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Nandhavana Theru

2021-07-11T00:45:53Z

2A01:CB00:19:5C00:5469:B81D:3E29:CFFC:

{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2021}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2021}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Nandhavana Theru
| image = Nandhavana Theru DVD cover.jpg
| caption = DVD cover
| director = [[R. V. Udayakumar]]
| producer = [[T. Siva]] A. Selvaraj
| story = Sujatha Udayakumar
| screenplay = R. V. Udayakumar
| writer = [[Gokula Krishnan]] (dialogues)
| starring = {{ubl|[[Karthik (actor)|Karthik]]|Srinidhi}}
| music = [[Ilaiyaraaja]]
| cinematography = R. Ganesh
| editing = B. S. Nagaraj
| studio = [[T. Siva|Amma Creations]]
| distributor =
| released = {{Film date|df=y|1995|05|11}}
| country = India
| runtime = 145 minutes
| language = Tamil
}}

'''''Nandhavana Theru''''' ({{Translation|Chariot of Nandavanam}}) is a 1995 Indian [[Tamil language|Tamil]] [[action film|action]] [[Drama (film and television)|drama film]], directed by [[R. V. Udayakumar]]. The film stars [[Karthik (actor)|Karthik]] and newcomer Srinidhi. The film, produced by [[T. Siva]] and A. Selvaraj, had musical score by [[Ilaiyaraaja]] and was released on 11 May 1995.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nandhavana Theru / நந்தவன தேரு |url=https://screen4screen.com/yearly-movies/1995/nandhavana-theru |access-date=11 June 2021 |website=Screen4screen}}</ref> The film did not do well at the box office.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sitaraman |first=Sandya |date=9 January 1996 |title=Tamil Movie News--1995 Review |url=https://groups.google.com/d/topic/soc.culture.tamil/fwLpyN6aWTk |url-status=live |access-date=31 August 2012 |website=Tamil Movie News}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Sundaram |first=Nandhu |date=1 December 2020 |title='Baasha' to 'Sathi Leelavathi': Why 1995 is an unforgettable year for Tamil cinema fans |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/baasha-sathi-leelavathi-why-1995-unforgettable-year-tamil-cinema-fans-138739 |url-status=live |access-date=11 June 2021 |website=[[The News Minute]]}}</ref>

==Plot==

Seenu ([[Karthik (actor)|Karthik]]) is an orphan and a full-time thief. He helps prisoners by solving their problems outside the prison. One day, he is intrigued by a prisoner's silence. Seenu asks him about his problem. The prisoner is Adhiseshan ([[Devan (actor)|Devan]]), the maternal uncle of Gayatri (Srinidhi), a singer. He is a very rich man. He has been wrongfully convicted and sent to prison by Gayatri's paternal uncle Rajashekar ([[Anandaraj]]) and his son Gunashekaran. The duo have also managed poison Gayatri's mind against Adisheshan.

Adisheshan believes that Gayatri's life is great danger from the duo and requests Seenu to make her see the truth and save her. Seenu promises him that he will solve his problem. Initially, Gayatri avoids Seenu but she soon understands the true nature of Rajasekhar and she becomes Seenu's friend. Adhiseshan then realises that Seenu is his son (soon after looking at a photo of Seenu's mother). Seenu is thrilled about this as well and brings Gayatri to Adhiseshan's house to help them reunite. To their shock they find Adhiseshan dead. It is then revealed that Rajashekar and Gunashekaran have borrowed a lot of money and defaulted. They are sent to jail for this. This also means that Gayathri has to leave her house. Seenu happily accommodates her in his house. Seenu then decides to mend his ways, give up thievery and earn money in the right way to help Gayatri realise her dream: to become a [[Carnatic music]] singer. He succeeds and she becomes a famous singer. She builds is also able to buy herself a new house. She then reveals to Seenu that she's in love with Suresh (Siva), a fan of hers. Suresh's father is not happy about his son intending to marrying Gayatri. He helps Rajasekhar get out of prison and gets him try and separate the couple before their marriage. Seenu manages to save them and the couple elope. In the end, Seenu marries a widow in order to keep a promise to his neighbour. Seenu takes care of the widow and her son.

==Cast==

*[[Karthik (actor)|Karthik]] as Seenu (Srinivasan)
*Srinidhi as Gayatri
*[[Anandaraj]] as Rajasekhar
*[[Devan (actor)|Devan]] as Adhiseshan
*[[Janagaraj]] as Albert
*[[Vivek (actor)|Vivek]] as Beedi
*[[Vadivelu]] as Theekuchi
*[[Manorama (Tamil actress)|Manorama]] as Seenu's neighbour
*[[LIC Narasimhan]] as Church Father
*Gayathri as Seenu's neighbour
*Siva as Suresh (Guest appearance)
*[[Madhan Bob]] as a Music instrument seller (Guest appearance)

