- Thalapathi
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Thalapathi 
Thalapathi DVD coverDirected by Mani Ratnam Produced by G. Venkateswaran Written by Mani Ratnam Starring - Rajnikanth
- Mammootty
- Arvind Swamy
- Srividya
- Shobana
- Geetha
- Amrish Puri
- Bhanupriya
Music by Ilaiyaraaja Cinematography Santosh Sivan Editing by Gautham Raju
Suresh UrsStudio G. V. Films Ltd.
Shradha EntertainersDistributed by G. V. Films Release date(s) November 1991 Running time 157 minutes Country India Language Tamil Thalapathi (Tamil: தளபதி; English: The Commander) is a 1991 Indian Tamil film written and directed by Mani Ratnam, and produced by G. Venkateswaran under the banner of G. V. Films. The film stars Rajnikanth, Mammootty and Shobana in the lead roles with Arvind Swamy, Srividya, Amrish Puri, Bhanupriya, Nagesh, and Charuhasan essaying supporting roles. The theme of the film is loosely based on the friendship between Karna and Duryodhana of the Hindu epic, Mahabharata. The film's score and soundtrack were composed by Ilaiyaraaja. The cinematography of the film was handled by Santosh Sivan, who made his debut in the Tamil film industry. The film, which is Mani Ratnam's last film with Ilaiyaraaja and is Rajinikanth's only film to be rated "U/A" (Parental Guidance), was also dubbed and released in Telugu and Hindi as Dalapathi.
Contents
Plot
Surya (Rajinikanth), the abandoned child of a fourteen year old unwed mother Kalyani (Srividya), is brought up by a generous lady living in slums. He grows up to become a fearless kind-hearted slum king who fights the injustice that takes place daily. These qualities lead him to cross swords with the local don Devarajan (Deva) (Mammootty). Deva's friend is fatally beaten up by Surya, and Deva threatens Surya that he will find himself in a dangerous situation if Deva's friend was laid to rest. Soon as his friend passes away, Surya then gets placed in prison. However, when Deva discovers Ramana's offense, he decides to get Surya released from jail. Surya is surprised to see Deva send his own man to get him out from jail, and there he tells Surya, Nyayamnu onnu irrukku (there is such a thing called justice). From that moment, Deva surrenders his ego and offers his hand of friendship to Surya. Surya pledges that he has nothing else but his life to give his friend. From then on Deva makes Surya his "Thalapathi" (commander). Meanwhile Surya falls for a local girl Subbulakshmi (Shobana). They soon fall in love and their relationship continues. Surya and Deva virtually rule the town not only with their muscle but also with their sense of justice. But in the eyes of the Government, they are considered as anti-social elements. Arjun (Arvind Swamy), posted as the new District Collector, plans to arrest both Deva and Surya, so that he could put an end to their brutal activities. But his opportunities all goes in vain. At this time, Deva and his wife go to Subbulakshmi's House asking for her betrothal to Surya. But her father refuses stating he cannot marry his daughter to a person who doesn't know even about his parents. Instead, Subbulakshmi is married off to Arjun. Surya eventually marries another girl who was widowed (Bhanupriya) by him earlier. Still troubled by the guilt, he prefers to remain as a guard to the widow and her daughter. A struggle breaks out between the Collector and Deva/Surya during which Surya learns that Arjun's mother is his mother too. Surya promises his mother that he will not harm Arjun but refuses to leave Deva, whose friendship is more valuable to him than his relationship with his brother. Deva is stunned to learn that Collector and Surya are brothers and admires Surya for not parting with him in spite of discovering his identity. During the process of surrendering to the Collector, assuring him completely stopping their activities, Deva is shot by his enemy. Surya, in a fit of rage, brutally kills the person who was the cause for Deva's death and surrenders to the Police after performing the final rites of his mentor. But the police withdraw the case due to lack of evidence and witnesses. The Collector goes to another place on a new posting accompanied by his wife. His mother then changes her mind to stay with her elder son, Surya.
