Raja (1972 film)
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2021}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2021}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Raja
| image = Raja 1972.jpg
| caption = Poster
| director = C. V. Rajendran
| screenplay = A. L. Narayanan
Sujatha Story Dept.
| story = K. A. Narayanan
| producer = K. Balaji
| starring = Sivaji Ganesan
Jayalalithaa
| cinematography = Masthan–Thara
| editing = B. Kanthasamy
| music = M. S. Viswanathan
| studio = Sujatha Cine Arts
| released = {{Film date|1972|01|26|df=y}}
| country = India
| language = Tamil
}}
Raja is a 1972 Indian Tamil-language spy action film directed by C. V. Rajendran. The film stars Sivaji Ganesan, Jayalalithaa and K. Balaji.{{Cite web |title=151–160 |url=http://nadigarthilagam.com/filmographyp16.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304023415/http://nadigarthilagam.com/filmographyp16.htm |archive-date=4 March 2016 |access-date=24 August 2014 |website=nadigarthilagam.com}} It is a remake of the 1970 Hindi film Johny Mera Naam. The film was released on 26 January 1972, and became successful at the box office.{{Cite web |date=20 November 2019 |title=சிவாஜி - ஜெயலலிதா ஜோடி ; ஒரே வருடத்தில் நான்கு படங்கள்! |url=https://www.hindutamil.in/news/cinema/tamil-cinema/526250-sivaji-jayalalitha.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221018043859/https://www.hindutamil.in/news/cinema/tamil-cinema/526250-sivaji-jayalalitha.html |archive-date=18 October 2022 |access-date=18 October 2022 |website=Hindu Tamil Thisai |language=ta}}
Plot
{{No plot|date=June 2021}}
Cast
{{Cast listing|
- Sivaji Ganesan as Raja/Sekar
- Jayalalithaa as Radha
- K. Balaji as Chandran/Babu
- Major Sundarrajan as Prasanth
- S. V. Ranga Rao as Nagalingam Boopathy
- R. S. Manohar as Viswam
- V. S. Raghavan as Dharmalingam Boopathy
- Pandari Bai as Parvathi
- Gandhimathi as Radha Mother's
- J. P. Chandrababu as Pattabiraman/Seetharaman/Janakiraman
- V. Nagayya as Haridass
- K. Kannan as Jambu
- Harikrishnan as Head of Police officer
- Master Sekhar as Young Raja
- Gemini Balu as Gang Sumglar
- I.S.R as Club Manager
}}
Production
Raja is a remake of the 1970 Hindi film Johny Mera Naam.{{Cite news |date=26 March 2017 |title=செலுலாய்ட் சோழன் சிவாஜி தொடர் 169– சுதாங்கன் |language=ta |trans-title=The Celluloid King Sivaji Chapter 169– Sudhangan |work=Dinamalar |location=Nellai |url=http://www.dinamalarnellai.com/web/news/24803 |url-status=usurped |access-date=7 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180820104543/http://www.dinamalarnellai.com/web/news/24803 |archive-date=20 August 2018}} A. C. Tirulokchandar was initially chosen to direct the film but he left for personal reasons. Sivaji Ganesan later successfully recommended C. V. Rajendran as director.{{Cite web |date=25 September 2011 |title=சிவாஜி இல்லையென்றால்... – இயக்குனர் சி.வி. ராஜேந்திரன் பேட்டி |trans-title=If there is no Sivaji... – Director C. V. Rajendran interview |url=https://www.dinamalar.com/malarkal/vara-malar-weekly-magazine/if-not-shivaji---director-cv-rajendran-interview/7148 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221018042347/https://www.dinamalar.com/supplementary_detail.asp?id=7148&cat=2&Print=1 |archive-date=18 October 2022 |access-date=17 October 2022 |website=Dinamalar |language=ta}}
Soundtrack
The music was composed by M. S. Viswanathan, with lyrics by Kannadasan.{{Cite web |title=Raja (1972) |url=http://play.raaga.com/tamil/album/Raja-1972-T0001789 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140907205925/http://play.raaga.com/tamil/album/Raja-1972-T0001789 |archive-date=7 September 2014 |access-date=24 August 2014 |website=Raaga.com}}{{Cite web |title=Raja Tamil Film EP Vinyl Record by M S Viswanathan |url=https://mossymart.com/product/raja-tamil-film-ep-vinyl-record-by-m-s-viswanathan/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221018043622/https://mossymart.com/product/raja-tamil-film-ep-vinyl-record-by-m-s-viswanathan/ |archive-date=18 October 2022 |access-date=18 October 2022 |website=Mossymart}}
| class="wikitable"
! Song !! Singers !! Length | ||
| "Kalayana Ponnu" | T. M. Soundararajan | 04.23 |
| "Gangaiyile" | Susheela | 04.07 |
| "Irandil Ondru" | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, B. Vasantha | 04.16 |
| "Naan Uyirukku Tharuvatu" | L. R. Eswari | 05.15 |
| "Nee Vara Vendum" | T. M. Soundararajan, Susheela | 04.26 |
Reception
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Re-release
A digitally restored version of the film was released in May 2018.{{Cite news |date=25 May 2018 |title=Shivaji's 'Raja' is back in theatres |work=News Today |url=https://www.newstodaynet.com/index.php/2018/05/25/shivajis-raja-is-back-in-theatres/ |url-status=dead |access-date=28 May 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180528111748/https://newstodaynet.com/index.php/2018/05/25/shivajis-raja-is-back-in-theatres/ |archive-date=28 May 2018}}
References
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