Nireekshana

The story unfolds as Murali Krishna, a convict, now free from jail, tells his tragic love story to his fellow passengers in a school bus. An orphan and a forest officer by profession, he falls in love with a local tribal woman, Tulasi, during his stay at a forest area. They decided to get married, and he sets off to tell his best friend about his plans.

On his way back, the police inspector (Narra Venkateswara Rao) arrest him as a suspected naxalite criminal, who looks similar to Murali Krishna. There he accidentally kills a policeman and gets life imprisonment. During his early days at jail, he writes a letter to Tulasi asking her to forget him. When his prison term was about to complete, he writes a letter to see if she waits for him. After long years of torment in the jail he goes to meet Thulasi. Does she still wait for him? That's the question of his fellow passengers, too. At the end, she does wait for him, and welcomes him with lamps.

Archana acted for most of the film without wearing a blouse.^[4] The film was also inspired by the human rights violations that occurred during the Emergency period (1975–77).^[3]

The music and background score was composed by Ilaiyaraaja.^[5]

In the original Telugu version, the lyrics were written by Aatreya.^[6] The Telugu soundtrack was published by Aditya Music and Mango Music. The Tamil dubbed version, titled Kanne Kalaimaane, featured adapted lyrics and was released by Kosmic Music. ^[7]

The song "Aakasam Eenatidho" is adapted from the Tamil song "Sangathil Paadatha", originally composed by Ilaiyaraaja for the film Auto Raja (1982).^[8]

Reviewing the Tamil-dubbed version Kanne Kalaimaane, Jayamanmadhan of Kalki appreciated Balu Mahendra's cinematography, said Archana had incredible eyes, and Bhanu Chander was "o.k".^[9]

Balu Mahendra won the Best Cinematographer, and Archana won the Special Jury Award.^[10][11]