7 South Indian Films on Deities

Team FC

Bhakta Prahlada (1932)

The first few decades of filmmaking in India were dominated by the mythological film, featuring mainly stories of gods and saints. Produced by Imperial Film Company, this mythological film or 'pauranika chitram' was the first Telugu Talkie.

Mayabazar (1957)

Unlike most films in genre, this Telugu classic does not use established myths or texts but develops a new romance between Sasirekha, the daughter of Balarama, and Abhimanyu, the son of Arjuna and Subhadra.

Ammoru (1995)

One of the famous telugu women bhakti films of the 90s called the goddess film or Amman film. It boasted of technical capabilities of computer graphics that even the 'male-oriented' films had not adapted at that point.

Sri Srinivasa Kalyana (1974)

Starring one of the most respected figures both in Kannada society and cinema, Dr. Rajkumar as Lord Venkateshwara. The story revolves around the popular deity 'Balaji' and his marriage, a beloved ritual that is celebrated every year at his temple at Tirupathi.

Kodungallooramma (1968)

This Malayalam language film is an adaptation of one of the earliest epics and essential text of sangama literature, Sillapattikaram or 'The tale of the Anklet'. It is an exploration of the idea of justice and fairness and a depiction of the female rage.

Yamagola (1977)

This film shows the movement in NTR's career from 'god' to citizen. He no longer dons on the gold armor or helmet, but plays a youth leader who encounters 'Yamraj' while trying to leave the underworld after he is killed.

Mahasakthi Mariamman (1986)

This Tamil Language film casts K.R.Vijaya as Goddess Parashakthi, who showers her grace on her devotees, the famous poets and saints Ottakoothar and Sadasiva Brahmendra, in a depiction of the tradition of writing poetry for the deity by the devotee through the bhakti period.