mode/2up |archive-date=13 June 2023 |access-date=13 June 2023 |magazine=Kalki |page=48 |language=ta |via=Internet Archive}}

Upon its release, Anthahpuram initially received negative reactions from audiences, who found its violent and intense themes difficult to accept. However, over time, the film gained appreciation and became popular, eventually earning several awards.

Accolades

class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"
scope="col"\| Award{{efn\|Awards are in Alphabetical order.}} ! scope="col"\| Date of ceremony{{efn\|Date is linked to the article about the awards held that year, wherever possible.}} ! scope="col"\| Category ! scope="col"\| Recipient(s) ! scope="col" class="unsortable"\| Result ! scope="col" class="unsortable"\| {{Abbr\|Ref.\|Reference}}
scope="row" rowspan="3"\| Filmfare Awards South \| rowspan="3"\| 24 April 1999 \| Best Film – Telugu \| Anthahpuram \| {{won}} \| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="3"\| {{Cite news \|date=25 April 1999 \|title=Filmfare awards presented at a dazzling function \|url=http://www.cscsarchive.org:8081/MediaArchive/art.nsf/(docid)/324A4A470734BB1E6525694000620184 \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120323102405/http://www.cscsarchive.org:8081/MediaArchive/art.nsf/%28docid%29/324A4A470734BB1E6525694000620184 \|archive-date=23 March 2012 \|access-date=30 November 2011 \|work=The Times of India}}
Best Director – Telugu \| Krishna Vamsi \| {{won}}
Best Actress – Telugu \| rowspan="2"\| Soundarya \| {{won}}
scope="row" rowspan="9"\| Nandi Awards \| rowspan="9"\| 18 March 1999 \| Special Jury Award \| {{won}} \| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="9"\| {{Cite web \|title=Nandi Film Awards G.O and Results 1998 \|url=https://www.apsftvtdc.in/nandi-film-awards-1998.html \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210304212515/https://www.apsftvtdc.in/nandi-film-awards-1998.html \|archive-date=4 March 2021 \|access-date=11 August 2020 \|website=APFTVTDC}} {{Cite web \|title=నంది అవార్డు విజేతల పరంపర (1964–2008) \|trans-title=A series of Nandi Award Winners (1964–2008) \|url=http://ipr.ap.nic.in/New_Links/Film.pdf \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150223135739/http://ipr.ap.nic.in/New_Links/Film.pdf \|archive-date=23 February 2015 \|access-date=21 August 2020 \|publisher=Information & Public Relations of Andhra Pradesh \|language=Telugu}}
Best Supporting Actor \| Jagapathi Babu \| {{won}}
Best Character Actor \| Prakash Raj \| {{won}}
Best Character Actress \| Telangana Shakuntala \| {{won}}
Best Child Actor \| Master Krishna Pradeep \| {{won}}
Best Female Playback Singer \| S. Janaki for "Suridu Poova" \| {{won}}
Best Art Director \| Srinivasa Raju \| {{won}}
Best Costume Designer \| Thota Sai \| {{won}}
Best Female Dubbing Artist \| Saritha \| {{won}}
scope="row"\| National Film Awards \| 15 February 2000 \| Special Mention \| Prakash Raj \| {{won}} \| style="text-align:center;"\| {{Cite web \|title=46th National Film Awards 1999 \|url=http://dff.nic.in/images/Documents/71_46thNfacatalogue.pdf \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200725173819/http://dff.nic.in/images/Documents/71_46thNfacatalogue.pdf \|archive-date=25 July 2020 \|access-date=21 August 2020 \|publisher=Directorate of Film Festivals}}

class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"

scope="col"| Award{{efn|Awards are in Alphabetical order.}}

! scope="col"| Date of ceremony{{efn|Date is linked to the article about the awards held that year, wherever possible.}}

! scope="col"| Category

! scope="col"| Recipient(s)

! scope="col" class="unsortable"| Result

! scope="col" class="unsortable"| {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}}

scope="row" rowspan="3"| Filmfare Awards South

| rowspan="3"| 24 April 1999

| Best Film – Telugu

| Anthahpuram

| {{won}}

| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="3"| {{Cite news |date=25 April 1999 |title=Filmfare awards presented at a dazzling function |url=http://www.cscsarchive.org:8081/MediaArchive/art.nsf/(docid)/324A4A470734BB1E6525694000620184 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120323102405/http://www.cscsarchive.org:8081/MediaArchive/art.nsf/%28docid%29/324A4A470734BB1E6525694000620184 |archive-date=23 March 2012 |access-date=30 November 2011 |work=The Times of India}}

Best Director – Telugu

| Krishna Vamsi

| {{won}}

Best Actress – Telugu

| rowspan="2"| Soundarya

| {{won}}

scope="row" rowspan="9"| Nandi Awards

| rowspan="9"| 18 March 1999

| Special Jury Award

| {{won}}

| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="9"| {{Cite web |title=Nandi Film Awards G.O and Results 1998 |url=https://www.apsftvtdc.in/nandi-film-awards-1998.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210304212515/https://www.apsftvtdc.in/nandi-film-awards-1998.html |archive-date=4 March 2021 |access-date=11 August 2020 |website=APFTVTDC}}
{{Cite web |title=నంది అవార్డు విజేతల పరంపర (1964–2008) |trans-title=A series of Nandi Award Winners (1964–2008) |url=http://ipr.ap.nic.in/New_Links/Film.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150223135739/http://ipr.ap.nic.in/New_Links/Film.pdf |archive-date=23 February 2015 |access-date=21 August 2020 |publisher=Information & Public Relations of Andhra Pradesh |language=Telugu}}

Best Supporting Actor

| Jagapathi Babu

| {{won}}

Best Character Actor

| Prakash Raj

| {{won}}

Best Character Actress

| Telangana Shakuntala

| {{won}}

Best Child Actor

| Master Krishna Pradeep

| {{won}}

Best Female Playback Singer

| S. Janaki for "Suridu Poova"

| {{won}}

Best Art Director

| Srinivasa Raju

| {{won}}

Best Costume Designer

| Thota Sai

| {{won}}

Best Female Dubbing Artist

| Saritha

| {{won}}

scope="row"| National Film Awards

| 15 February 2000

| Special Mention

| Prakash Raj

| {{won}}

| style="text-align:center;"| {{Cite web |title=46th National Film Awards 1999 |url=http://dff.nic.in/images/Documents/71_46thNfacatalogue.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200725173819/http://dff.nic.in/images/Documents/71_46thNfacatalogue.pdf |archive-date=25 July 2020 |access-date=21 August 2020 |publisher=Directorate of Film Festivals}}