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{{short description|2008 Indian Kannada-language romantic drama film}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2015}}
{{Use Indian English|date=November 2015}}
{{Infobox film
|name = Taj Mahal
|image = Taj_Mahal_(2008_film).jpg
|caption = Theatrical poster
|director = [[R. Chandru]]
|producer = T. Shivashankar Reddy
|writer = R. Chandru
|narrator =
|starring = [[Ajay Rao]]<br />[[Pooja Gandhi]]<br />[[Rangayana Raghu]]<br />[[Ananth Nag]]
|music = [[Abhimann Roy]]
|cinematography = K. S. Chandrashekar
|editing = K. M. Prakash
|studio = Shiva Shakthi Enterprises
|released = {{Film date|2008|7|25|df=y}}
|runtime = 154 minutes
|country = India
|language = Kannada
|budget = 
}}

'''''Taj Mahal''''' is a 2008 Indian [[Kannada-language]] [[romantic drama]] film directed and written by [[R. Chandru]], starring [[Ajay Rao]] and [[Pooja Gandhi]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.filmibeat.com/kannada/movies/taj-mahal/cast-crew.html|title=Taj Mahal Cast & crew|publisher=entertainment.oneindia|date=2008}}</ref> Produced by T. Shivashankar Reddy, the film is Chandru's directoral debut. The film was released on 25 July 2008, and had a 200-day run in [[Karanataka]].<ref name="auto1">{{cite web|url =http://www.filmibeat.com/telugu/news/2009/sivaji-taj-mahal-remake-040309.html|title=Sivaji to both act and produce a film|date=4 March 2009}}</ref> Music director [[Abhimann Roy]] was awarded the Best Music Director accolade at the [[Karnataka State Film Awards]] for his film score. ''Taj Mahal'' was one of the most successful Kannada-language films of 2008.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.indiaglitz.com/taj-mahal-the-winner--kannada-news-43087.html|title=TAJ MAHAL' THE WINNER! One of the very few hits of this year so far|work=m.indiaglitz.com|date=18 November 2008}}</ref> It was remade in [[Telugu language|Telugu]] [[Taj Mahal (2010 film)|under the same title]] in 2010.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.filmibeat.com/telugu/news/2009/sivaji-taj-mahal-hero-041109.html|title=Sivaji turns hero in Taj Mahal remake|date=4 November 2009|website=Filmibeat}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.123telugu.com/reviews/T/Taj_Mahal/Taj_Mahal_Review.html|title=Taj Mahal Review - Shivaji, Shuruthi, Kota Srinivasan Rao, Taj Mahal , Taj Mahal Telugu Movie Review ,Telugu movie review, Telugu cinema - 123telugu.com - Andhra Pradesh News and Views|website=www.123telugu.com}}</ref>

== Plot ==
A college student and aspiring film director is kicked out of his house in a village by his father after he bunks classes and spends most of his time watching movies in theatres. Dejected, he takes a bus ride and starts reading a diary found on the seat next to his.

Ajay Kumar, an honest, poor boy from a [[village]], hands over a lost [[suitcase]] to the police. He tells them that his name is Kumar and leaves his cell number. Shruthi, the owner of the suitcase, is elated when she recovers her father's suitcase, and calls Kumar to thank him.

They speak over the phone many times and gradually fall in love. Incidentally they both study in the same [[engineering]] college, but Shruthi knows her lover only as Kumar. In college he is known as Ajay. Shruthi is not aware that Ajay and Kumar are the same person and flatly rejects Ajay when he proposes to her. Eventually Ajay is expelled from his college due to neglecting his studies in pursuit of Shruthi. In confusion and deep agony, Ajay decides to go back to his village. In a series of events Shruthi finds out that Ajay is none other than Kumar, then Shruthi and the aspiring film director and goes to his village to meet Ajay aka Kumar but a villager informs her that Ajay met with an accident and has died at the spot, his mother has died from the shock and his father has become a mentally imbalanced person. The villager further explains that Ajay's life and story is now used as a cautionary tale for children to not sacrifice their education for the sake of romance. Shruthi gets shocked, goes to the gravestone of Ajay with agony, and the film ends in tragedy.