Cast
- Rajnikanth as Surya
- Mammootty as Devaraj
- Arvind Swamy as Arjun
- Shobana as Subhalakshmi
- Srividya as Kalyani
- Amrish Puri as Kalivardhan
- Bhanupriya as Padma
- Jaishankar as Kalyani's husband
- Geetha as Selvi
- Nagesh as Panthulu
- Charuhasan as Sreenivasan
- Kitty as
- Manoj K.Jayan
Soundtrack
Thalapathi:
The Original Motion Picture SoundtrackSoundtrack album by Ilaiyaraaja Released 1991 Genre Soundtrack Length 32:30 Label Lahari Producer Ilaiyaraaja Thalapathi: The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
The music score that accompanies the film was composed by Ilaiyaraaja. The soundtrack features 7 songs composed by Ilaiyaraaja. Ilaiyaraaja's composition Singers: Balasubramanyam & Swarnalatha "Rakkama Kaiya Thattu" from the score was amongst the songs listed in a BBC World Top Ten music poll.[1]
Original version (Tamil)
Track # Song Artist(s) Length 1 "Yamunai Aatrile" Mithaali 1:22 2 "Rakkama Kaiya Thattu" S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Swarnalatha 7:10 3 "Sundari Kannal" S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki 7:14 4 "Kaattukuyilu" S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Yesudas 5:32 5 "Putham Puthu Poo" Yesudas, S. Janaki 5:00 6 "Chinna Thayaval" S. Janaki 3:23 7 "Margazhithan" S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Swarnalatha, Chorus 2:39 Track listing (Telugu):
Track # Song Artist(s) Length 1 "Yamuna Thatilo (sad)" Swarnalatha 1:22 2 "Chilakama Chitikeyanga" S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Chitra 7:10 3 "Sundari Nuvve" S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Chitra 7:14 4 "Singarala" S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Yesudas 5:32 5 "Mudda Banthi Puvvulo" Mano, Swarnalatha 5:00 6 "Ada Janmaku" P. Susheela 3:23 7 "Yamuna Thatilo" Swarnalatha, Chorus 1:47 Track listing (Malayalam):
Track # Song Artist(s) Length 1 "Raakkamma" Swarnalatha , M.G.Srekumar 7:10 2 "Kattukuyilin manasinullin" K.G.Markose, M.G.Srekumar 5:32 3 "Kannippaal Nilaa Vettam " Chitra 3:23 4 "Yamunayaattile"(Sad) Chitra 1:42 5 "Seethaakalyaana Vaibhogame" Swarnalatha, Chorus 1:23 6 "Yamunayaattile" Chitra, Chorus 1:47 References
- ^ BBC World Service. 2002. BBC World Service 70th Anniversary Global Music Poll: The World's Top Ten. Available from: http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/us/features/topten. Accessed 11 November 2007.
External links
Mani Ratnam Filmography Films directed 1980'sPallavi Anu Pallavi (1983) • Unaru (1985) • Pagal Nilavu (1985) • Idaya Kovil (1985) • Mouna Raagam (1986) • Nayagan (1987) • Agni Natchathiram (1988) • Geethanjali (1989)1990's2000'sAlaipayuthey (2000) • Kannathil Muthamittal (2002) • Aayutha Ezhuthu (2004) • Yuva (2004) • Guru (2007)2010'sRaavanan (2010) • Raavan (2010)
Other projects as producerChatriyan (1990) • Aasai (1995) • Nerrukku Ner (1997) • Dumm Dumm Dumm (2001) • Five Star (2003) • Bloody Paki (2012)as writerGaayam (1993) • Saathiya (2002)
Categories:- 1991 films
- Indian films
- Tamil-language films
- Crime drama films
- Crime thriller films
- Works based on the Mahabharata
- Films directed by Mani Ratnam
- Gangster films
- Political films
- Mafia films
- Tamil-language films dubbed into Telugu
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