Sanskrit cinema explained

Sanskrit cinema

Sanskrit cinema is a part of Indian cinema with only 15 films made since 1983, and there is no separate industry for Sanskrit films.

History

The first Sanskrit film ever made was Adi Shankaracharya in 1983 by G.V. Iyer. At the 31st National Film Awards, it won four awards, including Best Film, Best Screenplay, Best Cinematography and Best Audiography.[1] [2]

The second film was Bhagavad Gita in 1992, again by G.V. Iyer. The film won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film at the 40th National awards for 1992. The next film made was in 2015, after a gap of 22 years.[3]

From 2015 to 2017, 4 Sanskrit films were made in Kerala, India. Priyamanasam was the 3rd Sanskrit film and the first Sanskrit film from Kerala. The film won the award for 'Best Feature film in Sanskrit' at the 63rd National awards. The film was screened at the 46th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa in 2015. Ishti made in 2016 was the first Sanskrit film based on a social issue. The film was screened at the 47th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa in 2016, in the panorama section.[4] [5]

Suryakantha is the fifth Sanskrit film and the third one made in Kerala. It is the first Sanskrit film on contemporary life.[6] The film won 'Special Jury award' in Kerala Film Critics Associations awards, 2017.

Anurakthi is the first Sanskrit 3D film with a song in the film picturised in 3D format. That also made Anurakthi the first Sanskrit film to have a song in it.[7] The film was screened at the 48th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa in 2017.[8] [9]

Pratikriti is the first commercial film in Sanskrit.[10] This is written and directed by Dr. Nidheesh Gopi.[10]

Punyakoti is the first animated film in Sanskrit.[11]

Madhurasmitham World's First children's Sanskrit film. Directed by sureshgayathri 2019.[12] [13] Madhurasmitham won the Travancore International Award for Best Film.

Namo screened at IFFI in 2021 and its story resolve around friendship between Sudama and Sri Krishna.[14]

