and I go up (into the "sky") as someone raises it up on a jack. I precariously stand there with a fear that I'd fall off the stool but I should not show it in my face – I should instead sing with a smiling face!" Narayana Rao was reluctant to direct the film's climactic scene, since he could not forget Hiranyakashipu's death scene in a stage play in where the actor playing Narasimha was emotionally involved. Murugan directed the scene according to Meiyappan's wishes, and a double was engaged for Ranga Rao for the climactic scene. Meiyappan, dissatisfied with the overall result, took close-up shots of Ranga Rao to make the scene look authentic. Gopalakrishnan and K. S. Reddy choreographed the film's dance scenes. According to cinematographer A. Vincent, to achieve the "pillar split effect" in the scene where Narasimha emerges from a pillar and kills Hiranyakashipu "we marked each frame increasing the markings step by step". Vincent described it as the "one-turn work", and the scene was shot with a Mitchell camera. The film's final cut was in length. Soundtrack S. Rajeswara Rao composed the film's soundtrack and background score, assisted by Rajagopal and Krishnan. Bhaktha Prahlada soundtrack consisted of 23 songs, and poems from Andhra Maha Bhagavatham (the Telugu translation of Bhagavatha Purana by the 15th-century poet Pothana. Samudrala Sr., Samudrala Jr., Kosaraju Raghavaiah, Palagummi Padmaraju, Daasarathi Krishnamacharyulu and Aarudhra wrote the song lyrics. "Varamosage Vanamali" was composed using Bihag raga and sung by Balamuralikrishna. "Kanulaku Veluguvu Neeve" was based on the Mohana and Abheri ragas. The soundtrack, released by HMV Records, was critically praised. "Jeevamu Neeve Kadha", "Raara Priya Sundara", "Janani Varadayini Trilochani" and "Sirisiri Laali Chinnari Laali" became popular after the film's release. Among the poems, the renditions of "Kaladambodhi" and "Indhugaladu Andhuledanu" were praised by critics. The Tamil version of the soundtrack has lyrics by Thiruchi Thiyagarajan, Vaali, Ku. Ma. Balasubramaniam, V. Seetharaman and Alangudi Somu. Release and reception Bhaktha Prahlada was released on 12 January 1967. The film was distributed in the Andhra Pradesh, Madras and Nizam regions by Navayuga Films. The first copy was screened for President Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, who praised the performances of its cast (particularly Ramani's). A reviewer writing for Andhra Prabha on 22 January 1967, compared the film with the earlier two films of the same name and opined the 1967 film was a better made version. They stated