Thirupathi (2006 Kannada film)
{{Short description|2006 Indian Kannada-language film directed by Shivamani}}
{{Copy edit|date=April 2025}}
{{Long plot|date=December 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2015}}
{{Use Indian English|date=November 2015}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Thirupathi
| image = Tirupathi (2006 Kannada film).jpg
| director = Shivamani
| writer = B. A. Madhu (dialogues)
| screenplay = Shivamani
S. S. David
| story = S. S. David
| producer = Padma R. S. Gowda
| starring = {{unbulleted list|Sudeep|Pooja Kanwal}}
| cinematography = A. C. Mahendran
| editing = Nagendra Urs
| music = Rajesh Ramanath
| studio = Gowda Enterprises
| distributor = Ramu Films
| released = {{Film date|df=yes|2006|06|30}}
| country = India
| language = Kannada
| runtime = 144 minutes
}}
Thirupathi is a 2006 Indian Kannada-language action film directed by Shivamani, starring Sudeep and Pooja Kanwal with Charan Raj and Shanoor Sana in supporting roles. The film features background score and soundtrack composed by Rajesh Ramanath and lyrics by Kaviraj, Shivamani and Krishna. The film fared poorly at the box-office.
Plot
Margaret, a newly appointed District commissioner in Bangalore, has cancelled the illegal construction of a building owned by Michael Raj, a notorious don of organized crime. Raj's son Aadhi tries to convince Margaret to cancel the demolition, but she refuses. Furious, Aadhi and his friends brutally rape and shoot her. Margaret's friend Nikhil, who is unconscious when the assault takes place, partially witnesses the crime. He takes Margaret to the police station for help, but she dies.
Inspector Bachche Gowda, a corrupt police officer and associate of Michael Raj, frames Nikhil as Margaret's murderer. Constable Adarsh informs the Police Commissioner, Ajay Kumar about the truth and asks him to replace Gowda with an honest officer for the investigation of Margaret's murder. Ajay Kumar assigns ACP Thirupathi to the case. Nandhini, the daughter of Kumar, is in love with Thirupathi, but he does not reciprocate her feelings. In Bangalore, Thirupathi stays with his mother, Bharathi.
Thirupathi discovers the fake evidence planted by Gowda. He arrests the doctor who had made the false postmortem report, releases Nikhil, and arrests Aadhi for Margaret's murder.
Michael Raj urges Thirupathi to free his son, but Thirupathi refuses. Thirupathi also reveals that he knows Michael Raj's original name, Dhanraj, and threatens to reveal Raj's past. The court frees Aadhi after an associate of Raj's contradicts Nikhil's testimony. Meanwhile, Nandhini begs Thirupathi to marry her and threatens to commit suicide if he refuses.
Michael Raj kidnaps Adarsh's wife and demands that he hand over Nikhil in exchange for her return. Thirupathi arrests the other culprits involved with Aadhi in Margaret's murder. Adarsh is killed by Raj's gang, who also kidnaps Nikhil. Thirupathi is abused and shattered in the court because Nikhil cannot testify. Michael Raj threatens to kill Nikhil if Thirupathi continues to pursue the case, but Thirupathi reveals that Raj had cheated his wife for money.
It is revealed that Michael Raj, originally known as Dhanraj, is Thirupathi's father and that he cheated Thirupathi's mother, Bharathi, for money. 20 years ago, Dhanraj accepted properties from his boss in exchange for allowing his boss to have sex with Bharathi. Their son Akash killed the man in defense of his mother, and Bharathi left Dhanraj, telling him that she will henceforth consider herself a widow. Akash, who was sent to juvenile detention for 10 years, changed his name to Thirupathi and promised his mother that he would become a justice man.
After learning that Thirupathi is his son, Dhanraj wants Thirpuathi to join him in crime. Dhanraj's friend Ekanath Bhavade, the Home Minister, suspends Thirupathi for mishandling Margaret's murder case and reassigns Gowda to the investigation. Having been suspended from his role as a police officer, Thirupathi feels liberated to take justice into his own hands. Thirupathi finds Nikhil's mobile phone in Yeswanthpur, which contains a video from Nikhil's kidnapping. Thirupathi captures the trio who are Michael Raj's friends children. He interrogates them but they initially refuse to talk, after which they were tortured badly. Anil, the son of the Home Minister, the main witness of this murder, confesses to Thirupathi. Thirupathi forces Anil to call his father and tell him that Michael Raj had kidnapped them and has threatened to kill them if they testify against Aadhi.
