Rajabheema
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2019}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Rajabheema
| image = Rajabheema poster.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| based_on =
| director = Naresh Sampath
| producer = S. Mohan
| writer = Karundhel Rajesh
| screenplay =
| starring = Arav
Ashima Narwal
| music = Simon K. King
| cinematography = S. R. Sathish Kumar
| editing = Gopi Krishna
| studio = Surabi Films
| distributor =
| released = {{Film date|df=yes|2025|1|31}}
| runtime = 118 minutes{{Cite web |title=Rajabheema| url=https://cbfcindia.gov.in/cbfcAdmin/search-result.php?recid=Q0EwMzIyMTAyMDIxMDAwNDI= |website=Central Board of Film Certification}}
| country = India
| language = Tamil
}}
Rajabheema (or Raja Bheema) is a 2025 Indian Tamil language action thriller film directed by Naresh Sampath on his directorial debut with dialogues written by Karundhel Rajesh. The storyline of the film is based on the connection between a man and elephant.{{Cite web|url=https://silverscreen.in/news/raja-bheema-naresh-sampath-aarav-interview-wildlife-conservation/|title='Raja Bheema' Will Focus On Wildlife Conservation, Says Director|last1=V|last2=September 15|first2=hana On|date=2018-09-15|website=Silverscreen.in|language=en-US|access-date=2018-12-31|archive-date=1 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190101014024/https://silverscreen.in/news/raja-bheema-naresh-sampath-aarav-interview-wildlife-conservation/|url-status=dead}} The film stars Arav and Ashima Narwal in the lead roles. The music for the film is composed by Simon K. King with lyrics penned by Madhan Karky. The film is produced by S. Mohan under the production banner Surbhi Films.
The film was released on 31 January 2025 after having been delayed for over 8 years.
Cast
{{cast listing|
- Arav as Raja
- Master Raghavan as Young Raja
- Ashima Narwal as Thulasi
- Oviya (cameo appearance)
- Yashika Aannand
- Yogi Babu as Minister Mandranayagam's son
- Nassar as Raja's father
- K. S. Ravikumar as Minister Mandranayagam
- Sayaji Shinde
- Ravi Venkatraman
}}
== Production ==
The film was announced by Naresh Sampath on his directorial debut in early 2018 and revealed that Arav would play the lead role for the first time in his career after taking part in Bigg Boss Tamil 1 (2017).{{Cite web|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/entertainment/kollywood/150918/bigg-boss-fame-aarav-bags-a-role.html|title=Bigg Boss fame Aarav bags a role|last=Subramanian|first=Anupama|date=2018-09-15|website=Deccan Chronicle|language=en|access-date=2018-12-31|archive-date=31 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181231144223/https://www.deccanchronicle.com/entertainment/kollywood/150918/bigg-boss-fame-aarav-bags-a-role.html|url-status=live}} It was also reported that Arav made his film debut as playback singer through this film as he voiced for one song.{{Cite web|url=https://tamil.samayam.com/tamil-cinema/movie-news/actor-biggboss-arav-become-singer-in-raja-bheema/articleshow/67300366.cms|title=நடிப்புடன் புது அவதாரம் எடுத்த பிக்பாஸ் ஆரவ்!|date=2018-12-29|website=samayam Tamil|language=ta|access-date=2018-12-31|archive-date=31 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181231143847/https://tamil.samayam.com/tamil-cinema/movie-news/actor-biggboss-arav-become-singer-in-raja-bheema/articleshow/67300366.cms|url-status=live}} Ashima Narwal was approached to play the female lead in the film while she was poised to make her Tamil film debut Kolaigaran (2019).{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/regional-cinema/story/indian-australian-model-ashima-opposite-arav-in-rajabheema-1347446-2018-09-24|title=Indian-Australian model Ashima opposite Arav in Rajabheema|website=India Today|date=24 September 2018 |language=en|access-date=2018-12-31|archive-date=31 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181231194100/https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/regional-cinema/story/indian-australian-model-ashima-opposite-arav-in-rajabheema-1347446-2018-09-24|url-status=live}}