==Cast==
{{cast listing|
* [[Ajay Rao]] as Ajay Kumar
* [[Pooja Gandhi]] as Shruti
* Ashok
* Vishwanath Mundasada
* Kirange Naga
* [[Anant Nag]] as Narayan Murthy, Shruthi's father
* [[Rangayana Raghu]] as Shankar
* [[Honnavalli Krishna]] as Krishna
* Mohan Juneja
* Pranaya Murthy
* N. T. Jayaram Reddy
* Narasimha Bharathi
* Height Manju
* [[Padmaja Rao]] as Shruti's mother
* E. Krishnappa as himself (uncredited)
}}

== Production ==
Director [[R. Chandru]] stated that the film would be based on his life as an aspiring film director. He stated, "I had cherished dreams of becoming a director since my childhood. My father, being a farmer, did not like the idea. He used to beat me when I bunked school and watched a movie at touring talkies near my village. I had to run away from home to realise my ambition. I thought it would be nice to tell the future directors that hard work and dedication are musts to realise their ambition. I conveyed this through ''Taj Mahal''."<ref>{{cite web |title=Based on true stories |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/kannada/2009/aug/27/based-on-true-stories-81025.html |publisher=The New Indian Express |access-date=25 August 2023 |date=27 August 2009}}</ref> He wrote the story after completing his graduation and was partly financed by a farmer by {{INR}}3 [[lakh]], who wanted a role for himself in the film.<ref name="th1">{{cite web |last1=Sebastian R. |first1=Shilpa |title=Breaking through every brass gate |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/director-r-chandru-on-taj-mahal/article21259155.ece |work=The Hindu |access-date=25 August 2023 |date=4 December 2017}}</ref>

It was reported in November 2007 that [[Sunil Raoh]] would play the lead role in the film opposite [[Pooja Gandhi]]. Chandru had stated that [[Rajkiran]] would play a pivotal role in the film, and that "the film relates to the element of love". He added that filming would take place in [[Kullu]]–[[Manali, Himachal Pradesh|Manali]], [[Taj Mahal]], [[Bangalore]], [[Mysore]] and in the periphery of [[Sakleshpur]], and that it would begin on 17 December.<ref>{{cite news |title=Sunil returns for good |url=https://www.filmibeat.com/kannada/news/2007/sunil-rao-taj-mahal-201107.html |access-date=25 August 2023 |work=Filmibeat.com |date=20 November 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230825111048/https://www.filmibeat.com/kannada/news/2007/sunil-rao-taj-mahal-201107.html |archive-date=25 August 2023}}</ref> However, Raoh backed out, citing personal reasons. [[Ajay Rao]], who had one successful role in the film ''[[Excuse Me (2003 film)|Excuse Me]]'' (2003), replaced him.<ref>{{cite web |title=Sunil Raoh was supposed to play Krishna Ajai's Rao's role |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/kannada/movies/did-you-know/sunil-raoh-was-supposed-to-play-krishna-ajais-raos-role/articleshow/45357581.cms |website=The Times of India |access-date=25 August 2023 |date=3 December 2014}}</ref>

Upon the film's release, some viewers called Chandru, accusing him of basing the film on their lives. Chandru dismissed these claims and stated that the film was based on events in a friend's life.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archive.mid-day.com/entertainment/2008/aug/180808-taj-mahal-copy-south-splash.htm|title=Taj Mahal is not a copy|publisher=Midday.com|accessdate=2008-08-18}}</ref> Speaking of the film's making in a 2017 interview, Chandru recalled, "The film progressed slowly but steadily. I would work as a director during the day and as a cook at nights. Me and the producers hired a small room, where we slept on mats... Soon, the film was complete and released. But the same day there was a bomb blast in one of the theatres and all theatres were empty. My stomach churned as the producer had put his all in this film. I broke down. But, the next day when the theatres opened, Taj Mahal was running houseful across Karnataka. It had a successful run and created history."<ref name="th1"/>

