Simhasanam (1986 film)

Simhasanam
Poster
Directed by	Krishna
Written by	Krishna
Dialogue by	Tripuraneni Maharadhi
Produced by	Krishna
Starring	Krishna Jaya Prada Radha Mandakini Amjad Khan
Cinematography	V. S. R. Swamy
Edited by	Krishna
Music by	Bappi Lahiri
Production company	Padmalaya Studios
Release date	21 March 1986 (1986-03-21)
Country	India
Language	Telugu

Simhasanam (transl. Throne) is a 1986 Indian Telugu-language epic historical film directed, produced and edited by Krishna, who also stars in a dual role alongside Jaya Prada, Radha, and Mandakini. It was simultaneously shot in Hindi, with Jeetendra starring in the Hindi version titled Singhasan.^[1]

Inspired by real-life figures like Rudrama Devi and Gona Ganna Reddy, Simhasanam is set in the fictional kingdoms of Dasarna and Avanthi. It follows the story of Vikrama Simha (Krishna), a valiant army chief wrongfully exiled due to a conspiracy, and his doppelganger, Aditya Vardhana (also Krishna), who becomes embroiled in a struggle for the thrones of both kingdoms. The film also marked the Telugu debuts of actor Amjad Khan and composer Bappi Lahiri.

Simhasanam was the first Telugu 70 mm stereophonic sound film. It released on March 21, 1986, with 85 prints across 153 theatres in South India. It achieved significant commercial success, running for 100 days in six centres. The film is celebrated for its grand scale and marked a landmark in Krishna's career, showcasing his versatility as an actor and director.^[2]

Plot

The story is set in two kingdoms, Avanthi and Gandhara. Vikrama Simha, the gallant Chief Commander of Gandhara, serves under the rule of Sharminder Bhupathi, who has expanded the kingdom's borders. Princess Alakananda, the daughter of Sharminder Bhupathi, harbours feelings for Vikram. Meanwhile, the kingdom's chief minister, Bherundamatya, plots to eliminate Alakananda, the heir to the throne. Vikram becomes aware of this scheme and successfully protects her. However, Bhanu Pratap, a cunning courtier, accuses Vikram of treason, leading to his exile.

In the neighboring kingdom of Avanthi, Prince Aditya Vardhana, who bears a striking resemblance to Vikram, falls under the corrupt influence of his mentor, Acharya Abhanga Deva. Abhanga Deva plans to place his own son, Ugrarahu, as the next heir by corrupting Aditya. He also uses a beautiful but deadly woman named Chandana to seduce and poison Aditya, who becomes infatuated with her. Abhanga Deva's machinations create chaos in both kingdoms.

In response, Vikram secretly gathers an army and begins to thwart their schemes. As Sharminder Bhupathi prepares for Alakananda's coronation, Abhanga Deva unites the traitorous vassals of Gandhara. It is revealed that Abhanga Deva and Bherundamatya are siblings working together to overthrow the kingdom. They steal the royal crown of Gandhara and attempt to seize the fort. However, Vikram foils their plan, expels the traitors, and ensures the coronation goes ahead.

Chandana, realizing the harm she has caused, tries to take her own life, but Vikram rescues her and helps her find redemption. Aditya, distraught by Chandana's absence, wanders aimlessly. Taking advantage of this, Abhanga Deva tries to kill him, but Vikram intervenes and saves Aditya. Aditya then requests that Vikram take his place as the leader to restore order and improve the lives of the people. Vikram agrees and implements revolutionary changes to the kingdom's constitution. Over time, he reinstates Aditya and arranges his marriage to Chandana.

In a final act of treachery, Abhanga Deva falsely accuses Aditya of impersonating Vikram and sentences him to death. Vikram ultimately uncovers the truth, defeats the conspirators, and restores peace to the kingdoms. The story concludes with the marriage of Vikrama Simha and Alakananda, bringing a happy end to the tale.

