Raja Paarvai

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For the TV series, see Raja Paarvai (TV series).

Raja Paarvai
Theatrical release poster in Tamil
Directed bySingeetam Srinivasa Rao
Written byAnanthu
Kamal Haasan
Balakumaran
Santhana Bharathi
Produced byChandrahasan
Charuhasan
Kamal Haasan
Starring
CinematographyBarun Mukherji[1]
Edited byV. R. Kottagiri
Music byIlaiyaraaja
Production
company
Release dates
  • 10 April 1981 (1981-04-10) (Tamil)
  • 29 August 1981 (1981-08-29) (Telugu)
Running time
144 minutes[1]
CountryIndia
Languages
  • Tamil
  • Telugu

Raja Paarvai (transl. Royal Gaze) is a 1981 Indian Tamil-language romance film directed by Singeetam Srinivasa Rao. It was simultaneously made and released as Amavasya Chandrudu (transl. Moon on Amavasya) in Telugu. The story was written by Kamal Haasan, for whom the film was his 100th as an actor[a] and first as a producer. The score and soundtrack was composed by Ilaiyaraaja. It is loosely based on the 1972 film Butterflies Are Free. Despite being a box office failure, the film received critical acclaim, and Haasan's performance won him the Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Tamil. Thota Tharani made his debut as an art director with the film.

Plot

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Raghu / Chandram is a blind violinist oppressed since infancy. Nancy, a Christian, is keen on chronicling Raghu / Chandram's inspiring life as a visually impaired but independently living person. Their relationship blossoms into a romance that is supported by Nancy's grandfather. Nancy is eventually due to be married to another man selected by her father, but aided by her grandfather, escapes from the church and elopes with Raghu / Chandram.

Cast

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Character Actors in language
Tamil Telugu
Raghu (Tamil)[2] / Chandram (Telugu)[3] Kamal Haasan
Nancy[1] Madhavi
Nancy's grandfather[4] L. V. Prasad
Raghu / Chandram's father[5] Chandrahasan
Pastor Charuhasan
Seenu (Tamil)[2] / Chanti (Telugu)[3] Y. G. Mahendran
Sulochana Chitra
Raghu / Chandram's nanny Radhabhai
Nancy's grandmother Nirmalamma
The headmistress of the blind school[6] Rajalakshmi Parthasarathy
Nancy's father[2] Dhanushkodi Kantha Rao
Raghu / Chandram's stepmother[2] K. P. A. C. Lalitha Radha Kumari
Sulochana's father V. K. Ramasamy Raavi Kondala Rao
Chandram's House owner Sakshi Ranga Rao
Nancy's brother Delhi Ganesh Ranganath
Man who beats Raghu / Chandram in lift Santhana Bharathi
Himself Gangai Amaran
Himself S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Young Raghu (Tamil) / Young Chandram (Telugu) Gautam Kanthadai

Production

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Raja Paarvai was the 100th film for Kamal Haasan as an actor, and first as producer. He also worked as a screenwriter.[7][8] He produced the film along with his brothers Charuhasan and Chandrahasan under the banner Haasan Brothers.[5][9] The film also marked the debut of art director Thota Tharani in Tamil cinema.[10][11] It was simultaneously shot in Telugu as Amavasya Chandrudu,[12] with principal photography for both versions taking place in 55 days.[13] Among other locations, the film was also shot in Venus Studios.[14] While the film is loosely based on the 1972 film Butterflies Are Free,[15] the final scene which features Madhavi's character escaping from church in her wedding dress and joining Haasan, was inspired by The Graduate (1967).[16] Haasan learnt to play the violin required for the role.[17] Haasan's nephew Gautham portrayed the younger version of him in the film.[18]

Soundtrack

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The soundtrack was composed by Ilaiyaraaja,[19] while the lyrics were written by Kannadasan, Vairamuthu and Gangai Amaran.[1][20] The song "Andhi Mazhai" is set in the Carnatic raga known as Vasantha,[21] and "Vizhi Oraththu" is set in Shubhapantuvarali.[22] For the instrumental "Modern Concerto", Viji Manuel was the keyboardist (playing the piano on arpeggio mode), while V. S. Narasimhan was the violinist.[23] In an interview Vairamuthu said that initially the lyrics for the song "Andhi Mazhai" were "Dhiratchai madhu vazhigirathu" before being changed to the present one.[24]

Tamil
No.TitleLyricsSinger(s)Length
1."Andhi Mazhai Pozhikirathu"VairamuthuS. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki, T. V. Gopalakrishnan4:35
2."Modern Concerto" (Instrumental) — —3:52
3."Azhagae Azhagu"KannadasanK. J. Yesudas4:28
4."Vizhi Oraththu"Gangai AmaranKamal Haasan, B. S. Sasirekha3:39
Total length:16:34
Telugu
No.TitleLyricsSinger(s)Length
1."Sundaramo Sumaduramo"VeturiS. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki, T. V. Gopalakrishnan 
2."Modern Concerto" (Instrumental) — — 
3."Kalake Kala Nee Andamu"VeturiS. P. Balasubrahmanyam 

Release

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Raja Paarvai was released on 10 April 1981,[25] and Amavasya Chandrudu on 29 August 1981.[3] Despite receiving critical acclaim,[26] the film was a box office failure, and Haasan had to work seven to eight years to recover from the loss he incurred.[27] The 100 days celebration of the film was held at Chettiar Bungalow in AVM studio.[28]

Reception

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Kalki, in its review of the Tamil version, called the story ordinary, but said the dialogues and Rao's direction polished the film and lauded Haasan's performance, adding that Prasad outshined everyone else.[29] S. Shiva Kumar wrote in Mid-Day, "Some breath taking photography, slick editing and lilting music contribute in making Raja Parvai a clean and enjoyable movie".[30] Reviewing the Telugu version, Gudipoodi Srihari of the magazine Sitara wrote that barring a few sequences, the film was fairly enjoyable yet inspirational.[3] Naagai Dharuman of Anna appreciated the acting, music, cinematography and direction.[31] Haasan won the Filmfare Award for Best Tamil Actor.[32]

Legacy

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Raja Paarvai attained cult status in Tamil cinema.[33] In Encyclopaedia of Indian Cinema, Ashish Rajadhyaksha and Paul Willemen described Srinivasa Rao's direction and Haasan's performance as "unabashedly melodramatic, milking the hero's disability for all its worth" and that Rao's zooms and cutaways underlined by "rapid and awkward editing" were "fully in evidence".[1] In 2010, Sify included Raja Paarvai in its list, "Kamal's most memorable romantic films", where it praised Haasan and Madhavi's onscreen rapport, the visuals and the climax.[34] In 2017, Haasan named Amavasya Chandrudu (the Telugu version of the film) as one of his 70 most favourite films and considered it superior to Raja Paarvai.[35]

Notes

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  1. ^ Without counting uncredited roles and guest appearances.

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Rajadhyaksha & Willemen 1998, p. 451.
  2. ^ a b c d Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
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  5. ^ a b Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  6. ^ Devnath & Parthasarathy 2005, p. 87.
  7. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
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  14. ^ Rangan 2012, p. 15.
  15. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  16. ^ Pal 2013, p. 128.
  17. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
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  21. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  22. ^ Sundararaman 2007, p. 168.
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Bibliography

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  • Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  • Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  • Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  • Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  • Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
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  • Raja Paarvai at IMDbLua error in Module:EditAtWikidata at line 29: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).
  • Raja Paarvai at Rotten TomatoesLua error in Module:EditAtWikidata at line 29: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).
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