==Soundtrack==

{{Infobox album
| name = Nandhavana Theru
| type = [[soundtrack]]
| artist = [[Ilaiyaraaja]]
| cover =
| alt =
| released = 1995
| recorded = 1995
| venue =
| studio =
| genre = [[Film soundtrack|Feature film soundtrack]]
| length = 32:31
| label =
| producer = [[Ilaiyaraaja]]
| prev_title =
| prev_year =
| next_title =
| next_year =
}}

The soundtrack was composed by [[Ilaiyaraaja]], with lyrics by [[R. V. Udayakumar]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nandhavana Theru |url=https://avdigital.in/products/nandhavana-theru |url-status=live |access-date=11 June 2021 |website=avdigital.in}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"
! Track !! Song !! Singer(s)!! Duration
|-
|1 || "Adichu Pudichu" || Arunmozhi, [[Mano (singer)|Mano]], [[S. N. Surendar]] || 4:51
|-
|2 || "Anniya Kaattu Annaney" || Mano, [[Swarnalatha]] || 4:53
|-
|3 || "Enna Varam Vendum" || Mano, Lekha, Sindhu Devi || 5:29
|-
|4 || "Enthan Vaazhkaiyin" || Mano || 5:19
|-
|5 || "Ramanaa Sri" || Shobhana || 2:10
|-
|6 || "Unn Munnai Naanum Paada Vantha" || Arunmozhi || 1:05
|-
|7 || "Velli Nilave" || [[S. P. Balasubrahmanyam]], [[Uma Ramanan]] || 5:10
|-
|8 || "Viralil Suthi Meettavaa" || [[K. S. Chitra]] || 3:34
|}

==Reception==
K. Vijiyan of ''[[New Straits Times]]'' wrote, "Uthayakumar takes the movie nicely to just the interval. From then on, the story loses steam and we wonder where it is heading".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Vijiyan |first=K. |date=3 June 1995 |title=Story flounders in the middle |pages=14 |work=[[New Straits Times]] |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=x8G803Bi31IC&dat=19950603&printsec=frontpage&hl=en}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{IMDb title|0318482}}

{{R. V. Udayakumar}}

[[Category:1995 films]]
[[Category:Indian films]]
[[Category:Indian drama films]]
[[Category:Tamil-language films]]
[[Category:Films scored by Ilaiyaraaja]]
[[Category:1990s Tamil-language films]]
[[Category:Films directed by R. V. Udayakumar]]

Arjun Sarja

2021-07-11T00:00:33Z

2A01:CB00:19:5C00:5469:B81D:3E29:CFFC:

{{About|the actor||Arjun (disambiguation){{!}}Arjun}}
{{short description|Indian actor, producer, director}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Arjun Sarja
| image = Arjun at the ‘Kolaigaran’ Press Meet.jpg
| caption = Sarja in 2019
| birth_name = Srinivasa Sarja
| birth_date = 
| birth_place = [[Madhugiri]], [[Tumkur]], [[Karnataka]] India
| occupation = {{hlist|Actor|director|producer|screenwriter|distributor}}
| spouse = {{marriage|[[Niveditha Arjun]]|1988}}
| children = [[Aishwarya Arjun|Aishwarya]], Anjana
| parents = [[Shakti Prasad]] (father) Lakshmi Devamma (mother)
| relatives = [[Kishore Sarja]] (brother) [[Chiranjeevi Sarja]] (nephew) [[Dhruva Sarja]] (nephew) [[Rajesh (Kannada actor)|Rajesh]] (father-in-law)
| yearsactive = 1981–present
| nationality = Indian
}}

