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{{short description|1989 film by S. P. Muthuraman}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2017}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Raja Chinna Roja
| image = Raja Chinna Roja.jpg
| caption = Poster
| director = [[S. P. Muthuraman]]
| writer = [[Panchu Arunachalam]]
| producer = [[M. Saravanan (producer)|M Saravanan]]<br />M. Balasubramaniam
| starring = {{ubl|[[Rajinikanth]]|[[Raghuvaran]]|[[Gautami]]}}
| cinematography = T. S. Vinayagam
| editing = R. Vittal<br />C. Lancy
| music = [[Chandrabose (composer)|Chandrabose]]
| studio = [[AVM Productions]]
| released = {{film date|1989|7|20|df=y}}
| runtime = 145 minutes
| country = India
| language = Tamil
}}

'''''Raja Chinna Roja''''' ({{translation|King and small rose}}) is a 1989 Indian [[Tamil language|Tamil]]-language [[children's film]], directed by [[S. P. Muthuraman]], written by [[Panchu Arunachalam]] and produced by [[AVM Productions]]. The film stars [[Rajinikanth]], [[Raghuvaran]] and [[Gautami]]. Its plot revolves around an aspiring actor who meets his childhood friend, but is forced to take care of his nieces and nephews.

''Raja Chinna Roja'' was the first Indian film to feature [[Live-action animation|live action with animation]]. Its story was inspired by Arunachalam's 1974 film ''[[Unnaithan Thambi]]'' and the American films ''[[Mary Poppins (film)|Mary Poppins]]'' (1964) and ''[[The Sound of Music (film)|The Sound of Music]]'' (1965). The cinematography was handled by T. S. Vinayagam, the editing by R. Vittal and Lancy, and music was composed by [[Chandrabose (composer)|Chandrabose]].

''Raja Chinna Roja'' was released on 20 July 1989. The film was commercially successful and had a 175-day theatrical run, with the animated sequence particularly being well received. Arunachalam won the [[Cinema Express Awards|Cinema Express Award for Best Story Writer]].

== Plot ==
{{More plot|section|date=November 2021}}
Raja, an aspiring actor, leaves his village and enters the city to fulfill his ambition. As he is searching for a place in the dream factory, he falls for Usha, the daughter of the house owner. Charmed by his looks and character, Usha also falls for him. One day he accidentally meets his childhood friend Bhaskar, a spoiled rich man. He offers Raja an acting job, then takes him to his uncle's house. Raja is to be in charge of the administration of the household and take care of five children (Bhaskar's nieces and nephews), each of whom have issues (such as being lazy, not studying etc.).

Raja finds out that Bhaskar is cheating his uncle out of funds and using him to do the same. Bhaskar is involved in drug business along with his associates. Ravichandran who gets temporary blindness, recovers but pretends to still be blind to find out the truth of Bhaskar. After finding out the truth, Ravichandran throws Bhaskar out of the home. In retaliation, Bhaskar takes away his uncle's car resulting in Rajaran getting arrested for drugs. Raja, along with the children goes to Bhaskar's den and catches him red-handed. Raja finally achieves his ambition to become an actor, with Rajaram directing the film.

== Cast ==
{{Cast listing|
* [[Rajinikanth]] as Raja
* [[Raghuvaran]] as Bhaskar
* [[Gautami]] as Sumathi
* [[Ravichandran (Tamil actor)|Ravichandran]] as Rajaram
* [[S. S. Chandran]] as Appasamy
* [[Kovai Sarala]] as Kannamma
* [[Shalini (actress)|Baby Shalini]] as Chithra
* [[Kitty (actor)|Kitty]] as Jojo
* [[Chinni Jayanth]] as Ramu
* Azhagu as Johnny
* Kumari Raghavi as Shanthi
* [[V. K. Ramasamy (actor)|V. K. Ramasamy]] as Namasivayam
* [[LIC Narasimhan]] as Inspector Sivaraman
* [[Rupini]] as herself (cameo)
}}

== Production ==
=== Development ===
After the success of ''[[Manithan (1987 film)|Manithan]]'' (1987), [[M. Saravanan (producer)|M. Saravanan]] of [[AVM Productions]] decided to produce another film with the same cast and crew: director [[S. P. Muthuraman]], hero [[Rajinikanth]] and composer [[Chandrabose (composer)|Chandrabose]]. Saravanan wanted to make a film "targeted at kids" due to Rajinikanth's popularity among children. The crew initially wanted to adapt ''[[Babu (1971 film)|Babu]]'' (1971); however, Rajinikanth "felt that the script seemed more like an art film, on the lines of ''[[Aarilirunthu Arubathu Varai]]'' and ''[[Enkeyo Ketta Kural|Engeyo Ketta Kural]]''" and it would not suit his image. Screenwriter [[Panchu Arunachalam]] reused the script of his own film ''[[Unnaithan Thambi]]'' (1974) and also drew inspiration from the American films ''[[Mary Poppins (film)|Mary Poppins]]'' (1964) and ''[[The Sound of Music (film)|The Sound of Music]]'' (1965).<ref name="to" />

