Varsham (2004 film)


Varsham is a 2004 Indian Telugu-language romantic action film produced by M.S. Raju on his Sumanth Art Productions banner and directed by Sobhan, the film stars Prabhas, Trisha, and Gopichand playing the lead roles, and the music was composed by Devi Sri Prasad. The film was remade in Tamil as Mazhai starring Jayam Ravi and Shriya Saran and in Odia as Barsa My Darling. The film has also been partially remade into Hindi as Baaghi starring Tiger Shroff and Shraddha Kapoor.

Plot

Venkat, an unemployed youngster, meets Shailaja, a middle-class beauty, in a train journey, and they immediately get attracted to each other after dancing in a rain shower. At the same time, Shailaja catches the eye of Bhadranna, a dangerous, ruthless landlord who also fell in love with her. Venkat keeps bumping into Shailaja every time it rains, and they fall in love. Ranga Rao, Shailaja’s dad, is a typical black sheep with all kinds of bad habits. Bhadranna approaches him with the marriage proposal, and Ranga Rao jumps on that and agrees. Later, a film producer Seenaiah approaches Ranga Rao with an offer for Shailaja to act in a movie. Ranga Rao thinks that acting in films would be more lucrative than marrying her off to Bhadranna. He first successfully creates clashes between lovers, convinces Shailaja to act in a movie, and leaves with her to the city. Venkat also leaves for Vizag to his uncle's place. In Vizag, Shailaja becomes a leading lady in the movies, and Venkat works with his uncle in a quarry as a demolition expert. Months later, Bhadranna is cheated some money by Ranga Rao, and he finds out where Shailaja now lives, kidnaps her, and tries to change her mind about marrying him. Seenaiah gets tensed as shooting was paused, and Ranga Rao advises him to approach Venkat, as he believes that Venkat still loves Shailaja. Venkat agrees and fights with Bhadranna for Shailaja. Gradually, Shailaja comes to know that she misunderstood Venkat and apologizes. They reconcile happily, and both start loving again. That night, Bhadranna kills his brother Kaasi for not bringing Shailaja. Bhadranna is coming back from Hyderabad to destroy Venkat and marry Shailaja. During the festival, Bhadranna stabs Venkat but is stopped by his uncle Sivaiah. After the fight, Venkat defeats Bhadranna and embraces Shailaja and Venkat's friends. Suddenly, Bhadranna regains conscious but dies when a statue covered in fire collapses towards him. The movie ends with Venkat and Shailaja reuniting.

Cast

Soundtrack

Music was composed by Devi Sri Prasad and all lyrics were penned by Sirivennela Sitarama Sastry. All songs are blockbusters. Music was released on Aditya Music.

Allegory

Throughout the movie, there is a strong allusion to the Hindu epic Ramayana. Indeed, the story parallels the Ramayana in many ways, Venkat being an analogous Rama, Sailaja his Sita and Bhadranna being Ravana analog. Towards the beginning of the movie, as Ranga Rao enter's Bhadranna's residence for the first time, he proclaims - "లంక లాగ ఉన్నదే" - "this looks just like Lanka". Later, during a live play of the Ramayana at his house, upon seeing Rama take Sita back from Ravana, Bhadranna stops the actors from continuing the play and demands the script be changed immediately by having Ravana tie the mangalasutra around Sita's neck.
Similarly, at the end of the movie, during another live play of the Ramayana, Rama shoots a large Ravana effigy with a burning arrow, and it is this burning collapsing Ravana that ultimately kills Bhadranna, leaving us with the final allegory of Rama killing Ravana and rescuing Sita.

Shooting spots

Venkat and Sailaja confirm their love at a Temple while it's raining. This vital scene was shot at the Nandi statue of Thousand Pillar Temple in Warangal city. "Mellaga" song was shot at the same temple.

Awards and nominations

Box office