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Rajadhi Raja (1989 film)

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Rajadhi Raja
Theatrical release poster
Directed byR. Sundarrajan
Screenplay byPanchu Arunachalam
Story byR. Sundarrajan
Produced byR. D. Bhaskar
StarringRajinikanth
Nadhiya
Radha
CinematographyRajarajan
Edited byB. Lenin
V. T. Vijayan
Music byIlaiyaraaja
Production
company
Pavalar Creations
Release date
  • 4 March 1989 (1989-03-04)
CountryIndia
LanguageTamil

Rajadhi Raja (transl. Superior King) is a 1989 Indian Tamil-language masala film directed by R. Sundarrajan. The film stars Rajinikanth in a dual role, with Nadhiya and Radha portraying his characters' love interests. It revolves around Raja, a rich estate owner's son who seeks to avenge his father's death. He is aided in his quest by Chinnarasu, a lookalike. Rajadhi Raja was released on 4 March 1989 and became a box office hit.

Plot

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A rich estate owner Vishwanathan is killed by his second wife Sarasu and her brother Aadimoolam for his property. The estate owner's son Rajashekar returns from the United States and learns of this. To bring the culprits to book, he makes his friend Sethupathi, a rickshaw puller, act as Raja. But soon, Aadimoolam learns of this, kills Sethu and frames Raja as the killer. Raja is sentenced to death. In between, Raja loves Senkamalam, sister of an employee in his estate.

In the same village where Raja lives, there exists his lookalike, Chinnaraasu, whose aim in life is to wed his sweetheart Lakshmi. Raja escapes from jail, meets Chinnaraasu and makes Chinnaraasu take his place in jail. After many twist and turns, Raja brings the culprits to book. At the end, Raja marries Senkamalam and Chinnarasu marries Lakshmi.

Cast

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Production

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Development

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R. Sundarrajan initially planned to direct Amman Kovil Kizhakale with Rajinikanth which did not happen. When Sundarrajan met Panchu Arunachalam who was finding plot for a new project with collaboration of S. P. Muthuraman and Rajinikanth, he narrated the plotline of Rajadhi Raja which impressed both Rajinikanth and Arunachalam. Rajinikanth insisted Sundarrajan to direct the film who relented after initial rejections to direct the film.[1] The film was produced under Ilaiyaraaja's brother R. D. Bhaskar under their home banner Pavalar Creations.[2] Cinematography was handled by Rajarajan, and editing by B. Lenin and V. T. Vijayan.[3]

Casting

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Initially, Revathi and Rupini were reported to be the two lead actresses. Due to date clashes, Revathi's role was given to Radha and Rupini's role to Nadhiya.[3] This was the last film for Radha to act with Rajinikanth and it was the only film for Nadhiya with Rajinikanth.[2] Radha Ravi, who portrayed one of the antagonists, initially "approached the role like a serious villain". However, when he was told that his character knows Rajinikanth's real identity, "I decided to play the character like a muff, and when I suggested the idea to director Sundarrajan, he accepted it". Ravi also intentionally mimicked his father M. R. Radha's voice and took inspiration from his father's character from the 1961 film Paava Mannippu.[2]

Filming

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The song "Vaa Vaa" was initially planned to be shot in Ooty but due to heavy rainfall, the crew decided to shoot the song in Coonoor and again went back to Ooty when it was not raining and completed the remaining shoot.[1] Radha Ravi said Rajinikanth wanted this scene where there will be a snake in the hand, Sundarrajan objected as he felt it was "over the top" but Rajinikanth insisted on this scene because "he liked to have a snake scene in his films for sentimental reasons".[2] The filming was completed in 50 days.[1]

Soundtrack

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Rajadhi Raja
Soundtrack album by
Ilaiyaraaja
Released1989
GenreFeature film soundtrack
Length30:04
LanguageTamil
Label
Ilaiyaraaja chronology
Varusham 16
(1989) 		Rajadhi Raja
(1989) 		Siva
(1989)
External audio
audio icon Rajadhi Raja – Jukebox on YouTube

The music was composed by Ilaiyaraaja.[4][5] The song "Malayala Karaiyoram" is set to the Carnatic raga Sankarabharanam,[6] "Meenamma Meenamma" is set to Sarasangi,[7] and "Un Nenja Thottu Sollu".[8] The soundtrack became hugely popular and was reportedly sold around 22000 units.[9]

