Sringaram

Plot

The story begins with a Bharathanatiyam dancer, Varshini, being invited to the national capital of India on the eve of India being declared a republic. The temple priest who has nurtured since her birth takes her to the Brihadeeshvara Temple to meet a temple dancer named Kama. The story then flashes back to the 1920s. The temple dancer is about to retire from her service as a dancer and has chosen her daughter Madhura as her descendent. The vassal of the Tanjavore Presidency is attracted to Madhura. In addition to being a temple dancer, Madhura has to satisfy the vassal's desires. Madhura is more interested in developing her art of dancing. Meanwhile, Shiva, a lower caste temple servant has awe for Madhura's art. He threatens the vassal for an attempt to murder by a rebellious group called "Vande Mataram". But things don't go so and Shiva is accused of lying. He is sent into an exile but eventually mixes with the same group "Vande Mataram". In order to broaden his prospects, the vassal asks Madhura to seduce the collector of Tanjavore through her art. Madhura rejects thus decision and disappears. Now, Kama, Madhura's sister, is chosen as the temple dancer. Learning the barbaric thoughts of the vassal, Kama chooses to elope like Madhura. She finds that Madhura is a part of the rebellious "Vande Mataram" group. Things become more complicated as the sacred thread from temple goes missing. Madhura is accused of stealing and the vassal orders her arrest. Shiva confesses to the policemen that he is the real accused but secretly tells Madhura where had he kept the sacred thread. Shiva is hanged to death for the charges of robbery. Madhura is pregnant and dies while giving birth to her child. The child is none other than Varshini herself. She is a look alike of Madhura. The story then comes to the present where it is revealed that the vassal has invited Varshini to the national capital. Kama tells Varshini that her mother's last wish was to be cremated with the holy temple fire. The film ends with Varshini, wearing the sacred thread, cremating her mother with the holy temple fire and dancing to pay homage to her mother's artiste.

Cast

Accolades

The film was screened at following film festivals:

Soundtrack

The film's score and soundtrack were composed by renowned violinist Padma Bhushan Lalgudi Jayaraman. The soundtrack album features 14 tracks, most of them sung by carnatic musicians. Lyrics were penned by Swati VAR. Jayaraman eventually won a National Film Award for Best Music Direction for the film's score. Sringaram is notably his first and till date only work for a feature film.

1. Title Music
2. Mallari - Injukkudi Brothers
3. Nattu Purappadal (Folk Song) - T. L. Maharajan & O. S. Arun
4. Yen Indha Mayamo (Hamir Kalyani) - Bombay Jayashri Ramnath
5. Mudal Mariyadai (Salutation) - Swati Srikrishna & Hamsi
6. Mamara Thopila - O. S. Arun
7. Ninaival Yennai - Lalgudi Vijayalakshmi
8. Three Seasons - GJR Krishnan, Lalgudi Vijayalakshmi, Swati, Revathy Meera & Orchestra
9. Yen Indha Mayamo (Hamir Kalyani - Solo) - S. Sowmya
10. Akaram- Swati Srikrishna & Hamsi
11. Mudal Mariyadai (Salutation) - Swati Srikrishna & Hamsi
12. Nattu Purappadal (Folk Song) - T. L. Maharajan & O. S. Arun
13. Harathi - Swati Srikrishna, Meera & Hamsi
14. Three Seasons - GJR Krishnan, Lalgudi Vijayalakshmi, Swati, Revathy Meera & Orchestra