'''Srinivasa Sarja''', known professionally as '''Arjun''', is an Indian actor, producer and director. Referred to by the media and his fans as "[[Action King]]" for his roles in [[action film]]s, who works predominantly in [[Tamil cinema|Tamil]], [[Kannada cinema|Kannada]] and [[Telugu cinema|Telugu]] [[film industry]].<ref name=sarja>{{Cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/2008/09/12/stories/2008091251100200.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080916183413/http://www.hindu.com/2008/09/12/stories/2008091251100200.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=16 September 2008 |title= Promoting patriotism in a 'powerful' way is his style |last=Prasad |first=G |date= 12 September 2008 |work= [[The Hindu]] |access-date=5 February 2010 |location= Chennai, India}}</ref> while also performing in a few [[Malayalam cinema|Malayalam]] and [[Bollywood|Hindi]] [[films]].<ref>{{Cite news |url= http://www.hindu.com/2005/07/14/stories/2005071401510200.htm |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20060511184340/http://www.hindu.com/2005/07/14/stories/2005071401510200.htm |url-status= dead |archive-date= 11 May 2006 |title= For king of action, direction is a passion |last=Ashok Kumar |first=S.R. |date= 14 July 2005 |work= [[The Hindu]] |access-date=5 February 2010 |place= Chennai, India}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url= http://www.hindu.com/fr/2008/12/26/stories/2008122650100200.htm |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090202115731/http://www.hindu.com/fr/2008/12/26/stories/2008122650100200.htm |url-status= dead |archive-date= 2 February 2009 |title= Lots of action, little logic |last=Ashok Kumar |first=S.R. |date= 26 December 2008 |work= [[The Hindu]] |access-date= 5 February 2010 |place= Chennai, India}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url= http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-05-11/news-interviews/28209100_1_arjun-film-action-hero |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20121104055354/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-05-11/news-interviews/28209100_1_arjun-film-action-hero |url-status= dead |archive-date= 4 November 2012 |title= Arjun on a Mission |date= 11 May 2009 |work=[[The Times of India]]|access-date=5 February 2010}}</ref> Arjun has acted in more than 150 movies,<ref>{{Cite news |url= https://www.indiaglitz.com/150-is-just-another-number-for-this-ageless-charmer-tamil-news-191579 |title= 150 is just another number for this Ageless Charmer |date= 29 July 2017 |work= indiaglitz |access-date=3 May 2018}}</ref> with most of them being lead roles.<ref>{{Cite news |url= https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/kannada/movies/news/arjun-sarja-is-now-150-not-out/articleshow/58668800.cms |title= Arjun Sarja is now 150 not out |work=[[The Times of India]]|date= 15 May 2017 |access-date= 3 May 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url= https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/ive-completed-150-films-let-me-experiment-at-least-now/articleshow/59252540.cms |title= I've completed 150 films; let me experiment at least now|work=[[The Times of India]]|date=22 June 2017|access-date=3 May 2018}}</ref> He is one of few [[South India]]n actors to attract fan following from multiple states of India.<ref>{{Cite news |url= http://www.thehansindia.com/posts/index/Tollywood/2017-05-30/Actor-Arjun-crosses-a-new-milestone/303451 |title= Actor Arjun crosses a new milestone |work= [[The Hans India]] |date= 30 May 2017 |access-date=3 May 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url= http://www.telugucinema.com/news/arjun-allu-arjuns-next-movie|access-date=3 May 2018|work=[[Telugu Cinema]] |date=27 March 2017 |title= Arjun in Allu Arjun's next movie!}}</ref> He has directed 11 films and also produced and distributed a number of films.<ref>{{Cite news |url= http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/kannada/2018/feb/04/as-a-director-i-should-be-open-to-directing-all-genres-arjun-sarja-1768357.html |access-date= 9 June 2018 |title= As a director, I should be open to directing all genres: Arjun Sarja |work= [[The New Indian Express]] }}</ref>

In 1993, he starred in [[S. Shankar]]'s blockbuster ''[[Gentleman (1993 film)|Gentleman]]'' which opened to positive reviews, while Arjun went on to win the [[Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actor]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-03-16/news-interviews/28004178_1_dream-role-versatile-actor-arjun |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104055403/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-03-16/news-interviews/28004178_1_dream-role-versatile-actor-arjun |url-status=dead |archive-date=4 November 2012 |title= Arjun all set |last= Vijayakumar |first= Sindhu |date=16 March 2009 |work=[[The Times of India]]|access-date= 5 February 2010}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url= http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/regional/news-interviews/Arjun-all-set/articleshow/4266988.cms |title=Arjun |work=The Times of India|first1=Sindhu |last1= Vijayakumar |date= 16 March 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.hindu.com/cp/2007/09/14/stories/2007091450020100.htm |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20121110041211/http://www.hindu.com/cp/2007/09/14/stories/2007091450020100.htm |url-status= dead |archive-date= 10 November 2012 |date= 14 September 2009 |work= [[The Hindu]] |title= Arjun's avatars |location= Chennai, India}}</ref> During this time, he starred in hits such as ''[[Jai Hind (1994 film)|Jai Hind]]'' (1994), ''[[Karnaa]]'' (1995), and the action thriller film ''[[Kuruthipunal (film)|Kurudhipunal]]'' (1995), for which Arjun won acclaim for his role while the film became<ref name="S. Shiva Kumar">{{cite news|author=S. Shiva Kumar |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-fridayreview/silver-screens-valiant-hero/article2815490.ece |title=Silver screen's valiant hero |work=The Hindu|date=2012-01-20 |access-date=2014-08-05}}</ref> [[List of Indian submissions for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film|India's official entry]] for the [[68th Academy Awards]] in the [[Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film|Best Foreign Language Film]] category.<ref name="C V Aravind">{{cite news|author=C V Aravind |agency=DHNS |url=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/333181/donning-different-roles.html |title=Donning different roles |work=Deccan Herald|date=19 May 2013 |access-date=19 June 2013}}</ref><ref name="webcache.googleusercontent.com">{{Cite web|url=https://imsports.rediff.com/style/apr/03sriram.htm|title=Rediff on the Net, Life/Style: The silence that speaks|date=9 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171009093138/https://imsports.rediff.com/style/apr/03sriram.htm|archive-date=9 October 2017}}</ref><ref name="Indiaglitz.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/56083.html |title=Jai Hind-II from Arjun - Tamil Movie News |publisher=Indiaglitz.com |date=2010-04-12 |access-date=2014-08-05}}</ref> In 1999, he starred in the political action-thriller, ''[[Mudhalvan]]'' (1999), which earned him the [[Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actor]] for his role as well as numerous other nominations. He was then featured in [[Vasanth]]'s romantic drama film ''[[Rhythm (2000 film)|Rhythm]]'', where he played a photographer, who eventually falls in love with a widow. Featuring a popular soundtrack and opening to positive reviews, ''Rhythm'' also became a commercial success.<ref name="Rhythm: Movie Review">{{cite web |url=http://www.indolink.com/tamil/cinema/Reviews/articles/Rhythm_142548.html |title=Rhythm: Movie Review |publisher=Indolink.com |access-date=2014-08-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924034603/http://www.indolink.com/tamil/cinema/Reviews/articles/Rhythm_142548.html |archive-date=24 September 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