=== Casting and filming ===
The makers decided to revolve the story around [[Shalini (actress)|Shalini]], who was cast among the child artists, due to her popularity. [[Raghuvaran]] was chosen to portray a negative role after the makers were impressed with his performance in the television series ''[[Oru Manithanin Kathai#Adaptations|Oru Manithanin Kathai]]''.<ref name="to" /> ''Raja Chinna Roja'' was the first Indian film to feature [[List of films with live action and animation|live action with animation]].<ref name="hi" /> It was Saravanan's wish to do this, without any budgetary constraints.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ashok Kumar |first=S. R. |date=14 May 2004 |title=Finger on people's pulse |work=[[The Hindu]] |url=http://hindu.com/thehindu/fr/2004/05/14/stories/2004051401350100.htm |url-status=dead |access-date=15 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150221163631/http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/fr/2004/05/14/stories/2004051401350100.htm |archive-date=21 February 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=11 December 2012 |title='ஏவி.எம்'மின் 'ராஜா சின்ன ரோஜா' கார்ட்டூன்களுடன் ரஜினி நடித்தார்!- 80 ஆயிரம் படங்களை வரைந்து உருவாக்கிய காட்சி! |language=ta |work=[[Maalai Malar]] |url=http://cinema.maalaimalar.com/2012/12/11232151/avm-in-raja-chinna-roja-cartoo.html |url-status=dead |access-date=2 December 2018 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20131031103907/http://cinema.maalaimalar.com/2012/12/11232151/avm-in-raja-chinna-roja-cartoo.html |archive-date=31 October 2013}}</ref>{{sfn|Saravanan|2013|p=321}} He also wanted AVM to become the first Indian studio to do this.<ref name="hi" /> The idea of blending live action with animation was inspired by ''[[Who Framed Roger Rabbit]]'' (1988).{{Sfn|Ramachandran|2014|p=127}}<ref>{{Cite news |last=Jeshi |first=K. |date=18 March 2014 |title=Director's chair |work=[[The Hindu]] |url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/directors-chair/article5800519.ece |url-status=live |access-date=2 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161123050151/http://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/directors-chair/article5800519.ece |archive-date=23 November 2016}}</ref> The animated song was shot at a forest set built by art director Chalam at AVM Studios with all the artists involved. Puliyur Saroja, choreographer of the song along with her assistants enact like animals to "evoke the appropriate reaction from the artistes".<ref name="hi" /> The animation was done by [[Ram Mohan]],<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=சரவணன் |first=ஏவி.எம். |author-link=M. Saravanan (producer) |date=14 August 2005 |title=தகுதியுள்ள கேப்டன்! |url=https://archive.org/download/kalki2005-08-14/kalki2005-08-14.pdf |access-date=28 November 2023 |magazine=[[Kalki (magazine)|Kalki]] |pages=44–47 |language=Ta |via=[[Internet Archive]]}}</ref> who "ended up drawing 84,000 sketches for this song as every frame had to be drawn individually".<ref name="to" /> Ram Mohan was initially reluctant to work on the film as he felt it was impossible to animate an entire song sequence, but relented after Muthuraman told him he could take three months as the animated portions could be added after the live action portions were shot.<ref>{{Cite web |date=15 October 2022 |title=The story behind Rajinikanth's 'Raja Chinna Roja' having cartoons |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/the-story-behind-rajinikanths-raja-chinna-roja-having-cartoons/articleshow/94876970.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231128041012/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/the-story-behind-rajinikanths-raja-chinna-roja-having-cartoons/articleshow/94876970.cms |archive-date=28 November 2023 |access-date=28 November 2023 |website=[[The Times of India]]}}</ref>

