# Premabhishekam (1981 film)

Premabhishekam (transl. Anointing of Love) is a 1981 Indian Telugu-language romantic drama film written and directed by Dasari Narayana Rao. This film is inspired by 1964 Hollywood Movie Send Me No Flowers by Norman Barasch and Carroll Moore and produced by Annapurna Studios, it stars Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Jayasudha, Sridevi, Murali Mohan, Mohan Babu and music composed by Chakravarthy.
Released on 18 February 1981, Premabhishekam was an Industry Hit grossing over ₹4.5 crore at the box office. It had a theatrical run of 527 days and became the first film to complete a 75-week run in Andhra Pradesh. The film won four Nandi Awards and two Filmfare Awards South. It was later remade in Tamil as Vazhvey Maayam (1982) and in Hindi as Prem Tapasya (1983).

## Plot

Rajesh, a naughty guy, falls for the charming Devi. Their acquaintance begins with squabbles. She misconstrues him as a flirt, denies his proposal, and mortifies him. Anyhow, Devi senses Rajesh's wholesome love with soul and reciprocates. Now, the elders decide to knit them when Devi's brother, Dr. Chakravarthy, detects that Rajesh is terminally ill with cancer, so he bars the nuptial. Knowing it, Rajesh & Devi plan to bond secretly. During that time, Rajesh also discovers his illness from Dr. Venkateswarulu and that his bestie, Prasad, loves Devi. Ergo affirms that he wants to estrange her by pretending to be debauchery to her. So, Rajesh makes a play with a prostitute, Jayanthi, to develop hatred. Devi is devastated, tries to contact him, and proclaims his intent to seek vengeance for her humiliation. Being mindful of it, furious Devi opts to splice Prasad in reply to Rajesh. Parallelly, Jayanthi adores Rajesh pleads with her to wedlock her since she desires to be his wife for a while. Rajesh accepts her requests and begins his last journey. Soon after the wedding, Devi collapses, aware of the fact, and rushes to meet. Finally, the movie ends with Rajesh blessing the newly wedded couple and breathing his last happily.

## Cast

* Akkineni Nageswara Rao as Rajesh
* Sridevi as Devi
* Jayasudha as Jayanthi
* Murali Mohan as Prasad
* Mohan Babu as Dr. Chakravarthy
* Gummadi as Dr. Venkateswarulu
* Prabhakar Reddy as Satya Murthy
* Padmanabham
* Eeswara Rao
* Raja
* Pushpalata as Lakshmi
* Kavitha as Kalpana
* Nirmalamma
* Master Harish

## Production

Dasari Narayana Rao wrote the story, screenplay, and dialogues in addition to lyrics. The film has editing by B. Krishnam Raju and cinematography by P. S. Selvaraj. Nageswara Rao's sons, Venkat Akkineni and Nagarjuna Akkineni produced the film under Annapurna Studios. The film's shoot began on 20 September 1980 on Nageswara Rao's birthday. The film was entirely shot in Hyderabad except for songs "Kottappa Kondu" and "Vandanam" which were shot at Madras (now Chennai).

## Soundtrack

Music composed by Chakravarthy. Lyrics were written by Dasari Narayana Rao. Music released on SEA Records Audio Company. The song "Nee Kallu" was reused in the film's Tamil remake Vaazhvey Maayam as "Mazhaikaala Megam".
| S. No. | Song Title | Singers | length |
| 1 | "Naa Kallu Chebuthunnayi" | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, P. Susheela | 4:18 |
| 2 | "Devi Mounama" | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, P. Susheela | 4:40 |
| 3 | "Oka Devuni Gudilo" | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, P. Susheela | 4:31 |
| 4 | "Kotappa Kondaku" | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, P. Susheela | 4:33 |
| 5 | "Tharalu Digivachina" | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, P. Susheela | 4:28 |
| 6 | "Vandanam Abhivandanam" | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, P. Susheela | 4:15 |
| 7 | "Agadhu Agadhu" | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam | 6:10 |

## Box office

The film has completed 100 days direct in 25 centres. The film has completed 175 days direct in 16 centres and also ran for 365 days in some theatres in Telugu states

## Awards
### Nandi Awards

* Best Actress - Jayasudha
* Best Male Playback Singer - S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
* Best Art Director - Bhaskar Raju
* Special Jury Award - Dasari Narayana Rao

### Filmfare Awards South

* Filmfare Award for Best Director - Telugu - Dasari Narayana Rao - Won
* Filmfare Special Jury Award - Jayasudha -Won
* Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Telugu - Jayasudha - Nominated
* Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Telugu - Sridevi - Nominated