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Batasari
Batasari
	Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Ramakrishna
Screenplay by	Samudrala Sr.
Based on	Bardidi; by Saratchandra Chatterjee
Produced by	Ramakrishna
Starring	P. Bhanumathi; Akkineni Nageswara Rao
Cinematography	M. Sundaraam
Edited by	V. Venkat
Music by	Master Venu
Production; company	Bharani Pictures
Release dates	30 June 1961 (Telugu); 21 July 1961 (Tamil);
Running time	146 minutes
Country	India
Languages	Telugu; Tamil;

Batasari (transl. Wayfarer) is a 1961 Indian Telugu-language drama film, produced and directed by Ramakrishna of Bharani Pictures. It was simultaneously made in Tamil as Kaanal Neer (transl. Mirage). Based on the Bengali novel Bardidi (transl. Elder sister) by Saratchandra Chatterjee, the film stars P. Bhanumathi and Akkineni Nageswara Rao, with music composed by Master Venu. Batasari was released on 30 June 1961, and Kaanal Neer on 21 July. Both versions did not succeed commercially.

Plot

Surendranath / Suren, a lone wolf, is the maternal grandson & heir of Zamindar of Dharapuram. He stays with his father, Raghavaiah, & stepmother, Sundaramma, and she raises Suren with mollycoddle. Suren currently ranks in graduation and sets his sights on stepping into England for higher education. Sundaramma dismisses it, so peeved, Suren quits and proceeds to Madras. Appa Rao, a wealthy, resides with his son, Siva Chandra, and two daughters, Madhavi & Prameela. Madhavi is an honorable young widow and takes care of family tasks. Today, Suren approaches Apparao for a post; he appoints him as a tutor to Prameela and provides a roof. Madhavi gazes at Suren's distrait nature and covertly concerns his things in time. Hereupon, a strange adoration blossoms between them, and Suren silently endears without viewing her. It creates rumors that anguish Madhavi, and she scolds Suren for neglecting his duty. Thus, he exits, being upset on an aimless journey, and meets a fatal accident. Soon after the recovery, Raghavaiah carries Suren back, notifying Appa Rao. The detachment disconcerts the two, but they accept fate.

Meanwhile, Suren's grandfather passes away, and he crowns his terrain, which green eyes his sly Diwan Alwar. Following this, he splices benevolent Shanti, who worships him. However, Suren does not reciprocate because his heart longs for Madhavi. Parallelly, Appa Rao expires, Siva Chandra wedlocks shrew Kanti, and she scorns Madhavi. Then, she walks out to her in-law's house, which is under the regime of Suren, but Pullaiah, her peasant, envies it. Shanti molds Suren as a good Samaritan who handles his liabilities and hinders the atrocities of Diwan. Anyhow, his health deteriorates due to the post-effective of the accident. Shanti seeks to share all aspects of Suren's life when he divulges his holy love for Madhavi. As of now, Suren requests Shanti to get Madhavi to view it once before leaving his breath, which she denies. Besides, Pullaiah ruses with Diwan and vends Madhavi's assets. Engaged, Madhavi moves to confront Suren, being unbeknownst. Thereupon, she silently behinds discerning Suren and about to depart. Suren is aware of the totality and rushes for Madhavi. Simultaneously, Shanti becomes flat imploring before goddesses as she is conscious it will result in her husband's death. At last, with great difficulty, Suren reaches Madhavi and dies in her lap with the first look when she, too, accompanies him. Finally, the movie ends by showing the duo are immortal.

Cast

P. Bhanumathi as Madhavi
Akkineni Nageswara Rao as Surendranath / Suren
J. V. Ramana Murthy as Siva Chandra
Mudigonda Lingamurthy as Diwan Alwar
Vangara as Pullaiah
B. R. Panthulu Apparao
Vinnakota Ramanna Pantulu as Raghavaiah
Boddapati as Anjaiah
Doraiswamy as Zamindar of Dharapuram
Sowcar Janaki as Shanthi
Devika as Manorama
Suryakantham as Sundaramma
Chhaya Devi as Poornamma
L. Vijayalakshmi as Dancer
Lakshmirajyam as Dancer
Baby Sasikala as Prameela

Production

Batasari is based on the novel Bardidi by Saratchandra Chatterjee. It was simultaneously filmed in Tamil as Kaanal Neer.^[1] The Telugu version was originally titled Yendamavulu. Before and during the shoot, for inspiration, Akkineni Nageswara Rao was asked by Ramakrishna to watch Uttam Kumar's performance in the 1959 film version of Bardidi. Nageswara Rao complied, and even donned the getup just like Kumar, but held to his own on histrionics.^[2]

Soundtrack

Music composed by Master Venu. Lyrics were written by Samudrala Sr.^[3] For Kaanal Neer, the lyrics were written by Kannadasan and Ku. Ma. Balasubramaniam.^[4]

Telugu Track List
Song Title	Singers	Length
"O Batasari"	P. Bhanumathi	2:54
"Kanulakudoche Chetikandani"	P. Bhanumathi, Jikki	2:45
"Lokamerugani Baala"	P. Bhanumathi	3:23
"Uppakara Chinthaye"	P. Bhanumathi	3:02
"Oho Maharaja"	Jikki	3:34
"O Maata"	P. Susheela	3:16

Tamil Track List
Song	Singers	Lyrics	Length
"Ulagam Theriyaa Payire"	P. Bhanumathi	Kannadasan	03:22
"Manamenum Maaligai Meedhu"	P. B. Sreenivas, K. Jamuna Rani	Ku. Ma. Balasubramaniam	02:18
"Anbaana Enname Paavama... Kanaala Kaanaamale"	P. Bhanumathi	Ku. Ma. Balasubramaniam	03:02
"Aasai Mozhi Pesa Vaa"	P. Susheela	Kannadasan	03:09
"Kannil Therindhum Kaikku Varaadha"	P. Bhanumathi, Jikki	Kannadasan	02:35
"O Matha Jegan Matha... Arul Vizhi Paaraai Daevi"	P. Susheela	Ku. Ma. Balasubramaniam	03:00
"Vazhi Thedi Vandhaai"	P. Bhanumathi	Kannadasan	02:39
"Ammaan Magal Paaru"	Jikki	Kannadasan	03:22

Release and reception

Batasari was released on 30 June 1961, and Kaanal Neer on 21 July 1961.^[2]^[5] The Indian Express said, "The standout feature of Kaanal Neer is the fascinating photography of young Venkat, particularly in the climax. In other technical respects, the film maintains a good standard."^[6] Both versions did not succeed commercially; according to historian Randor Guy, this was because audiences felt the story was too highbrow.^[1]^[2]

References

^ ^a ^b Guy, Randor (18 May 2013). "Kaanal Neer (1961)". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 25 November 2022. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
^ ^a ^b ^c Narasimham, M. L. (26 May 2016). "Batasari (1961)". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 6 October 2017. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
^ "Bhatasari (1961)-Song_Booklet". Indiancine.ma. Archived from the original on 24 November 2022. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
^ Neelamegam, G. (November 2016). Thiraikalanjiyam — Part 2 (in Tamil) (1st ed.). Chennai: Manivasagar Publishers. p. 19.
^ "Kanal Neer". The Indian Express. 21 July 1961. p. 3. Retrieved 25 November 2022 – via Google News Archive.
^ "Kanal Neer". The Indian Express. 28 July 1961. p. 3. Retrieved 25 November 2022 – via Google News Archive.