imported>Kailash29792: /* Plot */

2021-05-23T10:16:34Z

Plot

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{{about|the 1982 film|the 2010 film of the same name|Pokkiri Raja (2010 film)|the 2016 film of the same name|Pokkiri Raja (2016 film)}}
{{short description|1982 film by S. P. Muthuraman}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2015}}
{{Use Indian English|date=November 2015}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Pokkiri Raja
| image = Pokkiri Raja 1982.jpg
| caption = Poster
| director = [[S. P. Muthuraman]]
| producer = M. Kumaran<br />[[M. Saravanan (film producer)|M. Saravanan]]<br />M. Balasubramaniam
| screenplay = [[Panchu Arunachalam]]
| based_on = ''[[Chuttalunnaru Jagratha]]''
| starring = [[Rajinikanth]]<br />[[Sridevi]]<br />[[Raadhika]]
| studio = [[AVM Productions]]
| music = [[M. S. Viswanathan]]
| cinematography = Babu
| editing = R. Vittal
| released = {{Film date|df=y|1982|01|14}}
| runtime = 138 minutes
| country = India
| language = Tamil
}}

'''''Pokkiri Raja''''' ({{trans|Rogue King}}) is a 1982 Indian [[Tamil language|Tamil]]-language [[masala film]] directed by [[S. P. Muthuraman]] and written by [[Panchu Arunachalam]]. A remake of the [[Telugu language|Telugu]] film ''[[Chuttalunnaru Jagratha]]'' (1980), it stars [[Rajinikanth]], [[Sridevi]] and [[Raadhika]]. The film revolves around a man who was framed for murder, and a lookalike who aids him in finding the true killers. It was released on 14 January 1982 and became a commercial success, running for over 100 days in theatres.

== Plot ==
{{expand plot|date=January 2020}}
Ramesh is the manager of the office of Paranthaman, an industrialist. Paranthaman strongly suspects his relatives to be looting him. Ramesh finds the culprit and keeps a tight leash on everything happening in the office, thereby earning the wrath of the industrialist's relatives. Ramesh and Vanaja (Paranthaman's daughter) initially find themselves at loggerheads, but eventually fall in love with each other. Paranthaman is happy about this development until he sees Ramesh cheating on his daughter. He fires Ramesh the very same day.

Paranthaman is murdered and Vanaja also sees Ramesh in her house that same night. Ramesh is dragged to court and, based on Vanaja's testimony, declared guilty and arrested, though he realises she was threatened into committing perjury. A month into prison, Ramesh meets Raja, a soon-to-be-released convict who looks exactly like him. Raja is a petty thief who had been arrested for breaking into Paranthaman's house, and was mistaken by Vanaja to be Ramesh. Together, Ramesh and Raja plan to bring the culprits to book.

With Raja's permission, Ramesh masquerades as him for three days. Venkatachalam initially attempts to have him arrested for escaping, but fails after Raja's lover Rakkayi identifies him as Raja, and takes him. Venkatachalam approaches "Raja", not knowing it is Ramesh, and tells him about Vanaja's impending marriage to Chandran. Ramesh rescues Vanaja from her forced marriage, tells her about Raja, how she and her father mistook him for Ramesh, and keeps her safe at his mother's house. Venkatachalam and Chandran suspect Vanaja. Ramesh marries Vanaja at his mother's request. At the end of three days, he returns to prison and switches places with Raja, who reunites with Rakkayi and tells her about Ramesh taking his place. Ramesh eventually attains bail, courtesy Vanaja.

Chandran later reveals himself and Venkatachalam as the murderers of Paranthaman, but Raja records the entire statement on tape; after Ramesh and Raja subdue Chandran and Venkatachalam's thugs, the tape is played in the court, and both killers are arrested.

== Cast ==
{{colbegin}}
* [[Rajinikanth]] as Ramesh and Raja<ref name="apple">{{Cite web |title=Pokkiri Raja |url=https://tv.apple.com/gb/movie/pokkiri-raja/umc.cmc.4aoplaeb69ykrcagtdh2ruoik |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210424070813if_/https://tv.apple.com/gb/movie/pokkiri-raja/umc.cmc.4aoplaeb69ykrcagtdh2ruoik |archive-date=24 April 2021 |access-date=24 April 2021 |website=[[Apple TV]]}}</ref>
* [[Sridevi]] as Vanaja<ref name="apple" />
* [[Raadhika]] as Rakkayi<ref name="apple" />
* [[R. Muthuraman]] as Venkatachalam<ref name="apple" />
* [[Manorama (Tamil actress)|Manorama]] as Venkatachalam's wife{{sfn|Saravanan|2013|p=250}}
* [[Y. G. Mahendran]] as Chandran<ref name="apple" />
{{Colend}}

== Production ==
''Pokkiri Raja'' is a remake of the [[Telugu language|Telugu]] film ''[[Chuttalunnaru Jagratha]]'' (1980),{{sfn|Ramachandran|2014|p=104}} and was Rajinikanth's first film opposite Raadhika.{{sfn|The Hindu|2012|p=53}} M. Saravanan of AVM Productions expressed a desire to remake it in Tamil; he wanted Rajinikanth to play the male lead.{{sfn|Saravanan|2013|p=245}} Rajinikanth refused to act in the film as he was unimpressed with the Telugu film and character but later relented after Saravanan requested him to act.{{sfn|Saravanan|2013|pp=246–249}} Saravanan called [[Visu]] who, after watching the film, said it could be remade well with minor changes and further developed Radhika's character.{{sfn|Saravanan|2013|p=249}}