Arjun made appearances in the bilingual film ''[[Sri Manjunatha]]'' (2001) and the Telugu film ''[[Hanuman Junction (film)|Hanuman Junction]]'' (2001). In 2012, he appeared in the Kannada film ''[[Prasad (2012 film)|Prasad]]'', which screened at the [[Berlin Film Festival]].<ref name="Prasad Movie Review">{{cite web|url=http://www.supergoodmovies.com/41825/sandalwood/prasad-movie-review-movie-review-details |title=Prasad Movie Review |publisher=Supergoodmovies.com |date=2012-03-23 |access-date=2014-08-05 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413144152/http://www.supergoodmovies.com/41825/sandalwood/prasad-movie-review-movie-review-details |archive-date=13 April 2014 }}</ref> He won the [[Karnataka State Film Award for Best Actor]] for his work in the film.<ref name="Fri, 2 March 2012 1:05pm UTC by BollywoodLife">{{cite web|author=BollywoodLife |url=http://www.bollywoodlife.com/south-gossip/arjun-sarja-i-want-a-change-from-my-action-roles/ |title=Arjun Sarja: I want a change from my action roles – Bollywood News & Gossip, Movie Reviews, Trailers & Videos at |publisher=Bollywoodlife.com |date=2012-03-02 |access-date=2014-08-05}}</ref> The multilingual film ''[[Jaihind 2|Abhimanyu]]'' (2014) won the [[Karnataka State Film Award for Second Best Film]].<ref name="th1">{{cite news|last1=Khajane|first1=Muralidhara|title=Film awards: a balance between main and independent film-making streams|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/film-awards-a-balance-between-main-and-independent-filmmaking-streams/article8230707.ece|work=The Hindu|date=13 February 2016}}</ref>

==Early life and family==
Sarja was born to actor [[Shakti Prasad]],<ref>{{cite news|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-10-13/did-you-know-/34430812_1_black-belt-kannada-film-actor-arjun-sarja |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202170113/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-10-13/did-you-know-/34430812_1_black-belt-kannada-film-actor-arjun-sarja |url-status=dead |archive-date=2 February 2014 |title=Arjun holds a black belt in Karate |date=13 October 2012 |work=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=10 May 2013}}</ref> and his mother was Lakshmi, an art teacher. He had one elder brother Kishore Sarja, who directed Kannada films.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/report/kishore-sarja-a-talent-wasted/20090629.htm |title=Kishore Sarja: A talent wasted |publisher=Rediff |date=29 June 2009 |access-date=19 June 2013}}</ref>
Arjun had always thought and dreamt of becoming a police officer but his fate took him into an entirely different direction.<ref name="Action King Arjun">{{Cite news|url=https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-actors/arjun/an-exclusive-interview-with-action-king-arjun.html|title=Action King Arjun|work=BehindWoods|access-date=3 May 2018}}</ref> Arjun is an ardent devotee of [[Hanuman]]. He is building the Hanuman temple at the outskirts of Chennai. A 35-foot statue of the Lord Anjaneya was sculpted exclusively for the temple and the statue of the Hanuman is in a sitting posture and weighs around 140 tonnes. The sitting posture of the Hanuman statue is first of its kind in India. The single-stone statue is in 35 feet high and 12 feet wide and 7 feet thick.<ref name="Action King Arjun"/><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.indiaglitz.com/arjun-builds-a-hanuman-temple-tamil-news-80644.html|title=Arjun builds a Hanuman temple|work=indiaglitz|access-date=3 May 2018}}</ref>
His nephews [[Chiranjeevi Sarja]] and [[Dhruva Sarja]] have acted in Kannada movies.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-04-17/news-interviews/38587116_1_arjun-sarja-duniya-vijay-chiranjeevi-sarja |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130421064159/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-04-17/news-interviews/38587116_1_arjun-sarja-duniya-vijay-chiranjeevi-sarja |url-status=dead |archive-date=21 April 2013 |title=Siblings galore in Sandalwood |date=17 April 2013 |work=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=19 June 2013}}</ref> Another nephew of Arjun, Bharat Sarja, will also be making his acting debut in 2013.<ref>{{cite web|first=Prathibha |last=Joy |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-07-04/news-interviews/32535957_1_kishore-sarja-film-arjun |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202170107/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-07-04/news-interviews/32535957_1_kishore-sarja-film-arjun |url-status=dead |archive-date=2 February 2014 |title=It's films for another Sarja boy |date=4 July 2012 |work=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=19 June 2013}}</ref> Sarja, inspired by [[Bruce Lee]]'s 1973 film ''[[Enter the Dragon]]'', began training [[Karate]] at the age of 16<ref>{{cite news |title=Tamil celebs who didn't want to act |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/photo-features/Tamil-celebs-who-didnt-want-to-act/photostory/48953635.cms?mobile=no |newspaper=Times of India |access-date=11 October 2020}}</ref> and now holds a black belt.<ref>{{cite news|agency=TNN |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-10-13/did-you-know-/34430812_1_black-belt-kannada-film-actor-arjun-sarja |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202170113/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-10-13/did-you-know-/34430812_1_black-belt-kannada-film-actor-arjun-sarja |url-status=dead |archive-date=2 February 2014 |title=Arjun holds a black belt in Karate still he supports LTTE group and a follower of prabhakaran|date=13 October 2012 |work=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=19 June 2013}}</ref>

