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Sagara Sangamam () is a 1983 Indian Telugu language-language dance film written and directed by K. Viswanath and produced by Edida Nageswara Rao. The film stars Kamal Haasan, Jaya Prada, Sarath Babu, S. P. Sailaja and Chakri Toleti. Upon release, the film received positive reviews and became a box office hit. The film has received two National Film Awards, three Filmfare Awards South and the Nandi Award for Best Feature Film (Bronze).
The film was dubbed into Tamil language and Malayalam and released as Salangai Oli and Sagara Sangamam respectively. Kamal Haasan had lent his voice for all three versions. The film was premiered at the 9th IFFI in 1984, and retrospectively at the 45th IFFI in the Celebrating Dance in Indian cinema section. The film was dubbed into Russian, and was screened at the Moscow International Film Festival, Asia Pacific Film Festival and AISFM Film Festival. Salangai Oli was released on the same day as Sagara Sangamam.
Balu's aging mother passes away from the afflictions of poverty, two days before his performance. Balu, who was very attached to her, is emotionally devastated and fails to participate in the dance festival. Madhavi nevertheless, gives him support and encouragement and sets him on the mend. Balu gradually develops a fondness for Madhavi as their relationship grows. He hides his love for her but eventually picks up the courage to express it. Balu discovers that, while Madhavi shares his feelings, she is a married woman separated from her husband. Her husband later returns to unite Madhavi and Balu, but Balu decides to sacrifice his love, showing respect for the institution of marriage.
Years pass, and Balu, a disappointed man, has become an inconsolable alcoholic and a newspaper journalist/art critic. Once he critiques a dancer, Sailaja, for a lack of concentration on her form and more towards the audience, which results in them having a fight. The article is in-turn read by Madhavi, who turns out to be Sailaja's mother, and has lost her husband. She finds out about Balu, his medical condition, never ending love for her, and her family. In a bid to revive his will to live and his passion for his art, she tends to his medical needs through his friend, Raghu, and solicits Balu to be the dance instructor for her daughter. She does not come in front of him, worried that he would not be able to cope with the news of her being a widow. However, a situation arises where she saves him from falling into a well. She comes in front of him wearing a sindhoor. He later learns the truth about her husband and his condition deteriorates.
As Balu is diagnosed terminally ill , Madhavi plans that his name should survive and his talent should not die along with him . Sailaja, suspecting her mother's behaviour towards Balu , leaves the house but is caught by Raghu who brings her back
Sailaja , still in anger with Balu over his comment, half heartedly continues to be his student while he teaches her the step.
The film ends with Sailaja's on-stage performance with Balu watching her in a wheelchair,carrying over the legacy and talent of his dance on her , as his health completely deteriorates. He dies while watching her performance. A heartbroken Raghu takes him away quietly, without interrupting the performance. Madhavi, devastated, follows them with an umbrella, covering Balu from the rain.
| National Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam | |
| Nandi Award for Best Actor | Kamal Haasan | |
| Nandi Award for Best Female Playback Singer | S. Janaki | |
| Nandi Award for Best Art Director | Thota Tharani | |
| Nandi Award for Best Editor | G. G. Krishna Rao | |
| Nandi Award for Best Audiographer | A.R. Swaminadhan | |
| Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Telugu | Jaya Prada | |
| Filmfare Award for Best Director – Telugu | K. Viswanath |
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