The Home Minister and confronts Michael Raj, who denies kidnapping Anil. The Home Minister gives Raj 24 hours to release Anil. Thirupathi enters there confessing that he kidnapped those trio and make them called Michael and asks Michael Raj to release Nikhil and surrender Aadhi. Thirupathi spots as a bald man and kills Kailasnath, one of the men who murdered Margaret, which was witnessed by Michael Raj. The Commissioner reinstates Thirupathi as a police office at the request of the Home Minister.
Thirupathi thanked to Michael Raj for bringing him back as he said earlier and tells Michael to surrender as soon as possible. Thirupathi next targets Pramod, the second culprit and murder him which was witnessed by Aadhi. But unfortunately he was alive in the next morning and taken to the hospital, Pramod points Michael Raj as his killer a seconds before his death. The Home Minister orders Thirupathi to arrest Michael Raj, but he cannot, due to lack of evidence. Thirupathi tells Michael Raj to surrender his son Aadhi immediately. Bachche Gowda, having been ordered by Aadhi to find Anil, tells Thirupathi that he wants to assist in the search for Anil. Thirupathi and Gowda came to rescue Nikhil, and Gowda is shot by Aadhi while saving Nikhil. Frustrated, Thirupathi shots Aadhi to death.
Thirupathi returns Anil to his father, and in exchange, the Home Minister grants Thirupathi permission to shoot Michael Raj, who has kidnapped Bharathi and Nadhini. Michael Raj aka Dhanraj approached Thirupathi at Kolar Gold Fields, and the latter found a box surprisingly, which contains Anil's head. It is revealed that Anil was innocent and was used by Thirupathi to prosecute Aadhi and the other culprits. Dhanraj and Thirupathi fight, in the presence of Bharathi, leaving Thirupathi badly beaten. Bharathi encourages Thirupathi to kill Dhanraj. Thirupathi kills Dhanraj.
Cast
{{cast listing|
- Sudeep as ACP Thirupathi / Akash (childhood name)
- Pooja Kanwal as Nandini
- Charan Raj as Michael Raj aka Dhanraj
- Shanoor Sana as Bharathi, Thirupathi's mother
- Dharma as Aadhi, Michael Raj's adopted son
- Lakshman as Police Commissioner Ajay Kumar
- Rangayana Raghu as Home Minister Ekanath Bhavade
- Ashok Rao as Amarnath
- Ramesh Pandith as Inspector Bachche Gowda
- Kaddipudi Chandru as Anil, Ekanath's son
- P. N. Sathya as Gangster Onte Krishna
- Killer Venkatesh as Constable Adarsh
- Yathiraj as Nikhil, Margaret's friend
- Sudha Rani as District Commissioner Margaret (cameo appearance)
- Sundeep Malani as Court Judge (cameo appearance)
}}
Production
Shivamani, who had directed movies such as Rajakeeya, Dore, Vishwa, and Omkara, wanted to make a cop action movie. He approached his friend Upendra, who had collaborated with him in Omkara, but he was busy due to scheduling conflicts, so he suggested Shivamani about Sudeep. Shivamani and Upendra narrated the story to Sudeep, who accepted the offer. He played the role of a police officer for the first time in his career.{{Cite web |last=Warrier |first=Shobha |author1-link=Shobha Warrier |last2=Rajamani |first2=Radhika |last3=Vijayasarathy |first3=R. G. | author3-link=R. G. Vijayasarathy |date=14 June 2006 |title=Sudeep in Tirupathi |url=https://www.rediff.com/movies/2006/jun/14spice.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220504074414/https://www.rediff.com/movies/2006/jun/14spice.htm |archive-date=4 May 2022 |access-date=5 May 2022 |website=Rediff.com}}{{Cite web |last=Vijayasarathy |first=R. G. |date=9 March 2006 |title=Sudeep: Back with My Autograph |url=https://www.rediff.com/movies/2006/mar/09sudeep.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220504074411/https://www.rediff.com/movies/2006/mar/09sudeep.htm |archive-date=4 May 2022 |access-date=5 May 2022 |website=Rediff.com}} He earlier played a police officer for a comedy sequence in Nalla (2004). Deepu was initially considered to play the heroine.{{Cite web |date=26 November 2005 |title=Sudeep and Deepu teamed in "Thirupathi". |url=https://www.indiaglitz.com/sudeep-and-deepu-teamed-in-%22thirupathi%22-tamil-news-18551 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220505040631/https://www.indiaglitz.com/sudeep-and-deepu-teamed-in-%22thirupathi%22-tamil-news-18551 |archive-date=5 May 2022 |access-date=5 May 2022 |website=Indiaglitz}} This is Pooja Kanwal's second Kannada film after 7 O' Clock (2006). This is Sudeep's second film with producer R. S. Gowda after Maharaja (2005).{{Cite web |title=Tirupati – a cop story |url=http://www.viggy.com/english/current_tirupati.asp |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220505040646/http://www.viggy.com/english/current_tirupati.asp |archive-date=5 May 2022 |access-date=5 May 2022 |website=Viggy}} Seetha and Bhanupriya were considered to play Sudeep's mother. Shanoor Sana, who had collaborated with Sudeep in movies like Huchcha (2001) and Chandu (2002), was finalised for the mother role. Charan Raj portrays the role of the antagonist.