==Personal life==
He is married to [[Niveditha Arjun]] in 1988, a former actress who has appeared in the 1986 [[Kannada]] film ''[[Ratha Sapthami]]'' under the stage name of Asha Rani. Kannada actor [[Rajesh (Kannada actor)|Rajesh]] is his father-in-law.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/kannada/article/76245.html |title=Rajesh honarary doctorate |publisher=Indiaglitz |date=4 January 2012 |access-date=19 June 2013 |archive-date=4 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004222112/http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/kannada/article/76245.html |url-status=dead}}</ref> Sarja has two daughters, Aishwarya and Anjana.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nilacharal.com/enter/celeb/arj.html|title=Nilacharal}}</ref> [[Aishwarya Arjun]] made her acting debut in 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-04-29/news-interviews/38903029_1_pattathu-yaanai-boopathy-pandian-daughter-aishwarya |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130513094843/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-04-29/news-interviews/38903029_1_pattathu-yaanai-boopathy-pandian-daughter-aishwarya |url-status=dead |archive-date=13 May 2013 |title=Aishwarya Arjun faints on the sets |date=29 April 2013 |work=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=19 June 2013}}</ref>

==Controversy==
In October 2018, as part of the [[＃MeToo]] movement, actress [[Sruthi Hariharan|Shruthi Hariharan]] accused Arjun Sarja of sexual misconduct, in November 2015, on the set of the 2016 film ''Vismaya'', where she was portraying Arjun Sarja's wife, and filed a sexual harassment case with the police against him.<ref>{{Cite web|title=FIR Against Actor Arjun Sarja After Sruthi Hariharan Files Sexual Harassment Complaint|url=https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/fir-against-actor-arjun-sarja-after-sruthi-hariharan-files-sexual-harassment-complaint/319243|access-date=2020-12-13|website=outlookindia.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2018-10-27|title=FIR registered against Arjun Sarja after Sruthi Hariharan's sexual harassment complaint|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/fir-registered-against-arjun-sarja-after-sruthi-hariharans-sexual-harassment-complaint-90669|access-date=2020-12-13|website=The News Minute|language=en}}</ref> Sarja has denied the allegations.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2018-10-20|title=Arjun Sarja accused of sexual harassment, actor denies allegations|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/regional/sruthi-hariharan-arjun-sarja-sexual-harassment-me-too-5410642/|access-date=2020-12-13|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}</ref>

==Acting career==

===1981-1991: Early career and breakthrough===
Arjun's father [[Shakti Prasad]], a renowned actor of Kannada films, did not want his son to become an actor and turned down film offers that Arjun began to receive as a teenager. In a surprise move, film producer [[Rajendra Singh Babu]] managed to convince Arjun to begin shooting for a feature film for his production house without Shakti Prasad's express permission and consequently, his father agreed to Arjun's career choice. The film ''[[Simhada Mari Sainya]]'' (1981) featured him as a junior artiste and the director of the film gave him the stage name of Arjun, replacing his original name Ashok Babu.<ref name="co">{{cite web |url=http://www.chennaionline.com/interviews/arjun.asp |title=An enjoyable conversation with Arjun |work=Chennai Online |access-date=2017-09-05 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040824235837/http://www.chennaionline.com/interviews/arjun.asp |archive-date=24 August 2004}}</ref> While he began to establish himself Kannada films, he received an offer from actor-producer [[A. V. M. Rajan]] and director [[Rama Narayanan]] to do a Tamil film ''[[Nandri]]'' (1984). Simultaneously he was offered a Telugu film, [[Kodi Ramakrishna]]'s ''[[Maa Pallelo Gopaludu]]'' (1985) in Telugu too which went on to be a big success, running for a year in three centers.