The first schedule of the shooting procedure commenced and progressed in Pallakad.{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/aravs-next-is-raja-bheema/articleshow/65809931.cms|title=Arav's next is Raja Bheema - Times of India|website=The Times of India|date=14 September 2018 |access-date=2018-12-31|archive-date=29 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211129160942/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/aravs-next-is-raja-bheema/articleshow/65809931.cms|url-status=live}} The second schedule of the film went on floors in around December 2018 in Pollachi and the final schedule of the film took place in Coimbatore during January 2019. Oviya, who is known for her speculations as Arav's girlfriend, also appeared in a cameo appearance and is set to feature in an item song.{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/regional-cinema/story/bigg-boss-tamil-lovebirds-arav-and-oviya-groove-to-a-folk-song-in-raja-bheema-1409281-2018-12-14|title=Bigg Boss Tamil lovebirds Arav and Oviya groove to a folk song in Raja Bheema|website=India Today|date=14 December 2018 |language=en|access-date=2018-12-31|archive-date=31 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181231195547/https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/regional-cinema/story/bigg-boss-tamil-lovebirds-arav-and-oviya-groove-to-a-folk-song-in-raja-bheema-1409281-2018-12-14|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://silverscreen.in/news/raj-bheema-to-have-oviya-in-an-extended-cameo/|title='Raj Bheema' To Have Oviya In An Extended Cameo|first=Adithya|last=Narayan|date=2018-12-14|website=Silverscreen.in|language=en-US|access-date=2018-12-31|archive-date=1 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190101014022/https://silverscreen.in/news/raj-bheema-to-have-oviya-in-an-extended-cameo/|url-status=dead}} The shooting of the Luthu song featuring Oviya took place in around January 2019.{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/oviya-does-a-cameo-in-aravs-raja-bheema/articleshow/67059591.cms|title=Oviya does a cameo in Arav's 'Raja Bheema' - Times of India|website=The Times of India|date=13 December 2018 |access-date=2018-12-31|archive-date=6 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190106044708/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/oviya-does-a-cameo-in-aravs-raja-bheema/articleshow/67059591.cms|url-status=live}}
Music
The music was composed by Simon.K.King.
{{Track listing
| headline = Track listing
| extra_column = Singer(s)
| title1 = Beeman
| extra1 = Simon.K.King, Anthony dasan, Keerthana
| length1 = 03:22
| title2 = Ganesaa
| extra2 = Simon.K.King, Chinnaponnu,Gowri Lakshmi
| length2 = 03:13
| title3 = Raani varra
| extra3 = Simon.K.King,G.Vignesh
| length3 = 04:31
| title4 = Thooya
| extra4 = Simon.K.King, Karthik, Keerthana
| length4 = 04:26
}}
Release
Reception
=Critical Response=
Abhinav Subramanian of The Times of India wrote rated the film two-and-a-half out of five stars and wrote, "Rajabheema stands as a sincere but routine wildlife drama. It successfully stokes empathy for its pachyderm players, keeping its feet firmly on the ground rather than attempting to soar".{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movie-reviews/raja-bheema/movie-review/117674753.cms|title=Raja Bheema Movie Review : A well-meaning but generic tale about man and beast lumbers along|work=The Times of India|language=en|access-date=2025-02-01}} A writer from News Today wrote, "The movie stays grounded in its primary theme, offering a coherent and engaging narrative from start to finish".{{Cite web|url=https://newstodaynet.com/2025/01/30/rajabheema-review/|title=Rajabheema - Review|date=30 January 2025|work=News Today|access-date=5 February 2025|archive-date=30 January 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250130082108/https://newstodaynet.com/2025/01/30/rajabheema-review/|url-status=live}}
References
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