Raja Nagam

{{Infobox film

| image = Raja Nagam.jpg

| alt = A man stands prominently in the background, behind two women: one wearing western clothes, another wearing a sari.

| caption = Film poster

| director = N. S. Manian

| screenplay = N. S. Manian

| story = T. R. Subba Rao

| producer = N. S. Manian

| starring = {{ubl|Srikanth|Manjula|Shubha|Major Sundarrajan}}

| cinematography = Chandrasekharan

| editing = R. Devarajan

| music = V. Kumar

| studio = Jagajothi Pictures

| distributor = Jayam Combines

| released = {{film date|1974|7|25|df=y}}

| country = India

| language = Tamil

}}

Raja Nagam ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|r|ɑː|dʒ|ə|_|ˌ|n|ɑː|ɡ|ə|m}} {{Translation|King cobra}}){{Cite book |last=McKie |first=Ronald |author-link=Ronald McKie |title=The Company of Animals: A Naturalist's Adventures in the Jungle of Malaya |publisher=Harcourt, Brace & World |year=1965 |pages=244 |oclc=1063575}} is a 1974 Indian Tamil-language romantic drama film written, produced and directed by N. S. Manian. It is a remake of the Kannada film Naagarahaavu (1972) which was based on three Kannada novels written by T. R. Subba Rao: Nagarahavu, Ondu Gandu Eradu Hennu and Sarpa Mathsara. The film stars Srikanth, Manjula, Shubha and Major Sundarrajan. It was released on 25 July 1974 and became a commercial success, with Shubha winning the Chennai Film Fans' Association Award for Best Supporting Actress.

Plot

Krishnamurthi is a short-tempered, but well-meaning college student. His father dislikes him because he is unpopular in the town as a ruffian. His mother is worried about his future. One person who truly understands Krishnamurthi is his primary school teacher, called "Vaathiyar" (teacher). Krishnamurthi finds the company of his teacher and his wife more interesting than that of his parents and considers them as his parents. Krishnamurthi has high regard for Vaathiyar even though he is no longer his academic teacher and would do whatever his teacher would say without thinking.

Krishnamurthi meets his friend Varadarajan Iyengar's sister Alamelu. Her beauty has maddened a neighbourhood hooligan, who stalks her. After Alamelu complains to Varada about this, Varada seeks to end the eve teasing but he is a timid, pusillanimous person. He asks Krishnamurthi for help. Krishnamurthi agrees based on the condition that he should marry Alamelu. Krishnamurthi fights the hooligan and drives him away from Alamelu's life. Alamelu and Krishnamurthi fall in love.

Although Alamelu and Krishnamurthi are truly in love, Alamelu's marriage is fixed with a man of her caste. When Alamelu tries to refuse the proposal by saying she is in love with Krishnamurthi and asks for Varada's support, Varada says that he never gave Krishnamurthi any promise and deceives Krishnamurthi. Vaathiyar tells Krishnamurthi to give up hope on Alamelu, convincing him that sacrifice is a greater act than selfish love; Krishnamurthi assents. He later reciprocates the feelings of Margaret, his college mate. As time passes, he overcomes Alamelu and devotes himself to Margaret.

While on a trip to another place, Krishnamurthi meets Alamelu in a five-star hotel as a prostitute; she reveals that her husband sold her into flesh trade and she had turned into a prostitute, and upon realising that Krishnamurthi loves Margaret, advises him not to leave her. After Krishnamurthi returns to his town and decides to marry Margaret, their families object to this because Krishnamurthi is an Iyer and Margaret is a Christian. As a result, Krishnamurthi and Margaret decide to flee through the hills.