His career as an actor began to take off in the mid-1980s and he sometimes worked for up to seven shifts in a day to keep up with the films he had committed to do.<ref name="co"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/telugu/article/92756.html |title=Kodi Ramakrishna- Arjun's 'Rani Ranamma' launch |publisher=Indiaglitz |date=15 April 2013 |access-date=19 June 2013}}</ref> In Telugu, he established himself as a bankable actor with roles in films such as ''Naga Devatha'' (1986) and ''Manavadostunnadu'' (1987). In Tamil, his successful films during the period included ''[[Shankar Guru (1987 film)|Shankar Guru]]'' (1987), ''[[Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu (1989 film)|Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu]]'' (1989) and ''[[Sonthakkaran]]'' (1989). By 1990, his films lost box office value and he was out of work in Tamil and Telugu films for almost a year.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20010702190308/http://tmcafe.com/interview/arjun/arjun_interview.htm</ref>

===1992-2001: Commercial success and critical acclaim===
In 1992, he subsequently chose to direct his feature film ''[[Sevagan]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=rmJlAAAAIBAJ&pg=342,1267659|title=The Indian Express - Google News Archive Search|website=news.google.com}}</ref> Soon after, [[S. Shankar|Shankar]] cast him in the lead role in his first film, ''[[Gentleman (1993 film)|Gentleman]]'' (1993), after much persuasion. Arjun had initially rejected the film without listening to Shankar's narration but the director's persistence prompted him to feature in the film as a vigilante against [[corruption]]. The film opened to positive reviews and went on to become a trendsetter in the Tamil film industry, as well as achieving significant box office success, while Arjun went on to win the [[Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actor|State Award for Best Actor]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-fridayreview/silver-screens-valiant-hero/article2815490.ece |title=Silver screen's valiant hero - SouthKannada |work=The Hindu|date=20 January 2012 |access-date=2017-09-05|last1=Kumar |first1=S. Shiva }}</ref><ref name="C V Aravind"/> His change of fortune at the box office continued and Arjun began to gain ground as a bankable lead star in action films after his films including his patriotic directorial venture ''[[Jai Hind (1994 film)|Jai Hind]]'' (1994) and ''[[Karnaa]]'' (1995), where he played a dual role, went on to become blockbusters.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/56083.html |title=Cinema News | Movie Reviews | Movie Trailers |publisher=IndiaGlitz |date=2017-09-01 |access-date=2017-09-05}}</ref> [[Kamal Haasan]] approached Arjun to play a police officer in the action thriller film ''[[Kuruthipunal (film)|Kurudhipunal]]'' (1995), and the actor accepted the opportunity and agreed to do the film even without hearing the narration. Arjun won positive acclaim for his role, while the film became [[List of Indian submissions for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film|India's official entry]] for the [[68th Academy Awards]] [[Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film|Best Foreign Language Film]] category.<ref name="webcache.googleusercontent.com"/>

In the late 1990s, after a series of action films, including ''[[Sengottai (film)|Sengottai]]'' (1996) and ''[[Thaayin Manikodi]]'' (1998), he teamed up again with Shankar in the political drama film ''[[Mudhalvan]]'' (1999). Portraying an ambitious TV journalist who receives the opportunity to become the [[Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu]] for a day, Arjun offered bulk dates for filming the project to Shankar.<ref name="Minnoviyam Star Tracks">{{cite web|title=Minnoviyam Star Tracks|url=http://chandrag.tripod.com/nov98/|access-date=2014-08-05|publisher=Chandrag.tripod.com}}</ref> The film subsequently won positive reviews with Arjun described as having "acquitted himself with aplomb in the challenging role".<ref name="cscsarchive.org">{{cite web|date=25 July 2011|title=Cinema Reviews - The Hindu|url=http://www.cscsarchive.org:8081/MediaArchive/art.nsf/(docid)/E8880B73B7238248652569400065DD65|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110725212236/http://www.cscsarchive.org:8081/MediaArchive/art.nsf/%28docid%29/E8880B73B7238248652569400065DD65|archive-date=25 July 2011|work=cscsarchive}}</ref> Arjun received the [[Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actor]] for his role as well as numerous other nominations.

Arjun then briefly experimented in softer roles, portraying critically acclaimed characters of businessman with "shades of grey" in [[Prabhu Solomon]]'s ''[[Kannodu Kanbathellam]]'' (1999) and as an energetic civil service officer in ''[[Vaanavil]]'' (2000). He then featured in [[Vasanth]]'s romantic drama film ''[[Rhythm (2000 film)|Rhythm]]'' (2000), where he played a photographer, who eventually falls in love with another widower. Featuring a popular soundtrack and opening to positive reviews, ''Rhythm'' also became a commercial success, with a critic noting "Arjun is as polished as ever" and adding "who would have conceived this idea that the "action king" could attempt a soft-natured role of this kind".<ref name="Rhythm: Movie Review"/> He carried on with a lighter theme in his next directorial venture, the love story ''[[Vedham]]'' (2001), while he ventured into Telugu cinema again by appearing in [[M. Raja|Raja]]'s ''[[Hanuman Junction (film)|Hanuman Junction]]'' and as a Hindu devotee in ''[[Sri Manjunatha]]'' (2001).

