Rajanna

Rajanna
Directed by V. Vijayendra Prasad
S. S. Rajamouli (action sequences)
Produced by Nagarjuna Akkineni
Written by V. Vijayendra Prasad
G. Ajay Kumar (dialogues)
Screenplay by V. Vijayendra Prasad
Story by V. Vijayendra Prasad
Starring Baby Annie
Nagarjuna Akkineni
Sneha
Narrated by Akkineni Nageswara Rao
Music by M.M. Keeravani
Cinematography Shyam K. Naidu
Anil Bandhari
Kandru Poorna
Edited by Kotagiri Venkateswara Rao
Production
company
Release dates
  • 22 December 2011 (2011-12-22)

[1]

Running time
 2:09:32
Country India India
Language Telugu

Rajanna is a 2011 Telugu historical film written and directed by V. Vijayendra Prasad. The film is produced by Nagarjuna Akkineni, and starred Nagarjuna Akkineni, Sneha, and child artist Baby Annie. The film is partially inspired by Razakars movement, and freedom fighter Suddala Hanmanthu.[2] Rajanna was released to positive reviews and critical acclaim, with soundtrack composed by M. M. Keeravani.[3] The film recorded as Above Average at the box office. [4] The film has won six state Nandi Awards, including the Nandi Award for Best Feature Film – Silver.[5] The movie was unofficially remade in Hindi as Bajrangi Bhaijaan. KV Vijayendra prasad wrote the Hindi script with plot changes.

Plot

The film is set in the Nelakondapalli village of Adilabad district in Nizam Princely State of Hyderabad of the late 1940s. The feudal society is under the vice-like grip of an aristocratic family and its head, a Dorasani (Shwetha Menon). Mallamma (Baby Annie) is the darling of the village, who is living in perpetual humiliation. They seek solace in her songs. Brought up by Sambayya, an old man, she develops a mysterious attachment to a basil tree which is regarded as holy by the entire village.

She happens to sing a song in the Dorasani's house which enrages her. Since nobody can have a skill which her daughter has not been able to acquire, she decrees that Mallamma cannot sing if she wants to be alive. However, singing is in her very marrow. After all, she is the daughter of Rajanna, who had inspired hundreds of villagers to revolt against the evil lords through his revolutionary songs.

When the Dorasani finds Mallamma singing for another time, she decides to hound her and kill. The grandpa wants to take her away, but Mallamma refuses to oblige. It is then when she tells him that she cannot abandon the village where she Rajanna meets her every day. Dorasani, who overhears Sambayya telling her that she is Rajanna's progeny, kills him. A heroine that she is, Mallamma stages an escape with the help of the music teacher (Nassar), who tells her that the only way to get rid of Dorsani is to meet Jawaharlal Nehru at Delhi. She sets off to do the same. After overcoming many challenges, she reaches, is taken care of by a young lady, and sets off to meet Nehru with a rose. But, the crowd rushes past her and crushes the rose. She then writes to her music teacher and tells him that she met a musician who will introduce Mallamma to Nehru in a singing contest on his birthday. Unfortunately, Dorasani catches hold of the letter, captures Mallamma, and locks her in a shed with her music teacher, who tells her the story of Rajanna as follows:

After killing over a hundred British officers, Rajanna (Nagarjuna Akkineni) is a proud son of a free India. Much to his dismay, he finds the villagers of Nelakondavalli still in servitude and radicalizes them to massacre the oppressors. He slices off the hand of a Nawab and saves a woman from the assault. When the Nawab comes back for revenge, he is killed by the very same woman whom he tried to assault after a revolutionary song by Rajanna. The revolution spreads to hundreds of villages and the nawabs are shaken. Unable to repress the warfare on their own, the local lords seek the help of the evil Razakars.

Ever at the forefront to save the village, Rajanna leads a guerrilla warfare with his four comrades (a Muslim, a Tamil Brahmin, a Punjabi and a Maharashtrian) and achieves martyrdom after fighting hundreds of Razakar desperadoes to the finish.

Rajanna lives on in the memories of the people of Nelakondapalli.

After knowing the story, Mallamma escapes the shed and sets off to meet Nehru. But, the singing contest is over. She then sings her heart out. The song attracts Nehru and he comes to Mallamma. He drives away Dorsani and develops the town.

The town is shown with a statue of Rajanna

Cast

Soundtrack

Rajanna
Film score by M.M. Keeravani
Released 2011
Genre Soundtrack
Length 36:38
Label Vel Records
M.M. Keeravani chronology
Badrinath
(2011)		 Rajanna
(2011)		 Dammu
(2012)

The music was composed by M.M. Keeravani. Music released on Vel Records Music Company. The audio was well received and was opened to positive reviews by critics.

