Chintamani(1937)

Chintamani is a 1937 Tamil-language film directed by Y. V. Rao that tells the legendary story of Bilwamangal, a Sanskrit scholar from Varanasi who abandons his wife after becoming infatuated with a courtesan named Chintamani. Though she has a reputation for ill-fame, Chintamani is a devoted follower of Lord Krishna, spending her days singing devotional hymns. Through his attraction to her, Bilwamangal gradually finds his way toward Krishna and experiences a spiritual transformation. He eventually becomes a Krishna devotee himself and composes the celebrated Sanskrit work Sri Krishna Karnamritam. A landmark in Indian cinema, Chintamani became the first Tamil film to run for a full year in a single theatre, establishing itself as a cultural milestone.