===2002-2010: Action roles and experimentation ===
The image of "action king" made him popular with town and village centre audiences, who appreciated the actor's fight and stunt scenes. He thus actively chose to specialise in action films, often collaborating with directors who specialised in them such as [[Sundar C]], [[A. Venkatesh (director)|Venkatesh]] and [[Selva (director)|Selva]]. In the mid 2000s, he appeared in several action films with the same premise, often portraying a police officer or a local do-gooder. He directed and featured in both the action films ''[[Ezhumalai]]'' (2002) and ''[[Parasuram (film)|Parasuram]]'' (2003), while also being involved in [[N. Maharajan|Maharajan]]'s ''[[Arasatchi]]'' (2004). Some of his films, ''[[Giri (film)|Giri]]'' (2004) and ''[[Marudhamalai]]'' (2007), were box office successes, with several of his projects were not, including ''[[Madrasi (2006 film)|Madrasi]]'' (2006), ''[[Vathiyar]]'' (2006) and ''[[Durai (film)|Durai]]'' (2008), in all of which he was the story writer.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sify.com/movies/tamil/interview.php?id=11717550&cid=2408 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140427191631/http://www.sify.com/movies/tamil/interview.php?id=11717550&cid=2408 |url-status=dead |archive-date=2014-04-27 |title=Welcome to |publisher=Sify.com |date=2007-01-20 |access-date=2014-08-05}}</ref>

Despite not achieving any significant hit films in the 2000s, producers often considered Arjun as a "minimum guarantee" actor and felt his sizable fan following the four Southern States of India would help recover money even through dubbed versions.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hindu.com/fr/2010/06/11/stories/2010061150640100.htm |title=Friday Review Chennai : Start! Camera! Arjun! |access-date=2017-09-05 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100617073336/http://www.hindu.com/fr/2010/06/11/stories/2010061150640100.htm |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=2010-06-11 |archive-date=17 June 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.telugucinema.com/c/publish/moviereviews/koti.php|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090428164849/http://www.telugucinema.com/c/publish/moviereviews/koti.php|title=Movie review: Koti|work=Telugu Cinema|date=28 April 2009|archive-date=28 April 2009}}</ref> In a rare experimental film for him in the decade, he portrayed the role of the Hindu deity [[Hanuman]] in [[Krishna Vamsi]]'s devotional film ''[[Sri Anjaneyam]]'' (2004) and worked on the film without receiving remuneration as a self-confessed worshipper of the deity.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.idlebrain.com/srianjaneyam/index.html |title=Telugu cinema director Krishna Vamsi on Telugu Movie Sri Anjaneyam |publisher=Idlebrain.com |date=2004-04-11 |access-date=2014-08-05 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040421042955/http://idlebrain.com/srianjaneyam/index.html |archive-date=21 April 2004}}</ref> He was also cast for a change as a realistic police officer in [[Bharathiraja]]'s critically acclaimed ''[[Bommalattam (2008 film)|Bommalattam]]'' (2008), where a reviewer felt his "showcase of the soft, subtle yet unrelenting cop was noteworthy".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hindu.com/fr/2008/12/19/stories/2008121950490200.htm |title=Friday Review Chennai / Film Review : The puppet shocks! - Bommalattam |access-date=2017-09-05 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090201095422/http://www.hindu.com/fr/2008/12/19/stories/2008121950490200.htm |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=2008-12-19 |archive-date=1 February 2009}}</ref>
<ref>{{cite web|author=Archive |url=http://www.hindu.com/fr/2008/12/19/stories/2008121950490200.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090201095422/http://www.hindu.com/fr/2008/12/19/stories/2008121950490200.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=2009-02-01 |work=[[The Hindu]] |title=Archive News |date=2008-12-19 |access-date=2017-09-05}}</ref>

===2011-present: Character roles and recent projects ===
Since the turn of the decade, Arjun has attempted to move away from his "action king" image and accepted to star in films where he would play the antagonist or a supporting role, with the move drawing praise from film critics.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/article325060.ece |title=I'm not the villain in 'Kadal': Arjun |publisher=The New Indian Express |access-date=2017-09-05}}</ref> In 2011, Arjun accepted the opportunity to play an extended guest role alongside [[Ajith Kumar]] in [[Venkat Prabhu]]'s action thriller ''[[Mankatha]]'', with critics praising his performance as a police officer in the blockbuster.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sify.com/movies/mankatha-review-tamil-14978052.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130629171600/http://www.sify.com/movies/mankatha-review-tamil-14978052.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=2013-06-29 |title=Review |publisher=Sify.com |date=2011-08-31 |access-date=2017-09-05}}</ref> The following year he appeared in Kannada film ''[[Prasad (2012 film)|Prasad]]'', for which he won the [[Karnataka State Film Award for Best Actor]]. Portraying a middle-class father with a deaf and dumb son, Arjun noted it was a rewarding experience for him to break the monotony of his standard roles and attempt something different, admitting he was moved by the script.<ref>{{cite web|author=BollywoodLife |url=http://www.bollywoodlife.com/south-gossip/arjun-sarja-i-want-a-change-from-my-action-roles/ |title=Arjun Sarja: I want a change from my action roles |publisher=Bollywoodlife.com |date=2012-03-02 |access-date=2017-09-05}}</ref> The film opened to unanimously positive reviews in March 2012 and then was selected to be screened at the [[Berlin Film Festival]], with critics labelling Arjun's portrayal as a "stunning performance" and his "career-best".<ref name="Prasad Movie Review" />

