The screening of 'Krishnavataram Part 1: The Heart (Hridayam)' at Lok Bhawan recently turned into a special evening hosted by Anandiben Patel, Governor of Uttar Pradesh, for a select audience. The occasion was especially personal for Patel, as Sanskruti Jayana, who plays Satyabhama in the film, is her granddaughter. Sanskruti's parents, Jayesh and Anar Patel, and her fiancé Ankitt Mohapatra were also present at the screening.
Among those present were Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the entire UP cabinet including the newly sworn-in ministers, the governor's daughter and son-in-law Anar Patel and Jayesh Patel, Sanskruti's fiancé Ankitt Mohapatra, Padma Shri Malini Awasthi, Yatindra Mishra, as well as the film's director, producers, music director, and Siddharth Gupta, who essays Krishna. With Awanish Kumar Awasthi ensuring seamless arrangements, the evening began with the screening of the film.
The film traces Lord Krishna's journey through love, devotion, duty, and sacrifice, moving from Vrindavan and Dwarka to the Mahabharata era. Focused on his bonds with Radha, Rukmini, and Satyabhama, the film presents Krishna as a deeply human figure, caught between emotion and dharma. The audience watched in rapt silence as the story unfolded on screen, and when the film ended, the auditorium rose in a standing ovation.
Later, the Governor and the Chief Minister felicitated the cast and crew. Patel praised the team for beautifully bringing alive India's rich history, Puranic traditions, and spiritual heritage, and said more such films rooted in Indian culture, values, and traditions should be made to educate and inspire the youth. The screening also moved her deeply as she watched her granddaughter Sanskruti on screen, adding a touching note of family pride to the evening.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath lauded Sanskruti's performance, calling it a matter of immense pride for any grandmother to see the younger generation represent its cultural roots so sincerely. Moved by the film's visual retelling of Krishna's life, he declared it tax-free in Uttar Pradesh and also directed the state's Information Department to organise special district-wide screenings for students.