List of Sanskrit films

YearTitleDirectorNotes
1983Adi ShankaracharyaG.V. IyerFirst Sanskrit feature film.
Won 4 national awards, including Best Feature film.
1993Bhagavad GitaWon national awards for Best Feature film.
2015PriyamanasamVinod MankaraWon national award for Best Feature film in Sanskrit.
Screened at the 46th edition of International Film Festival of India (IFFI).
2016IshtiG. PrabhaOpening film of the feature section of the Indian Panorama section at the 47th edition of IFFI.
2017SuryakanthaM. SurendranWon 'Special Jury award' at Kerala Film Critics Associations awards, 2017
AnurakthiP. K. AshokanFirst 3D Sanskrit film.
First Sanskrit film with a song.
Screened at the 48th International Film Festival of India (IFFI)
2019MadhurasmithamSuresh GayathriWorld's First Children's Sanskrit Film[15]
2020PunyakotiRavi Shankar VFirst Sanskrit animation film.[16]
AgochararnavahPoornima R Iyer[17] [18]
2021PratikritiDr.Nidheesh GopiFirst Commercial Sanskrit film, premiered on Firstshows OTT platform.[19] [20] [21]
NamoVijeesh ManiScreened at 51st International Film Festival of India Indian panorama section[22] [23] [24]
SamasyahShibu KumaranallurEnvironmental film, released on Neestream OTT. [25] [26] [27]
ShaakuntalamDushyant ShridharA film based on story of Shakuntala and King Bharat. [28]
2022MadhubhashithamSuresh GayathriMovie shot in 48 hours.[29]
BhagavadajjukamYadu VijayakrishnanAdaptation of the 7th century play of the same name. Selected for Indian Panorama at 52nd International Film Festival of India. [30]
TayaG. PrabhaScreened at various International Film festivals and national film festivals film festivals including Pune, Kolkata, Bangalore, Delhi. [31] [32]
2023DharmayodhaSruthi SimonFirst Sanskrit film by a woman director.[33] [34] A full fledged feature film titled "Ekachakram" (2021) Directed by K. Suchendra Prasad from Bengaluru, Karnataka, based on the works of Mahamahopadhyaya N. Ranganatha Sharma, produced by Voicing Silence, an International platform for meaningful cinema.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 31st National Film Awards. India International Film Festival. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20131112200555/http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm31stNFAAward.aspx. 12 November 2013.
  2. Web site: 31st National Film Awards (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. 10 January 2018. 24 April 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120424114953/http://dff.nic.in/2011/31st_nff_1984.pdf. live.
  3. Web site: Sanskrit Cinema: A creative way to revive Sanskrit. 7 July 2015. www.newsgram.com. 10 January 2018. 17 November 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171117001552/https://www.newsgram.com/sanskrit-cinema-a-creative-way-to-revive-sanskrit/. live.
  4. Web site: Ishti is the first ever Sanskrit film based on a social issue. 23 November 2016. iffigoa.org. 11 January 2018. 8 August 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170808073017/http://iffigoa.org/ishti-first-ever-sanskrit-film-based-social-issue/. dead.
  5. News: First Sanskrit social movie flays Namboothiri practices. The Times of India. 27 January 2017 . 10 January 2018. 24 May 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180524041321/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/First-Sanskrit-social-movie-flays-Namboothiri-practices/articleshow/50624276.cms. live.
  6. Web site: A tale told in Sanskrit. The New Indian Express. 27 April 2017 . 17 February 2024. 9 September 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220909013602/https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/kochi/2017/apr/27/a-tale-told-in-sanskrit-1598090.html. live.
  7. 14 May 2018 . Thava Chinthasu Anurakthi Sanskrit Movie SONG Asokan.P.K Vani Vashishth Vijith Nambiar . Manorama Music Songs . . 13 December 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220921043843/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VuwGjqb8TxU . 21 September 2022 . live.
  8. Web site: World's first 3D Sanskrit film screened at IFFI. DD News. 11 January 2018. 11 January 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180111165500/http://ddnews.gov.in/iffi/worlds-first-3d-sanskrit-film-screened-iffi. live.
  9. Web site: World's First 3D Sanskrit Film Anurakthi Screened at 2017 IFFI Goa. India.com. 25 November 2017. 11 January 2018. 11 January 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180111170120/http://www.india.com/buzz/worlds-first-3d-sanskrit-film-anurakthi-screened-at-2017-iffi-goa-2674414/. live.
  10. Web site: രാജൻ രാഘവൻ സംസ്കൃത ചിത്രത്തിൽ . 4 August 2022 . Pisharody Samajam . 23 August 2021 . en-US . 4 July 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220704061302/https://www.pisharodysamajam.com/news/pratikriti-rajan-raghavan/ . live .
  11. Web site: The making of 'Punyakoti', India's first Sanskrit animation film. thenewsminute.com. 20 August 2018. 19 August 2018. 21 December 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191221154411/https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/making-punyakoti-indias-first-sanskrit-animation-film-82275?amp. live.
  12. Web site: Children's film in Sanskrit -- a first; courtesy language buffs. OnManorama. 10 June 2021. 10 June 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210610124428/https://www.onmanorama.com/news/kerala/2019/12/02/children-film-sanskrit-madhurasmitham-ksfdc.html. live.
  13. Web site: About Sgisfsy | Madhurasmitham - Sgi Sanskrit Film Society (Sgisfsi). 3 November 2021. 26 February 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240226071654/https://sgisfsy.com/about-sgisfsy/. live.
  14. News: Jayaram looks impressive as Kuchelan in the first look poster of 'Namo'. 17 April 2021. The Times of India. 10 January 2020 . en. 13 January 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200113143055/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/news/jayaram-looks-impressive-as-kuchelan-in-the-first-look-poster-of-namo/articleshow/73189732.cms. live.
