Sanskrit cinema

{{Short description|none}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2022}}

{{Use Indian English|date=October 2019}}

{{Infobox cinema market

| name = Sanskrit cinema

| image = File:Indiafilm.svg

| image_size =

| alt =

| caption =

| screens =

| screens_per_capita =

| distributors =

| produced_year =

| produced_ref =

| produced_total =

| produced_fictional =

| produced_animated =

| produced_documentary =

| admissions_year =

| admissions_ref =

| admissions_total =

| admissions_per_capita =

| admissions_national =

| box_office_year =

| box_office_ref =

| box_office_total =

| box_office_national =

| footnotes =

}}

{{Contains special characters|Indic}}{{Indian cinema}}

Sanskrit cinema is the segment of Indian cinema dedicated to the production of motion pictures in Sanskrit language, with only 30 films made since 1983 and no separate industry for Sanskrit films.

History

The first Sanskrit film ever made was Adi Shankaracharya in 1983 by G.V. Iyer. At the 31st National Film Awards, it won four awards, including Best Film, Best Screenplay, Best Cinematography and Best Audiography.{{cite web|url=http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm31stNFAAward.aspx|title=31st National Film Awards|publisher=India International Film Festival|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131112200555/http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm31stNFAAward.aspx|archive-date=12 November 2013}}{{cite web|url=http://dff.nic.in/2011/31st_nff_1984.pdf|title=31st National Film Awards (PDF)|publisher=Directorate of Film Festivals|access-date=10 January 2018|archive-date=24 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120424114953/http://dff.nic.in/2011/31st_nff_1984.pdf|url-status=live}}

The second film was Bhagavad Gita in 1992, again by G.V. Iyer. The film won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film at the 40th National awards for 1992. The next film made was in 2015, after a gap of 22 years.{{cite web|url=https://www.newsgram.com/sanskrit-cinema-a-creative-way-to-revive-sanskrit|title=Sanskrit Cinema: A creative way to revive Sanskrit|date=7 July 2015|publisher=www.newsgram.com|access-date=10 January 2018|archive-date=17 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171117001552/https://www.newsgram.com/sanskrit-cinema-a-creative-way-to-revive-sanskrit/|url-status=live}}

From 2015 to 2017, 4 Sanskrit films were made in Kerala, India. Priyamanasam was the 3rd Sanskrit film and the first Sanskrit film from Kerala. The film won the award for 'Best Feature film in Sanskrit' at the 63rd National awards. The film was screened at the 46th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa in 2015. Ishti made in 2016 was the first Sanskrit film based on a social issue. The film was screened at the 47th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa in 2016, in the panorama section.{{cite web|url=http://iffigoa.org/ishti-first-ever-sanskrit-film-based-social-issue/|title=Ishti is the first ever Sanskrit film based on a social issue|date=23 November 2016|publisher=iffigoa.org|access-date=11 January 2018|archive-date=8 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170808073017/http://iffigoa.org/ishti-first-ever-sanskrit-film-based-social-issue/|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/First-Sanskrit-social-movie-flays-Namboothiri-practices/articleshow/50624276.cms|title=First Sanskrit social movie flays Namboothiri practices|work=The Times of India|date=27 January 2017 |access-date=10 January 2018|archive-date=24 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180524041321/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/First-Sanskrit-social-movie-flays-Namboothiri-practices/articleshow/50624276.cms|url-status=live}}

Suryakantha is the fifth Sanskrit film and the third one made in Kerala. It is the first Sanskrit film on contemporary life.{{cite web|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/kochi/2017/apr/27/a-tale-told-in-sanskrit-1598090.html|title=A tale told in Sanskrit|work=The New Indian Express|date=27 April 2017 |access-date=17 February 2024|archive-date=9 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220909013602/https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/kochi/2017/apr/27/a-tale-told-in-sanskrit-1598090.html|url-status=live}} The film won 'Special Jury award' in Kerala Film Critics Associations awards, 2017.

Anurakthi is the first Sanskrit 3D film with a song in the film picturised in 3D format. That also made Anurakthi the first Sanskrit film to have a song in it.{{cite AV media |date=14 May 2018 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VuwGjqb8TxU |title=Thava Chinthasu {{!}} Anurakthi {{!}} Sanskrit Movie SONG {{!}} Asokan.P.K{{!}} Vani Vashishth {{!}} Vijith Nambiar {{!}} |publisher=Manorama Music Songs |via=YouTube |access-date=13 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220921043843/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VuwGjqb8TxU |archive-date=21 September 2022 |url-status=live}} The film was screened at the 48th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa in 2017.{{cite web|url=http://ddnews.gov.in/iffi/worlds-first-3d-sanskrit-film-screened-iffi|title=World's first 3D Sanskrit film screened at IFFI|publisher=DD News|access-date=11 January 2018|archive-date=11 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180111165500/http://ddnews.gov.in/iffi/worlds-first-3d-sanskrit-film-screened-iffi|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.india.com/buzz/worlds-first-3d-sanskrit-film-anurakthi-screened-at-2017-iffi-goa-2674414/|title=World's First 3D Sanskrit Film Anurakthi Screened at 2017 IFFI Goa|publisher=India.com|date=25 November 2017|access-date=11 January 2018|archive-date=11 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180111170120/http://www.india.com/buzz/worlds-first-3d-sanskrit-film-anurakthi-screened-at-2017-iffi-goa-2674414/|url-status=live}}

