Shirdi Sai

Shirdi Sai
Shirdi Sai
Film score by M. M. Keeravani
Released	30 July 2012;
Recorded	2012
Genre	Soundtrack
Length	60:39
Label	Vel Records
Producer	M. M. Keeravani
M. M. Keeravani chronology

Shirdi Sai
Shirdi Sai
	Theatrical release poster
Directed by	K. Raghavendra Rao
Screenplay by	K. Raghavendra Rao
Story by	Bhaktha Suresh Kumar
Based on	Life of Shirdi Sai Baba
Produced by	Mahesh Reddy; Girish Reddy
Starring	Nagarjuna; Srikanth; Srihari
Cinematography	S. Gopal Reddy
Edited by	Shravan Katikaneni
Music by	M. M. Keeravani
Production; company	AMR Sai Krupa Entertainments
Distributed by	Sree Lakshmi Sai Films (overseas) ; Sri Venkateshwara Film (Nellore)
Release date	6 September 2012;
Running time	142 minutes
Country	India
Language	Telugu

Shirdi Sai is a 2012 Indian Telugu-language biographical film, produced by A.Mahesh Reddy on AMR Sai Krupa Entertainments banner, directed by K. Raghavendra Rao. Starring Nagarjuna as the 19th-20th century spiritual guru Sai Baba of Shirdi who lived in western India, it is the cinematic depiction of some of his landmark life episodes, his teachings and his way of life. Music was composed by M. M. Keeravani.^[4] Shirdi Sai was released worldwide on 6 September 2012,^[3] and has received mixed to positive reviews while Nagarjuna received critical acclaim for his performance in the title role with most reviewers hailing this as one of his career best performances.^[5]

Plot

Shirdi Sai appears in Shirdi at an early age and disappears. He goes to the Himalayas and returns to Shirdi after a gap of 9 years. He chooses a dilapidated mosque as his abode. Amazed by his presence and miracles, the local people start calling him Sai Baba. He kept helping people around and spreading communal harmony by saying that there is only one God. Certain local people are suspicious of Sai Baba after they learn about his greatness over a period of time. The rest of the story is all about what Sai Baba did to make Shirdi the only pilgrimage for people of all religions and entering Samadhi.

Cast

Nagarjuna as Lord Shirdi Sai Baba
Srikanth as Dasaganu
Srihari as Colonel Wales
Sai Kumar as Nanavali
Sayaji Shinde as Bhatia
Sarath Babu as Mahalsapati
Dharmavarapu Subramanyam as Nayak [Animal Seller]
Tanikella Bharani as Bhooti
Bramhanandam as Sandeham
Ali as Appoo
Ananth as Dappoo
Sai Kiran as Lord Vishnu, Rama & Krishna
Koushik Babu as Tatya
Sameer Hasan as Lord Shiva
Deeshetulu as Venkhusa
Ashok Kumar
Jenny
Kamalinee Mukherjee as Radhakrishna Mai
Vinaya Prasad as Baajiya Bai
Rohini Hattangadi as Ganga Bai
Rujuta Deshmukh as Lakshmi Bai
Jhansi
Dipali Dodke as Radha Bai
Jyothi Reddy as Goddess Lakshmi
Karuna Bhooshan as Goddess Parvathi
Pramodini as Goddess Saraswathi
Nagesh Bhosale as Chand Patil
Devendra Dodke as Shyaama
Gundu Sudarshan
Dinakar Gavande
Ravi Bhath
Aditya
Pardha Saradhi
Master Athulith as Young Tatya
Master Vijay as Young Saibaba

Soundtrack

The music was composed by M. M. Keeravani. Music released on Vel Records Music Company.