==Soundtrack==
{{Infobox album
| name = Taj Mahal
| type = Soundtrack
| artist = [[Abhimann Roy]]
| cover =
| alt =
| released = {{Start date|df=yes|2008|}}
| recorded =
| venue =
| studio =
| genre = [[Film soundtrack|Feature film soundtrack]]
| length = 30:09
| label = Skanda Audio
| producer =
| prev_title =
| prev_year =
| next_title =
| next_year =
}}

The music of the film was composed by [[Abhimann Roy]]. The soundtrack album consists of seven tracks.<ref>{{cite web |title=Tajmahal (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) by Various Artists |url=https://music.apple.com/in/album/tajmahal-original-motion-picture-soundtrack/1501174931 |website=iTunes |access-date=5 September 2023}}</ref> It won Roy the [[Karnataka State Film Award for Best Music Director]] for 2008–09. The track "Kushiyagide" was received well.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ram |first1=Avinash G. |title='ಖುಷಿಯಾಗಿದೆ ಏಕೋ ನಿನ್ನಿಂದಲೇ...' ಎನ್ನುತ್ತ ಬಂದ 'ತಾಜ್ ಮಹಲ್‌' ಚಿತ್ರಕ್ಕೆ 15 ವರ್ಷ |url=https://vijaykarnataka.com/entertainment/news/ajay-rao-pooja-gandhi-starrer-taj-mahal-kannada-movie-completes-15-years/articleshow/102109571.cms |website=Vijay Karnataka |access-date=25 August 2023 |language=kn |date=25 July 2023}}</ref>

{{Track listing
| total_length = 30:09
| extra_column = Singer(s)
| title1 = Hoovantha Preethi
| lyrics1 = [[K. Kalyan]]
| extra1 = [[Hariharan (singer)|Hariharan]], [[Supriya Lohith]]
| length1 = 5:16
| title2 = Kushiyagide Eko Ninnindale
| lyrics2 = [[R. Chandru]]
| extra2 = [[Kunal Ganjawala]]
| length2 = 4:37
| title3 = Nee Nanna Manasinali
| lyrics3 = [[Abhimann Roy]]
| extra3 = [[Rajesh Krishnan]]
| length3 = 5:20
| title4 = Neenendu Nannavanu
| extra4 = [[Shreya Ghoshal]]
| lyrics4 = R. Chandru
| length4 = 4:55
| title5 = Kolluvudaadare Kondubidu
| extra5 = Badri Prasad
| lyrics5 = Manju Honnavar
| length5 = 3:48
| title6 = Preethi Annnodu
| extra6 = [[Chetan Sosca]]
| lyrics6 = Lokesh Krishna
| length6 = 1:39
| title7 = Ibbaru Preethina
| extra7 = Abhimann Roy
| lyrics7 = Manjunath Lava
| length7 = 4:34
}}

== Release and reception ==
''Taj Mahal'' had gained popularity due to its soundtrack album having been received well {{Citation needed|date=March 2025}}.
The film was slated for release on 18 July 2008, but was postponed to avoid clash with ''[[Moggina Manasu]]'', and released a week later, on 25 July. It was released simultaneously in Karnataka and in the UK, the first for a Kannada film.<ref>{{cite web |title=Tajmahal is set to hit screens on 25 July |url=https://www.filmibeat.com/kannada/news/2008/tajmahal-release-chandru-230708.html |website=Filmibeat |access-date=25 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230825105614/https://www.filmibeat.com/kannada/news/2008/tajmahal-release-chandru-230708.html |archive-date=25 August 2023 |date=23 July 2008}}</ref>

