# Saptapadi (1981 film)

Saptapadi (transl. Seven steps) is a 1981 Indian Telugu-language drama film written and directed by K. Viswanath. Upon release, the film received widely positive reviews and won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration, four state Nandi Awards, and the Filmfare Award for Best Telugu film. The film was featured retrospectively at the AISFM film festival. In 1984 Viswanath directed the Hindi version Jaag Utha Insan.

## Premise

The film is not only about the seven steps that one takes during a Hindu wedding that completes the act of shedding bachelorhood and entering a more stable married state but also talks about an individual's journey breaking away from the shackles of conservatism to finding a path of understanding, encompassing and enlightenment.

## Plot

Saptapadi deals with the transformation of an individual so devoted to the concept of rituals, that it takes an act of God for him to realise the true spirit behind the rituals and true meaning of the prayers. Yajulu is a man of great conviction. According to him rules and customs, that have been passed down generations thus standing the test of the time, are there for a reason and hence are immutable; traditions are trademarks of culture and customs, its signature. He does not mind losing his daughter for his principles.
He is well into his twilight years which give him even more reason to not mend his ways. In his footsteps follows Gaurinadha (son of his son), gearing up to be head priest at the local temple. Yajulu's will prevails over Hema's (daughter of his daughter) wish and Gauri and Hema end up being married. However, Hema is secretly in love with a flutist, who is not of her caste. The brilliance of Viswanath comes full fore at this point, when on the couple's first night, Gaurinadha witnesses Durga Devi in Hema, and walks out of the room completely shaken. Gaurinadha, an ardent devotee of the Devi, realises that his wife is in love with another man, and is like a mother to him, nothing more, nothing less. This act of God triggers Yajulu's thought process to seriously question, for the first time in his life, the validity of his position on matters that involve caste, creed and religion, justifying the steps that Yajulu takes one a time, from the first one in trying to understand Hema's real interests till the last one when he sees her off with her love interest on the boat.

## Cast

* J. V. Somayajulu as Yajulu
* Allu Ramalingayya as Raju
* J. V. Ramana Murthy as Avadhani, Yajulu's son
* Dubbing Janaki as Annapurna, Avadhani's wife
* Ravikanth as Gaurinadha Sastry, Yajulu's grandson
* Bhamidipati Sabita as Hema
* Girish Pradhaan as Haribabu
* Jhansi as Katyayani
* Prameela Rani as Karuna
* Sivaparvathi as Raju's daughter
* Sakshi Ranga Rao as Chayanulu
* Mallikarjuna Rao

## Production

While filming Sankarabharanam, Viswanath wanted to make a film on the institution of marriage and Saptapadi was born out of such an idea. The film's producer Bhimavaram Bucchi Reddy met Viswanath during the music sittings of Sankarabharanam and approached him to make a film for him.
The real-life brothers J. V. Somayajulu and J. V. Ramanamurthy were featured as father and son in this film. Reddy and Viswanath were scouting for actresses around six months and chosen Alekhya for the role but since Viswanath did not found her suitable foe the role, he eventually chosen debutant Sabita which remained the only film she acted in her career. The debutants Girish, then student of Madras Film Institute portrayed Haribabu and Ravikanth, who is a Telugu lecturer from Amalapuram did the role Viswanatha Sastry. The voice for Girish was dubbed by Viswanath. Kasthuri, who assisted Balu Mahendra in Sankarabharanam was chosen as the film's cinematographer. Ravishankar who went on to become an actor and voice artist appeared as a child artist.
As Viswanath wanted a temple on the river banks with stairs going straight from the river to the temple, team found a temple at Amaravathi which was being renovated for an event. In order for shooting properly, we had to tear down the wall of the house and that some of the temple walls were taken down too in order to show the river. The filming was done in a single schedule within fifty five days while the song "Nemaliki Nerpina" was shot at Tummalapalli Kalakshestram in Vijayawada.

## Soundtrack

Soundtrack was composed by K. V. Mahadevan and lyrics by Veturi. The music was completed even before the film was started while the soundtrack was completed four months before the audio launch.
All music is composed by K. V. Mahadevan

## Awards

| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
| 1981 | K. Viswanath B. Bucchireddy | National Film Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration | Won |
| 1981 | K. Viswanath | Nandi Award for Best Screenplay Writer | Won |
| 1981 | G. G. Krishna rao | Nandi Award for Best Editor | Won |
| 1981 | Kasthuri | Nandi Award for Best Cinematographer | Won |
| 1981 | S. Janaki | Nandi Award for Best Female Playback Singer | Won |
| 1981 | Bucchireddy | Filmfare Award for Best Film – Telugu | Won |

## Release

When the film was shown to the film circle, they found it artistic and disliked the climax. Despite this, the producer released this version in theatres. According to Reddy, the film was a decent hit.