Nireekshana

The story unfolds as Murali Krishna, a convict, now free from jail, tells his tragic love story to his fellow passengers in a school bus. An orphan and a forest officer by profession, he falls in love with a local tribal woman, Tulasi, during his stay at a forest area. They decided to get married, and he sets off to tell his best friend about his plans.

On his way back, the police inspector (Narra Venkateswara Rao) arrest him as a suspected naxalite criminal, who looks similar to Murali Krishna. There he accidentally kills a policeman and gets life imprisonment. During his early days at jail, he writes a letter to Tulasi asking her to forget him. When his prison term was about to complete, he writes a letter to see if she waits for him. After long years of torment in the jail he goes to meet Thulasi. Does she still wait for him? That's the question of his fellow passengers, too. At the end, she does wait for him, and welcomes him with lamps.

{{Colbegin}}

• Bhanu Chander as Murali Krishna (forest officer)
• Archana as Tulasi (tribal woman)
• P. L. Narayana as Tulasi's father
• Rallapalli
• Allu Ramalingaiah as Church Father
• Narra Venkateswara Rao as D. Arjun Rao (Inspector)
• Kaikala Satyanarayana as Jailer
• Nirmalamma
• P. J. Sarma
• B. Saroja Devi
• Ranjitha
• K. K. Sarma
• Anju
• Preethi
• Keerthy Meenakshi
• Sumathi
• Malleswari
• Seethalakshmi

{{Colend}}

Archana acted for most of the film without wearing a blouse.{{Cite web |date=19 November 2020 |title=Yesteryear actress Archana on her role in Nireekshana: It cannot be said that it is a bold character |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movies/news/yesteryear-actress-archana-on-her-role-in-nireekshana-it-cannot-be-said-that-it-is-a-bold-character/articleshow/79299070.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201119110748/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movies/news/yesteryear-actress-archana-on-her-role-in-nireekshana-it-cannot-be-said-that-it-is-a-bold-character/articleshow/79299070.cms |archive-date=19 November 2020 |access-date=3 January 2022 |website=The Times of India}} The film was also inspired by the human rights violations that occurred during the Emergency period (1975–77).

The music and background score was composed by Ilaiyaraaja.{{Cite web |title=Ilayaraja's 'Thumbi vaa' is hummed in 7 different ways! |url=https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/music/2018/05/09/ilayaraja-timeless-thumbi-vaa-song-is-hummed-in-seven-different-ways.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210220155955/https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/music/2018/05/09/ilayaraja-timeless-thumbi-vaa-song-is-hummed-in-seven-different-ways.html |archive-date=20 February 2021 |access-date=16 November 2020 |website=Onmanorama}}

In the original Telugu version, the lyrics were written by Aatreya.{{Cite web |date=4 February 2019 |title=ఇన్ని ఏల సుక్కల్లో నిన్ను నేనెతికానే |url=https://www.sakshi.com/news/family/nireekshana-movie-sukkalley-thochave-song-1157901 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220103055304/https://www.sakshi.com/news/family/nireekshana-movie-sukkalley-thochave-song-1157901 |archive-date=3 January 2022 |access-date=16 November 2020 |website=Sakshi |language=te}} The Telugu soundtrack was published by Aditya Music and Mango Music.

The Tamil dubbed version, titled *Kanne Kalaimaane*, featured adapted lyrics and was released by **Kosmic Music**. The Tamil soundtrack is available on streaming platforms including [JioSaavn](https://www.jiosaavn.com/album/kanne-kalai-mane/zWwGQts,l-8_), [Apple Music](https://music.apple.com/in/album/kanne-kalai-mane-original-motion-picture-soundtrack-ep/1705045934), [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/album/1SvBHQfVR5mgkvTW1hTMvy), and [YouTube Music](https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_neXTlAQK1hUknI7oQUPeGoyTinDahiocg).

The song "Aakasam Eenatidho" / "Yamuna Nadhikku Vandhu" is adapted from the Malayalam song "Thumbi Vaa", originally composed by Ilaiyaraaja for the film Olangal (1982), also directed by Balu Mahendra.{{cite web |title=Multiple Versions of a Single Tune |url=http://www.musicquencher.com/blog/2009/08/25/multiple-versions-of-a-single-tune |url-status=dead |website=musicquencher.com |access-date=22 October 2010 |archive-date=6 October 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101006015353/http://www.musicquencher.com/blog/2009/08/25/multiple-versions-of-a-single-tune/ }}

{{Track listing

| headline = Telugu Track listing

| extra_column = Singer(s)

| title1 = Thiyyani Danimma

| extra1 = S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. P. Sailaja

| length1 = 4:23

| title2 = Yamuna Theere

| extra2 = S. Janaki

| length2 = 4:17

| title3 = Chukkalle Thochave

| extra3 = K. J. Yesudas

| length3 = 4:22

| title4 = Aakasam Eenatidho

| extra4 = S. Janaki

| length4 = 3:55

| total_length = 16:17

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Tamil Track listing

| extra_column = Singer(s)

| title1 = Yamuna Nadhikku Vandhu

| extra1 = Ilaiyaraaja, S. Janaki

| length1 = 4:37

| title2 = Neerveezhchi Thee Muttuthey

| extra2 = Ilaiyaraaja, S. Janaki

| length2 = 4:17

| title3 = Singara Thazhambo Pookindra

| extra3 = Ilaiyaraaja, S. P. Sailaja, S. P. Balasubrahmanyam

| length3 = 4:37

| title4 = Un Kannil Neeranen

| extra4 = Ilaiyaraaja, P. Jayachandran

| length4 = 4:47

| total_length = 18:18

}}

Reviewing the Tamil-dubbed version Kanne Kalaimaane, Jayamanmadhan of Kalki appreciated Balu Mahendra's cinematography, said Archana had incredible eyes, and Bhanu Chander was "o.k".{{Cite magazine |last=ஜெயமன்மதன் |author-link=Subha (writers) |date=24 January 1988 |title=கண்ணே! கலைமானே! |url=https://kalkionline.com/kalkionline_archive/imagegallery/archiveimages/kalki/1988/jan/24-01-1988/p7.jpg |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220803101142/https://kalkionline.com/kalkionline_archive/imagegallery/archiveimages/kalki/1988/jan/24-01-1988/p7.jpg |archive-date=3 August 2022 |access-date=28 January 2022 |magazine=Kalki |page=7 |language=ta}}

Balu Mahendra won the Best Cinematographer, and Archana won the Special Jury Award.{{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}}{{Cite web |last=Venugopal |first=L. |date=7 January 2011 |title=తెలుగుసినిమా చరిత్ర: Andhra Pradesh State Film Awarda(1986–1996) |url=http://telugucinemacharitra.blogspot.com/2011/01/andhra-pradesh-state-film-awarda1986.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210822065843/http://telugucinemacharitra.blogspot.com/2011/01/andhra-pradesh-state-film-awarda1986.html |archive-date=22 August 2021 |access-date=22 August 2021 |website=Telugu Cinema Charitra}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{IMDb title|0235625}}

{{Balu Mahendra}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:1980s Indian films

Category:1980s Telugu-language films

Category:1986 films

Category:1986 romantic drama films

Category:Films directed by Balu Mahendra

Category:Films scored by Ilaiyaraaja

Category:Films set in Andhra Pradesh

Category:Films set in forests

Category:Films shot in Andhra Pradesh

Category:Films shot in Ooty

Category:Forest administration in India

Category:Indian films based on actual events

Category:Telugu remakes of Malayalam films

Category:Works about the Emergency (India)