Сақши (Sakshi)

1967 film directed by Bapu

Sakshi is a 1967 Indian Telugu language drama film written and directed by Bapu. The film stars Krishna, Vijaya Nirmala and Vijaya Lalitha, with Ramana Panthulu, Raja Babu, Chalapathi Rao, Allu Venkateswarlu, Jagga Rao and R. Ranga Rao in supporting roles. It is based on Mullapudi Venkata Ramana's 1959 story of the same name which itself was inspired by the 1952 American film High Noon. In Sakshi, a naïve and bucolic boatman is exploited by society and turns into a hard hearted person. Sakshi, the directorial debut of Bapu (who also worked as art director), was the first Telugu film to be shot completely in outdoor locations, with filming taking place in Pulidindi, a village located on the banks of the Godavari River. It was the acting debut of Ranga Rao, who later prefixed the film's title to his name. The entire film was completed in less than 20 days. Sakshi was released on 1 July 1967. Although many people in the Telugu film industry believed the film would not run for even 20 days in theatres, it ran for almost a month and became a profitable venture, besides receiving critical acclaim. It was later screened at the Tashkent film festival in 1968, where it was also well received. The film received critical acclaim during its screening at the Tashkent film festival.

Kishtaiah is a naïve and bucolic boatman living in Dachampaadu, an islet in the Godavari belt. In the same area lives Fakeeru, a dreaded criminal. The village head, known by his title Munasabu, hires Fakeeru as his lorry driver to transport coconuts to the town. The only person Fakeeru cares for in the village is his sister Chukka. He abandons Ratthi, a woman who was madly in love with him. Kishtaiah's uncle Gourayya and his fellow guard are murdered by Fakeeru when trying to stop him from stealing coconuts from Munasabus garden. As Kishtaiah is the sole witness to these murders, the village elders force him to testify against Fakeeru in court. Fakeeru is arrested, but vows revenge. He escapes from prison, and no villager gives Kishtaiah shelter. Chukka marries Kishtaiah, in the hope that her brother would not kill him. Fakeeru is unaware of this and attacks Kishtaiah, who eventually abandons his naïve persona and kills Fakeeru. All the villagers who earlier shunned Kishtaiah now surround him, but Kishtaiah, disgusted with their selfish behaviour, leaves the village and surrenders to the police.

Krishna was cast as the male lead Kishtaiah. R. Ranga Rao was cast as Karanam in his acting debut, and later became known as Sakshi Ranga Rao. Krishna's future wife Vijaya Nirmala was cast as the female lead Chukka, The scene depicting Kishtaiah and Chukka's marriage was shot at the Meesala Krishnudu temple of Pulidindi.

Sakshi was released on 1 July 1967.