Vaathiyar catches up and tells Krishnamurthi that by sacrificing his love for Margaret, he will be holding his religion and tradition before love. Krishnamurthi says he will not assent because the last time he did, it went wrong and Alamelu became a prostitute. Vaathiyar, accused now of ruining Alamelu's life, realises that Krishnamurthi was right and he was wrong. However, he says Krishnamurthi's parents will still not agree to the marriage. Krishnamurthi decides to leave with Margaret to another town and Vaathiyar tries to stop him, but Krishnamurthi accidentally pushes him down the hill to his death. Remorseful, Krishnamurthi asks Margaret if she will join him where he goes; she says she will, and both jump to their deaths.

Cast

{{Cast listing|

Srikanth as Krishnamurthi
Manjula as Alamelu
Shubha as Margaret
Major Sundarrajan as Vaathiyar
Thengai Srinivasan as Varadaraja Iyengar
S. V. Sahasranamam
V. Gopalakrishnan
K. Kannan as Margaret's uncle
Ennathe Kannaiah
S. R. Veeraraghavan
I. S. R.
M. N. Rajam as an orthodox mother
Sukumari as Alamelu's mother
S. A. Ashokan (guest appearance)
Suruli Rajan (guest appearance)
Manorama as Margaret's mother

}}

Production

Raja Nagam is a remake of the Kannada film Naagarahaavu (1972),{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wQLeCwAAQBAJ&q=%22raja+naagam%22&pg=PA225 |title=Salaam Bollywood: Representations and interpretations |publisher=Routledge |year=2016 |isbn=978-1-138-64962-0 |editor-last=Kishore |editor-first=Vikrant |pages=225 |editor-last2=Sarwal |editor-first2=Amit |editor-last3=Patra |editor-first3=Parichay}} itself based on three different novels: Nagarahavu, Ondu Gandu Eradu Hennu and Sarpa Mathsara, all written by T. R. Subba Rao.{{Cite news |last=Deepak |first=S N |date=15 July 2018 |title=Vishnuvardhan classic back in restored avatar |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/metrolife/metrolife-your-bond-bengaluru/vishnuvardhan-classic-back-681407.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180909074226/https://www.deccanherald.com/metrolife/metrolife-your-bond-bengaluru/vishnuvardhan-classic-back-681407.html |archive-date=9 September 2018 |access-date=9 September 2018 |work=Deccan Herald}}{{Cite news |date=12 July 2018 |title=Vishnuvardhan's all-time classic 'Nagarahavu' to re-release |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/vishnuvardhan-s-all-time-classic-nagarahavu-re-release-84608 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180719060844/https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/vishnuvardhan-s-all-time-classic-nagarahavu-re-release-84608 |archive-date=19 July 2018 |access-date=23 November 2018 |work=The News Minute}} The remake was directed by N. S. Manian, who also produced the film under Jagajothi Pictures, and wrote the screenplay. Srikanth's role as the male lead Krishnamurthi was a departure from the villainous roles he was generally known for. Shubha, who portrayed Margaret in Nagarahavu,{{Cite web |last=V |first=Vinay Kumar |date=19 January 2020 |title='Naagarahaavu' vs 'KGF': What a comparison of the cult hits reveals about Kannada cinema |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/naagarahaavu-vs-kgf-what-comparison-cult-hits-reveals-about-kannada-cinema-116388 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200119132704/https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/naagarahaavu-vs-kgf-what-comparison-cult-hits-reveals-about-kannada-cinema-116388 |archive-date=19 January 2020 |access-date=15 January 2021 |website=The News Minute}} reprised her role. Cinematography was handled by Chandrasekharan, and editing by R. Devarajan. The film was prominently shot at Bhuvanagiri Fort.{{Cite AV media |title=Raja Nagam |type=motion picture |language=ta |publisher=Jagajothi Pictures |year=1974 |time=0:00 to 0:03 |time-caption=Opening credits, from}} The final length of the film was {{convert|3789.27|metres|feet}}.{{Cite magazine |date=20 December 1975 |title=Raja Naagam (Tamil) (Colour) (35mm.) (Indian). |url=https://archive.org/details/in.gazette.1975.420/page/n195/mode/2up |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20231112011937/https://archive.org/details/in.gazette.1975.420/page/n195/mode/2up |archive-date=12 November 2023 |access-date=12 November 2023 |magazine=The Gazette of India |page=2495 |via=Internet Archive}}