Pratikriti is the first commercial film in Sanskrit.{{Cite web |title=രാജൻ രാഘവൻ സംസ്കൃത ചിത്രത്തിൽ |url=https://www.pisharodysamajam.com/news/pratikriti-rajan-raghavan/ |access-date=11 April 2022 |website=Pisharody Samajam |date=23 August 2021 |language=en-US |archive-date=4 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220704061302/https://www.pisharodysamajam.com/news/pratikriti-rajan-raghavan/ |url-status=live }} This is written and directed by Dr. Nidheesh Gopi.

Punyakoti is the first animated film in Sanskrit.{{cite web|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/making-punyakoti-indias-first-sanskrit-animation-film-82275?amp|title=The making of 'Punyakoti', India's first Sanskrit animation film|publisher=thenewsminute.com|date=20 August 2018|access-date=19 August 2018|archive-date=21 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191221154411/https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/making-punyakoti-indias-first-sanskrit-animation-film-82275?amp|url-status=live}}

Madhurasmitham World's First children's Sanskrit film. Directed by sureshgayathri 2019.{{Cite web|url=https://www.onmanorama.com/news/kerala/2019/12/02/children-film-sanskrit-madhurasmitham-ksfdc.html|title=Children's film in Sanskrit -- a first; courtesy language buffs|website=OnManorama|access-date=10 June 2021|archive-date=10 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210610124428/https://www.onmanorama.com/news/kerala/2019/12/02/children-film-sanskrit-madhurasmitham-ksfdc.html|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://sgisfsy.com/about-sgisfsy/|title=About Sgisfsy | Madhurasmitham - Sgi Sanskrit Film Society (Sgisfsi)|access-date=3 November 2021|archive-date=26 February 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240226071654/https://sgisfsy.com/about-sgisfsy/|url-status=live}} Madhurasmitham won the Travancore International Award for Best Film.

Namo screened at IFFI in 2021 and its story resolve around friendship between Sudama and Sri Krishna.{{Cite news|title=Jayaram looks impressive as Kuchelan in the first look poster of 'Namo'|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/news/jayaram-looks-impressive-as-kuchelan-in-the-first-look-poster-of-namo/articleshow/73189732.cms|access-date=16 January 2020|website=The Times of India|date=10 January 2020 |language=en|archive-date=13 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200113143055/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/news/jayaram-looks-impressive-as-kuchelan-in-the-first-look-poster-of-namo/articleshow/73189732.cms|url-status=live}}

List of Sanskrit films

class="wikitable sortable"
Year

! Title

! Director

!Notes

1983

| Adi Shankaracharya

| rowspan="2" | G.V. Iyer

| First Sanskrit feature film.
Won 4 national awards, including Best Feature film.

1993

| Bhagavad Gita

| Won national awards for Best Feature film.

2015

| Priyamanasam

| Vinod Mankara

| Won national award for Best Feature film in Sanskrit.
Screened at the 46th edition of International Film Festival of India (IFFI).

2016

| Ishti

| G. Prabha

| Opening film of the feature section of the Indian Panorama section at the 47th edition of IFFI.

rowspan="2" | 2017

| Suryakantha

| M. Surendran

| Won 'Special Jury award' at Kerala Film Critics Associations awards, 2017

Anurakthi

| P. K. Ashokan

|First 3D Sanskrit film.
First Sanskrit film with a song.
Screened at the 48th International Film Festival of India (IFFI)

2019

| Madhurasmitham

| Suresh Gayathri

| World's First Children's Sanskrit FilmMadhurasmitham Film 2020 August 3 imdb retrieved https://m.imdb.com/title/tt14227856/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210610135329/https://m.imdb.com/title/tt14227856/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk |date=10 June 2021 }}

rowspan="2" |2020

| Punyakoti

| Ravi Shankar V

| First Sanskrit animation film.{{cite news |last1=Kannan |first1=Indira |title=How Punyakoti, Sanskrit's 1st animation film, got made |url=https://www.rediff.com/movies/special/how-punyakoti-sanskrits-1st-animation-film-got-made/20200419.htm |access-date=8 May 2020 |work=Rediff.com |date=19 April 2020 |archive-date=28 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200428062357/https://www.rediff.com/movies/special/how-punyakoti-sanskrits-1st-animation-film-got-made/20200419.htm |url-status=live }}

