Shrutilayalu

Shrutilayalu

Year: 1987

Runtime: 161 mins

Language: Telugu

Director: K. Viswanath

DramaMusic

Naidu, a devoted Carnatic musician, adopts two sons who rise to fame as city performers. Their success breeds arrogance, leading them to disregard Naidu and abandon his dream of establishing a music academy. Years later, Naidu’s daughter‑in‑law Sita intervenes, urging the wayward brothers to remember their roots and revive the academy.

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Timeline & Setting – Shrutilayalu (1987)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Shrutilayalu (1987). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

Naidu's home, Sangeetha Bharathi Music Academy

Naidu's home is the emotional anchor of the film, a space where Carnatic tradition meets family duty. The dream of building the Sangeetha Bharathi Music Academy drives the family, and the home also hosts the music-learning environment that shapes the sons. The city scenes later become the testing ground where fame tempts them away from their roots.

🎵 Music 🏛 Arts 🌆 Indian culture

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 13:25

Main Characters – Shrutilayalu (1987)

Meet the key characters of Shrutilayalu (1987), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Naidu (Kaikala Satyanarayana)

A renowned Carnatic musician and the family patriarch who dreams of building a fine arts academy. He is patient, yet firm, guiding his sons toward discipline even when disappointment runs deep. His fierce love for tradition anchors the film’s moral center as he navigates loss and hope.

🎼 Musician 👨‍👦 Father 🏛 Education

Narayana Murthy (Dr. Rajasekhar)

The elder son whose talent earns him early recognition. He is drawn to the city’s lure and slips into bad habits, drifting away from his roots and family. His arc centers on redemption through the influence of his wife and the family’s enduring dream.

🎹 Music 🧭 Rebellion 🏛 Tradition

Sita (Sumalatha)

Daughter-in-law of Naidu and a passionate music enthusiast who falls in love with Narayana. She takes on the burden of guiding the family back to its original dream, orchestrating her son’s talents without revealing her own identity at times. Her steadfast devotion drives the film’s moral core.

❤️ Family 🎨 Art 🕊 Reconciliation

Shankar (Naresh)

The second son who marries a rich girl and is swept up by city life. He embodies temptation and the lure of easy success, but his journey also becomes a test of familial loyalty and the power of reconciliation.

🎶 Music 🌀 Temptation

Srinivas (Shanmukha Srinivas)

The son of Narayana and Sita who grows into a great musician and dancer under Sita’s guidance. He mirrors the family’s dream and becomes a living embodiment of the academy’s future.

🎼 Talent 👶 Family legacy

Panchali (Jayalalita)

The wife of Shankar, representing the social status and family dynamics surrounding the younger brother’s marriage. Her presence highlights the tension between wealth, tradition, and personal happiness.

❤️ Marriage 🛍 Social status

Girija (Aruna Mucherla)

A supporting character who contributes to the fabric of the family and the community around the music academy. Her role adds depth to the domestic and social environment.

🎭 Supporting role

Ramadasu (Sakshi Ranga Rao)

A supportive figure within the musical milieu, adding color to the academic dream and the cultural setting.

🎤 Supporting role

Anjali Devi

A veteran presence in the cast whose character contributes to the cinematic tapestry surrounding music and family ties.

🎬 Supporting role

Mallikarjuna Rao

Another supporting figure enriching the community and musical backdrop of the story.

🎼 Supporting role

Potti Prasad

A supporting character who participates in the film’s broader cultural environment and narrative texture.

🎭 Supporting role

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 13:25

Major Themes – Shrutilayalu (1987)

Explore the central themes of Shrutilayalu (1987), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🎶 Music & Identity

Music is the central thread that defines who these characters are and what they value. Narayana Murthy's talent promises public recognition but risks pulling him away from his familial roots. Sita and Naidu view music as a vehicle to heal rifts and preserve the family legacy. The dream of the academy elevates music from personal skill to a community institution.

❤️ Family & Duty

The film centers on the responsibilities a parent bears toward shaping children and protecting a shared dream. Naidu's ambition for his sons tests his patience and forgiveness. Sita embodies selfless devotion, balancing love with duty to salvage the family's future. The tension between personal desires and familial duties drives the narrative.

🔄 Redemption

The brothers drift into temptation once they gain recognition, testing their loyalty to Naidu and to each other. Each misstep becomes a chance for correction, guided by Sita's reintegration of talent with discipline. The path back to the dream requires humility, forgiveness, and renewed focus on the academy. Redemption is portrayed as a collective reset rather than a solitary triumph.

🕊️ Forgiveness & Reconciliation

Eventually Naidu forgives his sons, signaling a restoration of family harmony. The members reunite to rebuild the music academy and honor the original dream. This reconciliation reaffirms the power of art to heal wounds and unite generations. The ending reinforces that forgiveness can revive a shared purpose and legacy.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 13:25

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