Rating: 3.5 /5
Sri Ramanujacharya, the great man who proclaimed that all human beings are equal regardless of caste or religion, is an attempt to portray the challenges he faced in his life, his spiritual journey, and the message he gave to society on the silver screen. Lion Dr. Sai Venkat is playing the lead role in this film, directed by Sai Prasanna and Pravallik under Sudarshanam Productions. Jo Sharma plays the female lead, while Suman, Gururaj, Pravallik and others play key roles. So what are the aspects that will impress the audience in this spiritual film? How did the film go? Let’s find out…
Story : In the 11th century, when caste and religious differences were dividing society, Sri Ramanujacharya dedicated his life to spreading the idea that everyone is equal among the people. Having studied Vedas since childhood, he continued his journey acquiring spiritual knowledge. Many turning points in his life took place while he was studying under the Yadava Prakasula in Kanchi. He faced many challenges in his journey with the ambition of eliminating the inequalities in society and ensuring equal respect for everyone. How did he overcome those obstacles and spread his ideologies among the people? How did he take his ambition forward? This is the main plot of this film.
Analysis: Showing the lives of great people on screen means revealing their personalities and aspirations in a way that the audience can understand. Director Sai Venkat has made his own effort in this regard. He has selected some important moments in the life of Sri Ramanujacharya and has carried the story forward by adding spirituality to them. The scene where the Kanchi princess is saved from evil forces stands out in the film. The graphics used for this scene are impressive to the audience. The way in which Sri Maha Vishnu’s Dashavatars are shown also increases the spiritual feeling. The argument between Sri Vaishnavas and Shiva devotees in the presence of Chandragiri Maharaj in the pre-climax is another main attraction. This scene where Sri Venkateswara Swamy is discussed with reference to the Ashtadasa Puranas is interestingly filmed. Such scenes are likely to be liked by the audience who are interested in spiritual topics. The intention of introducing the important moments in the life of Sri Ramanujacharya to today’s generation is seen in the film. The main strength of this story is the message of putting aside caste and religious differences and giving priority to humanity. However, the story moves slowly in some scenes. The impact of the film would have been even greater if it had a tighter screenplay and better editing.
Actors’ performance: Lion Dr. Sai Venkat impressed with his acting in the lead role. He tried to bring the spiritual seriousness appropriate to the role of Sri Ramanujacharya. He also appeared in the role of Sri Maha Vishnu and impressed in the scenes of Dashavatars. Joe Sharma acted to the best of his ability. Suman impressed in the role of Delhi Sultan in his own style. Pravallikaa appeared in many roles and contributed to the story. Gururaj played a key role. Other actors also did justice to their roles. Actress Pravallikaa impressed by playing the roles of Krishna, Narad, and Raghunathaswamy.
Technical Section: The songs are a special attraction in the film. The songs, which are composed to convey the greatness of Sri Ramanujacharya, further enhance the spiritual feel of the story. The background music also goes in accordance with the scenes. The cinematography is good. Especially the scenes using graphics are impressive on the screen. The director has tried to bring his ideas to the screen in terms of production values. However, if more attention had been paid to the editing, the story would have been faster and more interesting. The hint at the end regarding a sequel titled ‘Avatar Ramanuja 2’ is interesting.
Finally… ‘Jayaho Ramanuja’ is a spiritual film that introduces the life of a great man and the principles of equality to the audience. Some scenes with graphics, depiction of Dashavatars, and message-filled songs are the main attractions of the film. Those who like spiritual films and want to know the life of Sri Ramanujacharya can watch this film.