No.TitleLyricsSinger(s)Length
1."Gjijigadu"  K.SivadattaSanjeev Chimmalgi,Kaala Bhairava2:53
2."Raa Ree Ro Rela"  Ananta SriramRevanth,K.Sahiti, Sravana Bhargavi, Madhumitha,Amritha Varshini,B. Ramya3:34
3."Karakuraathi Gundello"  K SivadattaM.M. Keeravani, Kailash Kher3:32
4."Lachchuvamma Lachchuvamma"  Suddala Ashok TejaRahul Nambiar, Deepu, Sravana Bhargavi4:57
5."Chittiguvva"  Ananta SriramSanjeev Chimmalgi,Venu, Sivani,B Ramya3:17
6."Okka Kshanam"  Ananta SriramRahul Nambiar, Deepu,Revanth, Balaji,Prithvi Chandra1:52
7."Goodu Chediri Koyila"  Siva Shakthi DattaShweta Pandit3:39
8."Kaligajje"  Mettapalli SurendarMettapalli Surendar, Chaitra1:35
9."Vey Vey"  Suddala Ashok TejaRevanth3:17
10."Dorasani Korada"  Mettapalli SurendarAmrutha Varshini1:11
11."Melukove Chittitalli"  Chaitanya PrasadSudharsini2:12
12."Amma Avanee"  Siva Shakthi DattaMalavika4:38
Total length:36:38

Casting

It was announced in 2010 that Akkineni Nagarjuna would do a film titled 'Rajanna' under Vijayendra Prasad's direction.[6] Tollywood director S.S. Rajamouli choreographed the action sequences of the film. Sneha was roped in to play the female lead after their previous hit Sri Ramadasu.[7][8]

Malayalam actress Shwetha Menon played a negative role.[9] Baby Annie was cast in the role of an orphaned girl.[10]

Production

A massive village set and Bungalow set were erected near Jubilee Hills of Hyderabad for the film. It accidentally caught fire on 5 April 2011 causing a loss of ₹7 million.[11] Filming resumed after 2 weeks.

The film was set to be released on 23 December 2011 but the date was moved ahead to 21 December due to a good response to the film's music.

Critical acclaim

The reviews from the press were very positive. Rediff hailed the film as brilliant[12] and fullhyd.com said "Mallamma's story is brilliantly written", and praised the performances as well, particularly that of Baby Annie. StudentLive gave 4/5 saying, "Rajanna is a movie made a genuine effort. It’s not a movie stuffed with brainless action. This is something rare from the stables of Tollywood which more often than not dishes movies that require you to leave your brain behind when you watch the movie. Rajanna is sure to touch your hearts."[13] The film was later dubbed and released in Tamil as Raja Singh during 2015.[14]

Awards

Nandi Awards
Other Awards

References

  1. ↑ "Rajanna`s release advanced by a day". Sify.com. 15 December 2011. Retrieved 5 August 2012.
  2. ↑ Rajanna: Songs of revolution. The Hindu (21 December 2011). Retrieved on 2015-11-28.
  3. ↑ Rediff.com (24 August 2011). "Rajanna based on Razakaras movement". Rediff.com. Retrieved 7 September 2011.
  4. ↑ Prakash (26 December 2011). "Nagarjuna's Rajanna gets good opening at Box Office". Entertainment.oneindia.in. Retrieved 5 August 2012.
  5. ↑ http:// articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-10-13/news-interviews/34430644_1_sri-rama-rajyam-dookudu-jai-bolo-telangana
  6. ↑ "Nagarjuna | Rajanna | Vijayendra Prasad | Rajamouli | Annapurna Studios". CineGoer.com. 1 January 2008. Retrieved 28 August 2010.
  7. ↑ "Sneha joins Nagarjuna in Rajanna". Sify.com. Retrieved 28 August 2010.
  8. ↑ Andhravilas.net (24 August 2010). "Sneha to romance Nagarjuna once again? – Andhravilas.com -Telugu Cinema, Telugu Movies, India News & World News, Bollywood, Songs:". Andhravilas.com. Retrieved 28 August 2010.
  9. ↑ "Shwetha Menon in Negative role in Rajanna". Supergoodmovies.com. Retrieved 7 November 2010.
  10. ↑ Sify.com (24 August 2011). "Rajanna child artist". Sify.com. Retrieved 24 August 2011.
  11. ↑ indiaglitz.com (5 April 2011). "Rajanna Set Fire". indiaglitz.com. Retrieved 5 April 2011.
  12. ↑ "Review: Rajanna is brilliant – Rediff.com Movies". Rediff.com. 21 December 2011. Retrieved 5 August 2012.
  13. ↑ Madhav, Sriram. "Rajanna Review: A brilliant epic". Movie Review. StudentLive.
  14. ↑ http://filminfo.ticketgreen.com/FilmInfo.aspx
  15. ↑ SIIMA: Nagarjuna and others for Telugu nominations – IBNLive. Ibnlive.in.com (5 June 2012). Retrieved on 2015-11-28.
  16. ↑ Kamal Haasan graces CineMAA awards 2012 – Bollywood News & Gossip, Movie Reviews, Trailers & Videos at. Bollywoodlife.com (18 June 2012). Retrieved on 2015-11-28.
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