Agochararnavah

| Poornima R Iyer

| {{cite tweet |author=Poornima R Iyer |user=sankula |number=1297559102713761792 |date=23 August 2020 |title=New Sanskrit Movie Trailer 2020 "AGOCHARARNAVAH" Please Watch and Bless Us! 🙏 https://t.co/2QW7MGSoXy @blsanthosh @narendramodi @PrakashJavdekar |language=en |access-date=13 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220824120237/https://twitter.com/sankula/status/1297559102713761792 |archive-date=24 August 2022 |url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://sanskritott.com/movie/guest/detail/AGOCHARARNAVAH|title=AGOCHARARNAVAH|website=sanskritott.com|access-date=20 July 2022|archive-date=20 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220720100809/https://sanskritott.com/movie/guest/detail/AGOCHARARNAVAH|url-status=live}}

rowspan="4" | 2021

| Pratikriti

| Dr.Nidheesh Gopi

| First Commercial Sanskrit film, premiered on Firstshows OTT platform.{{cite AV media |date=25 March 2021 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAYhRW7VWOo |title=Pratikritih Official Trailer {{!}}Nipin Unni {{!}}Prasad Mallissery {{!}}Dr.Nidheesh Gopi {{!}}Devlag Productions |publisher=samskritavaikhary |via=YouTube |access-date=13 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220804165502/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAYhRW7VWOo |archive-date=4 August 2022 |url-status=live}}{{Cite web |last=sandeep_ops |title=Pratikriti on Firstshows |url=https://www.binged.com/streaming-premiere-dates/pratikriti/ |access-date=11 April 2022 |website=Binged |language=en-US |archive-date=26 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240226071642/https://www.binged.com/streaming-premiere-dates/pratikriti/ |url-status=live }}

Namo

| Vijeesh Mani

| Screened at 51st International Film Festival of India Indian panorama section{{Cite web|url=http://www.uniindia.com/news/west/-namo-shows-how-a-ruler-a-citizen-should-be-vijeesh-mani/2300362.html|title='Namo shows how a ruler & a citizen should be': Vijeesh Mani|access-date=4 June 2021|archive-date=26 February 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240226071633/http://www.uniindia.com/news/west/-namo-shows-how-a-ruler-a-citizen-should-be-vijeesh-mani/2300362.html|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/entertainment/mollywood/270919/namo-to-speak-sanskrit-soon.html|title=Namo to speak Sanskrit soon|first=priya|last=sreekumar|date=27 September 2019|website=Deccan Chronicle|access-date=16 January 2020|archive-date=3 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191203151813/http://www.deccanchronicle.com/entertainment/mollywood/270919/namo-to-speak-sanskrit-soon.html|url-status=live}}

Samasyah

|Shibu Kumaranallur

|Environmental film, released on Neestream OTT. {{Cite web|title=Neestream releases its first Sanskrit film 'Samasyah'|url=https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/2021/07/23/neestream-releases-first-sanskrit-film-samasyah.html|access-date=19 August 2021|website=OnManorama|archive-date=19 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210819075128/https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/2021/07/23/neestream-releases-first-sanskrit-film-samasyah.html|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|last=Correspondent|first=Our|title=Sanskrit film Samasyah released on NeeStream|url=https://www.cinestaan.com/articles/2021/jul/23/30572|access-date=19 August 2021|website=Cinestaan|archive-date=19 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210819075120/https://www.cinestaan.com/articles/2021/jul/23/30572|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|title=പാരിസ്ഥിതിക അവബോധവുമായി സംസ്കൃത സിനിമ 'സമസ്യാഹ' ഒടിടി റിലീസ്|url=https://malayalam.samayam.com/malayalam-cinema/movie-news/environment-awareness-sanskrit-movie-samasyah-ott-release/articleshow/84677994.cms|access-date=19 August 2021|website=malayalam.samayam.com|language=ml|archive-date=19 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210819075120/https://malayalam.samayam.com/malayalam-cinema/movie-news/environment-awareness-sanskrit-movie-samasyah-ott-release/articleshow/84677994.cms|url-status=live}}

Shaakuntalam

|Dushyant Shridhar

|A film based on story of Shakuntala and King Bharat. {{Cite web|url=https://in.bookmyshow.com/movies/shakuntalam/ET00336296|title=Watch Shakuntalam Movie Online | Buy Rent Shakuntalam On BMS Stream}}

rowspan="4" |2022

|Madhubhashitham

|Suresh Gayathri

|Movie shot in 48 hours.{{Cite web |title=Making a move for Sanskrit |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/kochi/2021/nov/19/making-a-move-for-sanskrit-2385333.html |access-date=20 July 2022 |website=The New Indian Express |date=19 November 2021 |archive-date=11 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220411054511/https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/kochi/2021/nov/19/making-a-move-for-sanskrit-2385333.html |url-status=live }}

