Adi Shankaracharya (1983) User Reviews

A truly devotional, classical and amazing film on life of Adi Shankaracharya

[amith_sripad · 9/10 · 24 May 2006]

Adi Shankaracharya is well known not only in India but the rest of the world. He lived around 1100 years ago and has worked greatly for the benefit of Hindu society. His life is pure and beyond question. He is an inspiration to all human beings.

G.V.Iyer has captured the mood of the times of Adi Shankara so well that we feel that we are leaving in a bygone era while watching the movie. It is taken as an art movie more than a commercial movie and is a treat to watch. Selection of actors is also good, also the locations and the narration. The language and the scenes in the movie depict the times and is not influenced by the present condition. Also there is no exaggeration which is attempted in the movie. G.V.Iyer has also taken movies like Madhvacharya, Ramanujacharya, Bhagavad Gita, Shantala, Swami Vivekananda, Hamsa Geethe to name a few. All the movies are simple, but the message and mood is definitely out of the world experience. Hope our new trend of directors will imbibe from the likes of G.V.Iyer which I feel is a real tribute to the master.

Important movie

[mlredr · 9/10 · 28 July 2006]

I am thankful to the director for making this movie. The idea of depicting Death as a young companion of Adi Shankara is just brilliant. It also gives us a glimpse of times past and the glory and heroism of Adi Shankara's mission. The only complaint I have is the low-budget nature of the project. The reason must be that the movie was not commercially funded and lacked the financial resources of a big-budget production, but that may be for the better since the director did not have to bow to commercial compulsions in making the movie. A grander production of the same movie in regional languages is long overdue given Adi Shankara's instrumental role in reconciling Buddhist philosophy with Vedic Philosophy and singlehandedly revitalizing Dharma in India.

A very good movie

[bhattathiry-1 · 9/10 · 11 July 2015]

Indian Vedic contribution is a reservoir of Vibrant Information and Harmonious Creativity. May the womb of nature embrace all with tranquil blessings from this day forward? Let this attract one's attention affecting them positively. It is a sanctuary of the self a creative venue which serves as an enduring expression of lightness,where a peaceful atmosphere with sunlight flows and serene atmosphere prevail.

In the storm of life we struggle through myriads of stimuli of pressure, stress, and multi problems that seek for a solution and answer. We are so suppressed by the routine of this every life style that most of us seem helpless. However, if we look closely to ancient techniques we shall discover the magnificent way to understand and realize the ones around us and mostly ourselves. If only we could stop for a moment and allow this to happen. May all beings be happy (LokaSamasthaSukhinoBhavanthu) is the essence of Indian philosophy.

The ancient Indian philosophy of keeping mind and body for the well being has entered the managerial, medical and judicial domain of the world. Today it has found its place as an alternative to the theory of modern management and also as a means to bring back the right path of peace and prosperity for the human beings..

Absolute Bliss - A Gem among the movies

[madhavsr · 10/10 · 19 March 2007]

DON'T MISS THIS MOVIE AT ANY COST. If you like classics, this would be at the top your list.

No words can describe the bliss you'd enjoy after watching this movie. This movie about Advaita and Sankara comes with a screenplay and characterization that is completely different from the run-of-the-mill movies and easy-to-swallow story lines. Interpretation is left to the viewer and whichever way viewer interprets, he/she ends up in understanding Advaita!

G V Iyer's idea of personifying Wisdom and Death as Sankara's friends, to me, is the best part of the film. It takes the viewer into a sublime world. The abstract Advaita explained the best way! Vedic Hyms, music is excellent (Balamuralikrishna has done a good job).

A special mention for the locations. Amazing locales. Be it Narmada in full flow or the ascetic caves, G V Iyer has done a terrific groundwork to identify and use the perfect locales.

All actors lived with their characters. It is a music to ears while listening to dialogues in Samskrit.

Only sore point of the movie was the production quality. I wish this movie is remade with better cinematography, cameraman. Pity and shame that there was no big financial support in 1983 for this first ever Samskrit movie. And you don't get the DVD for this movie in India. It is only available in US market. Why?

Amazingly blissful movie

[m-o-k-s-h-a · 10/10 · 12 December 2005]

Its a very well shot movie with the scenes mostly speaking for themselves, although the dialogues are great in Sanskrit. Shri GV Iyer definitely must've understood the advaita philosophy well to do such a fantabulous job. Moreover, the director has kept the events that had varied opinions (that is, where not everyone agrees on what exactly happened then) left to interpretation in most cases.

The acting of each individual is praiseworthy. The Vedic recitation has been captured well, and in these modern years, one of the most difficult jobs of bringing in age-old authenticity to the geography has been achieved without doubt.

The movie brings an amazing calm with it and takes you at a different level with each scene, also making you want to see more of GV Iyer's works. Sadly, he passed away before finishing his work on Ramayana.

A beautiful movie on Philosophy & vastness.

[drrajeevshukla · 10/10 · 11 May 2019]

This is not just a movie, an experience, an enlightening journey of Adi Shankar. When I saw it's dubbed Hindi version 27 years back, I thought of running away to Himalayas. I have seen it many times, every 4-5 years. The beautiful journey, the philosophy, the setting & the transcripts are all stunning. It transports me to highest experiences & deep thoughtfulness. One of my all time favourites. BTW, it's a must watch all wanting to get a head start on one of the Greatest ever to walk on earth.

Truly authentic depiction of Adi Shnkara

[krishnadassanjeev · 10/10 · 24 December 2023]

The movie is an honest effort to portray life and work of Shri Adi Shankaracharya who revived Sanatana Dharma which was jolted by Buddhism and urgently needed repairs and was about to fall. The movie is picturised in locations that takes you to time and place of His time. The sound and dialogue are perfect. Music is great and every character played their part perfectly. It is made originally in Sanskrit language and in fact is the first Sanskrit movie. The movie is first serious effort to bring life of a man who is an incarnation of lord Shiva and infact the incarnation just to protect Vedic wisdom after the great sage Shri Vyasadeva and only been followed by Lord Chaitanya and Great Swami Vivekananda.

First Sanskrit film: Excellent biography of Adi Shankara

[rtoac1 · 10/10 · 19 January 2024]

This is a Sanskrit biographical film on Adi Shankaracharya.

The film is an excellent summary of the key events in the life of Adi Shankaracharya. He was the foremost guru who walked the length and breadth of Bharat elaborating and teaching people on the principles of Sanatana Dharma (to the masses) and Advaita Vedanta (to scholars). He was a visionary who set up four mutts in the four corners of the country for the propagation of Sanatana Dharma (more commonly known as Hinduism). A scholar who provided simple commentaries on the Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita and the Brahma Sutras - the most revered texts of Sanatana Dharma. A poet who wrote lilting poems on Devi, Shiva, Ganga and many such divinities. A humanitarian who set up a method of worship, preached sects to come together and even wrote simple introductory granthas for people to move forward on the spiritual path. All this before giving up the physical frame by the age of 32.

You must not miss this film about the greatest spiritual legend who has walked the sacred bhoomi of Bharatavarsha.

The director GV Iyer and the lead Sarvadaman Banerjee do full justice. It's also commendable that this was the first Sanskrit film made in Bharat.