Shri Krishnarjuna Vijayam

Shri Krishnarjuna Vijayam (Sri Krishnarjuna Vijayam, “Victory of Sri Krishna and Arjuna”) is a 1996 Telugu mythological film directed by Singeetam Srinivasa Rao, with Nandamuri Balakrishna in a double role as Lord Krishna and Arjuna and Roja as Draupadi. Produced by B. Venkatarama Reddy under the Chandamama Vijaya Combines banner, it was released on 15 May 1996. It won four Nandi Awards, but was a box-office flop.

What the story covers

The film retells the early part of the Mahabharata, from the Pandavas’ youth to Draupadi’s marriage. It opens with a tournament in Hastinapuram, where Bhima and Duryodhana duel with maces, Arjuna’s archery wins Dronacharya’s praise, and the insulted Karna is crowned king of Anga by Duryodhana. Along the way it takes in Arjuna’s capture of Drupada as his guru’s fee, the birth of Draupadi and Dhrushtadyumna, Krishna’s bond with Draupadi, Arjuna’s contest with Anjaneya over a bridge of arrows at Rameswaram, the Kauravas’ wax palace, Bhima’s fights with Hidimbasura and Bakasura, and finally Draupadi’s svayamvara, which Arjuna wins in disguise.

The film was influenced by Sri Krishna Pandaveeyam (1966), which starred Balakrishna’s father, N. T. Rama Rao.

Cast

• Nandamuri Balakrishna as Lord Krishna and Arjuna
• Roja as Draupadi
• Rambha as an apsara and Priya Raman as Rukmini
• Naresh as Narada
• Srihari as Duryodhana and Daggupati Raja as Karna
• K. R. Vijaya as Kunti
• AVS as Shakuni
• Gokina Rama Rao as Bhishma and Mikkilineni as Dhritarashtra
• Raavi Kondala Rao as Mayudu and Padmanabham as Purochana
• Jayalalitha as Hidimba

Director: Singeetam Srinivasa Rao. Producer: B. Venkatarama Reddy. Music: Madhavapeddi Suresh; the soundtrack was released on the Supreme Music Company label. Runtime: 157 minutes.

Awards

The film won four Nandi Awards, all for its craft: Best Music Director for Madhavapeddi Suresh, Best Costume Designer for G. Babu, Best Makeup Artist for Sathyam and Best Art Director for G. Chalam.

Box office

Despite the awards, the film did not succeed commercially: Wikipedia calls it a box-office flop, citing a Telugucinema.com retrospective of Balakrishna’s films. No collection figures are given.

Where to watch Shri Krishnarjuna Vijayam

We do not have a confirmed streaming listing for Shri Krishnarjuna Vijayam on file. If we verify one with a platform, it will appear on this page.

Sources: the Wikipedia article on Sri Krishnarjuna Vijayam; our own cast and crew records.