Cast

• Krishna as Vikrama Simha and Aditya Vardhana
• Jaya Prada as Princess Alakananda Devi
• Kantha Rao as Maharajah of Dasarna
• Radha as Jaswanthi
• Kaikala Satyanarayana as Rajguru
• Mandakini as Chandana Gandhi / Visha Kanya
• Gummadi Minister of Avanthi
• M. Balayya as Army chief of Dasarna
• Prabhakar Reddy as Minister of Dasarna
• Giri Babu as Ugra Rahu Army chief of Avanthi
• Amjad Khan as Bhokkudu
• Pradeep Chandran
• Jayamalini
• Anuradha
• Jayasree T
• Leena Das

Production

Development

By 1985, actor Krishna was keen to expand his career into direction.^[3] Along with co-producer G. Hanumantha Rao and writer Tripuraneni Maharadhi, he decided to create a film in the "Janapadam" (folklore) genre, inspired by historical figures like Rudrama Devi and Gona Ganna Reddy. This led to the conception of the lead roles Alaknanda Devi and Vikrama Simha.^[1]

Casting

Krishna took on a dual role, portraying both Vikrama Simha and Aditya Vardhana. Jayapradha was cast as Princess Alakananda Devi, while the film also featured a cast of popular actresses including Radha, Mandakini, and Waheeda Rehman. Notably, Amjad Khan played a key role in both the Telugu and Hindi versions of the film, marking his debut in Telugu cinema. Nutan Prasad dubbed for Amjad Khan and Sowcar Janaki dubbed for Waheeda Rehman in Telugu.^[1]

Filming

Simhasanam was an ambitious project, planned from the start on a large scale with a budget exceeding ₹4 crore. It was simultaneously shot in Telugu and Hindi, with Jeetendra starring in the Hindi version titled Singhasan. The film’s special effects were handled by Ravikanth Nagaich, with Teja assisting. V. S. R. Swamy, a long-time collaborator of Krishna, served as the director of photography.^[1] Principal photography took place at Padmalaya Studios, Hyderabad, along with Hogenakkal and Mysore. The film was shot in 60 days.^[2] It is the first 70 mm stereophonic sound film in Telugu cinema.^[4][5]

Soundtrack

The film's music was composed by Bappi Lahiri, marking his debut in Telugu cinema.^[6]

No.	Title	Singer(s)	Length
1.	"Akasamlo Oka Tara"	Raj Sitaram, P. Susheela
2.	"Gumma Gumma"	Raj Sitaram, P. Susheela
3.	"Idhi Kalayani Nenanukona"	Raj Sitaram, P. Susheela
4.	"Swagatham"	Raj Sitaram, P. Susheela
5.	"Vahavaee Yavvanam"	Raj Sitaram, P. Susheela
6.	"Vayyaramantha"	Raj Sitaram, P. Susheela

Reception

Simhasanam was released on March 21, 1986, with 85 prints distributed across 153 theatres in South India. It was the first Telugu film to be released in 70 mm format and achieved notable commercial success. The film ran for 100 days in six centres, marking a significant milestone in Krishna’s career as both an actor and director.^[1]

Additionally, Simhasanam set a record as the first Telugu film to collect over ₹1.5 crore in its opening week^[7] and achieved the highest gross collection in a single theatre in Hyderabad.^[2] The film's 100 days celebration in Madras attracted a large crowd of Krishna's fans, causing significant excitement and drawing the attention of the Tamil Nadu government. About 400 buses brought fans from Andhra to Madras for the event.^[2]

References

1. "Nostalgia - Simhasanam (1986)". CineGoer.com. 1 May 2007. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
2. "మొట్టమొదటి 70ఎం.ఎం. చిత్రానికి 30 ఏళ్ళు!". Samayam (in Telugu). Times Internet. Archived from the original on 8 December 2018. Retrieved 31 December 2020.
3. Kavirayani, Suresh (13 September 2017). "Mahesh Babu's Spyder event in Chennai drew bigger turnout than Tamil stars' films?". Deccan Chronicle. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
4. "మూడు పదుల సింహాసనం". Mana Telangana (in Telugu). 20 March 2016. Archived from the original on 10 January 2021. Retrieved 31 December 2020.
5. "When romance is a seven-minute duet!". The Hans India. 8 November 2015. Archived from the original on 10 January 2021. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
6. "Happy Birthday Bappi Lahiri: Five hit albums in Telugu to celebrate his work". The Times of India. 27 November 2019. Archived from the original on 10 January 2021. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
7. "Krishna: ఆంధ్రుల జేమ్స్‌ బాండ్‌". Eenadu (in Telugu). 31 May 2021. Retrieved 5 September 2024.

External links

• Simhasanam at IMDb