== Soundtrack ==
The soundtrack was composed by Chandrabose and the lyrics were written by [[Vairamuthu]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Raja Chinna Roja (1989) |url=https://www.raaga.com/tamil/movie/Raja-Chinna-Roja-songs-T0000810 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20190724082508/https://www.raaga.com/tamil/movie/Raja-Chinna-Roja-songs-T0000810 |archive-date=24 July 2019 |access-date=21 July 2019 |website=[[Raaga.com]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Raja Chinna Roja Tamil Film LP Vinyl Record by Chandrabose |url=https://mossymart.com/product/raja-chinna-roja-tamil-film-lp-vinyl-record-by-chandrabose/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210906052230/https://mossymart.com/product/raja-chinna-roja-tamil-film-lp-vinyl-record-by-chandrabose/ |archive-date=6 September 2021 |access-date=6 September 2021 |website=Mossymart}}</ref> The song "Superstar Yaarunu Ketta" was well-received and was remixed by Santhosh Bose for the film ''Kalayatha Ninaivugal'' (2005).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mannath |first=Malini |date=9 August 2005 |title=Kalaiyatha Ninaivugal |url=http://www.chennaionline.com/film/Moviereviews/2005/08kk.asp |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051201163857/http://www.chennaionline.com/film/Moviereviews/2005/08kk.asp |archive-date=1 December 2005 |access-date=19 November 2024 |website=Chennai Online}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Kalaiyatha Ninaivugal Tamil Film Audio CD |url=https://mossymart.com/product/kalaiyatha-ninaivugal-tamil-film-audio-cd/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20241119051108/https://mossymart.com/product/kalaiyatha-ninaivugal-tamil-film-audio-cd/ |archive-date=19 November 2024 |access-date=19 November 2024 |website=Mossymart |language=en-US }}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"
! Song !! Singers !! Length
|-
| "Super Staru" || [[S. P. Balasubrahmanyam]], [[S. P. Sailaja]]|| 04:25
|-
| "Raja Chinna Roja" || S. P. Balasubrahmanyam || 04:46
|-
| "Varungala Mannargale" || S. P. Balasubrahmanyam || 04:23
|-
| "Oru Panbadu" || [[K. J. Yesudas]] || 04:32
|-
| "Ongappanukkum Pe Pe" || S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S P Sailaja || 03:43
|-
| "Poo Poo Pol" || [[Mano (singer)|Mano]] || 05:14
|-
| "Devaadhi Devar Ellaam" || [[Malaysia Vasudevan]] || 04:57
|}

== Release ==
''Raja Chinna Roja'' was released on 20 July 1989 and became a commercial success, with a 175-day theatrical run.<ref name="to" /> The animated sequence was well received, and brought repeat audiences to theatres.<ref>{{Cite news |date=31 August 1989 |title=Mahesh Bhatt mixes biography and business in his latest venture, Daddy |work=[[India Today]] |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/eyecatchers/story/19890831-mahesh-bhatt-mixes-biography-and-business-in-his-latest-venture-daddy-816449-1989-08-31 |url-status=live |access-date=23 October 2019 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20191023114202/https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/eyecatchers/story/19890831-mahesh-bhatt-mixes-biography-and-business-in-his-latest-venture-daddy-816449-1989-08-31 |archive-date=23 October 2019}}</ref>{{sfn|Saravanan|2013|pp=321–322}} Arunachalam won the [[Cinema Express Awards|Cinema Express Award for Best Story Writer]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=1 March 1990 |title=தமிழ் |language=ta |pages=7 |work=[[Cinema Express]]}}</ref>

== References ==
<references>
<ref name="hi">{{Cite web |last=Ramanujam |first=Srinivasa |date=20 July 2019 |title='Raja Chinna Roja' turns 30: When Rajinikanth danced with cartoon rabbits and elephants |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/raja-chinna-roja-30-years-later/article28617957.ece |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190815070336/https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/raja-chinna-roja-30-years-later/article28617957.ece |archive-date=15 August 2019 |access-date=21 July 2019 |website=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref>
<ref name="to">{{Cite web |last=Suganth |first=M. |date=20 July 2019 |title=Movie Milestone: 30 Years Of Raja Chinna Roja |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/movie-milestone-30-years-of-raja-chinna-roja/articleshow/70306094.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190815070753/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/movie-milestone-30-years-of-raja-chinna-roja/articleshow/70306094.cms |archive-date=15 August 2019 |access-date=21 July 2019 |website=[[The Times of India]]}}</ref>
</references>

== Bibliography ==
* {{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 |location=New Delhi |author-link=Naman Ramachandran |orig-date=2012}}
* {{Cite book |last=Saravanan |first=M. |title=AVM 60 Cinema |publisher=Rajarajan Pathippagam |year=2013 |edition=3rd |language=ta |oclc=1158347612 |author-link=M. Saravanan (producer) |orig-date=2005}}

== External links ==
*{{IMDb title}}
*{{Rotten Tomatoes}}

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

[[Category:1989 Indian films]]
[[Category:1989 Tamil-language films]]
[[Category:1989 children's films]]
[[Category:1989 films]]
[[Category:AVM Productions films]]
[[Category:Films about the illegal drug trade]]
[[Category:Films directed by S. P. Muthuraman]]
[[Category:Films scored by Chandrabose (composer)]]
[[Category:Films shot in Ooty]]
[[Category:Films with screenplays by Panchu Arunachalam]]
[[Category:Indian children's films]]
[[Category:Indian films with live action and animation]]
[[Category:Tamil-language Indian films]]

Raja Chinna Roja - Revision history

Zuko: Adding new bio