No.	Title	Lyrics	Singer(s)	Length
1.	"Sada Nimba"	Traditional Hymn	M. M. Keeravani	1:03
2.	"Saranu Saranu"	Medicharla	Madhu Balakrishnan, Sunitha	6:25
3.	"Okkade Devudu"	Suddala Ashok Teja	Nagarjuna, Shankar Mahadevan	4:23
4.	"Hari Pada Charitha Hara"	Ramajogayya Sastry	M. M. Keeravani, Sunitha	4:12
5.	"Om Sai Ram"	K. Siva Datta	Shweta Pandit	3:08
6.	"Manava Seve"	M. M. Keeravani	Deepu, Aditi Paul	5:01
7.	"Sri Rama Jaya Rama"	Vedavyasa	Hariharan, Malavika	5:14
8.	"Sai Ante Thalli"	Chandrabose	S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Sunitha	6:02
9.	"Datthatreyuni"	Vedavyasa	M. M. Keeravani, Sonu Nigam, Teesha Nigam,	5:01
10.	"Ekkadayya Sai"	Medicharla	Sunitha	1:18
11.	"Parama Yogindrulaku"	Vedavyasa	M. M. Keeravani	3:32
12.	"Nee Padamula"	Ramajogayya Sastry	M. M. Keeravani	5:08
13.	"Vasthunna Baba"	Chandrabose	S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, M. M. Keeravani, Saikumar, Revanth, Rahul Silpigunj, Chaitra	5:34
14.	"Aarathi"	K. Siva Datta	Sunitha	4:06
15.	"Om Sai Sri Sai (Bhajana)"	Traditional Hymn	Karthik, Kousalya	5:39
Total length:				60:39

Reception

The film received mixed to positive reviews with most reviewers hailing Nagarjuna's performance as one of his best and major plus point of this film. He received wide critical acclaim for his work in this film. Popular Telugu movie reviewing website idle brain gave a positive review stating "Nagarjuna epitomized Shirdi Sai Baba with his perfect portrayal of the sadguru. His pure eyes, calmness in the face and authentic body language makes us all fall in love with his character. Nagarjuna is extraordinary in climax episode with a white beard. Nagarjuna will get awards for his exceptional work. Since it’s a bio-pic, Shirdi Sai should not be viewed like a commercial film. Everyone of us has the curiosity to know more about Sai Baba. We might have read some books. But none of these readings give us a complete picture on life and times of Sai Baba. The film Sai Baba attempts to tell the world about the making of an enlightened man called Sai Baba who is revered as a God today. You may watch Shirdi Sai with an academic interest.".^[6]

Rediff.com gave a positive review and rated 3 on a scale of 5, stating "Nagarjuna steals the show as Shirdi Sai. He exudes serenity and tranquillity necessary for portraying such a role. The calmness in his face and body language and the compassion in his eyes are remarkable. Shirdi Sai is yet another feather in Nagarjuna's cap after Annamayya and Sriramadasu. The film has a shot of the sanctum at Shirdi as a bonus for followers of the sage!"^[7]

123telugu.com quoted "Nagarjuna deserves a hearty applause for having the courage to take up this role and he has managed to pull it off with conviction.This film will appeal immensely to Sai Baba devotees and it will be a good watch for casual movie lovers. Watch the film without any expectations and immerse yourself in Sai Baba’s spirituality.^[8]

The Hindu gave a positive review stating, " Nagarjuna leads from the front, putting up a performance marked with maturity and restraint. In the last one hour of the film, you tend to forget you are watching an actor rooted in mainstream cinema. Bent with age and bereft of his usual mannerisms, the actor comes up with a commendable performance. The supporting cast that includes Srikanth, Sarath Babu, Rohini Hattangady, Shayaji Shinde, Saikumar and others come up with credible performances. Is Shirdi Sai worth your time and money? It surely is for Saibaba devotees or if you want to watch Nagarjuna revel in his role of Saibaba."^[9]

NDTV quoted that "Far different from regular cinema with clichéd performance, run-of-the-mill storyline, director K Raghavendra Rao's Shirdi Sai takes you on a spiritual journey of self-actualization, purity and sanctity,^[10] The Box Office Collection Was Above 30 Crores Which is a good record for deviotional flicks.Times of India also gave a good rating stating that "A film like Shirdi Sai calls for strong conviction and Nagarjuna's move to take up this film is commendable.^[11] Entertainment oneindia praised the individual performances and technical aspects of the film.^[12]

Accolades

Ceremony	Category	Nominee	Result
2nd South Indian International Movie Awards	Best Actor	Nagarjuna	Nominated
2nd South Indian International Movie Awards	Best Debutant Producer	Mahesh Reddy, Girish Reddy	Nominated