Bhaktha Markandeya

{{Infobox film

| image = Bhaktha Markandeya.jpg

| caption = Poster in Tamil

| director = B. S. Ranga

| screenplay = Thuraiyur Moorthi (Tamil)
Chi Sadashivaiah (Kannada)

| producer = B. S. Ranga

| editing = P. G. Mohan
M. Devendranathan

| music = Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy

| studio = Vikram Pictures

| distributor = {{plainlist|

Rajasri Pictures (Tamil Nadu){{Cite news |date=25 January 1957 |title=Bhaktha Markandeya |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=P9oYG7HA76QC&dat=19570125&printsec=frontpage&hl=en |access-date=11 February 2025 |work=The Indian Express |pages=3 |via=Google News Archive}}{{cbignore}}
Vikram Pictures (Bangalore and Mysore){{Cite news |date=19 January 1957 |title=Bhaktha Markandeya |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=P9oYG7HA76QC&dat=19570119&printsec=frontpage&hl=en |access-date=11 February 2025 |work=The Indian Express |pages=10 |via=Google News Archive}}{{cbignore}}

}}

| released = {{film date|df=yes|1957|1|2}}

| country = India

| language = {{ubl|Tamil|Kannada}}

}}

Bhakta Markandeya ({{audio|Kn-ಭಕ್ತ ಮಾರ್ಕಂಡೇಯ.ogg|pronunciation}}) is an Indian film shot simultaneously in Tamil and Kannada languages and directed by B. S. Ranga with a different supporting cast in each of the versions. Master Anand played the title role of Markandeya in both the versions. The film was released in 1957.{{Cite web |title=1957 – பக்த மார்க்கண்டேயா – விக்ரம் பிக்சர்ஸ் (த-தெ) இருமொழிப்படம் |url=http://www.lakshmansruthi.com/cineprofiles/1957-cinedetails10.asp |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011054451/http://www.lakshmansruthi.com/cineprofiles/1957-cinedetails10.asp |archive-date=11 October 2016 |access-date=2016-10-10 |website=Lakshman Sruthi |language=ta}}{{Cite web |date=2024-01-02 |title=விக்ரம் ஸ்டூடியோவில் உருவான 'பக்த மார்க்கண்டேயா'! |url=https://www.hindutamil.in/news/cinema/tamil-cinema/1177308-bhaktha-markandeya-movie-starrer-nagayya-pushpavalli-ka-thangavelu.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240922114505/https://www.hindutamil.in/ajax/track.php?act=ads&do=ga_track&pos=1177308 |archive-date=22 September 2024 |access-date=2024-09-22 |website=Hindu Tamil Thisai |language=ta}}{{Cite web |last=M |first=Marimuthu |date=Jan 2, 2024 |title=67 years of Bhakta Markandeya: 16 வயது சிறுவனின் மெச்ச வைத்த சிவபக்தி.. நீண்ட ஆயுளைப்பெற்ற மார்க்கண்டேயரின் கதை! |url=https://tamil.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/a-special-article-on-the-completion-of-67-years-since-the-release-of-bhakta-markandeya-131704158974516.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240922114349/https://tamil.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/a-special-article-on-the-completion-of-67-years-since-the-release-of-bhakta-markandeya-131704158974516.html |archive-date=22 September 2024 |access-date=2024-09-22 |website=Hindustan Times |language=ta}}

Plot

The theme of the story is the nullification of the powers of Yama (the God of Death) by Lord Shiva.

Lord Shiva blesses sage Mrukanda Maharshi and his wife with a child. Their child, Markandeya, was given a lease of 16 years to live in this world. But the child worships Lord Shiva with unlimited Bhakthi (devotion). When he completes 16 years of age, Yama comes to take his life as appointed. Markandeya grips the Shivalinga and Lord Shiva appears before Yama and tells him not to take Markandeya's life, because he (Lord Shiva) has blessed the boy. So, Markandeya becomes an immortal. The moral of the story is that one who surrenders to God need not worry about death.

Cast

= Tamil =

Master Anand as Markandeya
V. Nagayya
Pushpavalli
K. A. Thangavelu
Babuji
Padmini Priyadarshini
Sairam
Balasaraswathi
Surya Kala
Lakshmikantham
R. Nagendra Rao
Sundaram

= Kannada =

Master Anand
R Nagendra Rao
T R Narasimha Raju
Dikki Madhava Rao
V. Nagayya
Comedian Guggu
H R Hanumantha Rao
K Pushpavalli
B Ramadevi
Raghuramaiah
Surya kala
Padmini Priyadarshini

Soundtrack

Tamil songs

Music was composed by the duo Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy, while the lyrics were penned by A. Maruthakasi.{{Cite book |last=Neelamegam |first=G. |title=Thiraikalanjiyam — Part 1 |date=December 2014 |publisher=Manivasagar Publishers |edition=1st |location=Chennai |page=127 |language=ta}}

class="wikitable" ! Song !! Singers !! Length
"Om Namaschivaaya"	rowspan=2\|V. Nagayya & P. Leela	03:00
"Thirumaalum Brammanum"	03:38
"Ulagamellaam"	rowspan=2\|V. N. Sundaram
"Daevaadhi Dhaevaa"	05:35
"Aaduvadhum Paaduvadhum"	A. P. Komala	06:17
"Naragam Idhudhaan"	S. C. Krishnan & K. Jamuna Rani
"Saaindhaadammaaa Saindhaadu"	P. Leela & Group	02:40
"Miyaav Miyaav Miyaav"	S. C. Krishnan
"Unnai Nee Ennippaar"	Sivaraman	02:39
"Ulagin Muzhumudhalae"	rowspan=3\|T. Sathyavathi	03:06
"Iravaamal Ivvulagil"
"Sivanae Unnaitthozudhu"
"Anbin Uruvae Neeyae"	P. B. Sreenivas & Soolamangalam Rajalakshmi	03:09
"Oru Maanguyil"	P. Susheela	03:26
"Ingum Angum"	R. Balasaraswathi Devi
"Andasaraasarangal"	Soolamangalam Rajalakshmi