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Apthamitra
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Wikipedia article
'Apthamitra' is a 2004 Indian Kannada-language horror film directed by P. Vasu, and stars Vishnuvardhan in lead role while, Ramesh Arvind, Soundarya, Prema, Dwarakish and Avinash in supporting roles. This was Soundarya's last film in her career which ended with two posthumous releases - the other being the Telugu movie 'Shiva Shankar' which released few days before 'Apthamitra'. The movie is a remake of the 1993 Malayalam classic film 'Manichithrathazhu' with a few scenes borrowed from the 1997 Malayalam film 'Aaraam Thampuran'. The film was released on 27 August 2004 to highly positive reviews. It ran for one year in the main theaters across Karnataka and was one of the highest-grossing films of the year. Apthamitra was later followed by its sequel, 'Aptharakshaka' (2010). P. Vasu also remade the film in Tamil in 2005 as 'Chandramukhi' with Jyothika in titular role. Late actress Soundarya is remembered for her performance in this film.
Plot
Ramesh and Ganga are a married couple who recently move into Mysore to buy an ancient palace, against the wishes of his uncles and family elders. His uncle agrees to reside with them with his two daughters Vani and Hema, on one condition that the room on the first floor which is locked and sealed should not be visited by anyone in the family. They have their caretaker Rangajja, who lives in the outhouse with his granddaughter Sowmya.
During their stay in the house, they learn that this palace once belonged to Raja Vijaya Rajendra Bahaddur. He had a court dancer named 'Nagavalli' from Andhra Pradesh, whom he was in love with. But Nagavalli already loved a fellow dancer named 'Ramanatha', who used to reside in a house just behind the palace. When the Raja discovered their affair on a Durgashtami day, he beheaded Dancer Ramanatha and burned Nagavalli alive. So Nagavalli vowed to burn the Raja alive on the very same Durgashtami day.
Strange things start to happen in the palace and everyone suspects Sowmya, who is always found at the place of the incident. So, Ramesh calls in his psychiatrist friend Vijay to help him clear the misconceptions regarding the palace and its history. Ramesh's uncle is unhappy with the way Vijay functions and is suspicious of him. Vani, Ramesh's cousin is in love with an orphan-dance teacher, Mahadev who incidentally resides in the same house behind the palace. Vijay learns of this and tells Ramesh's uncle about this and the alliance is approved by all in the family and their marriage is fixed.
When the whole family is out of town to visit Mahadev, to decide on his wedding with Vani, Ganga with help from Sowmya opens the room on the first floor with the key given by Sowmya. While she entered the room, Sowmya comes running to tell her not to open the door as the key maker who made the key had died. But Ganga told her not to believe in these superstitions. During this time there are attempts to kill Ramesh by someone unknown, which every time is foiled by Vijay. Even Vani is attacked once by someone unknown. So Ramesh's uncle calls upon an Acharya Ramachandra Shastri to perform some peace ritual upon the palace.
Though Ramesh is not interested in all these proceedings he agrees with his advice of Vijay. On the eve of Mahadev and Vani's engagement ceremony, Ganga accuses Mahadev of trying to molest her - which is refused by both Mahadev and Vijay. Upon hearing this Ramesh gets angry at Vijay and shouts at him to get out of his house. Acharya stops the family from doing so and asks Vijay to tell them the mystery behind the strange incidents. Vijay reveals to everyone that Ganga who turned into Nagavalli is behind all the strange incidents and Ganga who turned into Nagavalli tried to kill Ramesh and Vani because Nagavalli thinks that Mahadevan is her lover Ramanathan.
Ganga who visited the first-floor room was enamored by Nagavalli and her diary. Since Ganga suffered from Multiple personality disorder/Split personality disorder, the mystery behind Nagavalli's story compelled her to assume herself as Nagavalli, compelling the spirit of Nagavalli to enter her body. She (Nagavalli inside Ganga) now intends to kill Vijay as he had posed in front of her as Raja Vijaya Rajendra Bahaddur, on the coming Durgashtami day as vowed by Nagavalli while dying.
Vijay explains to everyone that since Nagavalli inside Ganga thinks that Mahadev is the dancer Ramnath. Vijay on Durgashtami Day, makes Nagavalli (Ganga) believe that he himself is the king, and employs a trap door to make Nagavalli burn a dummy with his image on it. Nagavalli satisfies herself and leaves Ganga's body. Vijay is also safe. Vijay helps Ganga psychologically later to regain herself. Ramesh thanks Vijay for his help.
Cast
* Vishnuvardhan as Dr. Vijay / Vijaya Rajendra Bahaddur
* Ramesh Aravind as Ramesh
* Soundarya as Ganga / Nagavalli
* Prema as Sowmya
* Dwarakish as Mukunda
* Avinash as Acharya Ramachandra Shastri
* Pramila Joshai as Rukku
* Shivaram as Rangajja
* Satyajit as Shivananda
* Shridhar Jain as Dancer Ramnath and Prof. Mahadev
* Bhoomika Shetty as Hema
* Sneha
* Jaya Muruli
* Ramanand
Soundtrack
Gurukiran scored the film's background music and composed for its soundtrack, with lyrics for the tracks written by V. Manohar, Kaviraj, V. Nagendra Prasad and Goturi. The soundtrack album, which received positive reviews from critics, consists of six tracks. The track 'Kaalavannu Tadeyoru' was taken from the 1977 film, 'Kittu Puttu' which had Dwarakish and Vishnuvardhan playing the lead roles as well, alongside Manjula, the lyrics for which was written by Chi. Udayashankar.
Awards
;52nd Filmfare Awards South
The film, won five Filmfare Awards that includes:News from Viggy.com [http://www.viggy.com/english/current_filmfare_award_2004.asp].
* Best Film Kannada: Dwarakish
* Best Director Kannada: P. Vasu
* Best Actor Kannada: Vishnuvardhan
* Best Actress Kannada: Soundarya
* Best Music Director Kannada: Gurukiran
References
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