The film was colourised using [[Eastmancolor]].<ref>{{Cite magazine |year=1982 |title=In the Foot-steps of the Father |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pURQAAAAYAAJ&q=pokkiri+raja |magazine=[[Kisan World]] |publisher=[[Sakthi Group|Sakthi Sugars, Limited]] |volume=9 |page=68}}</ref> It was Muthuraman's final film as actor and he portrayed a negative role.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.kalyanamalaimagazine.com/Content/Thiraichuvai/Dec_16_31/Potpourri_of_titbits_about_Tamil_cinema_Muthuraman_page1.html |title=Potpourri of titbits about Tamil cinema – Muthuraman |last=Majordasan |website=Kalyanamalai |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190329122823/http://www.kalyanamalaimagazine.com/Content/Thiraichuvai/Dec_16_31/Potpourri_of_titbits_about_Tamil_cinema_Muthuraman_page1.html |archive-date=29 March 2019 |access-date=2020-02-22}}</ref> The crew brought in a dubbing artist to imitate his voice.{{sfn|Saravanan|2013|p=250}}

== Soundtrack ==
The soundtrack was composed by [[M. S. Viswanathan]], with lyrics by [[Kannadasan]] and [[Gangai Amaran]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://mio.to/album/Pokkiri+Raja+(1982) |title=Pokkiri Raja (1982) |website=Music India Online |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200228052814/https://mio.to/album/Pokkiri+Raja+(1982) |archive-date=28 February 2020 |access-date=28 February 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.raaga.com/tamil/movie/pokkiri-raja-songs-T0000942 |title=Pokkiri Raja {{sic|nolink=y|(1984)}} |website=[[Raaga.com]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191221231130/https://www.raaga.com/tamil/movie/pokkiri-raja-songs-T0000942 |archive-date=21 December 2019 |access-date=25 February 2020}}</ref>

{{Track listing
| extra_column = Singer(s)
| title1 = Kadavul Padachan
| length1 = 5:35
| extra1 = [[S. P. Balasubrahmanyam]]
| title2 = Naan Pokkirikku
| length2 = 4:42
| extra2 = [[Malaysia Vasudevan]], [[S. Janaki]]
| title3 = Vaada En Machigala
| length3 = 4:59
| extra3 = S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki
| title4 = Vidiya Vidiya Solli
| length4 = 4:54
| extra4 = S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, [[P. Susheela]]
| total_length = 20:16
}}

== Release and reception ==
''Pokkiri Raja'' was released on 14 January 1982, [[Pongal (festival)|Pongal]] day.{{sfn|Saravanan|2013|p=245}}<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://newsable.asianetnews.com/gallery/lifestyle/baashha-to-darbar-here-is-a-list-of-rajinikanth-s-pongal-releases-that-turned-super-hits-q3s7ap |title=Baashha to Darbar: Here is a list of Rajinikanth's Pongal releases that turned super hits |date=8 January 2020 |website=[[Asianet News]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200228053229/https://newsable.asianetnews.com/gallery/lifestyle/baashha-to-darbar-here-is-a-list-of-rajinikanth-s-pongal-releases-that-turned-super-hits-q3s7ap%23image1 |archive-date=28 February 2020 |access-date=28 February 2020}}</ref> The film became a commercial success, running for over 100 days in theatres.{{sfn|Saravanan|2013|p=250}} Along with ''[[Murattu Kaalai (1980 film)|Murattu Kaalai]]'' (1980), it was responsible for establishing Rajinikanth as a full-fledged [[action hero]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/bangalore-times/Box-office-badshah/articleshow/1210013.cms |title=Box-office badshah |date=24 August 2005 |website=[[The Times of India]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200227104459/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/bangalore-times/Box-office-badshah/articleshow/1210013.cms |archive-date=27 February 2020 |access-date=28 February 2020}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== Bibliography ==
* {{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YyFMAgAAQBAJ |title=Rajinikanth 12.12.12: A Birthday Special |publisher=[[The Hindu|Kasturi & Sons Ltd]] |year=2012 |ref={{sfnref|The Hindu|2012}}}}
* {{Cite book |last=Ramachandran |first=Naman |title=Rajinikanth: The Definitive Biography |title-link=Rajinikanth: The Definitive Biography |publisher=[[Penguin Books]] |year=2014 |isbn=978-0-14-342111-5 |author-link=Naman Ramachandran |orig-year=2012}}
* {{Cite book |last=Saravanan |first=M. |title=AVM 60 Cinema |publisher=Rajarajan Publications |year=2013 |language=ta |author-link=M. Saravanan (film producer)}}

== External links ==
* {{IMDb title|0187412}}

{{S. P. Muthuraman}}
{{AVM Productions}}

[[Category:1980s action comedy films]]
[[Category:1980s Tamil-language films]]
[[Category:1982 films]]
[[Category:AVM Productions films]]
[[Category:Films about miscarriage of justice]]
[[Category:Films directed by S. P. Muthuraman]]
[[Category:Films scored by M. S. Viswanathan]]
[[Category:Films with screenplays by Panchu Arunachalam]]
[[Category:Indian action comedy films]]
[[Category:Indian films]]
[[Category:Masala films]]
[[Category:Tamil remakes of Telugu films]]

Pokkiri Raja (1982 film) - Revision history

imported>Kailash29792: /* Plot */