Arjun collaborated with [[Mani Ratnam]] with ''[[Kadal (2013 film)|Kadal]]'' (2013), in which the actor portrayed a negative role of a smuggler in coastal [[Tamil Nadu]]. While the film opened to mixed reviews and became a box office failure, Arjun won rave reviews for his portrayal with [[Sify]].com noting Arjun is "deliciously despicable in his career's most memorable negative role" and [[The Hindu]] labelling him as "brilliant".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sify.com/movies/kadal-review-tamil-15019156.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130607004540/http://www.sify.com/movies/kadal-review-tamil-15019156.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=2013-06-07 |title=Review : Kadal |publisher=Sify.com |date=2013-02-01 |access-date=2017-09-05}}</ref> He then won acclaim for his portrayal of a real-life police officer [[K. Vijay Kumar]] in the bilingual film ''[[Vana Yuddham]]'' (2013), the biopic of notorious forest brigand Veerappan, as well as for his role of a paralysed swimming coach in [[Vasanth]]'s romance film, ''[[Moondru Per Moondru Kadal]]'' (2013).<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-cinemaplus/from-kadal-to-kaadhal/article4447690.ece |title=From Kadal to Kaadhal - Delta |work=The Hindu|date=2013-02-24 |access-date=2017-09-05|last1=Rangarajan |first1=Malathi }}</ref>

His directorial venture, ''[[Jai Hind 2]]'' (2014) contained a message about the declining state of the Indian education system. The film became a box office success in Kannada, while the Tamil version did not perform well at the box office.<ref>{{cite news|author=Nikhil Raghavan |url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/bright-spark/article4750098.ece |title=Bright spark |work=The Hindu|date=2013-05-25 |access-date=2014-08-05}}</ref> In 2017, he appeared in his 150th film ''[[Nibunan]]'', an action thriller where he played a police officer hunting a serial killer.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com/entertainment/reviews/vismaya-movie-review-what-the-zodiac-wont-foretell/articleshow/59796892.cms|title=Vismaya movie review: What the zodiac won't foretell|website=Bangalore Mirror}}</ref> The film won positive reviews, with a critic noting that Arjun "looks stylish and suave as the fit and honest officer, and excels in a couple of action blocks he gets".<ref name="timesofindia.indiatimes.com">{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movie-reviews/nibunan/movie-review/59768885.cms|title=Nibunan Review {3.5/5}: A thriller loaded with suspense, mystery, serial murders, sentiments, and more|via=timesofindia.indiatimes.com}}</ref> He then directed a biligual film titled ''[[Prema Baraha]]'' (2018) starring his daughter [[Aishwarya Arjun]] in the leading role<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/review/2018/feb/09/prema-baraha-movie-review-love-stunts-and-lots-of-earnestness-1770918.html|title='Prema Baraha' movie review: Love, stunts and lots of earnestness|website=The New Indian Express}}</ref> While, the Kannada version performed well, the Tamil version, ''Sollividava'', went unnoticed at the box office.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/review/2018/feb/09/sollividava-movie-review-a-wannabe-dil-se-1770943.html|title='Sollividava' movie review: A wannabe Dil Se|website=The New Indian Express}}</ref>

==Filmography==
{{Main|Arjun Sarja filmography}}

==Awards==
* 1993 – [[Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actor]] for ''[[Gentleman (1993 film)|Gentleman]]''{{sfn|Dhananjayan|2011|pp=154–155}}
* 1999 – [[Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actor]] for ''[[Mudhalvan]]''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dinakaran.com/cinema/english/awards/29-12-00/state.htm |title=Tamilnadu Government Announces Cinema State Awards −1999|publisher=[[Dinakaran]]|access-date=2009-10-20 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20010210034542/http://www.dinakaran.com/cinema/english/awards/29-12-00/state.htm |archive-date = 2001-02-10}}</ref>
* 2011 – Silver Screen Sensational Actor Award<ref>https://www.ragalahari.com/localevents/5232/winners-list-of-tsr-tv9-national-film-awards-2011-and-2012.aspx</ref>
* 2012 – [[Karnataka State Film Award for Best Actor]] for ''[[Prasad (2012 film)|Prasad]]''<ref name="Fri, 2 March 2012 1:05pm UTC by BollywoodLife"/>
* [[8th Vijay Awards|2013]] – [[Vijay Award for Best Villain]] – ''[[Kadal (2013 film)|Kadal]]''
* 2014 – [[Karnataka State Film Award for Second Best Film]] for ''[[Abhimanyu (2014 film)|Abhimanyu]]''<ref name="th1"/>
* 2019 – [[Norway Tamil Film Festival Awards|Norway Tamil Film Festival Award for Best Supporting Actor]] – ''[[Hero (2019 Tamil film)|Hero]]''

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb name|0035018}}
* [https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/arjun-sarja.html Arjun Sarja on Filmibeat.com]

{{Arjun Sarja}}
{{TamilNaduStateAwardForBestActor}}

{{Authority control}}

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