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Bedara Kannappa
Bedara Kannappa
	Poster
Kannada	ಬೇಡರ ಕಣ್ಣಪ್ಪ
Directed by	H. L. N. Simha
Written by	A Kannada folktale
Produced by	A. V. Meiyappan; C. R. Basavaraju; Gubbi Veeranna
Starring	Rajkumar; Pandari Bai; Raja Sulochana; Narasimha Raju
Cinematography	S. Maruthi Rao
Edited by	K. Shankar
Music by	R. Sudarsanam; G. Govindarajulu Naidu (additional song in Tamil version)
Production; companies	AVM Productions; The Karnataka Films Ltd.
Release date	7 May 1954;
Running time	165 minutes
Country	India
Language	Kannada

Bedara Kannappa is a 1954 Indian Kannada-language Hindu mythological film directed by H. L. N. Simha and written by G. V. Iyer. The film stars Rajkumar playing the title character along with Pandari Bai, Kushala Kumari, G. V. Iyer, Sandhya and Narasimharaju in other prominent roles. The film is an adaptation of the stage play Kaalahasti Charitre written by T. N. Balakrishna^[1] for the Gubbi Veeranna Nataka Company,^[2] which was based on the folk tale of the hunter Kannappa who proves his extreme devotion to the Hindu God Shiva by gouging out both his eyes.^[3]

Bedara Kannappa started as a play produced by the Gubbi Veeranna Nataka Company before it became a Kannada film.^[4] The film rights of the play were later bought by A. V. Meiyappan of AVM Productions. The film's songs were composed by R. Sudarsanam, with lyrics written by S. Nanjappa. The cinematography of the film was handled by S. Maruthi Rao.^[5] In 1953, Singanalluru Puttaswamaiah Muthuraj, a dramatist with Gubbi Veeranna Nataka Company was spotted by director H. L. N. Simha, who was on the lookout for well-built, pleasant-faced man for the starring role in film. Simha eventually signed Muthuraj for the film and named him Rajkumar. Filming began in mid-1953 and took over two months to complete.^[6] This was the debut film of both Rajkumar and Narasimharaju as actors and of G.V. Iyer as a scriptwriter.^[7]

Bedara Kannappa was released on May 7, 1954 in Bangalore's Sagar and Shivaji theatres and New Opera theatre in Mysore to low expectations.^[8] The owners of New Opera theatre, thought that at best it would only run for two weeks.^[4] However, defying expectations; The film was critically and commercially successful, becoming the first Kannada film to have a direct run of 365 days.^[9] The film was the inaugural recipient of National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Kannada (then called the Certificate of Merit)^[10] in National film awards 1954.^[11] Following the film's success in Karnataka, it was dubbed and released in Tamil as Vedan Kannappa^[12] with an additional song ("Aasaikkoru Aan Pillai") featuring JP Chandrababu, Rajkumar and Pandari Bai which was not there in the Kannada version.^[13] G. Govindarajulu Naidu composed music for additional song in the Tamil version.^{[citation needed]} Later, the film was remade in Telugu as Kalahasti Mahatyam also starring Rajkumar.^[14] The film was also remade in Hindi in 1955 by the same director-producer duo as Shiv Bhakta.^[15] It was again remade in Telugu in 1976 as Bhakta Kannappa.^[14]^[16]

Plot

Dinna (Rajkumar) and Neela (Pandharibai) are gods banished to earth where they are born to a tribe of hunters. They grow up and become involved with a corrupt temple priest who accuses Dinna of theft. Dinna weathers all the tests, including torture, the gods impose on him.

Cast

Character	Actor
Dinna / Kannappa	Rajkumar
Neela, wife of Dinna	Pandari Bai
Young Dinna	Ratan
Young Neela	Kushala Kumari
Kailasanatha Sastry	G. V. Iyer
Gowri, Wife of Kailasanath	Sandhya
Kasinatha Sastry, son of Kailasanath	Narasimharaju
Lord Shiva	H. R. Shastry
Parvathi	Yellamma Devi
Srihari	Rushyendramani
Chintamani	Rajasulochana
Basavareddy	A. V. Subba Rao
	M. R. Dasappa
	Mani Aiyar
	M. R. Nanjappa
	Narayana
	S. R. Raju
Tribal dancer in song "Aasaikkoru Aan Pillai" (Tamil version only)	JP Chandrababu

Soundtrack

The film's soundtrack was composed by R. Sudharsanam. The song Shivappa Kayo Tande (literally Shiva, protect me oh father) is very popular and is sung even today in orchestras.