Track listing
No.TitleLyricsSinger(s)Length
1."Meenamma Meenamma"PiraisoodanMano, K. S. Chitra04:38
2."Maama Un Ponna Kodu"Gangai AmaranS. P. Balasubrahmanyam04:25
3."Malayala Karaiyoram"VaaliMano04:42
4."Enkitta Mothathe"PonnadiyanMano, K. S. Chitra04:51
5."Un Nenja Thottu Sollu" (album only)Gangai AmaranP. Susheela, K. S. Chitra04:38
6."Vaa Vaa Manjal Malare"IlaiyaraajaMano, S. P. Sailaja04:34
7."Ulaga Vaazhkkaiye"IlaiyaraajaS. P. Balasubrahmanyam00:58
8."Adi Aathu Kulla Aathimaram"IlaiyaraajaS. P. Balasubrahmanyam01:18
Total length:30:04

Release and reception

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Rajadhi Raja was released on 4 March 1989.[10] Ananda Vikatan rated the film 43 out of 100.[11] N. Krishnaswamy of The Indian Express appreciated Ilaiyaraaja's music, Arunachalam's writing and Rajinikanth's dual role performance, adding, "the film is entertaining despite the abundant cliches and to-the-hilt commercialism".[12]

Legacy

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The song "Enkitta Mothathe" inspired the title of two unrelated films: one in 1990 also directed by Sundarrajan, and another in 2017.[13][14]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Guna, M. (27 March 2019). "ஒன்லைன் வாய்ப்பு, ஊட்டி மழை, ரஜினி சொன்ன சஜஷன்!" - ஆர்.சுந்தர்ராஜன் #30YearsOfRajathiraja" [One-line opportunity, Ooty rainfall, Suggestion given by Rajini – R. Sundarrajan]. Ananda Vikatan. Archived from the original on 19 November 2019. Retrieved 28 March 2019.
  2. ^ a b c d Suganth, M. (4 March 2019). "Celebrating 30 years of Raajadhi Raja". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 19 November 2019. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
  3. ^ a b "ராஜாதி ராஜா (1989)". Cinema Express (in Tamil). Archived from the original on 29 September 2014. Retrieved 12 January 2019.
  4. ^ "Rajadhi Raja (1989)". Raaga.com. Archived from the original on 23 February 2014. Retrieved 10 February 2014.
  5. ^ "Raajadhi Raaja Tamil Film LP Vinyl Record by Ilayaraja". Mossymart. Archived from the original on 16 December 2021. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
  6. ^ Sundararaman 2007, p. 141.
  7. ^ Sundararaman 2007, p. 144.
  8. ^ Sundararaman 2007, p. 163.
  9. ^ பாரதி, திரை (2 October 2022). "ஆறிலிருந்து எழுபது வரை: ரஜினி சரிதம் - 79". Kamadenu (in Tamil). Archived from the original on 30 November 2022. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  10. ^ K., Janani (5 March 2021). "Nadiya remembers Rajinikanth's Rajadhi Raja on 32nd anniversary. Throwback pic". India Today. Archived from the original on 16 December 2021. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
  11. ^ "சினிமா விமர்சனம்: ராஜாதி ராஜா". Ananda Vikatan (in Tamil). 26 March 1989. Archived from the original on 21 June 2020. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  12. ^ Krishnaswamy, N. (17 March 1989). "Rajathiraja". The Indian Express. p. 5. Retrieved 11 January 2019 – via Google News Archive.
  13. ^ "ஒரே பாடலில் இரு படங்கள்… பாடலில் பிறந்த படங்களின் வரலாறு". CineReporters (in Tamil). 19 June 2021. Archived from the original on 14 May 2023. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
  14. ^ Rangan, Baradwaj (25 March 2017). "Enkitta Mothathe Movie Review". Film Companion. Archived from the original on 14 May 2023. Retrieved 16 January 2024.

Bibliography

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  • Sundararaman (2007) [2005]. Raga Chintamani: A Guide to Carnatic Ragas Through Tamil Film Music (2nd ed.). Pichhamal Chintamani. OCLC 295034757.
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