Soundtrack
{{Infobox album
| name = Tirupathi
| type = soundtrack
| artist = Rajesh Ramanath
| cover =
| alt =
| released = 2006
| recorded =
| venue =
| studio =
| genre = Feature film soundtrack
| length =
| language = Kannada
| label = Akash Audio
| producer = Rajesh Ramanath
| prev_title = My Autograph (background score)
| prev_year = 2006
| next_title = Jambada Hudugi
| next_year = 2007
}}
The soundtrack was composed by Rajesh Ramanath collaborating with Sudeep for the fifth time after Huchcha (2001), Vaalee (2001), Swathi Muthu (2003) and My Autograph (Background score only).{{Cite web |date=1 July 2006 |title=Thirupathi |url=https://www.jiosaavn.com/album/thirupathi/r-ACM,Uo4MM_ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201203234203/https://www.jiosaavn.com/album/thirupathi/r-ACM,Uo4MM_ |archive-date=3 December 2020 |access-date=5 May 2022 |website=JioSaavn}}
{{Track listing
| total_length =
| extra_column = Singer(s)
| title1 = Lakha Lakha
| lyrics1 = Kaviraj
| extra1 = Rajesh Krishnan, Sunitha
| length1 =
| title2 = Hodi Maga
| lyrics2 = Shivamani
| extra2 = Chaitra H. G.
| length2 =
| title3 = Gumma Gumma
| extra3 = Chetan Sosca, Sunitha
| lyrics3 = Kaviraj
| length3 =
| title4 = Bole Bole Jimbole
| extra4 = Avinash
| lyrics4 = Krishna
| length4 =
| title5 = Thayiye Magana
| extra5 = Rameshchandra
| lyrics5 = Krishna
| length5 =
}}
Reception
R. G. Vijayasarathy from IANS stated that "Tirupati is an engaging entertainer which can be a tasty full meal for film fans of action flicks".{{Cite web |last=Vijayasarathy |first=R. G. |date=30 June 2006 |title=Tirupati Kannada Movie |url=https://www.nowrunning.com/movie/3223/kannada/tirupati/800/review.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220504074414/https://www.nowrunning.com/movie/3223/kannada/tirupati/800/review.htm |archive-date=4 May 2022 |access-date=5 May 2022 |website=IANS| via=Nowrunning}} A critic from Rediff.com wrote "it is Sudeep's film all the way. He oozes talent in every frame and it is really his spirited performance as Tirupati that saves the film".{{Cite web |last=Vijayasarathy |first=R. G. |date=3 July 2006 |title=Tirupati: A good action film |url=https://www.rediff.com/movies/2006/jul/03tir.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071213021917/http://www.rediff.com/movies/2006/jul/03tir.htm |archive-date=13 December 2007 |access-date=5 May 2022 |website=Rediff.com}} A critic from Chitraloka.com wrote that "Action lovers cannot miss this film".{{Cite web |date=1 July 2006 |title=THIRUPATHI MOVIE REVIEW |url=https://www.chitraloka.com/movie-reviews/761-thirupathi-review.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304112914/http://www.chitraloka.com/movie-reviews/761-thirupathi-review.html |archive-date=4 March 2016 |access-date=5 May 2022 |website=Chitraloka.com}} The film had high collections initially but later dipped in collections.{{Cite web |last=Vijayasarathy |first=R. G. |date=26 December 2006 |title=Top Kannada Heroes |url=http://specials.rediff.com/yearend/2006/dec/26yrsd1.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120210205501/http://specials.rediff.com/yearend/2006/dec/26yrsd1.htm |archive-date=10 February 2012 |access-date=5 May 2022 |website=Rediff.com}}
References
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