Amara Shilpi Jakkanna

Amar silpi Jakkanna
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	B. S. Ranga
Produced by	B. S. Ranga
Written by	Samudrala (dialogues)
Screenplay by	B. S. Ranga
Starring	Akkineni Nageswara Rao B. Saroja Devi
Music by	S. Rajeswara Rao
Cinematography	B. S. Ranga
Edited by	P. J. Mohan M. Devendra Nath Chakrapani
Production company	Vikram Studios
Distributed by	Navayuga Films
Release date	27 March 1963 (1963-03-27)
Running time	165 mins
Country	India
Language	Telugu

Amara Shilpi Jakkanna is a 1964 Telugu, devotional biographical film, produced and directed by veteran B. S. Ranga on Vikram Studios banner. Starring Akkineni Nageswara Rao, B. Saroja Devi in the lead roles and music composed by S. Rajeswara Rao. Thespian Akkineni Nageswara Rao enacted the role of Amarashilpi Jakanachari known for sculpting Kalyani Chalukyas and Hoysalas. This film is the first Telugu Eastmancolor production. In the song Malligeya Hoovinantha, Jayalalithaa danced and the song is hailed as classic till date. This movie is a remake of the Kannada movie Amarashilpi Jakanachari.

There existed a great sculptor named Mallanna (Nagaiah) in the current day of Karnataka region. His son Jakkanna (ANR) inherits these qualities from his father and becomes a great sculptor by the time he reaches young age. He spends most of the time in between stones and dream of making them into great sculptures. It is at this moment he falls in love with a dancer named Manjari (B.Saroja), a breathtakingly beautiful woman and a great dancer. They appreciate each other’s art and get married. When things go on a relaxed pace, the king Gopadevudu (Udayakumar) lusts for Manjari. In dramatic circumstances, Manjari happens to dance in the court of Gopadevudu. Looking at that, Jakkanna is left heartbroken. He starts suspecting Manjari and establishes a huge temple compound. With severe sadness, Jakkanna leaves to an unknown location in grief. He tries to tell people not to love or fall for a woman and get abuses in return. It is when Bhagawan Ramanujacharya (Dhulipalla) rescues Jakkanna and takes him towards the direction of service to God. Jakkanna rightfully follows the path and dedicates himself to make beautiful temples. Meanwhile, Manjari who is already pregnant attempts suicide because her husband left him. She is rescued by fishermen (Relangi, Girija) and delivers a baby boy. She names the son Dankana (Haranath). Dankana trains under his grandfather Mallanna and becomes a great sculptor. Vishnuvardhana (Kannada Narasimha Raju), the Emperor of Hoyasala makes a huge temple in Belur on the advice of Ramanujacharya. Dramatically, Jakanna and Dankana meet there. However, they don’t realize that they are father-son respectively. Dankana points out a flaw in a brilliantly made sculpture by Jakkanna in public. Jakkanna takes the challenge and when Dankana hits the sculpture with a hammer, a frog comes out of it. Jakkanna immediately chops his arms off. Manjari reaches then and gets sad to see her husband and son. After the prayers in Belur temple in the presence of Ramanujacharya, Jakkanna gets back his hands. The family reunites. Jakkanna gets the title Amarasilpi thereby making history.