Nadigar Thilagam Sivaji Ganesan Part 10

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Raja Raja Chozan

As I said in previous posts Raja Raja Chozan is one of my favourite movie, infact it is the movie which made a born Rajini fan like me to move back & have a look of NT movie. I still remember the night when I was alone when my parents were out of station , I was flipping through TV channels , I saw a glimpse of NT & Nambiyar conversation around 9.30-9.45 pm and started watching it keenly while I was on sleeping mode . One scene that shook me up & made me sit was the scene was when Lakshmi tries to secretly marry Muthuraman , NT catches him red handed in temple , the fire in his eyes were something which I have not seen before in any actor
( Different one from Kavariman where he finds his wife with other man) . I have watched the movie about 10 times in DVD, CD, TV but everytime I find something new in this movie. Last night I watched it with my mother. She said she likes the movie very much & saw it in theatre in Palani during the first release in 1973.

Now about the movie. It was the year 1973. 1972 was a exceptional year for NT & his fans because all his movies except Dharmam Engey were either 100 days or Silver Jubliee


1973 too began with a super success in the form of Bharatha Vilas(I guess it released in 1973). APN & NT combination was brought back again with the effort of Umapathy ( Villan in Agni Natchatram) , a theatre owner. NT & APN combination generated huge hype thanks to their success ratio particularly considering the genre ( Raja Rani, Mythological stories) of Raja Raja Chozan. Added to this it was proclaimed to be first cinemascope i.e. Wide Screen

The story was a adaptaion of drama written by Mr.Ramanathan.
The movie’s grandeur begins right from scrolling of titles and ever majestic divine voice of APN. The music too this time was handled by violin expert Mr. Kunnakudi Vaithiyanathan. The music was also pleasing to the ears with G. Varalakshmi, Sirgazhi Govindarajan, Suseela, TMS, NT & Muthuraman

It is again galaxy of stars beginning from NT, Vijayakumari, MN Nambiyar, Muthuraman, Lakshmi Muthuraman, G. Varalakshmi, APN’s constants like Sivakumar, Kumari Padmini, KD Santhanam, SN Lakshmi, Sirgazhi Govindarajan , Manorama etc
It is really a treat to watch all these stars in big screen that too in cinemascope wide screen.
This movie starts with the sculptor on his work to sculpt statues while the King’s birthday is being celebrated. The king himself meets the sculptor and spends some time with him. Whereas in rettaipadi his son Rajendra chozan wins the battle for his friend Muthuraman & his brother. Muthuraman is in love with Khundavi( Lakshmi), Raja Raja Chozan’s daughter, Rajendran is in love with Veerama Devi( Minister’s daughter). MN nambiyar, adviser of a king Manohar plans to eliminate Raja Raja Chozan tatically and joins Raja Raja Chozan camp and spoils the relation of Raja Raja Chozan with his son, daughter, their fiancées. MN Nambiyar (Balu Devar) is ably assisted by Manorama , Does Raja raja Chozan protects his kingdom forms the climax of the story.

Acting credits: As usual NT walks away with Top honours, right from the introduction scene where he keeps his neck a side and offers beetle leaves to Sculptor( BGM was awesome), his love for daughter , playful acts with his son & daughter’s fiancées( Scene where he willfully makes his daughter & Muthuraman, Sivakumar & Kumari Padmini) & his laughter according to situation is a treat. Similarly his remark about his daughter’s rebellious nature in sarcastic tone is hilarious. Be it in climax, where he disguises as a spy is top class.
MN Nambiyar as villan occupies the screen space on par with NT . His acting prowess is aptly explored in this movie
Lakshmi is glamorous and acted to her potential
Muthuraman as a prince who does not belive in slavrey for a change breathes fire which he does well,
Though Sivakumar renders his dialogues well , I somehow cannot accept him as a Prince
Manorama role has been etched out well with a element of surprise
The climax is a sure shot surprise which is my favourite that too NT laughter conveys many meaning ( I have won, I am a strategist, truth alone triumphs, Better luck next time)
If you notice it till then he will apply vibuthi in pattai form but in climax he will have only a kunguma pottu signifying full stop for the drama of his enemy, I guess

Though the story offers a scope to explore wide range of interesting plots in history from the life of Raja Raja Chozan this movie essentially is between Raja Raja Chozan, his daughter, son, their fiancées, his enemies the story that might have worked wonders in stage drama but if it is converted to cinema , I guess people would have expected something more proably from history book which NT himself commented about the lack of war sequences but he lauded the effort by his team.
This movie too has its share of moments it helped me know about Olai Chugudigal, Devaram, Periya Kovil, Thiruvasagam etc

Though the movie is a colossal flop it is still liked by many ( friends of mine like it very much) Raj video vision churns out the movie in various wrappers and gets huge returns.


A well deserved movie for a re release . Shanti Chokkalingam sir are you reading it , Waiting for you to re release it