| Nireekshana | |
|---|---|
 Poster | |
| Directed by | Balu Mahendra |
| Screenplay by | Balu Mahendra Jandhyala (dialogues) |
| Story by | Ahila Mahendra |
| Produced by | Linga Raju |
| Starring | Bhanu Chander Archana |
| Cinematography | Balu Mahendra |
| Edited by | Balu Mahendra |
| Music by | Ilaiyaraaja |
Production company | Lakshmi Films Division |
Release date |
|
Running time | 135 minutes |
| Country | India |
| Language | Telugu |
Nireekshana (transl. The Waiting) is a 1986 IndianTelugu-languageromantic drama film co-written, directed, filmed, and edited byBalu Mahendra. Produced by Linga Raju, the film starsBhanu Chander andArchana.Allu Ramalingaiah,P. L. Narayana andRallapalli play supporting roles. The music was composed byIlaiyaraaja. The film is remake of Malayalam filmYathra.[1][2] The film won twoNandi Awards. The film was dubbed and released in Tamil, under the titleKanne Kalaimane.[3]
The story unfolds as Murali Krishna, a convict, now free from jail, tells his tragic love story to his fellow passengers in a school bus. An orphan and a forest officer by profession, he falls in love with a local tribal woman, Tulasi, during his stay at a forest area. They decided to get married, and he sets off to tell his best friend about his plans.
On his way back, the police inspector (Narra Venkateswara Rao) arrest him as a suspected naxalite criminal, who looks similar to Murali Krishna. There he accidentally kills a policeman and gets life imprisonment. During his early days at jail, he writes a letter to Tulasi asking her to forget him. When his prison term was about to complete, he writes a letter to see if she waits for him. After long years of torment in the jail he goes to meet Thulasi. Does she still wait for him? That's the question of his fellow passengers, too. At the end, she does wait for him, and welcomes him with lamps.
Archana acted for most of the film without wearing a blouse.[4] The film was also inspired by the human rights violations that occurred duringthe Emergency period (1975–77).[3]
The music and background score was composed byIlaiyaraaja.[5] The lyrics were written byAatreya.[6] The audio was published digitally byAditya Music and Mango Music.[7] The song "Aakasam Enatido" is adapted from Malayalam song "Thumbi Vaa" which Ilayaraja originally composed for Malayalam filmOlangal (1982) also directed by Mahendra.[5][8]
| No. | Title | Singer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Thiyyani Danimma" | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam,S. P. Sailaja | 4:23 |
| 2. | "Yamuna Theere" | S. Janaki | 4:17 |
| 3. | "Chukkalle Thochave" | K. J. Yesudas | 4:22 |
| 4. | "Aakasam Eenatidho" | S. Janaki | 3:55 |
| Total length: | 16:17 | ||
Reviewing the Tamil-dubbed versionKanne Kalaimaane,Jayamanmadhan ofKalki appreciated Balu Mahendra's cinematography, said Archana had incredible eyes, and Bhanu Chander was "o.k".[9]
Balu Mahendra won theBest Cinematographer, and Archana won theSpecial Jury Award.[10][11]