  15. Madhurasmitham Film 2020 August 3 imdb retrieved https://m.imdb.com/title/tt14227856/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk
  16. News: Kannan . Indira . How Punyakoti, Sanskrit's 1st animation film, got made . 8 May 2020 . . 19 April 2020 . 28 April 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200428062357/https://www.rediff.com/movies/special/how-punyakoti-sanskrits-1st-animation-film-got-made/20200419.htm . live .
  17. Poornima R Iyer . sankula . 1297559102713761792 . 23 August 2020 . New Sanskrit Movie Trailer 2020 "AGOCHARARNAVAH" Please Watch and Bless Us! https://t.co/2QW7MGSoXy @blsanthosh @narendramodi @PrakashJavdekar . en . 13 December 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220824120237/https://twitter.com/sankula/status/1297559102713761792 . 24 August 2022 . live.
  18. Web site: AGOCHARARNAVAH. sanskritott.com. 20 July 2022. 20 July 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220720100809/https://sanskritott.com/movie/guest/detail/AGOCHARARNAVAH. live.
  19. 25 March 2021 . Pratikritih Official Trailer Nipin Unni Prasad Mallissery Dr.Nidheesh Gopi Devlag Productions . samskritavaikhary . . 13 December 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220804165502/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAYhRW7VWOo . 4 August 2022 . live.
  20. Web site: രാജൻ രാഘവൻ സംസ്കൃത ചിത്രത്തിൽ . 11 April 2022 . Pisharody Samajam . 23 August 2021 . en-US . 4 July 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220704061302/https://www.pisharodysamajam.com/news/pratikriti-rajan-raghavan/ . live .
  21. Web site: sandeep_ops . Pratikriti on Firstshows . 11 April 2022 . Binged . en-US . 26 February 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240226071642/https://www.binged.com/streaming-premiere-dates/pratikriti/ . live .
  22. Web site: 'Namo shows how a ruler & a citizen should be': Vijeesh Mani. 4 June 2021. 26 February 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240226071633/http://www.uniindia.com/news/west/-namo-shows-how-a-ruler-a-citizen-should-be-vijeesh-mani/2300362.html. live.
  23. Web site: Namo to speak Sanskrit soon. priya. sreekumar. 27 September 2019. Deccan Chronicle. 16 January 2020. 3 December 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191203151813/http://www.deccanchronicle.com/entertainment/mollywood/270919/namo-to-speak-sanskrit-soon.html. live.
  24. News: Jayaram looks impressive as Kuchelan in the first look poster of 'Namo' - Times of India. The Times of India. 10 January 2020. 16 January 2020. 13 January 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200113143055/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/news/jayaram-looks-impressive-as-kuchelan-in-the-first-look-poster-of-namo/articleshow/73189732.cms. live.
  25. Web site: Neestream releases its first Sanskrit film 'Samasyah'. 19 August 2021. OnManorama. 19 August 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210819075128/https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/2021/07/23/neestream-releases-first-sanskrit-film-samasyah.html. live.
  26. Web site: Correspondent. Our. Sanskrit film Samasyah released on NeeStream. 19 August 2021. Cinestaan. 19 August 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210819075120/https://www.cinestaan.com/articles/2021/jul/23/30572. live.
  27. Web site: പാരിസ്ഥിതിക അവബോധവുമായി സംസ്കൃത സിനിമ 'സമസ്യാഹ' ഒടിടി റിലീസ്. 19 August 2021. malayalam.samayam.com. ml. 19 August 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210819075120/https://malayalam.samayam.com/malayalam-cinema/movie-news/environment-awareness-sanskrit-movie-samasyah-ott-release/articleshow/84677994.cms. live.
  28. Web site: Watch Shakuntalam Movie Online | Buy Rent Shakuntalam On BMS Stream.
  29. Web site: Making a move for Sanskrit . 20 July 2022 . The New Indian Express . 19 November 2021 . 11 April 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220411054511/https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/kochi/2021/nov/19/making-a-move-for-sanskrit-2385333.html . live .
  30. Web site: Indian Panorama Announces Official Selection for 52nd IFFI, 2021. 14 November 2021. pib.gov.in. 26 February 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240226071702/https://pib.gov.in/ErrorPage.html?aspxerrorpath=/pib.gov.in/Pressreleaseshare.aspx. live.
  31. News: Nagarajan . Saraswathy . 14 June 2021 . G Prabha's second film in Sanskrit, 'Taya', focusses on the landmark trial of Thatri . en-IN . The Hindu . 30 November 2022 . 0971-751X . 30 November 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221130044724/https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/sanskrit-film-taya-by-prabha-trial-of-thatri/article34811703.ece . live .
  32. Web site: Sanskrit film runs housefull at KIFF . 30 November 2022 . www.telegraphindia.com . 30 November 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221130044731/https://www.telegraphindia.com/my-kolkata/news/kiff-full-house-at-festival-for-sanskrit-film-taya-g-prabha/cid/1863488 . live .
  33. Web site: സംസ്കൃത ഭാഷയിലെ ആദ്യ വനിതാ സംവിധായികയുടെ ചിത്രം വരുന്നു: ധർമ്മയോദ്ധാ . First woman director's film in Sanskrit comes: Dharma Yoddha... . 2024-02-27 . manoramaonline.com . . ml . 22 February 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240222094910/https://www.manoramaonline.com/movies/movie-news/2022/11/08/first-woman-directors-sanskrit-movie-dharm-yoddha.html . live .
  34. News: 2022-11-19 . സ്വപ്‌നത്തിലേക്കുള്ള യാത്ര . Journey to the Dream . 2024-02-27 . . ml . 22 February 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240222093401/https://newspaper.mathrubhumi.com/ernakulam/news/sundayspecial-1.8063525 . live .

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