Soundtrack

The soundtrack was composed by V. Kumar, while the lyrics were written by Vaali.{{Cite web |title=Rajanagam (ராஜநாகம்) |url=https://www.cdandlp.com/en/v.-kumar/rajanagam-(ராஜநாகம்)/7inch/r2414211376/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/3BTG7?wr=true0%AE%95%E0%AE%AE%E0%AF%8D%29/7inch/r2414211376/ |archive-date=7 September 2023 |access-date=6 August 2023 |website=cdandlp.com}} "Devan Yesuvin Vedam" (also known as "Devan Vedhamum Kannan Geethaiyum") became the film's most popular song.{{Cite news |date=1 August 2016 |title=ஒரு பேனாவின் பயணம் – 67 – சுதாங்கன் |trans-title=The journey of a pen – 67 – Sudhangan |url=http://www.dinamalarnellai.com/web/news/12437 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://archive.today/20180814103358/http://www.dinamalarnellai.com/web/news/12437 |archive-date=14 August 2018 |access-date=14 August 2018 |work=Dinamalar |location=Nellai |language=ta}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Track listing

| extra_column = Singer(s)

| title1 = Dhevan Vedhamum

| extra1 = P. Susheela, S. P. Balasubrahmanyam

| length1 =

| title2 = Mannavan Thottanadi

| extra2 = P. Susheela

| length2 =

| title3 = Samudhaya Veedhiyile

| extra3 = P. Susheela

| length3 =

| title4 = Manavan Ninaithal

| extra4 = T. M. Soundararajan

| length4 =

}}

Release and reception

Raja Nagam was released on 25 July 1974,{{Cite web |title=ராஜநாகம் / Rajanagam (1974) |url=https://screen4screen.com/movies/rajanagam |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240103044308/https://screen4screen.com/movies/rajanagam |archive-date=3 January 2024 |access-date=3 January 2024 |website=Screen 4 Screen}} and was distributed by Jayam Combines. Kanthan of Kalki praised the film for the cast performances, Manian's dialogues and direction, and the cinematography. It was a commercial success, running for over 100 days in theatres. Shubha went on to win the Chennai Film Fans' Association Award for Best Supporting Actress.{{Cite news |date=15 March 2000 |title=அன்றிலிருந்து இன்றுவரை சினிமா |trans-title=Cinema from then till today |url=http://www.vlambaram.com/archives/March%2015,%2000.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190228192205/http://www.vlambaram.com/archives/March%2015,%2000.pdf |archive-date=28 February 2019 |access-date=19 September 2020 |work=Vlambaram |pages=7 |language=ta}}

References

{{reflist|refs=

{{Cite news |last=Guy |first=Randor |author-link=Randor Guy |date=5 November 2016 |title=Raja Nagam (1974) |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/Raja-Nagam-1974/article16437513.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180814110903/https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/Raja-Nagam-1974/article16437513.ece |archive-date=14 August 2018 |access-date=14 August 2018 |work=The Hindu}}

{{Cite magazine |last=காந்தன் |date=1 September 1974 |title=ராஜ நாகம் |url=https://ibb.co/ThGpxBw |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230113051858/https://ibb.co/ThGpxBw |archive-date=13 January 2023 |access-date=13 January 2023 |magazine=Kalki |page=53 |language=ta}}

{{Cite book |last=Dharap |first=B. V. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6wU_AQAAIAAJ&q=%22raja+naagam%22 |title=Indian Films |publisher=Motion Picture Enterprises |year=1974 |pages=229 |access-date=16 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210311131632/https://books.google.com/books?id=6wU_AQAAIAAJ&q=%22raja+naagam%22 |archive-date=11 March 2021 |url-status=live}}

}}