Sagara Sangamam (1983)

Artistic and authentic, this evocative romantic drama follows the fluctuating fortunes in the life of Balakrishna (Kamal), a brilliant and passionate dancer from an impoverished background, he is, adept at Bharata Natyam, Kathakali, Kuchipudi etc.. and his dream is to perform at an All-India level competition.

Madhavi (Jayaprada) is a beautiful woman from an extremely wealthy background, who is also a dancer. She is so impressed and attracted by his immense talent, that she tries her best to uplift him and provide him with new and better opportunities to showcase his talent.

Just as he's about to leave on a train to realise his dream, his ill mother passes away primarily due to their inability to pay for medical treatment, and he ends up sacrificing his ambitions and desires of a bright future. Slowly, he gets closer to Madhavi and the day he wishes to propose to her, he realises that she is already married and her husband left her. Now the husband wants to re-unite with her which forces him to sacrifice his love.

Years pass by and he turns into an impoverished alcoholic. Meanwhile Madhavi loses her husband. She comes to know that Balakrishna is suffering from the effects of years of alcoholism, and is terminally ill. So she takes care of his medical needs, gives him a place to stay, and wishes that he teach her now adult daughter the intricacies of traditional dance. Will the ailing Balakrishna find a new reason to live and immerse himself in his beloved art form once more? Will Madhavi's daughter accept an unknown, ailing alcoholic as her master?