Varsham (2004 film)

Plot

Venkat (Prabhas) meets Shailaja (Trisha) in a train journey and they immediately get attracted to each other after dancing in a rain shower. At the same time Shailaja catches the eye of Bhadranna (Gopichand), a gangster who also becomes infatuated with her. Venkat keeps bumping into Sailaja coincidentally every time it rains and they fall in love. Ranga Rao (Prakash Raj), Sailaja's dad, is a typical black sheep with all kinds of bad habits. Bhadranna approaches him with the marriage proposal and Ranga Rao jumps on that and immediately agrees. Later, a film producer approaches him with an offer for Shailaja to act in a movie. Ranga Rao thinks that acting in films would be more lucrative than marrying her off to Bhadranna. He first successfully creates clashes between lovers and convinces Shailaja to act in a movie and leaves with her to the city. Venkat also leaves for Vizag to his uncle's place.

Infuriated Bhadranna kidnaps Shailaja from a shooting spot and tries to change her mind about marrying him. Movie producer gets tensed as shooting was paused and Ranga Rao advises him to approach Venkat as he believes Venkat still loves Shailaja. Venkat agrees and fights with Bhadranna for Shailaja. Gradually Shailaja comes to know that she misunderstood Venkat and apologizes. They reconcile happily and defeat Bhadranna.

Soundtrack

Music composed by Devi Sri Prasad. Lyrics were written by Sirivennela Sitarama Sastry. All songs are blockbusters. Music released on ADITYA Music Company.

Allegory

Throughout the movie, there is a strong allusion to the Hindu epic Ramayana. Indeed, the story parallels the Ramayana in many ways, Venkat being an analogous Rama, Sailaja his Sita and Bhadranna being Ravana analog. Towards the beginning of the movie, as Ranga Rao enter's Bhadranna's residence for the first time, he proclaims - "లంక లాగ ఉన్నదే" - "this looks just like Lanka". Later, during a live play of the Ramayana at his house, upon seeing Rama take Sita back from Ravana, Bhadranna stops the actors from continuing the play and demands the script be changed immediately by having Ravana tie the mangalasutra around Sita's neck. Similarly, at the end of the movie, during another live play of the Ramayana, Rama shoots a large Ravana effigy with a burning arrow, and it is this burning collapsing Ravana that ultimately kills Bhadranna, leaving us with the final allegory of Rama killing Ravana and rescuing Sita.

Shooting spots

Venkat (Prabhas) and Sailaja (Trisha) confirm their love at a Temple while it's raining. This vital scene was shot at the Nandi statue of Thousand Pillar Temple in Warangal city. "Mellaga" song was shot at the same temple.

Box office