Kannada tracklist

Lyrics were by S. Nanjappa. Playback singers are C. S. Jayaraman, T. A. Mothi, M. L. Vasanthakumari, T. S. Bagavathi & P. Susheela.

Track#	Song	Singer(s)	Lyrics	Length (m:ss)
1	"Shivappa Kaayo Thande"	C. S. Jayaraman	S. Nanjappa	03:47
2	"Shivane Endodane"			03:28
3	"Kaayo Tandeye Seva Karunisee"			02:51
4	"Yennodey Noo Aemba.... Yennodayaa Bava Banthu"			03:02
5	"Daari Kaadu Naa Balu Nonde"	M. L. Vasanthakumari		03:05
6	"Aasha Gaganadhe.... Vidhi Gaidha"	T. S. Bagavathi		03:02
7	"Dayaamayaa Eshaa"			02:03
8	"Saaku Saaku Navamohana"			02:49
9	"Naliyuva Baa Iniyaa"			02:42
10		C. S. Jayaraman
11	"Aasha Gaganade"	T. S. Bagavathi		03:21
12	"Maayege Siluki Marulade Manuja"	T.A. Moti		02:53
13	"Sringeri Geervani"	P. Susheela		03:11

Tamil tracklist

Additional song was composed by G. Govindarajulu Naidu. Playback singers are T. M. Soundararajan, T. A. Mothi, Thiruchi Loganathan, M. L. Vasanthakumari, T. S. Bagavathi, Radha Jayalakshmi & P. Susheela.


Track#	Song	Singer(s)	Length (m:ss)
1	"Ennappan Andro Endhan"	TM Soundararajan	03:47
2	"Sivane Endradhudan Manathil"	TM Soundararajan	03:28
3	"Karo Thandhaiye Dhevaa Arulnidhi"	TM Soundararajan	02:51
4	"En Manamum Iruladhanil.... Ennudaiyaai Bhava Bandham"	TM Soundararajan	03:12
5	"Thedi Thedi Naan Manam Nondhen"	ML Vasanthakumari	03:05
6	"Aasai Kadalile.... Vidhi Seidha Mosatthinaale"	TS Bhagavathi	03:02
7	"Dhayaa Mayaa Eesa"	TS Bhagavathi	02:03
8	"Thaarum Thaarum Navamoganaa"	Radha Jayalakshmi	02:49
9	"Azhaguru Maalai Idhe"	TS Bhagavathi	02:42
10	"Dhaasano Dhaasan Nee"	TM Soundararajan	00:44
11		TS Bhagavathi	03:21
12	"Maayaiyin Irulil Marulaadhe Manidha"	TA Mothi	02:53
13		P Susheela	03:11
14	"Aasaikkoru Aann Pillai"	Tiruchi Loganathan & TS Bhagavathi	03:02

Release and reception

When the film was ready, there were no distributors willing to pick it up. But thanks to the intervention of the chief minister of the state, S. Nijalingappa, they could release it through Karnataka Films. The owners of New Opera theatre in Mysore, where it ran for a 100 days, thought that at best it would run for two weeks. But they were in for a big shock when people from different parts of the state streamed in to watch the film. Among those who turned up for the first show at Mysore, was Rajkumar himself with his father. The Tamil version, Vedan Kannappa was also a hit.

Awards

National Film Awards
- 2nd National Film Awards (1954) - Certificate of Merit for the Best Feature Film in Kannada^[10]

Legacy

The film is often regarded by critics as a landmark film in Kannada film history. The film also became the first Kannada film to gain national recognition as it became the first film to win the Certificate of Merit for the Best Feature Film in Kannada.^[17] The success of the film was reported to have spurred the pace of production of Kannada language films significantly.^[18] Bedara Kannappa acquired cult status in Kannada cinema and became a trendsetter for dialogues and acting for later Kannada films.^[8] Michael Patrao of Deccan Herald wrote, "This film turned out to be a landmark in Kannada cinema for more than one reason. It was the first film in Kannada to win recognition at the national level by getting a certificate of merit. But most important of all, it launched Rajkumar, one of the greatest artistes of Kannada cinema."^[19]