Bhagavadajjukam

|Yadu Vijayakrishnan

|Adaptation of the 7th century play of the same name. Selected for Indian Panorama at 52nd International Film Festival of India. {{Cite web|title=Indian Panorama Announces Official Selection for 52nd IFFI, 2021|url=https://pib.gov.in/pib.gov.in/Pressreleaseshare.aspx?PRID=1769681|access-date=14 November 2021|website=pib.gov.in|archive-date=26 February 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240226071702/https://pib.gov.in/ErrorPage.html?aspxerrorpath=/pib.gov.in/Pressreleaseshare.aspx|url-status=live}}

Ekachakram

|K. Suchendra Prasad

|Based on the works of N. Ranganatha Sharma, produced by Voicing Silence, an international platform for meaningful cinema.{{Cite web |title=This Sanskrit movie has shows sold out in California and has Canada connection as well – HinduTimesCanada |url=https://hindutimescanada.ca/this-sanskrit-movie-has-shows-sold-out-in-california-and-has-canada-connection-as-well/ |access-date=2025-01-02 |language=en-US}}

Taya

|G. Prabha

|Screened at various International Film festivals and national film festivals film festivals including Pune, Kolkata, Bangalore, Delhi. {{Cite news |last=Nagarajan |first=Saraswathy |date=14 June 2021 |title=G Prabha's second film in Sanskrit, 'Taya', focusses on the landmark trial of Thatri |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/sanskrit-film-taya-by-prabha-trial-of-thatri/article34811703.ece |access-date=30 November 2022 |issn=0971-751X |archive-date=30 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221130044724/https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/sanskrit-film-taya-by-prabha-trial-of-thatri/article34811703.ece |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=Sanskrit film runs housefull at KIFF |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/my-kolkata/news/kiff-full-house-at-festival-for-sanskrit-film-taya-g-prabha/cid/1863488 |access-date=30 November 2022 |website=www.telegraphindia.com |archive-date=30 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221130044731/https://www.telegraphindia.com/my-kolkata/news/kiff-full-house-at-festival-for-sanskrit-film-taya-g-prabha/cid/1863488 |url-status=live }}

2023

|Dharmayodha

|Sruthi Simon

|First Sanskrit film by a woman director.{{Cite web |title=സംസ്കൃത ഭാഷയിലെ ആദ്യ വനിതാ സംവിധായികയുടെ ചിത്രം വരുന്നു: ധർമ്മയോദ്ധാ |trans-title=First woman director's film in Sanskrit comes: Dharma Yoddha... |url=https://www.manoramaonline.com/movies/movie-news/2022/11/08/first-woman-directors-sanskrit-movie-dharm-yoddha.html |access-date=2024-02-27 |website=manoramaonline.com |publisher=Malayala Manorama |language=ml |archive-date=22 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240222094910/https://www.manoramaonline.com/movies/movie-news/2022/11/08/first-woman-directors-sanskrit-movie-dharm-yoddha.html |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |date=2022-11-19 |title=സ്വപ്‌നത്തിലേക്കുള്ള യാത്ര |trans-title=Journey to the Dream |url=https://newspaper.mathrubhumi.com/ernakulam/news/sundayspecial-1.8063525 |access-date=2024-02-27 |work=Mathrubhumi |language=ml |archive-date=22 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240222093401/https://newspaper.mathrubhumi.com/ernakulam/news/sundayspecial-1.8063525 |url-status=live }}

rowspan="2" |2024

|Ekaki

|Prasad Parappuram,

Fr John Puthuva, Ayyampuzha Harikumar

|First Sanskrit film with only one character.{{Cite web |title=സംവിധാനം പൊലീസ്‌, വൈദികൻ, അധ്യാപകൻ |url=https://www.deshabhimani.com/district-news/-44954/ekaki-97091 |access-date=2025-01-10 |website=Deshabhimani |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2024-12-29 |title=അണിയറയിൽ വൈദികനും പോലീസ് ഉദ്യോഗസ്ഥനും അധ്യാപകനും; ഏകാംഗ സംസ്കൃതസിനിമ ഒരുങ്ങി |url=https://newspaper.mathrubhumi.com/news/kerala/kerala-1.10206032 |access-date=2025-01-10 |website=Newspaper |language=en}}

Sloka

|Janardhana Maharshi

|Sanskrit film with original story & music.{{Cite web |date=2024-09-06 |title=Ragini Dwivedi Announces Her Debut Sanskrit Film ‘Sloka’ |url=https://www.timesnownews.com/entertainment-news/kannada/ragini-dwivedi-announces-her-debut-sanskrit-film-sloka-article-113119623 |access-date=2025-03-13 |website=Times Now |language=en}}

References