=== Critical response ===
''[[Rediff.com]]'' awarded the film 3.5 stars out of 5, writing, "''Taj Mahal'' blends pure romance with a right portion of sentiment and a bit of humour. And it is ably complemented by its excellent music and brilliant cinematography. The film also underlines the importance of parents' contribution to the future of their children, and how such an important factor is missed out by today's youngsters... Performance-wise, Ajay has come out with his best till date. The actor, who made a very good first impression with Prem's ''Excuse Me'', has bounced back with this powerful performance. Pooja Gandhi looks stunning and has worked hard to give a very strong performance."<ref>{{cite web|url= http://m.rediff.com/movies/2008/jul/25sst.htm|title=Review: Taj Mahal|date=July 25, 2008|agency=Rediff.com}}</ref> ''Indiaglitz.com'' rated the film 7.5 out of 10 and stated that Ajay Rao "has done his role quite comfortably. Pooja Gandhi the heroine to watch on Kannada screen has been very good in emotions."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiaglitz.com/taj-mahal-kannada-movie-review-10338.html|title=Taj Mahal review. Taj Mahal Kannada movie review, story, rating|website=IndiaGlitz.com}}</ref> ''[[Sify]]'' rated the film 4 out of 5 and wrote that Rao "has done it impressively and he is looking for a major breakthrough. Pooja Gandhi looks pretty and has done a good job. Suresh Mangalore Rangayana Raghu and Ananthnag are apt."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sify.com/movies/taj-mahal-review-kannada-pclwGuibgfiha.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160308072136/http://www.sify.com/movies/taj-mahal-review-kannada-pclwGuibgfiha.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=8 March 2016|title=Taj Mahal|website=[[Sify]]}}</ref>

=== Box-office ===
The film was released in [[Karnataka]] and completed a 200-day theatrical run. It was reported to have completed 100-day runs at 11 centers.<ref>{{cite web |title=Kannada Movie/Cinema News - TAJ MAHAL GIVES MAHAL TO DIRECTOR! - Chitratara.com |url=http://www.chitratara.com/show-content.php?id=206&ptype=News&title=TAJ%20MAHAL%20GIVES%20MAHAL%20TO%20DIRECTOR! |website=Chitratara.com |access-date=25 August 2023 |date=18 November 2007}}</ref>

==Awards and nominations==

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Ceremony
! Category
! Nominee
! Result
! {{tooltip|Ref.|Reference(s)}}
|-
|rowspan="7" | [[56th Filmfare Awards South]]
| Best Actress
| [[Pooja Gandhi]]
| {{Nom}}
|rowspan="7" |<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/event/ev0001531/2009|title=Filmfare Awards South|work=www.imdb.com}}</ref>
|-
| Best Actor
| [[Ajay Rao]]
| {{Nom}}
|-
| Best Director
| [[R. Chandru]]
| {{Nom}}
|-
| Best Music Director
| [[Abhimann Roy]]
| {{Nom}}
|-
| Best Supporting Actor
| [[Ananth Nag]]
| {{Nom}}
|-
| Best Supporting Actress
| Padmaja Rao
| {{Nom}}
|-
| Best lyricist
| [[R. Chandru]]
| {{Nom}}
|-
| rowspan="1" | [[2008–09 Karnataka State Film Awards]]
| Best Music Director
| Abhimann Roy
| {{Won}}
| rowspan="1" |<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.indiaglitz.com/karnataka-state-film-awards-announced-kannada-news-62071.html|title=KARNATAKA STATE FILM AWARDS ANNOUNCED|work=m.indiaglitz.com|date=3 December 2010}}</ref>
|}
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb title|tt14253670}}

{{R. Chandru}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Taj Mahal}}
[[Category:2008 films]]
[[Category:2008 Kannada-language films]]
[[Category:2008 romantic drama films]]
[[Category:Kannada films remade in other languages]]
[[Category:Indian romantic drama films]]
[[Category:Films directed by R. Chandru]]
[[Category:2008 directorial debut films]]
[[Category:Films scored by Abhimann Roy]]

Taj Mahal (2008 film) - Revision history

Indian constitution at 03:52, 5 May 2026